# The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business > The best remote desktop software for business is Splashtop, followed by Zoho Assist and ConnectWise Control. - URL: https://topelevens.com/remote-desktop-software - Last verified: 2026-06-20 - Methodology: https://topelevens.com/methodology - JSON: https://topelevens.com/api/lists/remote-desktop-software · CSV: https://topelevens.com/api/lists/remote-desktop-software/csv ## Ranking ### #1 Splashtop · 9.2/9.4 - Best for: Businesses seeking the best overall balance of high performance, strong security features, and value-driven pricing. - San Jose, USA · founded 2006 · $ ($60 to $480/yr) - Splashtop earns the top rank for its combination of high-performance streaming (often reaching 4K at 60fps), extensive security controls, and pricing that is consistently more affordable than its direct competitors like TeamViewer. - Pro: Its proprietary protocol delivers a remarkably smooth and low-latency remote session, even for media-heavy tasks, making it feel almost like a local machine. - Con: The product line can be confusing, with different packages (Business Access, SOS, Remote Support) that have overlapping features and are targeted at slightly different use cases. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #2 Zoho Assist · 9/9.4 - Best for: IT and support teams that need a feature-rich remote support tool with deep integrations into a broader business software ecosystem. - Chennai, India · founded 1996 · $ ($120 to $288/yr) - Zoho Assist is the best option for teams embedded in the Zoho ecosystem, offering powerful diagnostic tools, session recording, and seamless integration with Zoho Desk and CRM at a very competitive price. - Pro: The platform includes advanced support-centric features like remote diagnostics to view system processes and hardware status without interrupting the end user. - Con: While performance is generally good, it can occasionally exhibit more latency than specialized competitors like Splashtop or AnyDesk, particularly on slower networks. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #3 ConnectWise Control · 8.8/9.4 - Best for: Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT departments that require maximum customization, security, and control over their remote support sessions. - Tampa, USA · founded 1982 · $$ ($348 to $660/yr) - ConnectWise Control (formerly ScreenConnect) is the top choice for technical users due to its powerful feature set, extensive customization options via extensions, and a strong security posture that includes role-based permissions and self-hosting availability. - Pro: Its extension marketplace allows users to add significant functionality, such as integrations with over 100 third-party IT tools, making it one of the most adaptable platforms. - Con: The user interface is more complex and less intuitive than competitors like TeamViewer or Splashtop, requiring more initial setup and training for new technicians. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #4 TeamViewer · 8.6/9.4 - Best for: Organizations needing an extremely easy-to-use, cross-platform solution with a globally recognized brand and minimal setup for end-users. - Göppingen, Germany · founded 2005 · $$$ ($418 to $2400/yr) - TeamViewer remains a top contender because of its unmatched ease of use and the broadest platform support in the industry, allowing connections to almost any device, including IoT and POS systems. - Pro: Getting a remote session started is incredibly simple for non-technical users, typically requiring them only to read a 9-digit ID and password. - Con: Its commercial licenses are significantly more expensive than most competitors, and the company is aggressive about detecting and blocking suspected commercial use on its free tier. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #5 AnyDesk · 8.4/9.4 - Best for: Users working with graphics-intensive applications like CAD or video editing, where low latency and high frame rates are critical. - Stuttgart, Germany · founded 2014 · $$ ($178 to $754/yr) - AnyDesk secures its position by delivering exceptional performance via its proprietary DeskRT codec, which is specifically designed to provide fluid, 60fps connections even over connections with limited bandwidth. - Pro: The client application is a single, small executable (under 4MB) that can run without installation, making it extremely fast to get a session started. - Con: While its core remote access is excellent, its broader administrative feature set, like user management and reporting, is less developed than Splashtop or ConnectWise. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #6 RemotePC · 8.1/9.4 - Best for: Small businesses and teams looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly solution to manage remote access for a large number of computers. - Calabasas, USA · founded 1995 · $ ($29 to $599/yr) - RemotePC provides a solid, reliable remote access experience with all the essential features at a price point that is often a fraction of the cost of bigger names, making it an excellent value proposition. - Pro: Its pricing tiers are very generous with the number of computers included, for example, the Team plan includes access for 50 computers for around $299 per year. - Con: The user interface feels dated compared to more modern applications, and performance, while reliable, doesn't match the fluidity of top-tier rivals like Splashtop. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #7 GoToMyPC · 7.9/9.4 - Best for: Individuals and small teams who prioritize extreme simplicity and reliability over an extensive feature set or low cost. - Boston, USA · founded 2003 · $$$ ($408 to $780/yr) - GoToMyPC is a veteran in the remote access space, offering a very stable and secure connection that is simple to set up, though it comes at a higher price with fewer features than modern competitors. - Pro: The product is known for its connection stability and has a long track record of reliability, making it a trusted choice for business-critical access. - Con: Its per-computer pricing model is expensive and becomes cost-prohibitive as you scale, costing over $400 per year for a single computer on the base plan. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #8 VNC Connect · 7.8/9.4 - Best for: Technical teams and embedded systems developers who need a highly secure, flexible, and direct (peer-to-peer) connection method. - Cambridge, UK · founded 2002 · $ ($44 to $600/yr) - VNC Connect, from the original inventors of VNC technology, offers a robust and secure solution that can operate via the cloud or establish direct peer-to-peer connections, giving administrators more control over data pathways. - Pro: It supports an incredibly wide range of platforms, including Raspberry Pi and Linux variants, making it a top choice for managing diverse and embedded systems. - Con: The performance of the VNC protocol, while reliable, generally feels slower and less responsive for high-motion screen content compared to proprietary protocols from Splashtop or AnyDesk. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #9 Parallels Access · 7.6/9.4 - Best for: Mobile professionals who primarily need to access their desktop computer from a tablet or smartphone. - Bellevue, USA · founded 1999 · $ ($19 to $99/yr) - Parallels Access excels at translating the desktop experience to a mobile screen, using unique UI technologies to make desktop applications touch-friendly instead of just shrinking the screen. - Pro: Its 'Applification' technology renders desktop apps as native-looking mobile apps, with a smart app launcher and touch-friendly controls that are far superior to a simple screen mirror. - Con: It is not designed for IT support or large-scale team management; it lacks the features for technician queues, session transfer, and detailed reporting found in other tools. - Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-20): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20. ### #10 Microsoft Remote Desktop · 7.4/9.4 - Best for: Businesses operating exclusively within the Windows ecosystem that need a basic, no-cost solution for remote access. - Redmond, USA · founded 1975 · Free - Microsoft's native Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a solid, secure, and free tool for connecting to Windows Pro or Enterprise machines, but it lacks the centralized management, cross-platform support, and ease-of-use of paid third-party tools. - Pro: Because it's built into the Windows operating system, there is no third-party software to install on the host, and performance is highly optimized for Windows environments. - Con: Setting it up for access over the internet requires technical knowledge of port forwarding and network security, posing a significant challenge and security risk for non-technical users. - Risk signals (low, checked 2026-06-20): RDP is a frequent target for attackers if not properly secured (e.g., exposed to the internet on default port 3389). Requires careful network configuration. - [undefined] undefined (undefined: undefined) ### #11 [WILDCARD] RustDesk · 7.2/9.4 - Best for: Technically proficient teams that want full control over their remote access infrastructure by self-hosting their own server. - Singapore, Singapore · founded 2021 · Free (self-hosted) - RustDesk is a compelling wildcard because it's an open-source alternative that allows you to self-host the relay and ID server, meaning your remote session data never has to pass through a third-party vendor's infrastructure. - Pro: The ability to run your own server for free provides complete data sovereignty and avoids vendor lock-in, a significant advantage for security-conscious organizations. - Con: It requires significant technical expertise to set up, secure, and maintain the server, and it lacks the polished user experience and dedicated support of commercial products. - Risk signals (low, checked 2026-06-20): As an open-source project, support is community-based. The security of a self-hosted instance is entirely the responsibility of the user. - [undefined] undefined (undefined: undefined) - [undefined] undefined (undefined: undefined) ## FAQ **What is the difference between remote desktop and remote support software?** Remote desktop software is primarily for one person to access their own computer from another location (unattended access). Remote support software is designed for an IT technician to access someone else's computer, with their permission, to solve a problem (attended access). Most modern tools on this list combine features for both use cases. **How secure is remote desktop software for business use?** Business-grade remote desktop software is highly secure when configured correctly. Top providers use end-to-end AES-256 encryption, multi-factor authentication, and provide detailed access logs. The main security risks come from weak user passwords or social engineering, not typically from the software's core technology. **Can I use remote desktop software to access a computer that is turned off?** No, you cannot access a computer that is completely powered off. The target computer must be on and connected to the internet. However, some solutions support Wake-on-LAN (WoL), which allows you to remotely wake a computer that is in sleep or hibernate mode, provided the network hardware supports it. **What is the difference between RDP, VNC, and proprietary protocols?** RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is Microsoft's protocol, built into Windows and efficient for Windows environments. VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is an open-source protocol that transmits the screen's graphical output, making it platform-independent but sometimes slower. Most top commercial providers like Splashtop and AnyDesk use their own proprietary protocols, which are optimized for high performance, security, and low latency.