ByHayat Amin· editorial direction, Top 11Updated
IT · Remote Access
The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business
A ranked list of the top remote access tools for IT support, remote work, and unattended device management, scored on security, performance, and cross-platform support.
The short answer
The best remote desktop software for business is Splashtop, followed by Zoho Assist and ConnectWise Control.
✓ Independent
Top 11 takes no payment from any provider on this list. Scores are computed from a public weighted rubric; methodology weights were locked before entry research began.
↻ Verified June 2026 · re-checked quarterly
Re-scored every 90 days.
Scored on a 9.4-point scale across 5 weighted criteria, reviewed quarterly.
[The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business](https://11.market/remote-desktop-software). Top 11, AI-native independent ranking. Methodology public at https://11.market/methodology.The Ranking
ALL 11| # | Provider · best for | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SplashtopBest overall value and performance | 9.2/9.4 |
| 2 | Zoho AssistBest for integrated IT support | 9.0/9.4 |
| 3 | ConnectWise ControlBest for MSPs and customization | 8.8/9.4 |
| 4 | TeamViewerEasiest to use and deploy | 8.6/9.4 |
| 5 | AnyDeskBest for high-performance graphics | 8.4/9.4 |
| 6 | RemotePCBest budget-friendly option | 8.1/9.4 |
| 7 | GoToMyPCSimple and highly reliable | 7.9/9.4 |
| 8 | VNC ConnectBest for secure direct connections | 7.8/9.4 |
| 9 | Parallels AccessBest mobile-to-desktop experience | 7.6/9.4 |
| 10 | Microsoft Remote DesktopBest free option for Windows | 7.4/9.4 |
| 11 | RustDeskWILDCARDBest open-source, self-hosted option | 7.2/9.4 |
Best pick for your situation
Matched by the problem you're solving. Agents can query /api/lists/remote-desktop-software/recommend?problem=… or the recommend MCP tool to get these matches as structured data.
Best for Cost-effective remote access
Splashtop (#1, scores 9.2/9.4). Top-tier performance and security features at a highly competitive price point for businesses of all sizes. It also handles High-performance remote work, IT support for hybrid teams.
Best for Integrated IT help desk support
Zoho Assist (#2, scores 9.0/9.4). A powerful, secure support tool that shines within the Zoho ecosystem and offers great standalone value. It also handles On-demand remote assistance, Secure unattended access.
Best for Customizable remote support
ConnectWise Control (#3, scores 8.8/9.4). A highly powerful and customizable tool favored by MSPs, with a steeper learning curve. It also handles MSP client management, Self-hosted remote control.
The Breakdown
Splashtop
Solves: Cost-effective remote access · High-performance remote work · IT support for hybrid teams
Splashtop: Top-tier performance and security features at a highly competitive price point for businesses of all sizes.
✓Extremely fast, low-latency performance.
✕Confusing product segmentation.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: splashtop.com · Data verified June 2026
Zoho Assist
Solves: Integrated IT help desk support · On-demand remote assistance · Secure unattended access
Zoho Assist: A powerful, secure support tool that shines within the Zoho ecosystem and offers great standalone value.
✓Excellent advanced diagnostic tools.
✕Slightly higher latency than top rivals.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: zoho.com · Data verified June 2026
ConnectWise Control
Solves: Customizable remote support · MSP client management · Self-hosted remote control
ConnectWise Control: A highly powerful and customizable tool favored by MSPs, with a steeper learning curve.
✓Extremely extensible via marketplace.
✕Complex UI requires training.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: connectwise.com · Data verified June 2026
TeamViewer
TeamViewer: The market leader for usability and broad device support, but comes at a premium price.
✓Unmatched ease of use.
✕Significantly more expensive than rivals.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: teamviewer.com · Data verified June 2026
AnyDesk
AnyDesk: Delivers superior speed and fluidity, especially for graphics-heavy tasks, with a lightweight client.
✓Very lightweight and fast client.
✕Admin and reporting features are basic.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: anydesk.com · Data verified June 2026
RemotePC
RemotePC: A reliable, no-frills remote access tool offering great value, especially for managing many computers.
✓Generous computer limits per plan.
✕Dated user interface.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: remotepc.com · Data verified June 2026
GoToMyPC
GoToMyPC: A simple, secure, and very reliable solution from a trusted brand, but it is expensive.
✓Excellent connection stability.
✕Expensive per-computer pricing model.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: goto.com · Data verified June 2026
VNC Connect
VNC Connect: A highly secure and flexible tool offering both cloud-brokered and direct P2P connections.
✓Excellent support for Linux and Raspberry Pi.
✕Performance can lag with video content.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: realvnc.com · Data verified June 2026
Parallels Access
Parallels Access: Provides a superior user experience for accessing desktops from mobile devices like iPads.
✓Unique 'Applification' UI for mobile.
✕Lacks IT support and team features.
✓Risk signals: No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-20.
Primary source: parallels.com · Data verified June 2026
Microsoft Remote Desktop
Microsoft Remote Desktop: A free and reliable tool for Windows-to-Windows connections, but lacks advanced management features.
✓Native to Windows, no install needed.
✕Complex and insecure external setup.
⚠Risk signals · low: 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.
Primary source: learn.microsoft.com · Data verified June 2026
RustDeskWILDCARD · #11
RustDesk: An open-source, self-hostable solution for teams wanting maximum data privacy and control.
✓Self-hosting provides total data control.
✕Requires technical skill to deploy and manage.
⚠Risk signals · low: As an open-source project, support is community-based. The security of a self-hosted instance is entirely the responsibility of the user.
