VNC Connect vs Parallels Access

Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business. Last verified June 20, 2026.

The short answer

VNC Connect ranks higher on Top 11 (#8 vs #9) for IT teams and remote workers needing secure remote desktop and support access. A highly secure and flexible tool offering both cloud-brokered and direct P2P connections.

At a glance

VNC ConnectParallels Access
Top 11 rank#8 / The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business#9 / The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business
Score (out of 9.4)7.87.6
Best forBest for secure direct connectionsBest mobile-to-desktop experience
Pricing$ ($44 to $600/yr)$ ($19 to $99/yr)
HQCambridge, UKBellevue, USA
Founded20021999

VNC Connect

A highly secure and flexible tool offering both cloud-brokered and direct P2P connections.

www.realvnc.com/en/connect/

See full entry in The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business

Parallels Access

Provides a superior user experience for accessing desktops from mobile devices like iPads.

www.parallels.com/products/access/

See full entry in The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business

Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.