One keyboard and mouse.
Every computer.
A software KVM shares your keyboard and mouse across multiple computers over your local network — no cables, no switch box, no extra hardware. Just move your cursor to the edge and hop.
What is a software KVM?
KVM stands for Keyboard, Video, and Mouse. A software KVM shares your keyboard and mouse across multiple computers over your local network. You install the app on each machine, your devices discover each other automatically, and you move your cursor to the edge of one screen to appear on the next — as if all your monitors were one giant desktop. No rewiring, no hardware to buy, no switch box on your desk.
But software KVMs don't just replace hardware — they go further. Because they work at the software level, they can do things a physical switch box never could:
What a software KVM can do
Clipboard sharing. Copy text or an image on your Windows PC, paste it on your Mac. Hardware KVMs just pass USB signals — they have no concept of your clipboard.
File transfer. Drag a file to the edge of your screen and drop it on the other computer. No USB drives, no cloud uploads, no email-to-self.
Automatic key mapping. Ctrl on Windows becomes Cmd on macOS and back again. Hardware KVMs pass through raw keycodes and hope for the best — which usually means your shortcuts break on mixed-OS setups.
Every screen stays on. Each computer keeps its own display. You see everything at once and move your cursor between them — no toggling one monitor between machines.
Instant switching. No button to press, no 5-30 second delay. Move your cursor to the edge and you're on the other machine.
What about hardware KVMs?
Hardware KVM switches still make sense in specific situations — server racks, air-gapped workstations, or any setup where a computer doesn't have its own monitor and you need to share a single display between machines. But for the typical desk setup where each computer already has its own screen, a software KVM does everything hardware does, does it faster, and adds capabilities like clipboard sync and file transfer that hardware physically can't provide.
A software KVM that just works.
CursorHop is a software KVM built for people who use multiple computers every day. It replaces bulky hardware switch boxes with a lightweight app — and goes beyond what any hardware KVM can do.
Mouse sharing, keyboard sharing, clipboard sync, file transfer, auto-discovery, AES encryption, screen dimming. Windows and macOS. One-time purchase from $10 — no subscriptions.
Keep your existing setup
Keyboard and mouse stay where they are. No rewiring.
Install on each machine
Windows and macOS. Devices find each other automatically.
Move your cursor and hop
Slide to the edge of one screen, appear on the next.
Hardware KVM vs CursorHop
Everything side by side.
| Hardware KVM | CursorHop Software | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Cables, drivers, mounting a switch box | Install the app. Done. |
| Devices | 2-4 typical, limited by ports | Up to 10 computers |
| Switching | Button press, 5-30 sec delay | Move cursor to edge. Instant. |
| Cross-platform | Breaks key mappings across OSes | Automatic Ctrl ⇄ Cmd mapping |
| Cables | USB + video + power per computer | None. Uses your Wi-Fi/Ethernet. |
| Displays | Shares 1 monitor between machines | Each computer keeps its own screen |
| Clipboard | Not possible | Copy here, paste there |
| File transfer | Not possible | Drag and drop between machines |
| Encryption | Direct cable (no network) | AES encrypted |
| Price | $50-500+ plus cables | From $10, one-time |
| Adding a computer | Need ports + new cables | Install the app. It appears. |
Software KVM questions
What is a software KVM?
A software KVM lets you share your keyboard and mouse across multiple computers over your local network — no cables, no switch box. You install the app on each machine and move your cursor to the edge of one screen to hop to the next.
What can a software KVM do that hardware can't?
Software KVMs go beyond just sharing peripherals. They can sync your clipboard between machines, transfer files by dragging to the screen edge, automatically translate keyboard shortcuts between Windows and macOS, and let you see all your screens at once instead of toggling one monitor between machines.
Do I need extra cables for a software KVM?
No. A software KVM like CursorHop works over your existing local network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). There are no cables to buy, no ports to worry about, and no physical switch to mount on your desk.
Can a software KVM share my monitor too?
Software KVMs share your keyboard and mouse, but each computer keeps its own display. This is actually an advantage — you can see all your screens at once and move your cursor between them seamlessly, unlike a hardware KVM where you toggle one monitor between machines.
Does CursorHop work across Windows and macOS?
Yes. CursorHop works across Windows and macOS seamlessly. It automatically translates keyboard shortcuts between operating systems — for example, Ctrl on Windows maps to Cmd on macOS.
How much does a software KVM cost compared to hardware?
Decent hardware KVM switches start at $50-100 for basic 2-port models and can cost $200-500+ for multi-port models with 4K support. CursorHop starts at $10 for a one-time purchase with no subscriptions, supporting up to 10 computers on the Max plan at $35.
Is a software KVM secure?
CursorHop encrypts all data in transit using AES encryption. Your keystrokes, clipboard contents, and file transfers are encrypted over your local network. Hardware KVMs use direct cables which don't traverse a network, but a properly encrypted software KVM is equally secure for normal desk use.
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