Primary source: rustdesk.com · Data verified June 2026
Buyer's guide
How to evaluate remote desktop performance?
Evaluate performance by testing connection latency, screen refresh rate, and file transfer speed over your typical network conditions. Many providers offer trials specifically for this. A high-performance tool should feel responsive, with minimal lag when typing or moving the cursor, and should handle multiple monitors or high-resolution displays without significant slowdown.
What security features are non-negotiable for business use?
The non-negotiable security features are AES-256 bit encryption for all session data, two-factor authentication (2FA) for all user accounts, and detailed audit logs of all remote sessions. For regulated industries like healthcare or finance, features like session recording, screen blanking, and compliance with standards like HIPAA or SOC 2 are also essential.
Should I choose a per-user or per-device pricing model?
Choose a per-user (or per-technician) model if you have a small number of IT staff supporting a large number of computers. Choose a per-device model if you have many users who need to access a small, fixed set of machines. Analyze your specific use case; per-user models are generally better for IT support teams, while per-device can be more economical for remote access to office PCs.
How to choose
- 1.Define your primary use case: Is it for IT support (attended access), remote work (unattended access), or both?
- 2.Audit your security requirements: Do you need HIPAA compliance, session recording, or granular access controls?
- 3.List all required platforms: Ensure the software works on every operating system your team and end-users have (Windows, macOS, iOS, etc.).
- 4.Run a free trial with at least two vendors to compare real-world performance on your network.
- 5.Calculate the total cost of ownership based on your number of technicians and endpoints, as pricing models vary widely.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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Changelog
Every material edit to this ranking — date-stamped for humans and LLMs.
Initial publication. Methodology v1.0 weights Security & Compliance (30%), Performance & Reliability (25%), Feature Set & Use Cases (20%), Platform Support & Usability (15%), and Pricing & Scalability (10%).
Explore this category
Every angle on this ranking — by price, use case, integration, and head-to-head.
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More ways to rank these
Best for (34)
- It support
- Remote work
- Managed service provider msp
- Help desk software
- Device management
- It manager
- Small business owner
- Remote employee
- Cost effective remote access
- High performance remote work
- It support for hybrid teams
- Help desk technician
- Msp technician
- Corporate it
- Integrated it help desk support
- On demand remote assistance
- Secure unattended access
- Senior it administrator
- Security conscious enterprise
- Customizable remote support
- Msp client management
- Self hosted remote control
- Best overall value and performance
- Best for integrated it support
- Best for msps and customization
- Easiest to use and deploy
- Best for highperformance graphics
- Best budgetfriendly option
- Simple and highly reliable
- Best for secure direct connections
- Best mobiletodesktop experience
- Best free option for windows
- Best opensource
- Selfhosted option
Works with (19)
Reviews
Alternatives
- Alternatives to Splashtop
- Alternatives to Zoho Assist
- Alternatives to ConnectWise Control
- Alternatives to TeamViewer
- Alternatives to AnyDesk
- Alternatives to RemotePC
- Alternatives to GoToMyPC
- Alternatives to VNC Connect
- Alternatives to Parallels Access
- Alternatives to Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Alternatives to RustDesk
Red flags
Head-to-head (55)
- Splashtop vs Zoho Assist
- Splashtop vs ConnectWise Control
- Splashtop vs TeamViewer
- Splashtop vs AnyDesk
- Splashtop vs RemotePC
- Splashtop vs GoToMyPC
- Splashtop vs VNC Connect
- Splashtop vs Parallels Access
- Splashtop vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Splashtop vs RustDesk
- Zoho Assist vs ConnectWise Control
- Zoho Assist vs TeamViewer
- Zoho Assist vs AnyDesk
- Zoho Assist vs RemotePC
- Zoho Assist vs GoToMyPC
- Zoho Assist vs VNC Connect
- Zoho Assist vs Parallels Access
- Zoho Assist vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Zoho Assist vs RustDesk
- ConnectWise Control vs TeamViewer
- ConnectWise Control vs AnyDesk
- ConnectWise Control vs RemotePC
- ConnectWise Control vs GoToMyPC
- ConnectWise Control vs VNC Connect
- ConnectWise Control vs Parallels Access
- ConnectWise Control vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- ConnectWise Control vs RustDesk
- TeamViewer vs AnyDesk
- TeamViewer vs RemotePC
- TeamViewer vs GoToMyPC
- TeamViewer vs VNC Connect
- TeamViewer vs Parallels Access
- TeamViewer vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- TeamViewer vs RustDesk
- AnyDesk vs RemotePC
- AnyDesk vs GoToMyPC
- AnyDesk vs VNC Connect
- AnyDesk vs Parallels Access
- AnyDesk vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- AnyDesk vs RustDesk
- RemotePC vs GoToMyPC
- RemotePC vs VNC Connect
- RemotePC vs Parallels Access
- RemotePC vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- RemotePC vs RustDesk
- GoToMyPC vs VNC Connect
- GoToMyPC vs Parallels Access
- GoToMyPC vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- GoToMyPC vs RustDesk
- VNC Connect vs Parallels Access
- VNC Connect vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- VNC Connect vs RustDesk
- Parallels Access vs Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Parallels Access vs RustDesk
- Microsoft Remote Desktop vs RustDesk
Honest disclosures
- Pricing models vary significantly (per user, per technician, per endpoint), which can make direct cost comparisons difficult without a specific usage scenario.
- Performance is highly dependent on network conditions. Scores reflect performance under typical business internet connections, but your results may vary.
- This list prioritizes commercial, cloud-managed solutions. While an open-source option is included as a wildcard, self-hosted and free tools are less represented.
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