Best Remote Desktop Software in 2026: 7 Picks Compared

The best remote desktop software for most store owners and solo operators is the cheapest tool that covers the job you actually have. If you only need to reach your own home or office computer while traveling, Chrome Remote Desktop and RemotePC Solo are the two lowest-friction places to start. If you run a small team or a virtual assistant needs access, Splashtop and Zoho Assist publish the clearest limits. As of November 2026, the vendor pages I loaded show the lowest listed monthly rate at RemotePC (about $1.84 a month for one computer, which matches its $44.25 two-year price spread over 24 months) and Splashtop Solo at $6 a month billed annually ($72 a year).

Several well-known names, including AnyDesk, TeamViewer and Zoho Assist, did not show dollar prices on the pages I could load, so I say “not shown” instead of guessing. I wrote this at Ecommerce Paradise for people who run an online store, manage a small remote team or virtual assistants, or live as digital nomads and need a safe way to reach a computer left at home. The ranking is my opinion based on each company’s published pages, and I did not run hands-on tests.

Quick picks: Chrome Remote Desktop for reaching your own computer, RemotePC for the lowest listed monthly rate, Splashtop for published prices on every self-serve tier, AnyDesk for large managed-device counts, TeamViewer if your business already pays for it, Zoho Assist for support work and a free plan, and Microsoft’s Windows App if your computers already run Windows Pro.

Disclosure: some links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Remote Desktop Software Compared (November 2026)

Prices are US dollars as shown on each vendor page, with the billing basis stated. “Not shown” means the figure was missing from the pages I could load, so check the live page before you buy. Free options differ a lot: some are for personal use only, which matters if you use the computer for a business.

Pick	Free option	Entry paid price (billing basis)	Devices and sessions	Best fit
Chrome Remote Desktop	No price stated on the page	Not shown	Limits not shown on the pages I loaded	Reaching your own computer from a phone or laptop
RemotePC	7-day free trial, no credit card	Solo about $1.84 a month (the $44.25 two-year price over 24 months; struck-through $2.46); $2.95 month to month	Solo 1 computer; Pro 10; Team 50; Enterprise 100	Lowest listed monthly rate per computer
Splashtop	Free trial buttons; length not shown	Solo $6 a month, billed annually at $72	Pro lets up to 3 users into one computer	Solo owners and small teams that want clear prices
AnyDesk	Free for personal use only	Not shown; annual billing only	1 to 5 concurrent connections; 100 to 2,000 managed devices	Teams with many unattended devices
TeamViewer	Free for personal use only	Not shown; annual subscriptions	Not shown	Businesses already invested in TeamViewer
Zoho Assist	Free plan: 1 technician, 5 unattended computers, 1 concurrent session	Not shown for USD; 15-day trial	Remote Support: 2, 4 or 6 concurrent sessions	Support teams and the Zoho ecosystem
Windows App and Remote Desktop	Price not mentioned on the pages I loaded	Not shown	Host PC must run Windows Pro	Windows users who want built-in access

Remote access helps you run a store, but it does not build one. If you want a high-ticket store built for you, with products, suppliers and pages already set up, start here. See the done-for-you store build →

How I Chose These Seven

I started from the tools people most often compare for small-business and personal remote access, then read each company’s own pricing and product pages in November 2026. I looked at six things: whether a free option exists and who it is allowed for, the price and its billing basis, the number of devices and simultaneous sessions, unattended access and file transfer, security features the vendor itself states, and which platforms it runs on.

I did not test any of these products, and I did not read third-party reviews for facts. Where a vendor page showed a promotional price crossed out, I report the current displayed figure and flag that the strikethrough is a promotion. Where two figures on a page looked like they conflicted, I say so. The order of the list is editorial opinion based on those published terms, not a lab result.

RustDesk, which sells self-hosted plans, is covered in my TeamViewer alternatives guide rather than ranked here. I did not research Parsec for this article, so it is not ranked.

1. Chrome Remote Desktop: Best for Reaching Your Own Computer

Who it fits: nomads, solo store owners and anyone who leaves a desktop at home and wants to reach files or a desktop app from a phone, tablet or laptop.

Key facts: Google’s product page says you can connect with a computer or an Android or iOS device, and it describes the service as built on Google’s infrastructure using WebRTC. A price is not stated on the page, so I cannot give you a number. Google’s support article says setup works for a Mac, Windows or Linux computer, that you set a PIN to access another computer, and that all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted.

