Virtual Serial Port Kit [FabulaTech]
FabulaTech’s Virtual Serial Port Kit creates paired virtual COM ports for null-modem connections between serial communication applications.
OS Supported:
- Windows (32-bit and 64-bit): 7/8/8.1/10/11
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
Features List:
- Limitless virtual port creation: Establish as many virtual ports as needed.
- Virtual null-modem cables: Enable communication between virtual ports.
- Customizable signal lines, baud rates, etc.: Offers a wide range of port settings for different purposes.
- Full duplex mode: Support for bidirectional or two-way communication.
- Customizable port names: Insert port names as desired for easier identification.
You can get 15-day trial (only 10 virtual serial ports can be created) or an on year license for $129.95
Best for:
• Creation of paired virtual serial ports whose primary requirement is a virtual null-modem cable connection.
• Simple applications that do not require port splitting, merging, or other advanced features.
Virtual Serial Port Tools [HHD Software]
This software Free Virtual Serial Ports uses 16550 UART to emulate custom serial/I/O physical ports.
OS Supported:
- Windows (86-bit and 64-bit): 7/8/8.1/10/11
- Windows Server 2008/2012/2016/2019
- Windows Vista
Features List:
- Local serial bridges: Create and connect virtual ports for local use.
- Network-based serial bridges: Set up connections among virtual ports across networks.
- Pipe-connected serial ports: Initiate guest OS communication with VM software integration.
- Customizable null-modem pin-outs: For precise emulation, users can specify pin connections using the software.
- Developer API: Developers can code commands and other instructions to control virtual serial devices.
- TX buffer overflow emulation: Simulate buffer overflow conditions.
- Line noise emulation: Test communication reliability and implement error correction.
You can purchase a one-year license for $149.99. A 14-day free trial is available for non-commercial users and must not be used to gain monetary profit.
Best for:
• Users who need a versatile platform for the creation and management of virtual serial ports, with a wide range of features like custom plug-and-play ports and emulation capabilities.
Virtual Serial Port Emulator [Eterlogic]
The next entry in our list of virtual COM port software is Virtual Serial Ports Emulator which is developed by Eterlogic.
OS Supported:
- Windows (32-bit and 64-bit): 7/8/8.1/10/11
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
Features List:
- Seamless Multi-Application Access: Access multiple applications simultaneously through a single device to streamline development and testing processes.
- Robust Port Pairing: Simulate real-world dev situations or test communication protocols by creating pairs of virtual serial ports.
- Shared Serial Interfaces: Share serial interfaces and facilitate collaborative development via multiple applications.
- Local Network Port Access: To expand the reach and flexibility of your applications, you can use TCP to share COM ports across a network.
For 32-bit platforms, a free license of the application is available. Users who need the 64-bit version can obtain a paid version of the software.
The paid version of Virtual Serial Ports Emulator is priced at $59.95, with a 4-week free trial available.
Best for:
• Users who seek a feature-rich virtual serial port software with a user-friendly interface.
• Developers who need to configure complex virtual serial port connections.
Null-Modem Emulator [com0com]
This solution is an open-source kernel-mode virtual serial port driver that enables the emulation of serial communication interfaces.
OS Supported:
- All Windows versions (except the latest ones, such as Win11)
Features List:
- Baud rate Simulation: Emulate multiple baud rates of data communication channels.
- Full pinouts customization: Configure pin connections as needed.
- Noised line emulation: Test applications through noise line simulations.
- Paired port settings monitoring: Track real-time baud rate, data bits, stop bits, and parity.
- Port availability visibility: Hide “unavailable” ports to prevent access to unused ports.
It’s free, but refer to the comparison chart for Virtual Serial Port Driver and Null-Modem Emulator for further details.
Best for:
• Users who need a lightweight and efficient null-modem emulator.
• For scenarios that do not require advanced features such as data splitting or network-based bridges.
