saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

Cloud, Backup & PC

Best remote desktop software

Control another computer over the internet, to help someone or to reach your own machine. 8 remote desktop tools, ranked by points out of 100.

Facts checked 8 Oct 2026 · How we score remote desktop tools

In short

  1. 1
    RustDeskPeople who want to self-host their remote access
    87/100
    $11.88/mocheapest paid plan
  2. 2
    Zoho AssistSmall IT and support teams on a budget
    86/100
    $10/mocheapest paid plan
  3. 3
    TeamViewer RemotePersonal use, and teams that need every platform
    84/100
    $20.02/mocheapest paid plan
  4. 4
    Windows AppPeople with Windows Pro who want free remote access to their own PC
    80/100
    $0cheapest paid plan
  5. 5
    SplashtopIndividuals and small teams reaching their own computers
    80/100
    $6/mocheapest paid plan
  6. 6
    NoMachinePeople who want to reach their own computers directly, without a vendor relay
    76/100
    $2.04/mocheapest paid plan
  7. 7
    ScreenConnectIT teams and managed service providers who want to self-host
    70/100
    $30/mocheapest paid plan
  8. 8
    Chrome Remote DesktopFree access to your own computers
    66/100
    $0cheapest paid plan

How the points add up

Points earned out of the points available in each part of the method.

ProductSystems
of 20		Features
of 30		Security
of 25		Price
of 25		Total
RustDesk2030201787
Zoho Assist2026152586
TeamViewer Remote2030201484
Windows App1218252580
Splashtop1530251080
NoMachine2026201076
ScreenConnect152620970
Chrome Remote Desktop2011102566

Each remote desktop tool in brief

1. RustDesk

RustDesk suits people and teams who want remote access that runs through their own server, free in its open-source form. It covers every major system plus a web client, and documents file transfer, remote printing, session recording and Android control. The catch: you run and maintain the server yourself, account features such as two-factor sign-in need Server Pro, and it publishes no security certification.

Best for: People who want to self-host their remote access. Prices, facts and sources

2. Zoho Assist

Zoho Assist suits small support teams that want browser-based remote support at a low price, and its free plan already includes five unattended computers. Paid plans start at $10 a month on yearly billing, with monthly billing available. The catch is that file transfer is not in the free plan, and recording and remote printing sit in the higher tiers.

Best for: Small IT and support teams on a budget. Prices, facts and sources

3. TeamViewer Remote

TeamViewer Remote suits people who want one tool for their own devices and for helping family, free for personal use. It runs on every major system, works from a browser, and lists file transfer, remote printing, Wake-on-LAN and session recording. The catch is work use: plans are paid a year up front, and commercial plans need an add-on to connect to phones and tablets.

Best for: Personal use, and teams that need every platform. Prices, facts and sources

4. Windows App

Windows App is the free choice if the PC you want to reach runs Windows Pro or higher: it uses Remote Desktop, which is built into those editions. It handles several monitors, printers and local drives well. The catch is setup: Windows Home cannot host, and reaching a PC from outside your network needs port forwarding or a VPN.

Best for: People with Windows Pro who want free remote access to their own PC. Prices, facts and sources

5. Splashtop

Splashtop suits individuals and small teams who want unattended access to their own computers on a low yearly budget. Solo costs $6 a month billed yearly, and the company holds ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2. The catch: there is no free plan or monthly billing, and single sign-on, Android control and self-hosting sit on Enterprise or On-Prem.

Best for: Individuals and small teams reaching their own computers. Prices, facts and sources

6. NoMachine

NoMachine suits people who want a self-hosted remote desktop for their own computers at a low yearly price. Sessions can run straight to a computer's IP address, and NoMachine lists file transfer, remote printing, Wake-on-LAN and session recording. The catch: the free edition ended with version 10, browser access needs Enterprise Desktop, and reaching machines without an IP address costs extra.

Best for: People who want to reach their own computers directly, without a vendor relay. Prices, facts and sources

7. ScreenConnect

ScreenConnect suits IT teams that want full remote support tools and the option to host the server themselves. Even the $30 One plan includes file transfer, multiple monitors and remote printing. The catches: there is no free plan, recording needs Standard at $47 a month, and self-hosted servers must be patched by their owners, as the critical 2024 flaw showed.

Best for: IT teams and managed service providers who want to self-host. Prices, facts and sources

8. Chrome Remote Desktop

Chrome Remote Desktop suits people who want free access to their own Windows, Mac or Linux computers, or a quick way to help someone. It works from a browser and from Android and iOS apps, and Google says every session is fully encrypted. The catch: Google's help pages do not document remote printing, session recording, Wake-on-LAN or multiple monitors.

Best for: Free access to your own computers. Prices, facts and sources

Every fact, side by side

Each row is one rule of the method and the points it is worth. "–" means the vendor does not publish it, which earns nothing.

Rule (points)RustDeskZoho AssistTeamViewer RemoteWindows AppSplashtopNoMachineScreenConnectChrome Remote Desktop
Apps (15)5 of 55 of 55 of 54 of 55 of 55 of 55 of 55 of 5
Connect from a browser (5)YesYesYesNo–Yes–Yes
Unattended access (6)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
File transfer (5)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Multiple monitors (4)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes–
Remote printing (3)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes–
Session recording (4)YesYesYes–YesYesYes–
Wake-on-LAN (4)YesYesYes–YesYesYes–
Control Android devices (4)Yes–Yes–Yes–––
Encrypted sessions (5)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Two-factor sign-in (5)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Single sign-on (5)Yes–YesYesYesYesYes–
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 (5)–YesYesYesYes–––
Self-hosting (5)Yes––YesYesYesYes–
Free for personal use (10)YesYesYesYesNoNoNoYes
Cheapest paid plan (10)$11.88/mo$10/mo$20.02/mo$0$6/mo$2.04/mo$30/mo$0
Monthly billing (5)NoYesNoYesNoNoYesYes

Head to head

We read each vendor's own pages, record every fact with its source and date, and score it by the rules on how we score remote desktop tools. A tie goes to the lower price. Remote desktop and remote support tools that can control a Windows PC. Vendor claims about speed or quality are shown on product pages but never scored. Prices are in US dollars before tax.