Best KVM Switches with HDMI (2026): 2-Port, 4-Port, HDMI 2.1 and 8-Port Picks

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For a two-computer desk where both machines output HDMI, the UGREEN CM664 is the pick: two HDMI hosts, one monitor, four shared USB ports and the host cables already in the box. What actually decides whether any HDMI KVM switch fits a given desk is not the resolution on the label but what each computer sends into the host inputs.

Two HDMI desktops, a USB-C laptop plus an HDMI desktop, an HDMI and DisplayPort dual-monitor pair, and a legacy VGA host each need a different box. A "4K60" or "8K" badge says nothing about which of those routes a switch accepts, how many independent video signals each host must supply, or whether the machine you are leaving will still believe its monitor is attached.

That last point is the biggest practical divider between a cheap switch and a serious one. A KVM without persistent EDID emulation cuts the display link to the inactive computer on every switch, so Windows reflows windows, HDR and refresh settings reset, and fullscreen applications drop out. A KVM with EDID emulation keeps presenting a valid monitor to both hosts, and the desktop you come back to looks the way you left it.

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Quick Picks

What Makes a Great HDMI KVM Switch?

The host video route comes first

Start with what feeds the host inputs, because that single decision eliminates most of the market. A two-HDMI switch expects both computers to send HDMI. A hybrid wants one USB-C host supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode and one HDMI host. A mixed dual-monitor box wants one HDMI and one DisplayPort feed from each computer, which means each machine needs two separate video outputs. A legacy model wants either an active converter or a dedicated host cable for the old machine. The port count on the front panel tells you nothing about which of these it handles. If the terminology is new, this primer on how a KVM switch works covers the basics, and if your desk is exactly two computers, our two-computer KVM picks narrow the field further.

EDID emulation is not the same as EDID pass-through

EDID is how a monitor describes its capabilities to the computer. Some inexpensive switches read that data and forward it, which is pass-through. Persistent emulation is different: the switch stores a virtual monitor definition and presents it to every host at all times, so the inactive computer never sees a disconnection. Products that advertise "EDID management" often mean pass-through only, which is why an inactive host still reflows its windows. If stable layouts, HDR or refresh settings across switches matter to your work, buy a model with documented emulation, such as the StarTech SV231HU34K6 or the TESmart P23 units here. For a closer look at how retention plays out at high refresh rates, see our 4K KVM switch picks.

Read resolution and refresh claims precisely

An HDMI version is a bandwidth ceiling, not a promise. HDMI 2.0-class switches usually cap at 3840×2160 at 60Hz but often run 1440p at 120Hz or 1080p at 240Hz, which is plenty for a productivity display. HDMI 2.1 boxes reach 4K120 and 4K144 and 8K-class output, but the top modes frequently depend on DSC, and sometimes on chroma or bit-depth compromises. A switch can also be the bottleneck when its standard is slower than the source and display on either side of it. Match the switch's documented modes to what your monitor and GPU actually drive, not to the largest number on the box.

USB, HID ports and switching controls

The USB side of a KVM has two jobs that behave differently. Dedicated keyboard and mouse ports use emulation so the switch can read hotkeys, and they are the ones that reject unusual gaming keyboards, macro pads and QMK boards; a generic USB port is more compatible but loses hotkey switching, as our keyboard shortcut guide explains. Shared USB 3.0 ports handle storage, webcams and audio, and they re-enumerate on every host change, so safely eject writable drives before switching.

Budget for cables and setup

A complete kit and a bare unit are not the same purchase. UGREEN and TESmart ship host cables and often video cables; StarTech and Belkin sell them separately, and at 4K120/144 or 4K240 the monitor-side cable has to be rated for the mode. Keeping host video as direct as possible also matters, since a dock or adapter between the computer and the switch multiplies the handshakes that can fail on wake. Our setup guide covers the connection order that avoids the most common first-boot problems.

#1 UGREEN CM664 (15707): Best Basic Two-Port HDMI KVM

The CM664 is the least expensive sensible way to put two HDMI desktops on one monitor. Each computer connects with an HDMI lead and a USB-B lead, and the console side gives you the monitor output plus four shared USB ports, three USB-A and one USB-C data port, all running at 5Gbps. Switching is done with a front button or the wired desktop controller, and there is no keyboard hotkey.