Virtual Serial Port Tools Comparison Charts
Now, let’s look at the features of virtual serial port emulators compared in the below chart.
|
Features |
VSPD |
VSPD pro |
Virtual Serial Port Kit [Fabula] |
Virtual Serial Port Tools [HHD] |
Virtual Serial Port Emulator [Eterlogic] |
comOcom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completely emulate hardware control lines and physical COM port parameters | ||||||
| No limit on the number of virtual serial ports that can be created | ||||||
| Create complex bundles of virtual COM ports | ||||||
| Multiple virtual RS232 ports can be created by splitting a physical or virtual serial port | ||||||
| Unlimited physical or virtual serial ports can be merged into a single COM port | ||||||
| Virtual COM ports provide high data transmission speed | ||||||
| The serial port emulation software is digitally signed as are all of its internal drivers. | ||||||
| Serial data traffic can be forwarded from a real port to another virtual or physical interface | ||||||
| Windows kernel driver technology (WDM, WMI, Power Management, PnP, etc.) is fully supported | ||||||
| Serial port emulation is supported for VMware and hyper-threading | ||||||
| Fully supports strict baudrate emulation | ||||||
| Аssign any name you like to virtual serial ports, even names that are used by physical ports | ||||||
| Various virtual null-modem schemes are available for use: standard, loopback, and custom | ||||||
| Merge multiple COM interfaces into a single bundle | ||||||
| Capacity to customize the connection parameters of physical serial ports (parity, baudrate, databits, stopbits, and flow control) | ||||||
| Virtual ports are automatically re-created prior to user logon after a system reboot. | ||||||
| Each port can have individually set read and write permissions | ||||||
| HandFlow control (Hardware and Xon/Xoff) is fully supported | ||||||
| Multiple applications can share a single physical serial port simultaneously | ||||||
| Application port usage data can be saved in the ‘Activity log’ | ||||||
| Virtual serial ports created by Emulator and displayed in Device Manager can have their names changed | ||||||
| Install the software and create and configure virtual serial ports without the need to reboot your machine | ||||||
| Create fully functional loopback connections |
Com0Com is a software application that allows users to create virtual serial ports on a computer. Com0Com is a tool that allows users to emulate hardware devices over virtual COM ports. With Com0Com, users can easily make connections between two applications that are not compatible with each other, even if those applications are running on the same computer.
Using com0com allows for two virtual serial ports to be created and connected together, providing an easy way to test software that requires serial communication.
Features:
• Create virtual serial ports: Com0Com allows users to create virtual serial ports on their computer. These ports can be used to emulate hardware devices or to connect two applications that are not compatible with each other.
• Easy to use: Com0Com is easy to use. It requires minimal setup and can be used with any Windows computer.
• Reliable: Com0Com is a reliable tool for creating virtual serial ports. It is also reliable for connecting two applications that are not compatible with each other.
• Secure: Com0Com is a secure tool. It uses encryption to protect all data transferred over its virtual serial ports.
• Compatible: Com0Com is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10.
• Free: Com0Com is a free application. It can be downloaded and used without any cost.
• Open Source: Com0Com is an open source project. This means that it is developed and maintained by a community of volunteers who are dedicated to providing a reliable and secure tool for creating virtual serial ports.
• Configurable: Com0Com is configurable. Users can configure the settings for each virtual serial port to meet their specific needs.
• Compatible with Many Applications: Com0Com is compatible with many applications, including but not limited to, industrial control systems, medical devices, robotics, and embedded systems.
• Support: Com0Com provides extensive documentation and support for users.
• Scalable: Com0Com is scalable. This means that users can create as many virtual serial ports as needed, depending on their needs.
Com0Com is a powerful and reliable tool for creating virtual serial ports and connecting two applications that are not compatible with each other. It is easy to use, secure, compatible with many applications, and free. With its configurable settings, scalability, and support, Com0Com is an ideal solution for creating virtual serial ports.
1. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 or later, MacOS 10.10 or later, or any Linux variant
2. Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
3. Memory: 4GB RAM
4. Hard Drive: 100GB of available disk space
5. Internet Connection: Broadband connection
6. Software: .NET Framework 4.0 or higher, Visual Studio 2015 or higher
👨💻️ USER REVIEWS AND COMMENTS 💬
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Leo Dicristofaro
I have used com0com software for several years now and found it to be a great solution for creating virtual serial port connections. It is easy to install and configure for use. The user interface is intuitive and the performance is reliable. It is also highly customizable and supports a wide range of emulations. The only downside I have experienced is that the software can be a bit slow at times. Other than that, it has been an excellent solution for my needs.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Luke A*******k
I have used com0com software for a few months and I have found it to be quite reliable. It’s been easy to set up, and I’ve found the virtual ports to be stable and responsive. I have experienced minimal latency when transferring data between the ports, and I haven’t experienced any crashes or errors. The support documentation is user-friendly and easy to understand.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Luke O*****r
The com0com software is a great tool for testing serial ports, but I found that the setup process was a bit confusin and time consuming.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Arran Fontecchio
This software is a virtual serial port emulator that allows users to create pairs of virtual COM ports and connect them with a virtual null modem cable. It supports various types of connections, including loopback, TCP/IP, and UDP. It is compatible with Windows operating systems and can be used for various applications such as debugging, testing, and data transfer between serial devices. It also includes a GUI interface for easy configuration and management of the virtual COM ports.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
John X*******k
Com0com is a free and open-source virtual serial port emulator that allows communication between two applications or devices.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Scott
Com0com is an open-source software that provides a system for emulating serial port device pairs, which are indispensable in creating virtual null-modem cables. This feature allows developers to perform testing of various software and hardware solutions without the need for physical devices. It further enhances the debugging process by enabling data routing and monitoring.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Blake
A handy tool for virtual serial port emulation, making data transfer and debugging much easier.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Caleb
Efficient for serial port emulation, slightly complex interface.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Kai
Reliable for serial communication simulation.
