Worried about your remote access security?
Relying on outdated tools leaves your network vulnerable. It also frustrates your distributed team with slow, clunky, and unreliable connections.
It’s a constant battle to balance robust security needs with user-friendly access. One weak link could risk a major data breach for your company.
With remote work now a permanent fixture, the risk of a breach from an unsecured connection is higher than ever. You need a tool that protects sensitive data without slowing productivity.
The right software solves this by providing secure, streamlined remote access for your entire team, no matter where they are working from.
In this guide, I’ve carefully reviewed the best remote desktop software available today. I’ll help you find a tool that delivers on security, performance, and scalability.
You’ll discover how to choose a solution that protects company assets while empowering your team with the reliable, low-latency connections they need.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary:
| # | Software | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AnyDesk → | IT directors & system admins | |
| 2 | TeamViewer → | Growing SaaS companies | |
| 3 | RemotePC → | Teams of all sizes | |
| 4 | Splashtop → | Growing SaaS & mid-sized enterprises | |
| 5 | GoTo → | Enterprises & IT pros |
1. AnyDesk
Struggling with secure, scalable remote access solutions?
AnyDesk offers robust remote access and control, directly addressing your need for reliable, cross-platform connectivity. This means you can manage desktops, servers, and devices effortlessly.
Your team gains the ability to resolve IT issues faster, even connecting with users directly from service tickets, allowing for integrated troubleshooting and increased efficiency without switching tools.
Here’s a deeper look into the solution.
AnyDesk empowers your ITSM, allowing you to connect with users directly from service tickets and Salesforce. This integration significantly increases your team’s efficiency by resolving IT issues and cases instantly.
You can choose between their cloud solution, leveraging their infrastructure, or install on your own servers for complete independence. This flexibility also extends to full mobile device support across platforms, ensuring you can access and control devices via smartphone or tablet. Additionally, AnyDesk allows for customization, enabling you to create your own version to fit individual needs and maintain a consistent brand experience for your users.
The result is streamlined operations and enhanced security.
Before diving deeper, you might find my analysis of PCI Compliance Software helpful for securing your data.
Key features:
- Remote Access and Control: Securely manage desktops, servers, and various devices across all major platforms, ensuring constant operational continuity and flexibility for your distributed team.
- Customization and Branding: Tailor AnyDesk to your unique requirements and brand identity, delivering a consistent and professional experience for all your internal and external users.
- Mobile Device Support: Extend your IT support and remote work capabilities to smartphones and tablets, providing comprehensive cross-compatible access and control from anywhere.
AnyDesk features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: AnyDesk is a compelling option as best remote desktop software, especially for IT directors and system administrators prioritizing secure, scalable solutions. Its robust mobile support, integration capabilities with platforms like Salesforce, and customization options make it ideal for streamlining IT operations and enhancing efficiency across diverse environments.
2. TeamViewer
Struggling with remote IT support and device management?
TeamViewer Remote allows you to connect to any device and centrally monitor your IT fleet. This means your team can provide instant remote support.
Additionally, TeamViewer DEX helps identify and solve IT issues before they impact your workforce, ensuring proactive IT support minimizes disruptions and boosts productivity.
The result? Streamlined access and enhanced control.
TeamViewer offers powerful solutions for IT professionals, helping you proactively manage your IT and prevent downtime. You can quickly troubleshoot customer machinery remotely, ensuring operations run smoothly.
Moreover, the TeamViewer ONE platform fuses DEX and connectivity, offering AI-led monitoring, automated fixes, and comprehensive remote support to keep devices running flawlessly. This means you can manage your entire fleet of IT and OT devices, and create a seamless hybrid working environment for your team. You can also integrate remote connectivity with your existing systems like Salesforce or Microsoft Teams.
It helps you minimize downtime and improve IT efficiency.
While focusing on IT efficiency, optimizing your business with marketing analytics tools can also boost productivity and ROI.