Video tops out at 3840×2160 at 60Hz over an HDMI 2.0-class path, with HDCP 2.2/1.4, HDR and multichannel HDMI audio. It also runs 1440p at 120Hz and 1080p at 240Hz, which makes it more flexible below 4K than the headline suggests.

It draws power over the USB host links, so no adapter is needed, though UGREEN adds an auxiliary USB-C input for desks with power-hungry peripherals such as bus-powered storage or a webcam. The box includes two HDMI cables, two USB A-to-B host cables and the desktop controller.

Where it gives ground is EDID. UGREEN's material mentions EDID management, but it does not establish the persistent emulation you get on the TESmart and StarTech boxes, so expect the inactive computer to see its monitor disappear on a switch.

• Two HDMI hosts to one HDMI monitor
• 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 1440p at 120Hz, 1080p at 240Hz
• HDMI 2.0-class path, HDCP 2.2/1.4, HDR, multichannel audio
• 3× USB-A 3.0 plus 1× USB-C data, 5Gbps
• Front button and wired controller, no keyboard hotkey
• Two HDMI and two USB host cables included, auxiliary USB-C power input available

Check the UGREEN CM664 on Amazon

Best for a two-desktop desk that wants 4K60 and a few USB ports for the least money and does not need display retention.

#2 gofanco KVMHD2-2P: Best Budget KVM with Hotkeys, USB Hub and Audio

gofanco's KVMHD2-2P sits near the same entry price as the UGREEN budget box but adds the features budget switches usually drop: keyboard-hotkey switching, dedicated keyboard and mouse HID ports, a two-port USB 3.0 hub, and analog audio in and out.

Video is HDMI 2.0 at 18Gbps, capped at 3840×2160 at 60Hz in 4:4:4 8-bit, with HDCP 2.2/1.4, HDR and 3D. Audio runs on two paths: stereo analog through 3.5mm jacks and digital HDMI audio up to 7.1 channels. Switching is by hotkey, chassis controls or the supplied IR remote, and the enclosure is metal.

The one thing to budget for is cable. The box ships with two USB host cables, the IR remote and a 5V/3A adapter, but no HDMI cables and no 3.5mm audio leads. gofanco still publishes the manual and a firmware update tool for the hardware version, which is rare at this price.

• Two HDMI hosts to one HDMI monitor
• 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 4:4:4 8-bit; HDMI 2.0, 18Gbps
• HDCP 2.2/1.4, HDR, 3D
• Dedicated keyboard and mouse HID ports plus a 2-port USB 3.0 hub
• Analog microphone and stereo output; HDMI audio up to 7.1
• Hotkey, chassis and IR remote switching; metal enclosure
• No HDMI or audio cables in the box

Check the gofanco KVMHD2-2P on Amazon

Best for a two-PC desk that wants hotkeys, shared USB and analog audio without premium money, and will supply its own HDMI cables.

#3 UGREEN CM731 (25960): Best for a USB-C Laptop and an HDMI Desktop

Most HDMI KVMs expect two HDMI hosts. The CM731 splits the difference: one host connects over a single USB-C cable carrying video and data, and the other uses a standard HDMI plus USB connection. That is the right shape for a MacBook or a USB-C Windows laptop sharing a monitor with a desktop tower.

The USB-C host needs DisplayPort Alt Mode, so a charge-only USB-C port will not carry video; a full-featured USB-C or Thunderbolt-class cable is the safe choice. Video support matches the CM664 at 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 1440p at 120Hz and 1080p at 240Hz, and the peripheral side gives three USB-A plus one USB-C data port at 5Gbps.

Read the name carefully: this is not a dock. USB-C here means host video and data, not Power Delivery, so the laptop still needs its own charger. UGREEN also warns against putting another dock in the signal chain, because two signal-retraining devices between laptop and monitor is where handshake failures begin. If you need single-cable charging, the right category is a dock rather than a switch.

• USB-C host (DisplayPort Alt Mode) plus HDMI/USB host to one HDMI monitor
• 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 1440p at 120Hz, 1080p at 240Hz
• 3× USB-A plus 1× USB-C shared, 5Gbps
• No Power Delivery; the laptop keeps its own charger
• Chassis button and wired controller, no keyboard hotkey
• Not intended to sit behind another dock in the chain

Check the UGREEN CM731 on Amazon

Best for one USB-C laptop and one HDMI desktop sharing a single monitor, with charging handled separately.