Com0com: reliable for creating virtual serial ports.
Great for connecting devices, but confusing to set up.
Virtual Serial Ports Emulator
COM ports emulation solution
What is VSPE?
Description
Virtual Serial Ports Emulator (VSPE) was developed as a solution to help engineers and software developers to create/debug/test applications that use serial ports.
Unlike regular serial ports, virtual COM ports may have special capabilities: for example, VSPE can create virtual port which be opened by multiple applications.
VSPE can share existing serial port with multiple applications (split/merge data), send serial port traffic over network (TCP or UDP protocol), transform data, create connected virtual ports and so on.
Key features
- Native x86, x86_64 and arm64 platforms support.
- Virtual Connector creates virtual COM port which can be opened by two applications to exchange data.
- Virtual Pair creates two connected virtual COM ports.
- Connector/Pair devices can be configured to customize pin-out, override timeouts, send custom notification events etc.
- Virtual Splitter creates multiple virtual COM ports connected to existing COM port in order to share it with many applications.
- Serial Router allows HAM radio operators to share CAT port between multiple programs for certain CAT protocols.
- Mapper redirects requests from one COM port to another COM port (useful if you want to redirect traffic from legacy application which cannot be re-configured).
- TcpServer shares COM port over network (listening to a local TCP port) with or without TLS/mTLS encryption. Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- TcpClient shares COM port over network (connecting to remote TCP port) with or without TLS/mTLS encryption. Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- Serial Redirector redirects data between two COM ports. Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- Serial Router is advanced alternative to Splitter. It is routing data from source to target ports in intelligent manner and has unique features for HAM operators. Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- UDP Manager shares COM port over network using UDP protocol (in unicast/broadcast/unicast mode). Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- Bridge connects two generic data streams (COM port, TcpServer, TcpClient, Named Pipe, File). Data can be modified/filtered with Transformers.
- Transformers can filter/transform live traffic flowing through some of VSPE devices above. For example, you can configure multiple TcpClients to receive only specific data from TcpServer.
- VSPE service can automatically restore last known VSPE configuration on Windows startup (if enabled in settings).
- Monitoring Tool is displaying all traffic flowing through all VSPE user-mode devices such as Redirector, Router, TcpServer etc. The monitored data can be saved to a file.
- Terminal Tool can be used to send/receive data from serial port or TCP server.
- Translated to many languages.
- No telemetry/usage data collection.
Technical information
Supported operating systems
- Officially supported by Microsoft Windows operating system: x86 (32 bit)/x86_64 and arm64 (64 bit)
- Windows 11 ARM64 kernel driver support added starting from version 1.1.6.760
- Windows 10 (32/64), Windows 11 (64/ARM64) or Windows Server 2019/2022 (but can work on some other versions as well)
- Legacy operating systems require latest Windows updates/service packs to be installed: applicable to Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. In some cases (for Windows XP for example) you will have to use previous VSPE version — see «Legacy operating systems support» section below.
- Latest VSPE versions kernel driver digital signature is not compatible with officially deprecated by Microsoft x64 systems such as Windows 7 x64 and Windows 8 x64. You can either use older VSPE version (1.1.5.458) or (as temporary workaround) disable driver signature verification in your system. x32 platforms do not have such limitation and can still work with latest VSPE releases. We are aware of this problem and working on it by going through re-certification process for legacy systems, but it takes time.