Key features:
- Remote Access and Support: Connect securely to any device for remote work, instant support, and proactive IT management, utilizing AI for faster issue resolution.
- IT Management & Monitoring: Provides solutions like asset tracking, mobile device management, and device monitoring to ensure IT systems are stable and running smoothly.
- Enhanced Security & Integrations: Safeguard your business with endpoint protection against cyber threats and integrate seamlessly with platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Jira.
Verdict: TeamViewer stands out as the best remote desktop software for businesses seeking comprehensive, secure, and scalable remote access. With features like AI-powered support, robust IT fleet management, and seamless integrations, it helps keep your employees productive and supported, making it suitable for growing SaaS companies and mid-sized enterprises alike.
3. RemotePC
Struggling with complex remote access solutions?
RemotePC offers secure, versatile remote desktop access across PCs, Macs, and Linux, ensuring you always stay connected. This means your team can easily access work devices from anywhere, maintaining productivity.
The software addresses your need for secure, cross-platform access, providing a reliable solution for distributed work models. This streamlines your operations.
Here’s how RemotePC helps.
RemotePC facilitates connection to remote desktops from anywhere, supporting diverse operating systems like PCs, Macs, and Linux machines. You can access these natively or via a web browser.
It also ensures easy remote desktop management, including essential capabilities like remote file transfer and document printing, which are crucial for maintaining workflow continuity. Additionally, you can collaborate effectively with associates on presentations or documents by granting temporary access to your remote desktop, fostering a truly collaborative environment.
Plus, you can utilize features like Whiteboard for real-time drawing on the remote screen, and Blank Host Screen to ensure privacy by turning the remote computer’s screen blank during sessions.
The result is streamlined and secure remote operations.
While this guide focuses on remote desktop solutions, if you’re also exploring options for specialized needs, my article on best PACS software might be relevant.
Key features:
- Secure Access: Utilize TLS v1.2/AES-256 encryption and a Personal Key for a secondary password, ensuring top-tier security for your data and connections.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Access and control PCs, Macs, and Linux machines from any device, including iOS and Android mobiles, offering unparalleled flexibility.
- Team Collaboration Tools: Benefit from features like Whiteboard for drawing on remote screens and Chat for real-time communication during remote sessions.
RemotePC features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: RemotePC stands out as a best remote desktop software solution, offering robust security and cross-platform access for various use cases, from individual users to large enterprises. Its intuitive management and collaboration features make it ideal for any team seeking secure, scalable remote access.
4. Splashtop
Are you struggling with overwhelming remote access options?
Splashtop addresses this by offering specialized solutions for individuals, small teams, IT pros, and enterprises. This means you can find a tailored fit for your specific needs, whether it’s individual access or extensive IT support.
Their platform focuses on secure, high-performance remote productivity, which helps reduce troubleshooting time and protect against breach attempts, a critical concern for IT directors.
This delivers peace of mind.
Splashtop is designed to provide secure remote access and support across various scenarios. You can access work computers from any device, anywhere, or empower your IT pros to support any device, including real-time patch management. This comprehensive approach streamlines operations for distributed teams. Additionally, for enterprise users, Splashtop offers SSO and advanced manageability, ensuring granular permission controls and centralized management capabilities that are essential for safeguarding sensitive data. Plus, they validate rapid deployment and high value return for IT teams.
It’s truly a comprehensive solution.
Key features:
- Secure Infrastructure: Cloud and on-premise hosting with 24/7 intrusion detection and SOC 2 & 3 certifications ensure your computers, users, and data remain protected against threats.
- Advanced Security Features: Capabilities like 2FA, endpoint MFA, session audit logging, and end-to-end encryption give IT teams total control over securing remote access and data.
- Compliance with Standards: Continuous focus on meeting top privacy and security standards like ISO/IEC 27001, SOC2, and GDPR ensures you’re protected and compliant.