The article also lists two limits for sharing: an access code works only one time, and during sharing you are asked every 30 minutes to confirm you want to continue. I did not find file transfer, session recording or a limit on registered computers on the pages I loaded, so I cannot say whether those exist.

• Strength: simple setup through the Chrome browser, with a PIN you choose.
• Strength: runs from phones and tablets as well as computers.
• Strength: no team admin console is needed if you only want your own machine.
• Limit: no price, file-transfer or device-limit details on the pages I loaded, so confirm in the app.
• Limit: it is a personal convenience tool, not a managed support platform.

Verdict: start here if you only need your own computer, since the pages I loaded show no price (confirm any cost in the app). Move up to a paid tool when you need logs, roles or several people connecting.

2. RemotePC: Best for the Lowest Listed Monthly Rate

Who it fits: an owner with one to ten computers who wants a low listed monthly rate and a trial first.

Key numbers: the RemotePC pricing page shows four plans with monthly, yearly and two-year options. Solo covers 1 user and 1 computer. The $1.84 a month headline, with $2.46 struck through, matches the two-year price of $44.25 (struck-through $59.00) divided by 24 months, and the page text does not label the billing basis next to it. Month-to-month billing for Solo is $2.95 a month. Pro covers 1 user and 10 computers at about $6.22 a month, Team covers unlimited users and 50 computers at about $18.72, and Enterprise covers unlimited users and 100 computers at about $37.47.

Using my own arithmetic, the two-year prices are $44.25 for Solo, $149.25 for Pro, $449.25 for Team and $899.25 for Enterprise, which divide by 24 to about $1.84, $6.22, $18.72 and $37.47 a month. Solo billed month to month would cost 12 x $2.95 = $35.40 over a year, before tax. The page text is cluttered with several price figures per plan and shows no clear one-year total, so confirm the exact amount and term at checkout. A 7-day free trial with no credit card is listed, and overage charges of $20 per computer per year are listed for usage above your plan.

On security, the vendor’s home page states that sessions and file transfers use TLS v1.2 and AES-256 encryption. It supports Mac, Windows and Linux computers, and you can connect from macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android or a browser viewer. File transfer and remote printing are listed. I did not see two-factor authentication named on the pages I loaded.

• Strength: the lowest displayed monthly rate per computer in this roundup.
• Strength: a trial with no credit card, plus a Pro plan covering 10 computers.
• Strength: file transfer and remote printing are listed.
• Limit: promotional strikethrough prices make the true renewal rate harder to read.
• Limit: 2FA was not shown on the pages I loaded.

Verdict: the best value pick on listed monthly rate, as long as you confirm the checkout amount and the renewal rate.

3. Splashtop: Best for Published Prices on Every Tier

Who it fits: a solo owner or a small team that wants a plan sized for one person, a few users, or a support desk.

Key numbers: the Splashtop pricing page shows Remote Access Solo at $6 a month, billed annually at $72. Pro is $8.25 a month per user, billed annually at $99 per user, and it lets up to 3 users connect into one computer. Performance is $13 a month per user, billed annually at $149 per user. Enterprise is a custom quote. Remote Support SOS starts at $22 a month per concurrent tech license, billed annually at $259 or $399, and the page does not explain which price matches which option.

Solo lists unattended access from any device and file transfer. Pro adds multi-monitor support, user role management, chat and session recording. Performance adds higher color accuracy, a 240 FPS capability and USB passthrough. Splashtop’s product page states 2FA, endpoint MFA, session audit logging and end-to-end encryption as features, and it lists SOC 2 and 3 and ISO/IEC 27001 among its compliance claims. It supports access from Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chromebook devices.

The pricing page did not show a trial length, a computer limit per plan or monthly billing for Remote Access, so confirm those in checkout.

• Strength: prices published for Solo, Pro and Performance.
• Strength: unattended access and file transfer on the entry plan.
• Strength: session recording and roles on Pro, useful when a helper uses your machine.
• Limit: computer limits per plan are not shown on the pricing page.
• Limit: Remote Support has two prices without an explanation.

Verdict: the safest first paid test if you want a published price and a plan that grows from one user to a small team.