- Before every release, VSPE is thoroughly validated by combination of manual and automated tests on different operating systems (x64, x32 and arm64 platforms) with mix of real and emulated hardware. Automated tests are using VSPE API to validate core functionality like creating/deleting devices, sending data (in small and large chunks) sequentially and in parallel, updating timeouts, updating modem registers, stopping and restarting devices during active usage etc. Automated test run takes more than seven hours on every system and in addition to that we frequently run automated tests in a loop.
| Operating system | Platform | Test run performed? | Supported by latest VSPE version? | VSPE license required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | x64, arm64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows 10 | x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows 10 | x86 (32 bit) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows Server 2025 Preview | x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2022 | x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 | x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 | x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 | x64 | Yes | Test signing mode only | Yes |
| Windows 8 | x64 | Yes | Test signing mode only | Yes |
| Windows 8 | x86 (32 bit) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows 7 | x64 | Yes | Test signing mode only | Yes |
| Windows 7 | x86 (32 bit) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows XP | x64 | No | No. Use older VSPE version | Yes |
| Windows XP | x86 (32 bit) | No | No. Use older VSPE version | No |
Information
This is an independent software product designed to be used with certain third-party devices and systems.
It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any company or their affiliates.
All trademarks mentioned on web site, in the product documentation or in the product are the property of their respective owners.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Easily Add Virtual Serial Ports to Your Computer!
Enable serial-based applications to communicate over a network connection through a virtual serial port on your PC, eliminating the need for a DB9 interface. Virtual COM Port software is available free of charge to owners of genuine NetBurner devices.
NetBurner VCOM capabilities allow you to:
- Connect serial devices to computers without a physical COM port
- Continue to use legacy serial hardware or software on new computers
- Connect using Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi through internet or LAN
- Easily set up and use a virtual COM port
Recommended Virtual COM Port Devices
More about our Virtual COM Products
For a full list of Serial to Ethernet (S2E) hardware please check out our Serial to Ethernet product comparison table. Device configuration options for a specific module can be found on each particular device’s product page. Our amazingly versatile Ethernet System-on-Modules also support VCOM but with just a touch more setup than the S2E products. Check out our Ethernet System-on-Modules comparison table for more information. Our NANO54415 is both an S2E and Core Module and is also recommended, above, for VCOM applications.
Our “How to create a virtual COM port” article provides more details on the virtual COM port driver and utilities. It includes a tutorial on set up, a link to the driver, and an example tutorial on how to run legacy COM port-dependent software applications with only a USB port and Ethernet port at your disposal. Read our article about it by clicking below.
Virtual COM Driver License Terms
Permission is hereby granted to purchasers of NetBurner System-on-Modules and serial-to-Ethernet modules (NetBurner Devices) to use this program to create a virtual serial communications port on a Windows computer so long as the sole purpose is to connect to the NetBurner Device. No other rights to use this program or its derivatives in part or in whole are granted.
Articles
callbacks
July 19, 2017
COM Port
November 17, 2014
COM Port
September 26, 2017
Virtual COM Port Drivers
This page contains the VCP drivers currently available for FTDI devices.
Virtual COM port (VCP) drivers cause the USB device to appear as an additional COM port available to the PC. Application software can access the USB device in the same way as it would access a standard COM port.
Click here to download the Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server (see note * below) driver installer (setup executable) for ease of installation. The Windows driver installer contains both VCP and D2XX drivers. This installer is not available for ARM64..
For D2XX Direct drivers, please click here.
Installation guides are available from the Installation Guides page of the Documents section of this site for selected operating systems.
VCP Drivers
Virtual COM port (VCP) drivers cause the USB device to appear as an additional COM port available to the PC. Application software can access the USB device in the same way as it would access a standard COM port.
This software is provided by Future Technology Devices International Limited “as is” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall future technology devices international limited be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.
FTDI drivers may be used only in conjunction with products based on FTDI parts.
FTDI drivers may be distributed in any form as long as license information is not modified.
If a custom vendor ID and/or product ID or description string are used, it is the responsibility of the product manufacturer to maintain any changes and subsequent WHCK re-certification as a result of making these changes.
For more detail on FTDI Chip Driver licence terms, please click here.
