Software Alternatives & Reviews

Barrier VS Astropad

Compare Barrier VS Astropad and see what are their differences

Barrier logo Barrier

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

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.
  • Barrier Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-07
  • Astropad Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25

Barrier videos

Reviews In a Flash: Barrier

More videos:

  • Review - 🌊KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief • Everything you need to know!
  • Review - Kravebeauty's Great Barrier Relief Serum: REVIEW

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Barrier and Astropad)
Remote PC Access
84 84%
16% 16
Remote Desktop
69 69%
31% 31
Mouse Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Multi Monitor
81 81%
19% 19

User comments

Share your experience with using Barrier and Astropad. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

Barrier Reviews

Top spacedesk Alternatives & Similar Software (2020)
For Barrier to work, all that is needed is a network connection. You can also copy content from one clipboard to another between computers. Like all other software that let you work on multiple computers, Barrier too helps you control all of them with a single mouse or keyboard. Barrier is free to use and it’s an open-source software. As in the other software that we’ve...

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Barrier seems to be a lot more popular than Astropad. While we know about 347 links to Barrier, 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.

Barrier mentions (347)

  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Barrier is a Cross-Plattform, open source Synergy fork that works quite well without any additional HW too [0] [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Synergy is open core, these portions are licensed as GPL: https://github.com/symless/synergy-core/#License-1-ov-file. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Hrvach/Deskhop: Fast Desktop Switching Device
    Prior to Synergy going to closed source, it was forked into Barrier[0], which then was forked into input-leap[1]. Both open source. [0] https://github.com/debauchee/barrier. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Wayland vs. X – Overview
    Libei looks useful. But IDK why libei is necessary to run Barrier with Wayland? For client systems, couldn't there just be a virtual /dev/inputXYZ that Barrier forwards events through And for host systems, it looks like xev only logs input events when the window is focused. Is xeyes still broken on Wayland, and how to fix it so that it would work with Barrier? With Barrier, when the mouse cursor reaches a screen... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • KVM Switch for Gaming and WFH
    I have a similar gaming/WFH setup (2 monitors at 1440p 144hz) and I’ve been using Barrier instead of a physical kvm, and it works really well. Not sure if you’re open to a software kvm but if you are, I’m happy to answer any questions about it if you have any. Source: 5 months ago
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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: 11 months ago
  • blender on ipad
    But if you really want to try using your iPad with Blender the app to get is Astropad. Source: 12 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

What are some alternatives?

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

Synergy - Cross-platform software for sharing your mouse and keyboard between multiple computers

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.

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

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.

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

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