Splashtop features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: If you’re seeking the best remote desktop software that offers robust security, comprehensive features, and flexible deployment options for your growing SaaS company or mid-sized enterprise, Splashtop is an excellent choice. Warner Bros. even used Splashtop to ensure business continuity for post-production tasks remotely.
5. GoTo
Struggling with secure and reliable remote access?
You need robust IT management and support, connecting to and controlling your owned devices securely. GoTo provides solutions designed to simplify your operations.
This means you can power IT with solutions that secure, manage, and support endpoints everywhere. It’s about making your business easier to run.
It’s time to simplify your IT.
GoTo offers all-in-one IT management and support software with essential features built right in. This includes secure access, monitoring, and management for remote IT.
Its capabilities empower enterprises to provide seamless remote support on any Mac, PC, or mobile device, rethinking how you approach IT management. Individuals can also access files, data, and applications from anywhere using banking-grade encryption.
Additionally, GoTo helps keep your business secure with remote access, monitoring, and management. You can get more done with everything you need for secure access and file sharing, all from anywhere. It truly makes work flexible and efficient for your distributed team.
Securely connect, control, and thrive.
Key features:
- Secure Remote Access: Connect to and control owned devices, and access files, data, and applications from anywhere using banking-grade encryption.
- Comprehensive IT Management: All-in-one software for secure access, monitoring, automation, and management of endpoints, simplifying your business operations.
- Seamless Remote Support: Provide ad-hoc remote support with integrated ticketing across Mac, PC, and mobile devices, enhancing troubleshooting efficiency.
GoTo features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: If you’re seeking the best remote desktop software that offers secure access, comprehensive IT management, and seamless remote support, GoTo is an excellent choice. It’s built to make your business run easier, keeping your endpoints secure, managed, and supported, enabling you to work from anywhere.
6. Zoho
Struggling to balance security and user adoption with your current setup?
Zoho provides a unique and powerful software suite designed for businesses of all sizes, ensuring secure access. This means you can easily streamline complex business processes.
You can unite all your data into one unified platform, breaking down silos between departments. The result is increased organizational efficiency.
It’s time to truly simplify your operations.
Zoho solves your problems by providing a comprehensive, unified cloud software experience. This operating system for your business offers autonomous control, allowing you to customize it for your specific needs.
You can consolidate your entire business operations onto Zoho, experiencing its breadth and depth. This helps reduce troubleshooting time while protecting against breach attempts, which are increasingly common with remote work reliance. Additionally, using Zoho to automate your processes can improve your efficiency tenfold, if not more, allowing you to scale without manual data entry.
Plus, Zoho offers the professional services, infrastructure, support, and security that your large business needs to drive growth at scale.
Your productivity can be significantly boosted.
While streamlining your business operations, consider that effective communication is key. My article on best cloud IVR solutions can help optimize your calls.
Key features:
- Unified Cloud Software: Run your entire business on a single, integrated platform designed to break down departmental silos and increase overall organizational efficiency.
- Customizable Business Management: Gain autonomous control to tailor the software to your specific business needs, supporting your sales, marketing, and invoicing requirements.
- Enhanced Security & Support: Access enterprise-grade infrastructure, professional services, and robust security measures essential for large businesses handling sensitive data and driving growth.
Zoho features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Zoho’s comprehensive, unified cloud software and customizable approach make it a strong contender for the Best Remote Desktop Software. With reported productivity increases of up to 80% and significant cost savings compared to previous investments, it helps businesses streamline operations and secure their data.
7. ConnectWise
Are overwhelming remote desktop options causing security headaches?
ConnectWise provides a purpose-built platform specifically for IT departments, offering PSA & RMM tools to streamline your operations and reduce complexity. This means you can centralize your data and services, eliminating chaotic silos that often hinder efficient remote work.
It allows you to operate more efficiently, improve your EBITDA, and simplify complex IT tasks. ConnectWise helps you safeguard your access 24/7, which is crucial when handling sensitive data.
Want to tackle complexity head-on?
