Best software for remote control

You can only hear sound if the remote computer you are connecting to is Windows. For those new to remote desktop connections, it guides you clearly through the setup process.

You can store connection profiles via iCloud backup and even access printers from your remote Mac using Remotix. You can also set a master password to protect all of your connections rather than have to enter individual passwords for each one. Royal TSX for Mac is focused firmly on system administrators or professionals that need a remote desktop solutions with a very high level of security. Royal TSX is very well designed and makes it straightforward to manage connections in the left-hand sidebar with convenient tabs to control sessions.

Other enhanced secure features include built-in credential management, safe team-sharing features and the ability to share a list of connections without sharing your personal credentials. NoMachine is a slick Remote Desktop Client which tends to go under the radar when Mac users are looking for remote desktop software but is definitely worth a look.

The good thing about NoMachine is all you need to connect to another machine over the internet is its IP address and port number.

A setup wizard clearly takes you step-by-step through the connection process. NoMachine for Mac is free for personal use but there are paid Enterprise and Cloud editions available. The following solutions all have free versions which can be used either free for personal use or with limitations. Most of them offer Business and Enterprise plans for those that need unlimited features and functionality. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft Remote Desktop is mainly designed for Windows users and has various problems on Mac although admittedly is has improved in recent versions.

Citrix Receiver for Mac was discontinued in but we think the software featured here are much better value alternatives to Citrix. Note that there is also no version of the popular Windows remote control support app UltraViewer on Mac.

After years focusing on Windows, Devolutions also has a Remote Desktop Manager for Macs which offers a limited free version for individual use with some powerful features for Enterprise environments. Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager is a little bit like Royal TSX see review later and is definitely suitable for system admins and small businesses and has all you need to manage a network of computers. The interface is also well designed allowing you to organize sessions by groups or folders and if you already use the Windows version, you can connect to the same databases with the Mac version so you can access all previous sessions.

You can use Devolutions Remote Desktop for free but there are limitations compared to the Enterprise version. You can see a comparison of the Free edition with the Enterprise version here.

Simply install the Chrome Remote Desktop plugin and you can connect to any other user with Chrome installed on any type of computer or mobile device including iOS. Just enter the ID of the computer you want to connect to, and it will connect instantly. Note that Google does not record any of your activity using Chrome Remote Desktop — it uses SSL and connections are directly from host to remote session with no Google interference in the middle. As a professional tool for system administrators to manage Apple devices on a network however, it gives you a lot of power to install software and updates such as Flash and Java, push UNIX commands and update macOS remotely.

Many programs also need to be installed on the remote PC, while others are connected via a weblink or access code. Some versions of Windows come with built-in remote desktop software, but third-party tools often perform much better and come with significantly more features. There are a few other popular uses for the best remote desktop software.

For example, you can handle complicated tasks from a laptop by connecting remotely to a more powerful computer. In the this article, we've briefly covered our top ten best remote desktop applications to help you choose the right one for your needs. It uses cloud technology to deliver class-leading remote access solutions through an intuitive web application and native desktop and mobile apps.

It also includes collaboration features such as voice chat. On top of this, RemotePC is highly secure, scalable, and affordable.

A day free trial is available with all plans. Cloud-based Zoho Assist is one of our favorite remote access tools because it enables you to access almost any device. It provides specialized remote support and unattended access plans designed to streamline workflow processes. More advanced features can also be accessed, with higher-end plans.

Splashtop is a versatile remote computer access program with a range of impressive features, including a user-friendly interface and impressive security. Splashtop comes in a number of specialized forms. Prices for Splashtop Business Access enables remote access to a specified number of computers. Remote Support plans cater for up to 25 computers, and SOS on-demand support is the highest end plan. Parallels Access is designed for remote computer access from mobile devices.

It does support computer—computer connections, but the majority of its features are mobile-centered. Reasonable prices make it one of the more affordable options on this list. One of our favorite things about Parallels Access is its tidy user interface.

Rather than simply showing your desktop screen on a mobile device, like most of its competitors do, it presents a modified, mobile-friendly version. Overall, this program is a great choice for those who want to remotely access their computer from a mobile device. It is a little expensive, but it comes with a great range of tools designed for enterprise users.

Plans cater for two remote connections and a day free trial is available. Iperius Remote is one of the easiest to use remote desktop programs with some awesome features like a robust file transfer tool and chat application. It also lets you connect to a computer remotely with their mobile app. Open the program and select Allow connections to see your password. Share that and the ID next to it with the client so that they can connect to the computer.

Enter the host computer's ID into the second text box, press Connect , and then enter the password when you see the password prompt. This free remote access program is perfect for on-demand access. You and the other person can download and start using Iperius Remote in just a minute or two.

The program interface is extremely simple and easy to understand. If you want more control you can open the settings to enable continuous access, a custom password, a proxy, etc. Supported operating systems include bit and bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Windows Server , , , and Zoho Assist is yet another remote access tool that has a free edition for both personal and commercial use.

You can share screens and files, and chat remotely with the other user through a unique session ID and password. You can copy the ID and password manually, share a unique URL with the client, or just enter their email address to have the connection info emailed to them. The host also needs to download a small tool so that the client can remotely access in order to control the computer.

