The 8 Best KVM Switches
Updated by · How we research
Eight KVM switches compared by screens, ports, laptop charging and remote access. The UGREEN AK500 leads for sharing two monitors between two computers. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Before buying a KVM switch, check your monitor: many newer screens already switch inputs on their own, so a cheaper USB switch that moves only the keyboard and mouse may be enough. A full KVM earns its place with older monitors, two- or three-screen desks, and laptops that need one cable. It also can't add screens your computer can't drive.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
Two-monitor desks are now the usual reason to buy a KVM, so the UGREEN AK500 takes the top spot: it shares both screens between two computers over HDMI cables most people already own. The IOGEAR GUS4C2 is the only holdover, kept as a keyboard-and-mouse switch for monitors that change inputs on their own.
The rest of the old list is gone. The TESmart HKS0401, TESmart 0201, E-SDS 4K and Rijer 801UKL have left the market, while the UGreen 2 in 1 and JideTech CKL-41UA were VGA-era models that have also disappeared. New picks cover four computers, USB-C laptops, three screens, and remote control over a network with the GL.iNet Comet Pro.
What decided most of the order was simple: how many video outputs each switch asks of every computer, read from the makers' port diagrams, weighed against repeated owner complaints about shuffled windows and dead USB ports. In the honors, Lite Manager gave way to free and open-source options.
Earlier notes
January 29, 2021, by Christopher Thomas:
If you absolutely need features like UHD resolutions and HDR metadata passthrough for scenarios like home theater setups, the TESmart HKS0401, TESmart 0201, and E-SDS 4K are worth a look. If your requirements are more utilitarian, the reasonably priced UGreen 2 in 1 and JideTech CKL-41UA should be on your list. We really like the relatively recent IOGear GUS4C2, though, which is, in a way, a reverse docking station that streamlines control of a laptop and desktop PC and allows for easy communication between the two.
August 29, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
KVM switches are typically used in IT scenarios, for example, to control an entire rack of servers or configure multiple enterprise PCs at once. Depending on how many devices you need to control, the TNP, CKLau, and JideTech will serve that purpose well. If you only need to access two computers with the same set of input devices, UGreen makes a couple excellent choices for doing so.
Then there are home users, who may be using two computers at once for a variety of reasons. In that case, TESmart makes two of the most feature-packed options, and in fact they make a couple with full HDMI 2.0 compatibility that allows for 4K operation and even supports HDR metadata. If it's not meant for UHD entertainment, TrendNet makes one that's suitable for consumers as well. Also, we especially like the E-SDS because it has one dedicated USB port each for keyboard and mouse, and then two additional USB ports for other peripherals; most models only have a single USB port for things like printers and dongles.
Special Honors
Multiplicity Stardock's Multiplicity shares one keyboard and mouse across several Windows PCs over a home or office network, with shared copy and paste, file drag-and-drop and audio. Its higher tiers can also stream another PC's screen to the one in front of you, which works like a KVM with no box at all. It's paid software for Windows 10 and 11, and Stardock offers a free trial. stardock.com
Mouse Without Borders Part of Microsoft's free PowerToys, Mouse Without Borders lets one keyboard and mouse control up to four Windows PCs on the same network: slide the pointer off one screen's edge and it appears on the next computer. It shares the clipboard and copies single files. Each PC keeps its own monitor, and Microsoft warns that running it as a background service adds security risk. learn.microsoft.com
PiKVM PiKVM is an open-source remote KVM built on a Raspberry Pi. It shows and controls a computer from a web browser, including its startup screens, and can turn it on, off or restart it. The V4 Mini handles a single computer and the V4 Plus is the full-featured model. It's sold through its own site and suits home labs that want software they can inspect and change. pikvm.org
Count Computers, Screens And Video Ports
Base Apple M1 and M2 laptops drive only one external screen, with or without a KVM.
Start with three numbers: how many computers, how many monitors, and which video outputs each computer has. A two-monitor KVM needs two video cables plus a USB cable from every computer, and each one has to drive two screens on its own. The cuttles.io roundup of dual-monitor KVMs lays out the cable count and points out that a switch can't add displays a computer doesn't support. Base Apple M1 and M2 laptops drive only one external screen, with or without a KVM.
