The Best Remote PC Access Software of 2021

RemotePC by IDrive is the best remote PC access solution for small teams that want to connect to various work devices, whether at home or in the office. We found the software incredibly easy to implement, as it doesn't require installation before use like some competitors we examined do. Team members can access the software with a web browser, and then use an access ID and personal key (unique password) to make a secure connection with a remote device. The simplicity of this platform is ideal for small teams that don't have access to a dedicated IT staff.

RemotePC offers a suite of essential remote access features like file transferring, remote printing and session recording. We were also impressed with the more advanced functions it offers, like waking up remote devices using Wake-on-LAN, navigating between multiple monitors and playing sounds from remote devices. Additionally, we believe small teams benefit from RemotePC's many collaboration tools like chatting between computers, drawing on remote devices with a whiteboard, and sending invitations to connect with others.

Another thing we like about RemotePC by IDrive is its variety of affordable software plans. While small teams will likely benefit from one of RemotePC's SOHO plans (unlimited user licenses, unlimited concurrent sessions, and five or 10 computers), the company also offers larger Team and Enterprise plans to meet your business's needs as you grow.

Splashtop Business Access is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for businesses with hybrid workforces (i.e., employees who work both in and out of the office). The software is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Mac, Windows, Chromebook, iOS and Android devices. This gives your employees the flexibility to remotely access any of their devices, regardless of location.

Splashtop's collaboration features are very useful for connecting remote employees with in-office staff. For example, Splashtop users can share their desktops via web browsers, transfer files with drag-and-drop functionality, and chat in and outside remote sessions. One standout feature that we found especially valuable is that multiple team members can remotely access a computer simultaneously. This can be useful for hybrid teams that need to access a project or presentation from multiple locations simultaneously. If your team can't collaborate in real time because of their locations, you have the option to record sessions and save them to your local computer for future use.

Having a hybrid workforce can leave you susceptible to security risks. Splashtop mitigates those risks through a series of security measures. It offers 24/7 intrusion detection and defense mechanisms, two-factor authentication, screen blanking, automatic screen locking, idle-session timeout, and remote connection notifications. We also appreciate that you can set up user roles and permissions to limit user access to specific computers and devices.

Zoho Assist is our choice as the best all-in-one remote PC support and access solution. It's a cloud-based remote access and control solution that has something for everyone: a free plan, three remote support plans, two unattended access plans, and add-ons for storage and VoIP call credits. Affordable pricing is available on a monthly or annual billing cycle, giving you even more flexibility to find a solution that fits your needs. We like that Zoho Assist is a pay-as-you-go service, meaning you can cancel, upgrade, or downgrade your service to meet your current business needs.

Zoho Assist is compatible with various devices (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android and iOS) and doesn't require installation, so you can quickly connect to a remote device through a web browser. Every plan includes essential features like multi-monitor navigation, clipboard sharing, instant chat, two-factor authentication, idle-session timeout, organization roles and user management.

Zoho works securely through firewalls and proxies, has end-to-end SSL and AES 256-bit encryption, and is compatible with antivirus software. On advanced plans, you can even access session recording and auditing, session notes, and voice and video chat. Other essential things to look for in an all-in-one remote support and access plan are scalability, training opportunities, and compliance – all of which Zoho offers.

ConnectWise Control is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for VoIP connectivity. The software lets you capture sounds coming from guest devices, which is not something many competitors offer. Additionally, users can communicate by voice between devices. We found this improves and simplifies communication between parties during technical support, team meetings and access sessions. If necessary, you can view one or more monitors during a session. ConnectWise also lets you record video of any remote session.

The ConnectWise View extension is a unique feature that can make a remote session more advanced with audio as well as visuals. For example, technicians with this extension can have the other user livestream what is in front of them. This gives support techs a firsthand account of an error in real time. This View feature can also be helpful for hybrid teams to collaborate from various locations remotely.

ConnectWise Control not only grants advanced access to remote devices – it does so securely. We were impressed with the numerous security measures, such as two-factor authentication, role-based security settings, audit reports, secure session codes, SSL certificates, device locking on disconnect, brute-force prevention, access revoking, guest input suspension and guest monitor blanking.

TeamViewer is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for businesses that want to remotely access and control multiple types of devices. Instead of limiting the type of devices you can connect to, TeamViewer is platform-agnostic, which we find value in. It can support 127 different mobile devices, IoT devices, and operating systems, including popular platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. TeamViewer takes multi-device support even further, with advanced connection capabilities that not many competitors offer. For example, you can connect to augmented reality devices, servers, and commercial-grade machines with an internet connection. This level of compatibility enables you to provide support to virtually any customer.

