Multi

Communication , Developer Tools , Productivity

A high-performance multiplayer collaboration tool for macOS that was acquired and sunset by OpenAI in 2024, leaving it unavailable for standalone use.

Excellent for deep technical collaboration on macOS, but currently impossible to adopt as the product has been discontinued.

Collaboration Video Conferencing Developer Tools Macos Real-Time Pair Programming Software Engineering Productivity Tools

Analysis based on product data, pricing structure, traffic signals, and public user sentiment.

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Who Should Use Multi?

Typical users

Software engineers and product teams who previously relied on low-latency shared control for pair programming.

Maturity fit

advanced

Choose this if…

You are researching the technology now integrated into OpenAI's desktop ecosystem
You need to understand the historical benchmark for low-latency screen sharing

Skip this if…

You need a tool you can actually sign up for and use today
Your team uses Windows or Linux
You require a vendor with long-term support and availability

About Multi

Multi (formerly Remotion) was a macOS-native collaboration tool designed to turn any application into a multiplayer experience. It focused on the specific needs of software engineers, providing a shared operating system layer rather than just a video feed.

What it actually does

It allowed multiple users to share their screens simultaneously while providing each participant with their own cursor and control capabilities. The tool enabled real-time interaction with a teammate's IDE, terminal, or browser with sub-50ms latency.

What makes it different

Unlike general-purpose meeting tools, Multi was built natively for macOS using Swift, allowing for deep system integration and significantly lower CPU usage. It treated screen sharing as a persistent workspace rather than a scheduled call.

Simultaneous multi-user screen sharing Individual remote cursor control Low-latency audio and video communication Shared system clipboard across users On-screen drawing and annotation layer Deep linking for VS Code, Xcode, and Slack Automatic team presence and status tracking

Key Features

Multiplayer Control

Allows multiple participants to click and type in the same application at the same time.

App-Specific Sharing

Permits sharing only selected windows to maintain privacy for the rest of the desktop.

Native macOS Build

Built with Swift to ensure high performance and low resource consumption on Mac hardware.

Drawing Layer

Provides temporary on-screen annotations to highlight specific code blocks or UI elements.

Deep Links

Opens the exact file and line of code on a teammate's machine via IDE integrations.

Shared Shortcuts

Syncs keyboard modifiers to make remote terminal and editor navigation feel local.

Automatic Status

Updates teammate availability based on the active application they are using.

Pricing

Free Beta (Historical)

Free

Unlimited multiplayer sessions
Shared control and cursors
Drawing and annotation tools
Native macOS application

Popular

Sunsetted

N/A

Product no longer available
Acquired by OpenAI
No longer accepting new signups

Pricing checked 4 months ago

Pricing guidance

Best plan for most users: The tool was free during its entire active lifecycle as a beta product.

Free plan enough? Yes, it was the only tier offered before the company was acquired.

Upgrade when:

N/A - The tool is no longer functional

Watch out for:

macOS only
Backend services are now decommissioned
No Windows or web version

Was positioned as a high-end free utility to capture the developer market before exiting.

Pros & Cons

Strengths

Extreme low latency
The sub-50ms lag made remote control feel like local interaction, which is critical for fluid pair programming.
True multi-cursor support
Eliminated the 'driver and navigator' bottleneck by letting everyone interact with the code simultaneously.
Lightweight system footprint
Being a native app allowed it to avoid the memory bloat and lag typical of Electron-based competitors like Slack or Discord.

Weaknesses

Product discontinued
The tool was sunset in July 2024 following the OpenAI acquisition, making it unavailable for new or existing users.

Affects: Everyone
Platform locked
It never expanded beyond macOS, which excluded any teams with Windows or Linux developers.

Affects: Cross-platform engineering teams
Acquisition risk realized
Users who integrated the tool into their daily workflows were forced to migrate to alternatives on short notice.

Affects: Teams looking for stable, long-term infrastructure

Real User Sentiment

Users highly praised the technical performance and 'multiplayer' feel, followed by significant disappointment when the tool was sunset.

Users tend to like

Unmatched speed and responsiveness
The native macOS user interface
Ability for multiple people to share screens at once

Users commonly complain about

Lack of support for non-Mac users
Sudden shutdown after the OpenAI acquisition
Occasional audio synchronization issues

Recurring tradeoffs

Superior performance required a strict commitment to the macOS ecosystem.

Happiest users

All-Mac engineering teams who practiced daily pair programming.

Often frustrated

Teams with mixed operating systems and those who lost their workflow due to the acquisition.

Use Cases

Pair Programming

Two developers writing and debugging code in the same IDE simultaneously.

Design Reviews

Designers and product managers interacting with Figma or live builds in real-time.

Technical Onboarding

Senior engineers walking new hires through complex codebases with shared control.

Rapid Debugging

Jumping into a teammate's terminal to help resolve configuration issues.

Collaborative Documentation

Multiple team members editing a document or wiki together via shared screen control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Multi still available for download?

No. Multi was acquired by OpenAI in June 2024, and the standalone application was officially sunset on July 24, 2024. The download links and backend services have been removed.

What is the best alternative to Multi?

Tuple is the most direct alternative, offering high-performance, macOS-native pair programming with shared control. Other options include Screen.so (also acquired/shut down) or basic tools like Slack Huddles.

Did Multi ever support Windows or Linux?

No. Multi was built specifically as a native macOS application using Swift to optimize for performance. It never released versions for Windows or Linux before its acquisition.

Was Multi a free tool?

Yes, Multi remained in a free beta phase for its entire existence. It did not implement a paid tier before the team joined OpenAI.

Why did OpenAI acquire Multi?

OpenAI acquired the team to work on 'desktop-level interaction' for their products. This likely involves integrating Multi's low-latency screen interaction technology into ChatGPT's desktop applications.

How did Multi compare to Zoom for screen sharing?

Zoom is a general-purpose video tool with high latency and 'one-at-a-time' remote control. Multi allowed multiple simultaneous shares and near-instant multiplayer interaction with the OS.

Why trust this page?

This evaluation combines product positioning, pricing analysis, traffic and market signals, and public user sentiment into a single decision-support page. Content is generated editorially — not copied from the vendor's website.

Funding & Company

Founded

2019

Stage

Acquired

Total Raised

$13M

Latest Round

Series A (Oct 2020)

Notable Investors

Greylock First Round Capital

Multi, legally known as Remotion Inc., raised a total of $13 million in venture capital across two funding rounds, including a Series A in October 2020. The company was backed by notable investors like Greylock and First Round Capital before being acquired by OpenAI in June 2024. This acquisition provides significant financial stability, though the product itself is being sunsetted.

Full funding report medium confidence

Market Signals & Traffic

Estimated visits, global rank, geography, traffic sources, monthly visit trends, and organic search keywords (Similarweb)—on a dedicated page built for depth and search.

Estimated visits: 15,205
Global rank: #1,670,065
Snapshot: Apr 2026
Traffic trend: Surging