4. AnyDesk: Best for Many Managed Devices

Who it fits: a business with a fleet of computers to reach unattended, or a team that needs several simultaneous connections.

Key numbers: the AnyDesk pricing page lists Solo, Standard, Advanced and Ultimate. Dollar prices were not shown on the page I could load. Billing is annual only, and there is a 20% discount on the first subscription year. Concurrent connections are 1 for Solo, 1 for Standard, 2 for Advanced and 5 for Ultimate. Managed devices for unattended access are 100, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 across the four plans.

The page says the free version is for personal use only, with a limited feature set and limited support, and that professional use needs a paid license. File transfer and two-factor authentication are listed as features, but I could not tell from the page which plans include them. A free trial was not shown.

• Strength: clear device and connection counts by plan.
• Strength: a free personal version for home use.
• Strength: unattended access through managed devices on every plan.
• Limit: no prices were shown on the page I loaded.
• Limit: annual billing only, so you cannot try a month cheaply.

Verdict: a good fit once you manage dozens or hundreds of devices. For one laptop, the cheaper tools above are enough.

5. TeamViewer: Best If You Already Pay for It

Who it fits: established businesses, IT support teams and companies that value compliance statements and add-ons.

Key facts: the TeamViewer pricing page shows no plan prices in the content I could load. It says subscriptions are annual and renew every 12 months, and it prices add-ons by endpoints, users or storage with volume discounts. A trial length is not shown there. On the vendor’s download page, the free version is described as available for personal use only, and work-related, organizational or revenue-generating use needs a commercial license.

That wording matters if you use TeamViewer to reach a store computer, since a store is a business. The vendor’s home page also states compliance with ISO/IEC 27001, HIPAA/HITECH and SOC 2 and 3. The download page lists Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS and Raspberry Pi, and its FAQ also names iPadOS. That page describes 4096-bit RSA key exchange and 256-bit AES session encoding, which are the vendor’s own descriptions rather than independent verification. Two-factor authentication was not shown on the pages I loaded.

• Strength: broad platform support and stated compliance claims.
• Strength: add-ons for device management and monitoring.
• Limit: prices are not shown on the pricing page.
• Limit: the free tier excludes business use.
• Limit: annual terms renew every 12 months.

Verdict: keep it if it already works and you know the price you pay. If price clarity is your complaint, read my guide to TeamViewer alternatives for the tools that publish more numbers.

6. Zoho Assist: Best for Support Work and a Free Plan

Who it fits: store owners who answer customer or team tech problems, and anyone already using Zoho apps.

Key numbers: the Zoho Assist pricing page lists Remote Support in Standard, Professional and Enterprise, with 2, 4 and 6 concurrent sessions, and each technician can run unlimited ad-hoc sessions. Unattended Access has Standard and Professional tiers with unlimited technicians. USD prices were not shown in the text I could load: the page has a currency selector but no amounts. A 15-day trial with no credit card is listed, and yearly billing is described as saving more than 15%.

The Zoho Assist product page describes a free remote support plan with 1 technician, 5 unattended computers and 1 concurrent session, no credit card required. It also states TLS 1.2 and AES 256-bit encryption, and lists Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome OS and Raspberry Pi. Two-factor authentication and session recording were not shown on that page, and the free plan’s commercial-use terms were not shown, so check them before relying on it for work.

• Strength: a free plan and a trial that cost nothing to try.
• Strength: concurrent sessions are spelled out by tier.
• Strength: wide platform list including Linux and Raspberry Pi.
• Limit: USD prices were not visible on the page I loaded.
• Limit: it is built for support desks, so it can feel like more than a solo owner needs.

Verdict: the best free-plan starting point for support-style work, with the trial as a safety net.

7. Windows App and Remote Desktop: Best Built-In Option for Windows PCs

Who it fits: someone who already owns a Windows Pro computer and wants to reach it without adding another tool.

Key facts: Microsoft’s Windows App overview says the app connects to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services and PCs. It lists Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, Android and Chrome OS, browsers and Meta Quest. A remote PC connection is supported on all of those except web browsers. The page does not mention a price, and it says signing in with a work or school account is required for some services, with no personal Microsoft account sign-in, though remote PC connections work without signing in on supported platforms.