Currently Supported VCP Drivers:
Our Driver Updates
| Processor Architecture | |||||||||
| Operating System | Release Date | x86 (32-bit) | x64 (64-bit) | PPC | ARM | MIPSII | MIPSIV | SH4 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows (Desktop)* | 2025-03-04 | 2.12.36.20 | 2.12.36.20 | – |
2.12.36.20A*** * |
– | – | – | WHQL Certified. Includes VCP and D2XX. Available as a setup executable (non-ARM64). Please read the Release Notes and Installation Guides. |
| Windows (Universal)*** | 2025-03-04 | 2.12.36.20U | 2.12.36.20U | – | 2.12.36.20UA | – | – | – | WHQL Certified. Includes VCP and D2XX. |
| Linux | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | All FTDI devices now supported in Ubuntu 11.10, kernel 3.0.0-19 Refer to TN-101 if you need a custom VCP VID/PID in Linux VCP drivers are integrated into the kernel. |
| Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.8 | 2012-08-10 | 2.2.18 | 2.2.18 | 2.2.18 | – | – | – | – | Refer to TN-105 if you need a custom VCP VID/PID in MAC OS |
| Mac OS X 10.9 to 10.13 | 2019-12-24 | – | 2.4.2 | – | – | – | – | – | This driver is signed by Apple |
| Mac OS X 10.14 | 2019–12-24 | – | 2.4.4 | – | – | – | – | – | This driver is signed by Apple |
| Mac OS X10.15 and macOS 11/12 | 2022-06-13 | 1.5.0 (zip)
1.5.0 (dmg) |
1.5.0 (zip)
1.5.0 (dmg) |
This is a Beta driver release and the installer should be run from the Applications folder on your machine |
* Includes the following version of the Windows operating system: Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2022 and Windows server 2025.
*** Windows 10 and Windows 11 only. Universal Windows Drivers enable developers to create a single driver package that runs across multiple different device types, from embedded systems to tablets and desktop PCs.
**** Windows 11 only for ARM64 based Windows PCs. Also works on Mac M1/M2/Mx running Parallels or VMWare Virtual Machines running Windows.
No Longer Supported:
| Processor Architecture | |||||||||
| Operating System | Release Date | x86 (32-bit) | x64 (64-bit) | PPC | ARM | MIPSII | MIPSIV | SH4 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows* | 2017–08-30
2021-07-15 |
2.12.28
2.12.36.4 |
2.12.28
2.12.36.4 |
– | –
2.12.36.4A**** |
– | – | – | WHQL Certified. Includes VCP and D2XX. Available as a setup executable Please read the Release Notes and Installation Guides. |
| Windows (Universal)*** | 2021-11-12 | 2.12.36.4U | 2.12.36.4U | – | – | – | – | – | WHQL Certified. Includes VCP and D2XX. |
| Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008 | 2012-04-13 | 2.08.24 | 2.08.24 | – | – | – | – | – | WHQL Certified Also available as a setup executable Release notes This is FTDI’s final release before Microsoft stopped certifying drivers for these versions of Windows. |
| Windows 2000 | 2009-10-22 | 2.06.00 | – | – | – | – | – | – | WHQL Certified Available as setup executable Release notes |
| Windows 98/ME | 2004-11-25 | 1.09.06 | – | – | – | – | – | – | Does not support FT2232 or FT4232 devices |
| Windows 98/ME | 2004-03-12 | 1.0.3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | Only supports FT2232D devices |
| Mac OS 9 Mac OS 8 |
2004-05-18 | – | – | 1.0f4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Mac OS X 10.9 and above | 2015-04-15 | – | 2.3 | – | – | – | – | – | This driver is signed by Apple |
| Linux | 2009-05-14 | 1.5.0 | 1.5.0 | ||||||
| Windows CE 4.2-5.2** | 2012-01-06 | 1.1.0.20 |
– | – | 1.1.0.20 |
1.1.0.10 |
1.1.0.10 |
1.1.0.10 |
|
| Windows CE 6.0/7.0 | 2016-11-03 |
1.1.0.22 CE 6.0 CAT CE 7.0 CAT |
– | – | 1.1.0.22 CE 6.0 CAT CE 7.0 CAT |
1.1.0.10 |
1.1.0.10 |
1.1.0.10 |
For use of the CAT files supplied for ARM and x86 builds refer to AN_319 |
| Windows CE 2013 | 2015-03-06 | 1.0.0 | 1.0.0 | VCP Driver Support for WinCE2013 |
** Includes the following versions of Windows CE 4.2-5.2 based operating systems: Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 2003 SE, Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 6.1 ,Windows Mobile 6.5liquam erat volutpat.
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