Match the ports next. The UGREEN AK500 wants two HDMI outputs per computer, the Unitek V1311A wants one HDMI and one DisplayPort, and the UGREEN AK704 wants two DisplayPort and one HDMI. Most laptops have one video output, so for laptops look at single-screen switches or a USB-C model like the Sabrent USB-C3KM, where one cable carries picture, accessories and charging.
For most office and home work, 4K at 60 Hz over HDMI is plenty. Gaming screens running 120 Hz or faster need DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 all the way through, including the switch and the cables.
KVM, USB Switch, Software Or Remote Box
A full KVM moves the picture and your keyboard and mouse together. A USB switch, such as the IOGEAR GUS4C2, moves only the keyboard, mouse and other USB gadgets, and you change the monitor's input with its own button. XDA Developers argues that many people with modern monitors are better off with that simpler setup, since the monitor already handles the video side.
If every computer has its own screen, you may not need hardware at all. Microsoft's free Mouse Without Borders lets one keyboard and mouse control up to four Windows PCs on the same network, and you move between them by pushing the pointer past a screen edge. Stardock's paid Multiplicity does the same and adds screen streaming.
A remote KVM, or KVM over IP, solves a different problem: reaching a computer that isn't in front of you. The GL.iNet Comet Pro and the open-source PiKVM plug into a computer's HDMI and USB ports and show its screen in a web browser, even during startup, which is handy for a home server that has frozen.
Avoiding Blank Screens, Shuffled Windows And Risky Logins
The most common complaint about cheap KVMs is that windows jump to the wrong screen, or the resolution drops, after a switch. That happens when the computer thinks its monitor was unplugged. Switches with EDID emulation, like the UGREEN 85115, keep telling each computer the monitor is still there. The cuttles.io guide names it as the feature that matters most for multi-monitor setups.
Use the cables and power adapter that come in the box before blaming the switch. Long or uncertified HDMI and DisplayPort cables cause many of the flickers and dropouts people report, and power adapters for different models can look alike while using different voltages or plug polarity. Spec-based guides such as Budget Loadout's note that most lag claims for cheap switches come without measurements.
A KVM handles every keystroke you type, so buy from a known maker, and check before running a work laptop through a personal switch, since some employers forbid it. A remote KVM puts your computer's console on the network: turn on two-factor sign-in, keep the firmware updated and never open it straight to the internet. We found no recalls for any brand on this list in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's database.
How we researched this
We compared 22 KVM switches, USB switches and remote KVM boxes and screened eight in depth, using the port diagrams, video specs and warranty terms the makers publish, two spec-based buying guides and an XDA Developers opinion piece, patterns in owner feedback, and recall checks for every brand with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent lab tests of these switches.
Frequently asked questions
What does a KVM switch do?
KVM stands for keyboard, video and mouse. The switch lets one keyboard, mouse and monitor, or set of monitors, control two or more computers. You press a button, a desk controller or a hotkey to choose which computer is live, and most models also share USB devices such as a printer or webcam.
Do I need a KVM switch if my monitor has two inputs?
Often not. If the monitor switches inputs itself, a USB switch that moves only the keyboard and mouse can do the job for less. A full KVM still helps with two- or three-screen setups, older monitors, and when you want one button to move everything at once.
Will a KVM switch work with a MacBook?
Yes, as long as the Mac can drive the screens. Base M1 and M2 MacBook models support only one external display, so a dual-monitor KVM can't give them a second screen. Macs that send video over USB-C work well with USB-C switches.
Is HDMI or DisplayPort better for a KVM switch?
HDMI 2.0 is fine for 4K at 60 Hz, which covers most office work. For gaming monitors at 120 Hz or faster, use a DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 switch and matching cables. Pick the switch that matches the outputs your computers already have.
Is there a software KVM?
Yes. Mouse Without Borders, free in Microsoft PowerToys, and Stardock's Multiplicity share one keyboard and mouse across Windows PCs over a network. They only work when each computer has its own monitor.
Why do my windows move around after switching?
The computer thinks its monitor was unplugged and rearranges the desktop. A switch with EDID emulation keeps the monitor visible to every computer, which stops it. Using the included cables also helps.