Once the host computer is fully set up and ready to go, the client needs to access the Join Screen Sharing Session page and enter the ID and password of the client computer. Or, if the host shared the information over email or the URL, then, of course, the client can just use that information to connect to the host. By default, the client doesn't have full control rights, only viewing permissions. Some other features included in this program are clipboard sharing, a pause button for the host, and an annotation tool so that the host and client can draw on the screen.

The Zoho Assist free plan supports only five unattended computers and one concurrent session. For more features, you can order the Standard, Professional, or Enterprise edition.

The free Quick Assist remote access program is easy to understand and doesn't require a download because it's built-in to Windows 11 and Search for it through the Start menu, or browse the Windows Accessories Start menu folder, to open the program. Type into the text box the 6-digit code that the client's computer generated, and then select Share screen. Once the client has done their part, you need to confirm that they can have access to your computer before the connection can be established.

Choose Assist another person and then log in to your Microsoft account. Give the security code to the host and then choose Take full control or View screen to get remote access to their computer.

Once the client has connected to the host, they can change which monitor to control, annotate directly on the screen, restart the computer, and quickly open Task Manager. The multitude of options could be overwhelming and confusing if you just want a simple remote access tool. LiteManager is strikingly similar to Remote Utilities, explained above. However, unlike that program, which can control a total of only 10 PCs, this one supports up to 30 slots for storing and connecting to remote computers, and also has lots of useful features.

The computer that needs to be accessed should install the LiteManager Pro — Server. There are numerous ways to ensure a connection can be made to the host computer. It can be done through the IP address, computer name, or an ID. The easiest way to set this up is to right-click the server program in the notification area of the taskbar, choose Connect by ID , erase the contents that are already there, and click Connected to generate a brand new ID.

The other program, called Viewer, is installed for the client to connect to the host. Once the host computer has produced an ID, the client should enter it from the Connect by ID option in the Connection menu to establish a remote connection to the other computer. Once connected, the client can do all sorts of things, much like with Remote Utilities, such as work with multiple monitors, transfer files silently, take full control or read-only access of the other PC, run a remote task manager, launch files and programs remotely, capture sound, edit the registry, create a demonstration, lock the other person's screen and keyboard, and text chat.

There's also a QuickSupport option, which is a portable server and viewer program that makes connecting much quicker than the above method. This program is available for macOS and Linux, too. ShowMyPC is portable and similar to some of these other programs, but uses a password to make a connection instead of an IP address. This ID is the number you must share with others so they can connect to the host.

Open the same program on another computer and enter the ID from the host program to make a connection. There are additional options here that aren't available in UltraVNC, like webcam sharing over a web browser and scheduled meetings that allow someone to connect to your PC via a personal web link that launches a Java version of ShowMyPC. Clients can only send a limited number of keyboard shortcuts to the host computer. It works on all versions of Windows. After optionally forwarding the proper port number in your router, and signing up for a free account, you can access your PC from anywhere through a web browser.

The computer that will be accessed remotely needs to have the DesktopNow software installed. When the program is first launched, your email and a password should be entered so you can use the same credentials on the client side to make the connection. The host computer can either configure its router to forward the proper port number to itself or choose cloud access during the install to make a direct connection to the client, bypassing the need for complicated forwarding.

It's probably a better idea for most people to use the direct, cloud access method to avoid issues with port forwarding. The client just needs to access the host through a web browser. If the router was configured to forward the port number, the client would use the host PCs IP address to connect. If cloud access was chosen, a specific link would have been given to the host that you'd use for the connection.

DesktopNow has a nice file sharing feature that lets you download your shared files remotely in an easy-to-use file browser. There isn't a dedicated application for mobile devices, so trying to view and control a computer from a phone or tablet can be difficult. However, the website is optimized for mobile phones, so viewing your shared files is easy. This includes Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Another free and portable remote access program is BeamYourScreen. This program works like some of the others in this list, where the presenter is given an ID number they must share with another user so they can connect to the presenter's screen. The ability to start and stop a session should always be in your control. All of the solutions on our list are safe and secure to use. How many devices do you want to access remotely? How many team members do you need to give this solution to? Some solutions are better for individuals and smaller teams, while others are made specifically for bigger businesses and entire departments.

Every plan has a limit to the number of devices you can access. While some software solutions are available to an unlimited number of users, other options will restrict the number of people who can use the license. Some software has built-in live chat, voice, and video for communication between two users during a session. Logs, reporting, recording, remote printing, file sharing, and support scheduling are other features that you should keep an eye on.

Cross-platform access is another important feature. The best software will give you remote access from mobile applications as well. Zoho Assist and TeamViewer are two of the most popular remote access tools on the market. Splashtop, LogMeIn Pro, ConnectWise, and the other recommendations that we reviewed are also viable options for business users. IT departments can use remote access software to provide tech support for employees or beef up security throughout their stack.

It even allows sales teams to provide live demos without leaving the office. Our content is reader-supported, which means that if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission. Additional menu Want to jump straight to the answer? Find an in-depth review with specific use cases for each one on our list below. Compatible with all devices Easy to scale Great promotional discounts 30 day free trial Start for free.

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