#4 TESmart HDK202-P23-V2: Best HDMI + DisplayPort Dual-Monitor KVM

This is the pick when the two monitors are not the same connector. One display runs on HDMI and the other on DisplayPort, and each computer must feed both video paths into the switch. TESmart is explicit that two independent video connections per host are required, so a single-output laptop cannot drive both screens through this box alone.

Video is HDMI 2.0 plus DisplayPort 1.2, which covers 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 3440×1440 at 100Hz, 2560×1440 at 120Hz and 1080p at 240Hz. EDID emulation is built in, so the inactive machine keeps seeing a connected display. Peripherals run on a shared USB 3.0 hub, with a front charging port rated to 7.5W, plus analog headset and microphone jacks. Switching is by keyboard hotkey, front panel or IR remote.

The hotkeys only work from the keyboard plugged into the dedicated emulated K/M port, and TESmart notes that driver-heavy gaming keyboards and mice can misbehave there; moving them to a general USB port fixes compatibility at the cost of hotkey access. Bluetooth peripherals are not supported through the emulated port. The box includes a 12V power supply, two DisplayPort cables, two combined HDMI and USB host cables and the IR remote; the monitor-side cabling is separate. For more options in this shape, see our dual-monitor KVM picks.

• Two computers to two monitors, one HDMI and one DisplayPort
• Each host needs two independent video links
• HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0
• EDID emulation built in
• Front charging port up to 7.5W; analog audio and microphone
• Hotkey, front-panel and IR remote switching
• 12V PSU, two DisplayPort and two HDMI+USB host cables included

Check the TESmart HDK202-P23-V2 on Amazon

Best for a dual-monitor desk with one HDMI and one DP screen where display retention matters.

#5 UGREEN 55397: Best Four-Port Value for HDMI 2.1 and High Refresh

If four computers share one HDMI display and you care most about raw video bandwidth for the money, the UGREEN 55397 is the one to weigh. It is an HDMI 2.1-class switch advertising 7680×4320 at 60Hz, 3840×2160 at 240Hz, and the usual 4K60, 1440p120 and 1080p240 modes further down the ladder.

Peripherals are handled by three USB-A and one USB-C shared port at 5Gbps, with HDCP 2.3/2.2/1.4, HDR and gaming-oriented high-refresh features. Switching is by front button or the wired controller, with no keyboard hotkey.

Two things follow from the bandwidth. First, high modes are unforgiving of cabling: UGREEN recommends short, high-quality HDMI 2.1 leads for 4K240-class use, and the box includes four HDMI and four USB host cables plus the controller and power lead. Second, there is no persistent EDID emulation documented here, so the inactive computer will see the monitor vanish on each switch. That trade is fine for a gaming rig and annoying for a productivity desk with a careful window layout.

• Four HDMI hosts to one HDMI monitor
• HDMI 2.1-class: 8K60, 4K240, 4K60, 1440p120, 1080p240
• 3× USB-A plus 1× USB-C shared, 5Gbps
• HDCP 2.3/2.2/1.4, HDR, high-refresh support
• Front button and wired controller, no keyboard hotkey
• No persistent EDID emulation documented
• Four HDMI and four USB host cables included; external power required

Check the UGREEN 55397 on Amazon

Best for a four-machine bench or gaming desk that wants the most video headroom per dollar and can live without display retention.

#6 TESmart HKS401-P23-V2: Best Four-Port KVM with EDID, Audio and Hotkeys

The HKS401-P23-V2 is the four-port counterpoint to the UGREEN 55397. It gives up the HDMI 2.1 headline and instead ships four EDID emulators, one per input, so the three inactive computers keep behaving as though their monitor is still attached. That is what this box is bought for.

Video is HDMI 2.0-class, covering 3840×2160 at 60Hz, 3440×1440 at 100Hz, 2560×1440 at 120Hz and 1080p at 240Hz, with QHD144 possible under DSC. Peripherals share a USB 3.0 hub with a 7.5W front charging port, and there are separate analog left/right and microphone jacks. Switching is by front panel, IR remote or keyboard hotkeys.

As with the HDK202, the emulated keyboard and mouse ports can reject the extras on driver-heavy peripherals; a generic USB port is the workaround. Four combined HDMI and USB host cables are supplied, but the monitor-side HDMI cable is not, so factor one more lead into the setup.