ConnectWise tackles these issues head-on by integrating Professional Services Automation (PSA) and Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) within a single platform. This unification helps reduce vendor sprawl by consolidating essential tools into a configurable user experience.
This integration streamlines IT and MSP operations significantly. Additionally, it offers advanced cybersecurity and data protection solutions like MDR, SIEM, and Cloud Backup to ensure continuous security.
Furthermore, leveraging hyperautomation through generative AI from ConnectWise Sidekick and RPA workflows, you can automate repetitive processes like user onboarding and patch management. This frees up your team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual tasks, helping you achieve business continuity around the clock.
This helps you protect and defend your clients’ and stakeholders’ data.
While we’re discussing comprehensive security, understanding cannabis compliance software is equally important for specialized industries.
Key features:
- Unified Platform for IT Operations: Combines PSA, RMM, cybersecurity, and data protection into one platform, reducing vendor sprawl and offering a consistent user experience.
- Comprehensive Cybersecurity & Data Protection: Offers robust solutions like MDR, SIEM, Cloud Backup, and SaaS Security to ensure business continuity and mitigate risks for your clients.
- Hyperautomation with AI & RPA: Integrates generative AI (Sidekick) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate time-consuming IT tasks, boosting productivity and streamlining workflows.
ConnectWise features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ConnectWise stands out as a strong contender for the best remote desktop software, particularly for IT directors and system administrators, by offering a unified platform for PSA, RMM, cybersecurity, and data protection. Its focus on efficiency, security, and automation capabilities directly addresses common pain points like vendor sprawl and the need for centralized management.
8. RealVNC
Struggling with secure remote access across diverse devices?
RealVNC Connect offers award-winning remote access to keep your organization connected with secure, reliable access to desktops and mobile devices.
This means you can simplify your setup and consolidate tools with one solution, avoiding the complexity of managing multiple systems.
So, how can you achieve simplified, secure remote access?
RealVNC Connect empowers your team with a highly configurable solution, allowing you to tailor it to your specific business needs. This includes features like On-Demand Assist for quick support and Offline Licensing for on-premise solutions.
You’ll find RealVNC is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including iOS and Android, which is essential for seamless mobile access and management. Their solution auto-adjusts to network speed, ensuring optimized connections for remote work, remote support, and vendor access. Additionally, it offers full session encryption, granular permission controls, and various authentication options to maintain complete control and safeguard your systems.
The result? Secure, reliable, and customized remote access.
Key features:
- Secure Remote Access: RealVNC Connect provides full session encryption, granular permission controls, and robust authentication options for keeping your systems safe.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: The software works across major desktop and mobile operating systems, simplifying your setup by consolidating various remote access tools into one.
- Configurable & Reliable: You can customize this highly configurable solution to your business needs, and it offers fast, reliable connections that auto-adjust to your network speed.
RealVNC features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: If you’re seeking the best remote desktop software with strong security, cross-platform versatility, and customizable features, RealVNC Connect is a compelling choice. Its 25+ years of experience and over 250 million downloads highlight its reliability for managing remote work, providing support, and securing vendor access.
Conclusion
Finding secure, reliable access is tough.
You’re juggling countless options, trying to balance robust security with a user-friendly experience. Making the wrong choice can grind all productivity to a halt.
A single weak link in your remote access strategy can expose your entire network to attack. The risk of a data breach is simply too high for any modern business to ignore.
So here’s what I recommend.
After all my testing, AnyDesk truly stands out. It delivers robust, cross-platform security without sacrificing the speed and seamless performance your team requires to succeed.
I was especially impressed by its ability to integrate directly with ITSM tools. It’s the best remote desktop software for streamlining support while safeguarding your most critical operations.
While we’re discussing software that drives team productivity, my guide on best programming software is a valuable resource.
I suggest you start a free trial of AnyDesk to experience its secure, low-latency performance firsthand.
You’ll see the difference immediately.
