Best Remote Desktop Software: Six Picks Tested for Real Use

“Remote desktop software” covers two different use cases that are easy to confuse but need different tools: accessing your own computer from another location, and providing IT support by connecting to someone else’s computer. The best tool depends heavily on which one you actually need. For the bigger picture, our Best Software and Apps pulls everything together.

For accessing your own computer (a home PC from a laptop while travelling, your work computer from home): Chrome Remote Desktop is free, simple, and works well. For IT support scenarios where you’re helping a non-technical person on their machine: TeamViewer or AnyDesk are designed for that case and have the unattended access features support work needs. For enterprise/business use with security requirements: Splashtop or RealVNC Connect.

The detailed comparison below covers each by use case, with prices, key strengths, and the specific situations where one outperforms the others. Skip to the section that matches what you actually need rather than reading sequentially.

Best Remote Desktop Software: Windows Remote Desktop (Built-in)

Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) (completely free, built into Windows; requires Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise on the host machine) is the most underused remote access option available — it works reliably, it is Microsoft-native, it handles multi-monitor setups well, and it costs nothing. Setting it up requires enabling Remote Desktop in Windows Settings on the host machine, forwarding port 3389 on your router (or using a VPN to avoid exposing RDP to the internet), and connecting from any Windows machine using the built-in Remote Desktop Connection app.The limitations: RDP requires Windows Pro on the host — Windows 11 Home does not support being a Remote Desktop host. Port forwarding exposes RDP to the internet, which has real security implications given that RDP is a frequent brute-force attack target; always use a strong password and consider VPN access instead of direct port forwarding. For users with Windows Pro who are comfortable with the network setup, RDP is the performance and cost winner for accessing their own machine. For users who want something that “just works” without network configuration, a third-party tool is more practical.

Best Remote Desktop Software: TeamViewer

TeamViewer (free for personal use; Business from £396/year) is the remote desktop tool most people have used at some point — its “give the other person a 9-digit code and they connect instantly” model made remote support accessible before simpler alternatives existed. The free personal tier allows unattended access to your own machines and remote support sessions with no time limit. No network configuration is required — TeamViewer handles NAT traversal automatically.The honest caveats about TeamViewer in 2026: the business pricing is expensive compared to newer alternatives, and TeamViewer’s detection of “commercial use” on personal accounts has caused disruptions for users who use it occasionally for work purposes — it limits or blocks the session if it detects what it classifies as commercial use. For genuinely personal use the free tier works. For any business use, the pricing is harder to justify against competitors. TeamViewer has also had significant security incidents over the years, including a 2024 breach of its corporate network — worth knowing as context for a tool that has deep access to the machines it connects to.

Best Remote Desktop Software: AnyDesk

AnyDesk (free for personal use; Solo from £8.49/month) is the remote desktop tool I recommend most for the combination of performance, price, and ease of use. The proprietary DeskRT codec produces noticeably smoother screen rendering than TeamViewer at the same connection speed — the difference is visible when scrolling or when the remote screen has animation. The connection setup is the same simplicity as TeamViewer (share a 9-digit code) without requiring account creation for ad-hoc support sessions. The free tier covers personal unattended access and unlimited ad-hoc support sessions.AnyDesk’s business tiers are significantly cheaper than TeamViewer for equivalent functionality, which makes it the more sensible choice for small IT teams and individuals who need remote support capability as part of their work. The file transfer, session recording, and multi-monitor support are all included. In my testing, AnyDesk’s latency on the same connection is consistently lower than TeamViewer’s — noticeable when doing precision work like graphic editing on a remote machine.

Best Remote Desktop Software: Chrome Remote Desktop

Chrome Remote Desktop (completely free; remotedesktop.google.com) is the remote access tool I recommend for users who want zero-complexity personal remote access without any software installation on the connecting device. The host installs a small Chrome extension; the remote user accesses their machine from any browser or from the Chrome Remote Desktop app on mobile. No account codes, no port forwarding, no paid tiers — it works through Google’s infrastructure with a Google account providing authentication.The performance is adequate rather than excellent — the DeskRT codec in AnyDesk and Microsoft’s RDP both produce smoother remote desktop experiences. For accessing your home PC to retrieve a file or do light work while away, Chrome Remote Desktop’s simplicity and zero cost make it the right choice. For anything performance-sensitive or for professional remote support, a dedicated tool performs better.

