Best Remote Desktop Software in 2026: 9 Tools Compared

TeamViewer is the name most people think of for remote access, and for good reason. It covers remote support, unattended access and AR-assisted guidance across Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile and IoT devices, with strong security credentials including ISO 27001, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliance. For a business in a regulated industry, that compliance coverage is the reason to choose TeamViewer over a cheaper tool.

The free version covers personal use only, and commercial pricing is premium and quote-based on some plans, so check the current pricing page before budgeting. The free tier also flags suspected commercial use aggressively. For a business that wants the safe, widely recognized choice, TeamViewer is the default.

AnyDesk wins on speed. Its DeskRT codec keeps latency low even on weaker connections, which matters for design work, video editing and any session where lag breaks concentration. The app is lightweight, runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile, Raspberry Pi and ChromeOS, and the free version covers personal use.

Commercial pricing varies by plan and region, so confirm the current figure on the vendor's site. AnyDesk also holds fewer compliance certifications than TeamViewer, which matters for regulated businesses. For a small team or individual who values speed above all else, AnyDesk is the best-performing option here.

Splashtop is the best value in remote desktop software. The Solo plan costs $6 per month billed annually and covers two computers with unattended access, file transfer and remote printing. The Pro plan at $8.25 per user per month adds ten computers, multi-monitor support and session recording, and the Performance plan adds high-fidelity color and USB passthrough for creative work.

Performance is a genuine strength, with 4K streaming at up to 60 frames per second across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Chromebook. The main weakness is that advanced compliance and recording features sit on higher plans. For an individual or small business that wants reliable remote work access without TeamViewer's price, Splashtop is the pick.

Chrome Remote Desktop is the best free remote desktop tool for personal use. Install it once from Chrome on the computer you want to reach, set a PIN, and you can connect from any browser or from the mobile app. Sessions are encrypted, and one-time support codes let you help someone else without a permanent setup.

The trade is features. There is no built-in file transfer, no multi-monitor control and no unattended management dashboard. It also requires a Google account. For reaching your own home computer from a laptop or phone, Chrome Remote Desktop is all most people need, and it costs nothing.

RustDesk is the open-source alternative to TeamViewer, and the best choice for privacy-conscious teams. The software is free, and you can run your own relay server so that connection data never passes through a vendor's infrastructure. It works across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, with file transfer and remote control included.

Self-hosting is the catch. Setting up and maintaining a relay server takes technical skill, and performance depends on your own server. A hosted option exists for teams that do not want to self-host. For a technical team that wants full control over its remote access, RustDesk is the most flexible free option.

Zoho Assist is the budget pick for small support teams. The Standard plan costs $12 per technician per month and covers attended and unattended access, file transfer and multi-monitor support, with a free plan for basic use. If your business already uses Zoho products, the integration is a bonus.

The feature set is smaller than ConnectWise ScreenConnect's, and the interface is functional rather than polished. For a small team that supports a modest number of customers and wants predictable per-technician pricing, Zoho Assist delivers the essentials at a fair price.

ConnectWise ScreenConnect is the favorite of managed service providers and IT departments. It is built for teams that support many endpoints, with strong session management, unattended access and per-technician licensing. A free single-technician license makes it accessible for a solo technician, which is unusual in this category.

Pricing varies by plan, so check the current page. Self-hosted installs also need patching discipline, since older versions have had serious vulnerabilities. For a support team or MSP that manages many machines, ScreenConnect is the most capable tool on this list.

RemotePC is the cheapest way to keep always-on access to your own computers. Its consumer plans price per computer rather than per user, which makes it very cheap for an individual with several machines, and setup is simple. File transfer, remote printing and multi-monitor support are included on paid plans.

Performance is weaker than Splashtop or AnyDesk, and support features are basic, so it suits personal access better than a helpdesk. Pricing varies by plan and region, so confirm the current figure. For cheap, always-on access to your own machines, RemotePC is hard to beat.

Parsec is built for a different job from the rest of this list: making a remote machine feel local. Its low-latency streaming suits video editors, 3D artists and game developers who need near-local responsiveness, with 4K support and a Teams plan at $9.99 per user per month for businesses. The free tier covers personal use.

Parsec is not an IT support tool. Admin features, session management and compliance controls are thinner than at ScreenConnect or TeamViewer. For creative professionals who need to work on a powerful remote machine as if they were sitting at it, Parsec is the best choice.