Your PC must have enough video ports (HDMI/DisplayPort) to support all monitors. Some configurations may require two separate graphics cards (GPUs) to ensure smooth performance for multiple users. How to set up a multi-seat Windows PC. | by Kelvin Waters

This method uses a "Host" OS to run a "Guest" OS in a window. By assigning specific hardware directly to the guest, you create a second seat.

| Feature | ASTER (Paid) | Linux Multiseat (Free) | MultiPoint Server (Free*) | Windows RDP Workaround | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | $59+ | $0 | $0 (eval/EDU) | $0 (limited) | | OS | Windows | Linux | Windows Server | Windows Pro | | Multiple local mice/keyboards | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | | Single GPU splitting | Yes (limited) | No (needs multiple GPUs) | Yes (via USB adapters) | N/A | | Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard | Moderate | Easy | | Stability | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |

You don't need special software. Just a distro like Fedora or Arch Linux with two graphics cards (or one GPU with two outputs and a separate USB controller per seat).

Now, let's explore some free alternatives to Aster Multiseat that offer similar functionality:

NoMachine is easy to set up and configure and offers a user-friendly interface. However, it requires a server and may require some technical expertise to manage.

If you’ve used from Ibik, you know it’s great for turning one PC into two independent workstations. But the license isn’t free, and recent Windows updates keep breaking it.

If you must stay on Windows and pay nothing, your only real option is the workaround:

Set up a new Windows or Linux guest machine. Ensure you allocate enough RAM (at least 4GB) and CPU cores to keep it smooth.

While there is no one-to-one "one-click" free software that replicates IBIK ASTER's specific kernel-level driver magic for Windows, you can achieve a multiseat setup using , Linux native support , or specialized streaming tools like DuoStream .