• Four HDMI hosts to one HDMI monitor
• HDMI 2.0-class: 4K60, 3440×1440 at 100Hz, 2560×1440 at 120Hz, 1080p240
• Four EDID emulators, one per input
• Shared USB 3.0 hub; front charging up to 7.5W
• Analog left/right audio and microphone
• Front panel, IR remote and keyboard hotkey switching
• Four HDMI and USB host cables included; monitor-side HDMI cable not included

Check the TESmart HKS401-P23-V2 on Amazon

Best for four-computer productivity desks where display retention, analog audio and hotkeys matter more than 4K120.

#7 StarTech SV231HU34K6: Best IT-Grade Two-Port with EDID and HDCP Emulation

StarTech's SV231HU34K6 is the two-port box for a desk that values predictability over price. It emulates both EDID and HDCP, which keeps the monitor logically synchronized across switches and prevents blanked screens on protected content, and it carries a steel chassis, TAA compliance and a two-year warranty with the vendor's business support behind it.

Video is HDMI 2.0 at 3840×2160 at 60Hz with HDR10 and HDCP 2.2. On the peripheral side it has two USB 3.0/3.2 Gen 1 shared ports at 5Gbps plus four USB HID ports for keyboard and mouse, and stereo analog audio alongside digital HDMI audio up to 7.1 channels. It runs without drivers and is OS-independent.

The catch is completeness. The box includes the KVM, a universal power adapter, rubber feet and documentation, but no HDMI or USB host cables, so a bare purchase is not a working two-host setup. That is a deliberate business-product packaging choice rather than an oversight, but it changes the total cost of the desk.

• Two HDMI hosts to one HDMI monitor
• 3840×2160 at 60Hz; HDMI 2.0, HDR10, HDCP 2.2
• EDID and HDCP signal emulation
• 2× USB 3.0 shared (5Gbps) plus 4× USB HID ports
• Stereo analog audio; HDMI audio up to 7.1
• Keyboard hotkey and front-button switching; no driver needed
• Steel chassis, TAA compliant, two-year warranty
• No HDMI or USB host cables included

Check the StarTech SV231HU34K6 on Amazon

Best for a business or lab two-computer desk that wants emulated EDID and HDCP plus vendor support over the lowest price.

#8 TESmart HKS401-M23: Best Four-Port HDMI 2.1 KVM with EDID

The HKS401-M23 is the premium four-computer switch for a single high-refresh HDMI 2.1 display, and it is one of the few boxes in this roundup that pairs HDMI 2.1 bandwidth with EDID emulation. Video runs on an HDMI 2.1 FRL path with 7680×4320 at 30Hz uncompressed, 7680×4320 at 60Hz with DSC, and 3840×2160 at 120Hz and 144Hz, with lower resolutions running higher.

Read the top modes precisely. The native, uncompressed ceiling is 8K30; 8K60 relies on DSC, and the high-bit-depth 4K120 modes do as well. The switch also claims HDR10 and Dolby Vision support plus VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility, all of which depend on the rest of the chain supporting them too.

Peripherals share a USB 3.0 hub with front charging, and there are analog left/right and microphone jacks. Switching is by hotkey, front panel or remote. Four combined HDMI 2.1 and USB host cables ship in the box, but the monitor-side HDMI 2.1 cable is separate and should be rated for the mode.

• Four HDMI hosts to one monitor
• HDMI 2.1 FRL with ADI switching silicon
• 7680×4320 at 30Hz uncompressed; 7680×4320 at 60Hz via DSC; 3840×2160 at 120Hz and 144Hz
• EDID emulation; HDR10 and Dolby Vision; VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync claimed
• Shared USB 3.0 hub, front USB charging, analog left/right audio and microphone
• Hotkey, front-panel and remote switching
• Four HDMI 2.1 and USB host cables included; monitor-side HDMI 2.1 cable not included

Check the TESmart HKS401-M23 on Amazon

Best for a four-machine setup on a 4K120/144 HDMI 2.1 display that also needs EDID retention.

#9 ATEN CS18208: Best Eight-Port HDMI KVM for Rack and Lab

When eight computers need to reach one HDMI console, the question stops being about refresh rate and becomes about management. The CS18208 takes eight direct HDMI hosts and USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-B links, outputs up to 4096×2160 at 60Hz, and cascades to as many as 512 computers.

Control runs through an on-screen display, keyboard hotkeys, front push buttons or RS-232 commands, with broadcast mode, auto-scan and independent KVM and USB focus switching. Video DynaSync manages monitor EDID so hosts boot against a stable display definition. It is a 1U metal rack chassis, about 43.24cm wide, with a firmware upgrade port; ATEN documents firmware V1.1.109 or later as fixing BIOS-hotkey invocation on certain HP EliteDesk 800 systems. Two front USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports handle shared peripherals, and there is analog audio. The 16-port sibling is the CS18216.

