Software Alternatives & Reviews

Astropad VS Synergy

Compare Astropad VS Synergy and see what are their differences

Astropad logo Astropad

Astropad is a free form drawing tool designed from the ground up to take advantages of the features offered by an iPad.

Synergy logo Synergy

Cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers
  • Astropad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25
  • Synergy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-05

Synergy is a software application developed by Symless. It is used for sharing a keyboard and mouse between multiple computers, and is useful in situations where several PCs are used together, with a monitor connected to each, but are to be controlled by one user. The user needs only one keyboard and mouse on the desk — similar to a KVM switch without the video.

Partly open source and partly closed source, the open source components are released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, which is free software. The first version of Synergy was created on May 13, 2001, by Chris Schoeneman and worked with the X Window System only. Synergy now supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems.

Once the program is installed, users can move the mouse "off" the side of their desktop on one computer, and the mouse pointer will appear on the desktop of another computer. Key presses will be delivered to whichever computer the mouse-pointer is located in. This makes it possible to control several machines as easily as if they were a single multi-monitor computer. The clipboard and even screensavers can be synchronized.

The program is implemented as a server which defines which screen-edges lead to which machines, and one or more clients, which connect to the server to offer the use of their desktops. The keyboard and mouse are connected to the server machine.

Astropad videos

AstroPad Review - 1 year later

More videos:

  • Review - Apple SIDECAR VS. ASTROPAD - Which is better?
  • Review - Using the iPad Pro as a Cintiq Graphics Tablet | ASTROPAD Review

Synergy videos

Review - Synergy by Symless - Multi Machine Network Control Software

More videos:

  • Review - Symless Synergy Review - Mac (Keyboard & Mouse Sharing)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Astropad and Synergy)
Remote Desktop
33 33%
67% 67
Mouse Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Remote PC Access
17 17%
83% 83
Multi Monitor
18 18%
82% 82

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Astropad and Synergy

Astropad Reviews

Top 10 Duet Display Alternatives (Free and Paid) Reviewed | 2022
AstroPad Standard is an alternative to Luna Display. The main difference between the two is that with AstroPad Standard you do not have to use a dongle. That said, AstroPad Standard only works as a multipurpose mirror of your Mac on your iPad and does not include the other 2 modes.
Source: mediapeanut.com
8 Best SpaceDesk Alternatives for Duet Display (2022)
It is a lightweight tool that helps you multitask using more than one monitor. The main USP of Astropad is the straightforward user interface that makes it perfect for non-technical users. However, despite its sleek design, the software is powerful enough to do all your tasks.
Source: techdator.net

Synergy Reviews

Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
Synergy is yet another software that lets you work on separate computers with the same input devices. It helps you save all the clutter caused by the cables of a traditional KVM. What’s more, it works even when the computers are working on separate operating systems. This feature makes it stand out from Spacedesk. For Synergy to function, you’ll need the systems to run on...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Synergy seems to be a lot more popular than Astropad. While we know about 281 links to Synergy, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Astropad. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Astropad mentions (7)

  • Conflicted between Ipad Pro and Wacom Tablet for Cartoon Animations
    I would like to use the adobe suite to create my animations, starting in Illustrator and then moving to adobe animate and then adobe after effects if needed (I have used after effects for 10 years now). I would prefer to hand draw my characters in illustrator, then make their entire body into a vector (facial expressions, joint bends and more) in illustrator, then take it to adobe animate for character rigging. I... Source: 8 months ago
  • How to sculpt comfortably from my couch: looking for lightweight/desktop-less setups recommendations
    My team used https://astropad.com/ to set up animators to work in adobe programs directly. Source: 10 months ago
  • blender on ipad
    But if you really want to try using your iPad with Blender the app to get is Astropad. Source: 11 months ago
  • How to make extended display on illustrator from IPAD to MACBOOK?
    I've done this with Astropad. You might also be able to do this with Continuity if your Mac and iPads are new enough, my iPad is too old. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Pixel Dog Spring Wallpaper
    Made by myself with Aseprite and Astropad. Part of my project Wallace.dog. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Synergy mentions (281)

  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    I use a software called Synergy. https://symless.com/synergy I have one keyboard and mouse connected to one "host" machine, and two machines connected as clients. Sometimes if the host machine bogs a bit (like running a build or something) then the clients will have some latency but I've used this setup for gaming and work for two years and it's been pretty good. My only complaint (about my personal setup, not the... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    I’ve been using a software solution for this for over a decade. It’s called Synergy (https://symless.com/synergy) and it is fast - switches instantly over wifi and also works across Windows/Mac/Linux. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Synergy works well for this purely in software. Unfortunately it's not free or open source, but it's relatively inexpensive. https://symless.com/synergy. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Help me create a seamless LAN with a WAP on the end of a switch
    I want to be able to do things like Synergy, Steam Link, Unified Remote, and Media Servers between any of these devices, with as little added latency as possible (especially important for steam link). Source: 5 months ago
  • Linux VNC viewer not displaying MacOS with multiple desktops (single monitor)
    i've got several fedora linux machines running and sharing their monitors via synergy (https://symless.com/synergy) , all controlled by the keyboard/mouse on the primary synergy server. Source: 5 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Astropad and Synergy, you can also consider the following products

Duet Display - With Duet Display, you can transform your iPhone or iPad into a second display to expand the screen space of your PC or Mac system.

Barrier - Barrier is a cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers...

iDisplay - iDisplay is an app that turns a mobile device into a secondary desktop monitor. The app currently supports iOS, Android, Windows and MacOS, and it lets users connect a desktop computer to a mobile device over WiFi. Read more about iDisplay.

Input Director - Control multiple windows systems with one keyboard/mouse. Share a keyboard and mouse across multiple windows system.

spacedesk - spacedesk expands the Windows desktop computer screen to other computers over the local area...

DisplayFusion - DisplayFusion will make your multi-monitor life much easier.