Microsoft’s Remote Desktop support article says the remote PC must run the Windows Pro edition, and it walks through turning Remote Desktop on in Settings. Microsoft’s clients article says Windows App replaces the Remote Desktop client, but you may still need the older client for some connections to Remote Desktop Services. Neither page covers network exposure, so before you open a home computer to the internet, read Microsoft’s security guidance and consider a VPN instead.

• Strength: the pages I loaded mention no price, and it uses a feature built into Windows Pro.
• Strength: clients for Windows, Mac, phones and tablets that can connect to a remote PC.
• Limit: the host must be Windows Pro, so it does not help with Mac or Linux hosts.
• Limit: setup and network safety are on you, with no managed console for a small team.

Verdict: a good option to try first for a Windows Pro desktop, since the pages I loaded mention no separate fee, but it needs more care than a hosted tool.

Which Tool Fits Your Situation

If you are a nomad or traveling store owner with one desktop at home, start with Chrome Remote Desktop, then compare RemotePC Solo and Splashtop Solo. RemotePC lists the lower monthly rate, while Splashtop lists a clearer feature breakdown. Test whichever you pick on the same hotel or coworking Wi-Fi you will really use.

If you have a virtual assistant using a store computer, lean toward a tool with roles and session logs, such as Splashtop Pro, which lists session recording and user role management. If you manage a fleet or support customers, compare AnyDesk’s device counts with Zoho Assist’s concurrent sessions. If your team lives in Windows Pro, Microsoft’s tools may be enough.

If a business already pays for TeamViewer and it works, keep it. If the cost is the problem, test one cheaper tool for a month before canceling.

How to Choose Remote Desktop Software

Begin with the job. Reaching your own computer, supporting customers and letting a helper work on a company machine are three different tasks, and each has different needs. A tool built for support desks may be overkill for one owner, and a personal tool may lack logs for a team.

Then check the free plan terms. AnyDesk and TeamViewer both describe their free versions as personal use only, so a store owner using them for business needs a paid license. Zoho Assist describes a free plan, but the commercial terms were not shown on the pages I loaded. Read the license before you rely on any free option.

Third, count devices and simultaneous sessions. AnyDesk lists 1 to 5 concurrent connections by plan and 100 to 2,000 managed devices. Zoho Assist lists 2 to 6 concurrent sessions on Remote Support. RemotePC counts computers, from 1 on Solo to 100 on Enterprise. Fit those numbers to your team.

Fourth, check the billing basis. Several vendors show a monthly price that is really billed annually. AnyDesk lists annual billing only, and TeamViewer lists 12-month terms. Splashtop’s published prices are labeled billed annually, while RemotePC shows monthly, yearly and two-year options. Multiply the monthly figure by the months in the term to see what you will pay up front.

Fifth, review the security features the vendor itself names: two-factor authentication, encryption claims, session logs and permissions. These are vendor statements, not independent audits, so treat them as a starting checklist. Finally, check platform support for the devices you carry. For related tools, my video conferencing software roundup uses the same published-pages method.

Running a Store or a Remote Team With Remote Desktop

Most store work happens in a browser, so you may not need remote desktop at all. Shopify, your email and your supplier portals can be reached from any laptop. Remote desktop earns its place when something lives on one machine: a desktop accounting file, a design program, a shipping label printer, or a spreadsheet you never moved to the cloud.

If you are still choosing a business model, read what high-ticket dropshipping is before you buy software. If you already know the model, my high-ticket niches list helps you pick products.

The guide to finding suppliers for dropshipping high-ticket products explains which supplier details are most sensitive and worth keeping off shared machines.

Software is also a business expense. Keep receipts for tools you use for the store, and set up your company properly first. My guide to business formation for high-ticket dropshipping covers why the entity matters before you start paying for tools under a business name. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

If you manage virtual assistants, pair remote access with a time-tracking and review process. My Hubstaff review covers one way to manage remote helpers.

For team chat alongside remote access, see my Slack alternatives guide.

Prefer to learn the model yourself before you spend on software? Start with my free mini course, or go deeper with personal coaching. Free mini course → Coaching →

Which Should You Pick If…

You only want your home computer while traveling. Try Chrome Remote Desktop first, and compare RemotePC Solo if you want a paid option with a listed trial. Set a strong PIN and keep the computer updated.

