I’m trying to set up a virtual null modem connection between two programs on my Windows 10 PC, but I’m not sure which emulator is the most reliable or easiest to use. I’ve tried a couple, but either they didn’t work as expected or were too complicated. Can anyone recommend a good null modem emulator that’s stable and straightforward to set up? Any advice or personal experience would be really helpful.
Hey, for anyone trying to wrangle virtual serial ports on Windows… I’ve been down that rabbit hole before. You’ll see folks mention com0com because, well, it doesn’t cost a dime—and yeah, it works for basic setups. But let’s keep it real: wrestling with unsigned drivers and sketchy documentation can really kill your vibe, especially on newer versions of Windows.
Now, if you want a headache-free setup with more bells and whistles than you’d expect, you might want to check out Virtual Serial Port Driver. I threw it into my workflow after wasting hours fiddling with registry hacks and ghost ports. Night and day difference! Not once have I gotten stall-outs, resource hogging, or ghosted COM ports since the switch. Way easier to pair, un-pair, monitor, and diagnose—makes the built-in Windows Device Manager look like it’s from the Stone Age.
Honestly, if you’re doing more than just casual experimentation, having a tool that “just works” saves a ton of time you could be spending actually building and testing your project. If anyone’s got a secret, bulletproof open-source alternative that feels as polished, hit me up, because I’ve been hunting and haven’t found one yet.
5 Likes
Not gonna lie, setting up a reliable virtual serial port pair (aka software-based null modem cable emulator) on Windows 10 has definitely fried my patience more than once. Yeah, com0com is that old standby everyone points to, but if you love wrestling with driver signing and feeling like you’re one slip away from a BSOD, it’s… kinda perfect. I’m seriously convinced sometimes the hardest part is not finding the tool, but getting it to survive Windows “security” updates without you pulling your hair out.
@Mikeappsreviewer makes a solid point about ditching the drama for something that just works. I actually tried taking the open-source road for a while and, honestly, my productivity paid the price. Not only did I get ghost ports showing up like uninvited guests, but sometimes the pairings would just vanish on reboot. Fun times.
So I caved and went premium with this virtual COM port solution for reliable Windows 10 null modem emulation. What a relief. UI isn’t from 1998, pairing/unpairing is click-and-done, and you actually get real support if you hit a wall. Downsides? It’s not free. But for real dev work or stress-free testing, it’s the closest thing to plug-and-play you’ll get.
If your budget’s zero, try com0com until the headaches eclipse your savings. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and use something stable like Virtual Serial Port Driver. If someone claims a flawless open-source option for a virtual null modem cable that doesn’t break with every Win10 patch, I’m all ears. Prove me wrong.
I’ll be the odd one out for a sec, because while @mikeappsreviewer and @hoshikuzu both make decent points about com0com being a bit of a relic (and a time suck), you can’t totally sleep on it if you’re OK with rolling up your sleeves. It does get the job done for folks who don’t mind battling with driver signing, and sometimes that’s the price you pay for “free.” But honestly, even “free” ends up costing you your evening every time a Windows update lands. Ask me how I know… yeah, I still have nightmares about vanishing COM ports.
As far as something that’s truly “set it and forget it,” I gotta admit Virtual Serial Port Driver is the king of the hill right now. It’s not free, but it works straight out the gate, and even someone who’s allergic to manuals can get a null modem hookup between two apps in, like, 60 seconds. No registry spelunking, no mysterious error codes, and you don’t have to pray it survives a system reboot.
But for anyone who absolutely refuses to cough up dough, there are alternatives floating around (like Free Virtual Serial Ports from HHD Software or Eltima’s slightly more obscure tools), but expect similar frustrations to com0com—generally clunkier UI, spotty Windows 10 support, or nags for premium features when you actually need them most. I’ve dabbled, and always come crawling back to the paid stuff for sanity.
Bottom line: if you just want to create a hassle-free virtual null modem cable on Windows 10, Virtual Serial Port Driver blows com0com out of the water. If you’re more masochistic (or broke), roll the dice with the open source options, but fair warning: your free time will vanish.
If you’re burning daylight searching for a rock-solid null modem emulator for Windows 10, let’s cut through the chatter. There’s the familiar crowd—com0com, Free Virtual Serial Ports from HHD, Eltima’s toolkit—that’s been hanging around since XP, but the experience tends to range from “quirky nostalgia” to “actual rage quit.” Driver signing headaches, clunky GUIs, ghost ports after Windows updates, good luck.
Now, Virtual Serial Port Driver? Not gonna sugarcoat it—it isn’t free, and I get that’s a deal-breaker for some. BUT: installation is foolproof, zero unsigned driver drama, and it’s stable even when Windows 10 has its monthly existential crisis. Feature-wise, it’s all there: easy port pairing, robust diagnostics (lifetime saver), and plenty of granularity if you need to tweak advanced port behavior. Big win for those folks doing iterative development or automation testing—no accidental “where’d my COM port go?” moments.
Cons? Price, obviously. Also, if you’re a command-line diehard, the interface is very GUI-centric. Lightweight setups or basic tinkerers might feel the cost isn’t justified. But for hassle-free, production-grade virtual serial links—just plug, play, and forget.
Bottom line: if you want your virtual null modem cable to behave as advertised without becoming a sysadmin, Virtual Serial Port Driver is likely your best bet. But hey, if you’re all about open-source and have free weekends to spare, com0com or HHD can still stumble across the finish line—just expect bruises.