TeamViewer's features are competitive with other market offerings. You can securely transfer files of any size between devices, manage remote devices, and remotely print for Mac and Windows devices. You can also wake up, restart and install applications on sleeping remote computers. Some TeamViewer plans provide advanced capabilities like custom branding, multiuser support sessions, service queues, automated mass deployment and comprehensive reporting.

GoToAssist is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for businesses that want to offer unlimited live support without requiring end users to download software. While some competitors require you to install its software on the devices you are connecting to, GoToAssist lets you make a secure connection through a standard web browser. You still have the option to download the unattended installer onto the end user's device if you prefer, but you can also install it by simply adding their computer from the GoToAssist toolbar. You can then quickly start a support connection by having the end user enter a support key online or click a link you provide.

Since GoToAssist is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices, it doesn't matter what type of device your customer is operating on. Because many businesses don't stick to just one type of device, we found this very appealing. However, mobile device access is only available as an add-on, and some iOS features may be limited.

You can connect devices via web browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari. To speed up the support process, GoToAssist often works without requiring you to change firewall settings on remote devices. The software can also integrate with Slack, so you can easily communicate during remote access sessions.

When working with an end user, you can drag and drop files between devices or ask the customer for permission to share their files with you. Unlike competitors, GoToAssist does not limit the type or size of files you can transfer during a live session. If necessary, you can set up GoToAssist to record automatically when a session starts. These recordings can then be shared with customers for future reference or used for support training.

Freshdesk is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for automated customer support. It's comprehensive software that enables businesses to exceed customer expectations in terms of support. The AI-powered omnichannel platform offers support functions like assigning and linking support tickets and creating custom ticket statuses. We like that you can also provide support in various ways, such as email, phone, live chat, social media, websites and WhatsApp. You can manage your support staff through features like service tasks and groups, scheduling dashboards, and time tracking. 

If you want to increase your team's productivity, you can take advantage of Freshdesk's many automated functions, such as dispatching and assigning tickets, sending out email notifications, and assigning (omni-routing) emails, chats and calls to specific agents. These features are all unique to Freshdesk; we didn't see them in its competitors that we reviewed. 

ISL Online is our choice as the best remote PC access solution for diverse hosting options. While most competitors offer some combination of cloud-hosted and on-premises software, ISL Online offers those options plus a managed private cloud (MPC) hosting option, a hybrid cloud remote desktop solution. The MPC is for large businesses that want the security of an on-premises solution and the convenience of a cloud-hosted solution. 

We like that each ISL plan has some degree of customization. For example, you may be able to add on multi-session licenses, 24/7 premium support, or updates and upgrades. Regardless of which hosting method or plan you choose, you can rest assured that your remote connections are secured with ISL's premium security measures. These include two-factor authentication, code signing, port filtering, user access management, blacklisting, whitelisting, external security audits and penetration testing. 

Netop is our choice for the best remote PC access solution to help businesses maintain legal compliance. Secure remote connection is essential, especially for businesses that transmit highly sensitive information. We were impressed with the various security options Netop offers to help you comply with privacy regulations. These include end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption, multifactor authentication, user-based permissions, and customizable security roles. You can keep extensive and accurate logs with session recordings and audit trails.

Netop knows compliance. Whether it is the GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO, or HIPAA that you must comply with, Netop can ensure your information remains safe and secure within its platform. If you have any compliance concerns, you can easily contact a representative by phone or online. 

Wrike, now part of Citrix, is our choice as the best solution for remote collaboration. Although Wrike is not a traditional remote access and control solution like its competitors that we analyzed, the cloud-based platform offers many collaboration tools that enable remote employees to connect with one another. You and your team can access the software on your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices to collaborate externally and internally, copy files, and view interactive boards and spreadsheets. We found that you can control your staff by breaking up large tasks into subtasks and assigning them to team members, and you can view a live activity stream of projects and tasks. 

We like how Wrike facilitates remote collaboration through features like personal and companywide work schedules, file and video proofing (with visual markup tools), and multistage approvals. One of our favorite Wrike features is the interactive Gantt charts. These allow you to easily schedule and visualize projects and deadlines with a drag-and-drop tool.