Synergy is a market leader when it comes to using your mouse and keyboard on multiple computer screens simultaneously. But is there a free version of the software?
Unfortunately, there is no free version of Synergy. If you are a potential business or enterprise customer, you can contact Synergy directly and request a free trial. But for general users, you must sign up for a paid account to benefit from its features.
Read on to find out more about how to access Synergy and discover some alternatives to the famous mouse and keyboard-sharing platform in what remains of this article.
1. Who Can Access Synergy for Free?
Synergy is paid software, and no free option is built into the company’s pricing structure. However, Synergy offers short, free trial periods to business and enterprise customers on a case-by-case basis.
You must complete this form and contact Synergy directly to be considered for the free trial.
While Synergy does not offer a free trial or a free version of its software, there is a fair refund policy available to all customers.
If you sign up for Synergy and it does not meet your requirements, you can request a full refund within the first thirty days of using the software.
This offers you a risk-free trial period of thirty days, as you can request a full refund if Synergy doesn’t work for you.
However, if you have a little technical know-how, there is a way that you can access Synergy for free, as we explain below.
2. But Isn’t Synergy Open-Access Software?
Yes, Synergy is open-access software, but that doesn’t mean it’s free for users. Instead, Synergy can be freely modified and redistributed, and the code for Synergy is licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license.
But if you have some technical know-how, there is a way to access Synergy for free. Here are the steps you will need to access Synergy for free:
- Download the source code for Synergy.
- Install the required dependencies to compile Synergy on your device.
- Compile Synergy to create the binary that you can run.
Software developers can access Synergy for free, but the technical expertise required to install and compile Synergy for free is out of reach for many general users!
Synergy has opted for an open-access model to invite talented and skilled developers to review and edit their code wherever feasible, as it can result in bug fixes and general improvements across the board.
But for the rest of us – how much does Synergy cost?
3. How Much is Synergy?
Synergy starts at $10 per month for a professional plan and increases depending on your intended use of the software. Presently, the following plans are available from Synergy:
- Professional ($10 per month, per user).
- Business ($25 per month, per user).
- Enterprise ($45 per month, per user).
The professional plan is the most basic option, but it provides sufficient features to ensure you can use the full spectrum of Synergy’s core offerings.
As mentioned, there’s no free trial period, but if you sign up for a Professional plan with Synergy and are unhappy with the software, you can request a refund within the first thirty days.
The Business and Enterprise plans offer more extensive features that benefit your business.
What’s more, you can contact Synergy directly and request a free trial of either of these plans, which is beneficial, while you decide if the software is a good fit for your business needs.
4. Is Synergy Worth the Price?
Value is subjective, but given its excellent reputation and the range of features included within the software, it’s fair to say that Synergy is worth the price.
When you create an account, you can use a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers, optimizing your workflow and increasing productivity.
Synergy is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi and is extremely easy to install and use.
Once installed, Synergy detects HID (human input device) and prepares to send it across the network, connecting several screens to the same mouse and keyboard.
People in various professions and roles can undoubtedly benefit from installing Synergy, and it’s a great way to make the most of your workstation, whether you work at home or from the office.
That being said, Synergy is not your only option, and there are alternatives that you can try.
5. What About Synergy Alternatives?
The best alternative to Synergy is Mouse without Borders, which has very similar functionality to Synergy. Another option is Barrier, open source and easy to use.
Other software options include ShareMouse and Input Director, enabling you to use your mouse on various screens simultaneously.
The bottom line is that while Synergy is one of the leading software solutions for screen sharing a mouse and keyboard, it’s not the only one.
All those introduced above provide similar functions and good value for money and are worth considering if you’re not happy with Synergy.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Synergy does not offer a free plan, and no free trial is available for Professional Plan customers (only Business and Enterprise).
However, you can request a refund within thirty days if you’re not happy with the service provided by Synergy.
If you have the know-how and experience, you can access Synergy for free, thanks to its open access. However, this isn’t an option for most users, given the complexity of doing so.