You want predictable published prices. Splashtop shows Solo, Pro and Performance prices with annual billing. RemotePC shows four plans and a trial, though its page has several price figures per plan, so check the checkout total.

You manage many computers or customers. AnyDesk’s managed-device counts and Zoho Assist’s concurrent sessions are the two to compare. Ask each vendor for a quote, since prices were not shown on the pages I loaded.

You live in Windows Pro. The Microsoft pages I loaded mention no price for Remote Desktop or Windows App, but you take on more of the network setup yourself.

You already use TeamViewer. Keep it until the cost or the license terms push you to switch, and confirm your price at renewal.

Security Habits That Matter More Than the Brand

Remote desktop hands another device control of your computer, so the account is the target. Use a long, unique password from a password manager, and turn on two-factor authentication wherever the tool offers it. Where a tool lists 2FA, such as Splashtop and AnyDesk on their pages, enable it on day one.

Use a separate computer for any virtual assistant or contractor, and keep banking, supplier logins and tax files off it. Give each helper their own login instead of sharing one, and remove access the day a project ends. If a tool logs sessions, read the log occasionally.

Keep the operating system and the remote tool updated, and be cautious with any unexpected prompt asking you to share your screen or enter a code. Scammers use remote desktop tools too, so never give an access code to someone who contacted you first. This is general guidance, not a security audit of any product.

Mistakes to Avoid

The first mistake is using a personal-use free plan for business. AnyDesk and TeamViewer both say business use needs a paid license, so read the terms before you connect a store computer.

The second mistake is comparing monthly prices without checking the billing basis. A rate labeled billed annually is an up-front yearly charge, and AnyDesk lists annual billing only.

The third mistake is leaving a computer reachable with weak credentials. The fourth is giving a helper full control of the machine that holds your banking. The fifth is forgetting to cancel a trial before it converts, so put the end date in your calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free remote desktop software?
It depends on who uses it. Chrome Remote Desktop shows no price on the pages I loaded, Zoho Assist lists a free plan with 1 technician, 5 unattended computers and 1 concurrent session, and AnyDesk and TeamViewer are free for personal use only. Check the current terms on each vendor page.

How much does remote desktop software cost?
As of November 2026, RemotePC displays Solo at about $1.84 a month (its $44.25 two-year price over 24 months, or $2.95 month to month) and Splashtop Solo is $6 a month billed annually. AnyDesk, TeamViewer and Zoho Assist did not show USD prices on the pages I loaded, so request a quote or start a trial to see the number.

Can I use the free version for my business?
Not always. AnyDesk says its free version is for personal use only, and TeamViewer says work or revenue-generating use needs a commercial license. Read the license terms for any tool before using it for a store.

Is remote desktop software safe?
It can be, if you use strong unique passwords, two-factor authentication and separate computers for helpers. Vendors state features such as encryption, but those are their own claims, so treat them as a checklist rather than a guarantee.

Do I need unattended access?
You need it if you want to reach a computer when nobody is sitting at it, such as a home desktop while you travel. Splashtop Solo, AnyDesk managed devices and Zoho Assist’s free plan list it, but check the plan you are buying.

Final Verdict

For one person reaching one computer, begin with Chrome Remote Desktop, then compare RemotePC and Splashtop Solo, which list about $1.84 a month (two-year price) and $6 a month (billed annually). For teams, compare Splashtop Pro, AnyDesk and Zoho Assist by device and session counts. Windows Pro users can try Microsoft’s built-in tools, and TeamViewer is worth keeping only if it already fits your budget and license.

Prices and terms change, so confirm every number on the live vendor page before you buy. This article is general information, not security or purchasing advice for your specific situation. Then put your attention back on traffic and sales, because remote access only helps when the store behind it earns.

Want a high-ticket store with the products, suppliers and pages already set up, so you spend your time on sales instead of software? Let my team build it for you. Get your store built →

Related Articles

If you found this useful, these guides go deeper on related tools and topics:

• TeamViewer Alternatives: 5 Remote Access Tools Compared by Price and Fit (2026)
• Best Video Conferencing Software in 2026: 8 Picks Compared on Price and Limits
• WeTransfer Alternatives: 5 File Transfer Tools Compared by Price, Limits and Fit (2026)
• Best Simple Project Management Tools for Small Teams in 2026
• Hubstaff Review 2026: Worth It for Managing Remote VAs?