Best Remote Desktop Software: Splashtop

Splashtop Business Access (from £4.17/month) is the remote desktop tool that IT teams increasingly choose over TeamViewer for its combination of performance and pricing. Splashtop’s performance — particularly for high-resolution displays and latency-sensitive work — is among the best available. The Remote Support tier adds attended and unattended access for multiple technicians supporting multiple devices, with session recording, user management, and security features appropriate for organisational use. For IT departments currently paying TeamViewer’s premium prices, Splashtop delivers comparable or better performance at significantly lower cost.

Tool	Cost	Best For	Setup Complexity
Windows RDP	Free (requires Pro host)	Best performance; own machine access	High (network config needed)
AnyDesk	Free personal / £8.49/month	Best overall; performance and price	Very low
TeamViewer	Free personal / £396/year business	Widest recognition; legacy deployments	Very low
Chrome Remote Desktop	Free	Simplest personal access; any device	None
Splashtop	From £4.17/month	IT teams; best performance at business scale	Low

Our guide on best screen sharing software covers the presentation and collaboration-focused screen sharing tools — distinct from remote desktop in that the remote user can view your screen but typically cannot control your machine. Our guide on best VPN for Windows covers the VPN approach to secure remote access — using a VPN to connect to your home network before using RDP is the most secure way to access a remote Windows machine. The AnyDesk website has documentation on the configuration options for unattended access and the security settings for business deployments that are worth reviewing before setting up any permanent remote access to a machine.

Security considerations that matter for remote desktop

Remote desktop software grants the connecting party complete control over the target machine. This is what makes it useful and also what makes it a security risk if misused or misconfigured. The safeguards worth implementing:

• Enable two-factor authentication on the remote desktop service itself. All the recommended tools support 2FA — TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Splashtop, and Chrome Remote Desktop (via your Google account). Use it. This prevents unauthorized access if your password is compromised.
• Require connection approval for unattended access. Most tools default to letting a logged-in user connect unattended — fine for your own machines, dangerous if device theft is a possibility. Configure the tool to require explicit approval on each new connection from an unrecognised device.
• Use unique passwords for each remote desktop service. Reused passwords are the most common cause of unauthorised remote desktop access — attackers compromise an unrelated service, then try the same password across remote access tools.
• Disable file transfer if you don’t need it. Many remote desktop tools allow file transfer between the connecting and host machines. If you’re only using it for screen viewing/control, disabling file transfer reduces the attack surface.
• Keep the software updated. Remote desktop tools are high-value targets for security researchers and attackers. Updates routinely patch vulnerabilities — enable automatic updates where the option exists.

What about Windows’ built-in Remote Desktop (RDP)?

Windows includes a built-in Remote Desktop feature (RDP) that works between Windows machines on the same network. It’s fast and free, and many enterprises use it internally. For home use, however, it has significant limitations:

• Only available on Windows Pro (and Enterprise/Education editions) — Windows Home edition can only act as a client, not a host. If your computer runs Windows Home, you cannot use RDP for remote access TO it.
• Same network only by default — connecting from outside your home network requires port forwarding or VPN setup, which is more complex than installing Chrome Remote Desktop or TeamViewer.
• Single user limitation — only one user can be logged into the host machine at a time. If someone is using the computer locally, the remote connection logs them out.
• Security profile — exposing RDP directly to the internet is one of the most common attack vectors. Tools like TeamViewer route through their cloud, which is safer for typical home use.

For internal business use on a managed network, RDP is appropriate. For accessing your home PC from a hotel, or helping a family member, the third-party tools recommended above are easier and more secure than configuring RDP for remote internet access.