CursorHop vs Deskflow
The open-source option genuinely worth using, and the upstream Synergy builds on. Unsigned on macOS, and its maintainers call file transfer broken.
The honest read
Deskflow is the good one. Of everything in the Synergy family it is the project still standing: actively developed, shipping releases, cross-platform including Linux and FreeBSD, TLS on by default, and free under the GPL. It is also the upstream that commercial Synergy is built on, with Synergy App Ltd sponsoring it and contributing code back. Barrier is unmaintained by its own admission and Input Leap archived itself in July 2026. Deskflow is what is left, and it deserves to be.
Two things are worth knowing before you install it. First, the macOS builds are unsigned and unnotarised: Gatekeeper reports the app as damaged, and the documented fix is clearing the quarantine attribute from Terminal, with a Local Network permission prompt to grant on top. Second, and more consequential, file transfer does not work. There is legacy drag-and-drop code inherited from old Synergy, and a Deskflow maintainer has said plainly that the implementation is broken and is not in scope for the project. That is a fair call for a volunteer project to make. It is still a gap if moving files between machines is part of your day.
CursorHop is the commercial answer to those two specific gaps. A signed macOS installer that opens without a Terminal detour. Purpose-built drag-and-drop file transfer at roughly 70 Mbps direct over your LAN, with no per-file cap. Automatic mDNS discovery instead of adding each machine by hand. A native Rust input engine holding around 7 ms median latency on gigabit LAN, Noise-protocol encryption on every tier, plus screen dimming and raw-input Game Mode. $10 one-time for two computers.
Where Deskflow wins cleanly: it is free, it has no device cap, and it runs on Linux and FreeBSD, neither of which CursorHop supports today. If that is your desk, install Deskflow.
See also: CursorHop vs Synergy (the commercial distribution of this codebase), CursorHop vs Input Leap, and CursorHop vs Barrier, or scan the full KVM comparison matrix. Feature deep-dives: file transfer and auto discovery.
What each one ships today
Apples to apples. No footnotes-on-footnotes.
| Feature | Deskflow | CursorHop |
|---|---|---|
| Project status | Actively developed, v1.26.0 Feb 2026 | Active full-time development |
| Engine | C++, Synergy lineage | Rust (native, no GC) |
| Windows | Windows 10 (1809+) and 11 | Windows 10+ |
| macOS | Intel 12+, Apple Silicon 13+ | macOS 12+ |
| Signed macOS build | No. Gatekeeper blocks it, clear quarantine in Terminal | Signed installer, opens normally |
| Linux | Yes, Wayland via libei and libportal | Coming soon |
| FreeBSD | Officially supported | No |
| Encryption | TLS on by default | Noise, on by default every tier |
| Setup | Add each computer and arrange the layout by hand | Automatic mDNS discovery |
| Clipboard - text and images | Yes, including Wayland | Yes, every tier |
| File transfer | Legacy code. Maintainer: broken and not in scope | Native drag-drop, ~70 Mbps |
| Screen dimming | No | Auto-dim inactive screens |
| Game Mode (raw input) | No | Raw input mode for full-screen games |
| Support | Community, GitHub issues | Email support, priority on Pro Plus+ |
| Device limit | None | 2, 5 or 10 by tier |
| Pricing | Free, GPL-2.0 | From $10 one-time |
CursorHop latency and throughput figures come from internal gigabit-LAN testing with both machines on the same switch. Real-world results vary with hardware, Wi-Fi congestion, and driver configuration. Competitor features and prices can change, so confirm current details with the vendor before purchasing.
Pick Deskflow if…
- You need Linux, or FreeBSD. CursorHop does not support either today.
- Open source is a requirement, not a preference.
- The budget is zero and you are comfortable with manual setup.
- You want no device cap at all.
Pick CursorHop if…
- You are on Windows and macOS and want file transfer that actually works.
- You do not want to run a Terminal command to get past Gatekeeper on a Mac.
- You want the machines to find each other instead of configuring each one.
- You want screen dimming or raw-input Game Mode.
- You want to email a person when something breaks.
Quick answers
What is Deskflow?
Deskflow is a free, GPL-licensed keyboard and mouse sharing application for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD. It is the open-source upstream that the commercial Synergy is built on, and it is the one project in the Synergy, Barrier and Input Leap family still under active development, now that Barrier is unmaintained and Input Leap was archived in July 2026.
Does Deskflow support drag-and-drop file transfer?
Not in practice. There is legacy drag-and-drop code inherited from the old Synergy lineage, but a Deskflow maintainer has described that implementation as broken and stated it is not in scope for the project. If moving files between machines matters to you, this is the clearest functional gap. CursorHop ships purpose-built drag-and-drop file transfer running direct over your LAN at roughly 70 Mbps with no per-file cap.
Is the Deskflow Mac app signed?
No. Deskflow ships unsigned and unnotarised macOS builds. Gatekeeper reports the app as damaged on first launch, and the documented fix is clearing the quarantine attribute from Terminal. On recent macOS you also have to grant Local Network permission manually. It works, but it is a rough first five minutes. CursorHop ships a signed macOS installer that opens normally.
Should I use Deskflow or CursorHop?
Use Deskflow if you need Linux or FreeBSD, if open source is a requirement rather than a preference, or if the budget is genuinely zero. It is a good project and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Use CursorHop if you are on Windows and macOS and you want a signed installer, drag-and-drop file transfer that works, automatic discovery instead of manual host configuration, screen dimming, raw-input Game Mode, and an email address that answers, for $10 one-time.
How is Deskflow related to Synergy?
Deskflow is the upstream. Synergy is the commercial distribution built on top of it, adding proprietary features, and Synergy App Ltd (formerly Symless) sponsors Deskflow and contributes code back. That is a healthier arrangement than the 2018 split that produced Barrier, and it is the main reason Deskflow is the open-source option worth recommending today.
Which has lower latency?
CursorHop holds a median around 7 ms on gigabit LAN in our internal tests, on a native Rust input pipeline with no garbage collector. Deskflow does not publish a median latency figure, and it inherits the C++ architecture of the original Synergy. We have not benchmarked Deskflow ourselves, so we are not going to put a number on it here.
Open where it counts. Finished where it matters.
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Deskflow is a community open-source project distributed under the GPL-2.0 licence with an OpenSSL exception. CursorHop is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Deskflow project or its contributors. CursorHop is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the aforementioned. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Comparison claims are based on publicly available product pages, documentation, and user reports.