This is a specialist-retailer and rack product rather than a typical desk buy, and host interface cabling should be costed into the deployment. For a fuller field of server-class units, see our rack-mount and server KVM picks.

• Eight HDMI hosts to one HDMI console; cascades to 512 systems
• 4096×2160 at 60Hz
• 8× HDMI host plus 8× USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-B host connections
• Two front USB 3.1 Gen 1 shared ports; analog audio
• Video DynaSync EDID management
• OSD, hotkeys, front buttons and RS-232; broadcast mode and auto-scan; independent KVM/USB focus
• 1U metal rack chassis, about 43.24cm wide; firmware-upgradeable

Check the ATEN CS18208 on Amazon

Best for a rack, lab or server bench that needs eight HDMI machines, OSD and firmware servicing rather than gaming refresh.

#10 Belkin F1DN202KVM-UNN4: Best Route for a Legacy VGA Host Plus a Modern HDMI PC

This is the specialist answer to a specific problem: one old VGA-only computer and one modern HDMI computer sharing a single display. Belkin's Universal 2nd Gen KVM supports up to 3840×2160 at 60Hz on its digital paths, and its host-cable ecosystem includes the F1DN1CCBL-VH-10, an active, USB-powered VGA-to-HDMI/USB/audio combo cable. That cable is the reason the mixed setup works: it converts a VGA host into the KVM's HDMI interface, and it is capped at 1080p on the VGA source.

The keyword trap here is worth calling out. Many marketplace products sold as HDMI and VGA KVMs are dual-monitor designs that want both an HDMI and a VGA feed from each PC, which is not the same thing as letting a VGA-only machine and an HDMI machine share one modern screen. Belkin's cable path is the cleaner supported route for the latter, and our legacy VGA KVM guide covers the surrounding options.

The KVM is a secure product with per-port isolation, analog 3.5mm audio and external 12V power, sold through specialist resellers. The combo cables are separate, and the VGA cable in particular can be harder to source than the KVM itself.

• Two hosts, dual-head capable; digital paths up to 3840×2160 at 60Hz
• Active VGA-to-HDMI/USB/audio host cable (F1DN1CCBL-VH-10) for a legacy VGA host, limited to 1080p
• Secure KVM with per-port emulation and isolation
• Analog 3.5mm audio; external 12V power
• Family spans 2, 4, 8 and 16 ports, single or dual head, CAC and non-CAC
• Host and video combo cables sold separately

Check the Belkin F1DN202KVM-UNN4 on Amazon

Best for a security-conscious mixed desk that must fold one VGA-only machine into a modern HDMI KVM.

Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Pick an HDMI KVM by the video route each computer supplies, then decide how much display retention and switching convenience the desk needs. For two HDMI desktops, the UGREEN CM664 covers 4K60 and four USB ports at the lowest cost, and gofanco's KVMHD2-2P adds hotkeys, dedicated HID ports and analog audio for similar money. When one host is a USB-C laptop, the UGREEN CM731 is the cleanest fit, provided charging stays separate and no dock sits in front of it.

If the two screens differ, the TESmart HDK202-P23-V2 handles one HDMI and one DisplayPort with built-in EDID emulation. At four ports, the UGREEN 55397 gives the most HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, while the TESmart HKS401-P23-V2 trades some of it for per-input EDID, analog audio and hotkeys, and the HKS401-M23 pairs HDMI 2.1 with EDID for a 4K120/144 display. On a business desk, the StarTech SV231HU34K6 backs emulated EDID and HDCP with vendor support; for eight machines in a rack, the ATEN CS18208 brings OSD, RS-232 and cascading; and for one VGA-only machine alongside a modern PC, Belkin's F1DN202KVM-UNN4 with its active VGA host cable is the supported route.

Whichever you choose, keep host video as direct as possible, because a dock, an adapter and a switch in series multiplies the handshakes that can fail on wake. Compare the wider field in our complete KVM switch buying guide, the dual-monitor picks, the rack and server models and the legacy VGA options. If the goal is to fold a laptop and a desktop into a single desk, our guide to docking stations with a built-in KVM switch covers the dock-first approach.

Check the UGREEN CM664 on Amazon