onemouse Download for macOS

An honest comparison

Same desk idea.
Different trade-offs.

OneMouse is a free, open-source option for the core cross-screen flow and a lean local UDP input path. ShareMouse is a mature commercial software KVM with a substantially wider feature set.

OneMouse vs ShareMouse

The practical view

What you get
today.

OneMouse entries describe the current project and downloadable macOS build. ShareMouse entries reflect its published documentation, checked August 2026.

Capability
OneMouse
ShareMouse
Cost & source
Free and open sourceCore project is available without a paid tier.
Free personal edition + paid editionsAdvanced and professional use require a license.
Current platform reach
macOS download todayThe codebase lists macOS, Linux, and Windows; this release is Apple silicon macOS.
macOS + WindowsShareMouse publishes cross-platform support for Mac and Windows.
Core input sharing
Pointer, basic keyboard, scrollMove across a configured screen edge and keep working.
Pointer and keyboard sharingIncludes richer keyboard and remote-control options.
Set-up style
Explicit local layoutYou configure the host, companion, and screen edge.
Automatic discovery & layoutIt publishes zero-configuration discovery and automatic monitor positioning.
Local transport
Lightweight UDP inputOneMouse discovers non-internal IPv4 interfaces and sends compact pointer, key, and scroll messages directly on the local network—no cloud relay.
Existing network connectionShareMouse documents a network-based software KVM, but its public feature pages do not specify a Thunderbolt Bridge transport.
VPN connection
Connect to the VPN address directlySet the other Mac’s reachable VPN address. If the VPN lets the two Macs reach each other and allows UDP traffic, OneMouse can share input across that connection.
May work with VPN setupShareMouse says a properly configured VPN may work, but warns that VPN routing can block local traffic or reduce performance. Its guidance recommends allowing local traffic or split tunneling.
Direct two-Mac link
~12 ms there and back*In our direct Thunderbolt cable test, a small message reached the other Mac and came back in about 0.012 seconds. This is connection time, not full screen-response time.
High-performance claim, no matching numberShareMouse says its custom protocol is built for smooth cursor precision. Its public feature list does not publish a Thunderbolt-specific round-trip figure.
Clipboard & files
Not in the current releaseClipboard synchronization and file drag-and-drop remain planned work.
Included in paid editionsIt lists clipboard sharing plus file and folder drag-and-drop.
Advanced workflow tools
Focused on the handoffNo current claim for profiles, sync events, or screen-saver control.
Broad feature setIt lists profiles, synchronized events, shared displays, and more.
Security options
Not documented in the current releaseChoose it for its simple, inspectable core rather than a claimed enterprise security feature.
Optional password protectionShareMouse documents AES encryption as an option.

Which one fits?

Choose for the job,
not the logo.

Choose OneMouse if…

You want the essential handoff, open source, and no paid upgrade path.

It is a good fit for a simple local setup where moving, typing, and scrolling between two machines is the point—especially over a direct Ethernet or Thunderbolt Bridge link.

Download OneMouse

Sources: ShareMouse’s feature list, licensing matrix, and VPN guidance, plus Apple’s IP over Thunderbolt setup guide, checked August 3, 2026. *The OneMouse ~12 ms figure is a direct-cable connection test; it is not an end-to-end pointer-to-screen benchmark, and results vary by Macs, cable, and display. This is a feature snapshot, not an independent performance benchmark.