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Update: We've updated our review to include info about a new Splashtop remote support integration with Jira.
Whether you are looking for a comprehensive remote solution for your IT department, a simple telecommuting solution for your staff or a convenient tech support solution for your customers, there is remote PC access software to fit your needs. We researched and analyzed dozens of applications to find the best remote PC access software for small businesses.
The average cost of remote PC access software can be difficult to determine, since companies often use different pricing structures. For example, some companies charge based on the number of individual user licenses, whereas others are based on the number of devices accessed or concurrent sessions. The majority of plans are billed annually, often offering first-year discounts. Most remote access software has a 15- to 30-day free trial for your team to test out the features.
These are the pricing structures for our best picks:
Pricing may differ based on available discounts or pricing adjustments. Be sure to factor in additional taxes or fees that the software provider may charge. Most of these companies have additional plans for remote support, and sometimes mobile device access as well. The best plans are easily scalable and include automatic updates.
Businesses use remote access software for several reasons. The simplest scenario is to support remote or traveling workers. With the software, remote workers can access their office desktop device, transfer files between devices and collaborate with co-workers. Features like wake-on-LAN, session recording and remote printing can be especially useful for remote workers.
IT departments also use secure remote access and support software for tech support, troubleshooting, mass deployments and file implementation. It can be beneficial for your business to have an IT technician who can remotely access employee and customer devices to resolve technical issues. Features like grouping, cross-platform access and high-end security measures are important to consider for this type of access and control. Although many remote PC access software companies offer plans specifically for IT solutions, some companies package these capabilities with their multiuser remote access plans.
Another convenient use for remote PC access software is accessing client devices. This is useful for conducting training demos, hosting classes or group projects, and interacting with clients. Drag-and-drop file transfer, communication tools and personalized branding can be especially convenient for this type of remote access.
Depending on how you plan to use your remote PC access software, whether as an IT support or remote work solution, some features are more important than others. In general, though, these remote access tools and features are highly desirable in any remote control software:
When comparing pricing and software, be sure to compare the features available in each specific plan you are considering. Many remote access software plans are tiered, meaning lower plans tend to have very basic features.
Remote PC access software remotely connects two or more devices for the purpose of transferring files, offering remote technical support and collaborating with others. Remote access software is often compatible across multiple platforms (e.g., PC, Mac, iOS, Android) and can be accessed via software installation or web-based links, depending on the software application you're using.
Regardless whether the software is installed on each device, most remote PC access software comes with secure access restrictions like multifactor authentication, secure session codes, brute force protection and role-based security settings. Some applications only let you access devices that are already turned on, while others remotely "wake up" and connect to inactive devices.
When you successfully access a remote device, you have the ability to deploy customer support, transfer files and chat between devices. Some remote PC access software comes with other helpful features like remote printing and recording.
Remote desktop software has many uses and can be very beneficial to your business. One basic use for remote access software is for your staff to remotely access their office computers while at home or out in the field. This is helpful for efficiency and sometimes necessary for companies that rely heavily on offsite workers.
Another great advantage of remote access and support software is the ability it gives IT departments to deploy various protocols across several devices, and for help desks to assist staff and customers in troubleshooting tech problems. This use can increase your desktop security, team efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Remote PC access software is commonly used for employees who need to remotely access their office computers, and tech teams that need to provide on-demand issue resolution to teams and customers. The skill level of your users may vary, so it is important to choose software that is scalable to fit their capabilities. Features like file transferring, screen blanking, and keyboard locking are great for remote workers, and monitor grouping, mass deployment, and control exchange are useful for tech support.
Any team can benefit from remote access software, but some teams heavily rely on it. For example, tech support and IT departments need remote access software to connect to other users' devices. Without it, they would not be able to provide remote tech support to their teams and customers.
Companies that depend on offsite staff to access onsite devices also need a remote access solution. Instead of taking the time to come to the office and record information on their devices, remote workers can access their work computers from wherever they are. Educators may need remote access software for similar reasons, and it can be a valuable part of teaching remotely and collaborating with students.
While there are free remote access software options with useful features, many of them are for personal, noncommercial use. Free remote access options often have limited tools and security measures as well. However, if you cannot afford a subscription, you might consider the free remote access software plans from TeamViewer, UltraVNC and Microsoft Remote Desktop.
With several great remote PC access solutions available, we had to take a deep dive to discover the best applications. We started by compiling the names of remote support software companies from our current vendor list and then scouted other potential businesses to add to it. Our list totaled nearly two dozen remote PC access software providers. From there, we created a list of features that every great remote PC access application should have.
From this comprehensive list, we settled on 15 remote PC access options to consider as best picks: AnyDesk, Anyplace Control, BeyondTrust, ConnectWise Control, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, NoMachine, Radmin, Remote Utilities, RemotePC, ShowMyPC, Splashtop, TeamViewer, VNC Connect and Zoho Assist.
Next, we researched each application, scrutinizing the services and features they offer as well as pricing structures. We pored over each company's website and additional online resources to learn about each program's functionality, the overall usability of the software and the support resources each vendor offers. We then contacted each company to assess the quality of customer service before determining our final recommendations.
After researching each service, we analyzed our results to evaluate which remote access vendors are the best for small businesses in different use cases. When you are researching remote PC access solutions for your business, take some time early in the process to outline which remote control features are essential for you and then identify which software programs support those features. Pricing for remote access software varies, so it will also be immensely helpful as you research solutions to know beforehand how many computers, users and concurrent sessions you'll need.
To see a full review of remote PC access software, a comprehensive list of providers, our complete methodology, pricing and a negotiation breakdown, visit our best picks page on our sister site, Business.com.
