Remotely control your computer from other devices. Log into an operating system of a computer that is not physically in your location. By establishing remote control, users can launch programs on that machine, work with files, transfer data, watch movies, etc. The list below serves to assess some of the most recommended programs of this kind.
Free
Trial period
Drag-and-drop file transfer
?
Simlified way of extracting data
Multiple monitor display
Access via shortcut
?
Make a shortcut to connect to your computer
Whiteboard support
?
Draw or write on the screen
Cloud storage option
?
Save data from remote computers
Record screen activities
Simple interface
Available for Mac/Android/iOS
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a well-designed remote access, control and monitoring suite. It features multi-level security, has an easy-to-navigate interface and has a free version. Its price is rather expensive, but the sheer number of features makes the money well-spent. It is optionally integrated with services like OneDrive.
Free for personal usage.
Free for personal usage.
Main Window
Key Features
- Supports up to 25 users simultaneously.
- Transfers files and folders.
- Remote document printing.
- Store all accounts in LastPass.
- Available for Mac, Android, iOS, Linux.
Pros
- Support for software installation on remote computers
- Support for multi-user computer access
- Regular updates
- Automated router configuration
Cons
- File size for sharing is limited in the free version
- Does not access computers in sleep mode
- No support for high resolutions
LogMeIn
LogMeIn is one of the more functional programs of its category. it supports basic access to remote desktop apps as well as printing and updating security of the remotely controlled device. It is easy to configure and comes with a free 1TB of cloud storage space for transferred and saved files.
Free trial: first launch, cost: $30 per month.
Free trial: first launch, cost: $30 per month.
Main features
- Remote document printing.
- Remote audio playback.
Advantages
- Sharing remote desktop with multiple users
- Linking local host drives to a remote computer
- Cloud-based password generation and storage
- Folder synchronization between computers
Disadvantages
- No "ghost mouse" effect when sharing the screen
- Very limited free trial for a single use
VNC Central
VNC Central is used for serious management of remote desktop applications on one or several computers. It is secure and highly customizable, but not as easy to handle in terms of settings. This is a workhorse solution for advanced users, which means the interface is lacking in some areas when it comes to convenience.
Preferences
Main functionality
- Minimal sensitivity to regional differences when accessing remote computers.
- Optional DSM encryption.
- File compression prior to transfer to save traffic and optimize speed.
Pros
- Open spurce
- Extensive technical support
- Regular updates
- Support for multi-user demonstration mode
Cons
- Does not connect to computers running other similar programs
- Has troubles with certain firewalls
- Unix access requires additional configuration
Radmin
Radmin is one of the most popular programs in its category. The interface of the solution is one of the most convenient, and despite a slight limitation of access to certain IPs, the reach of this program is one of the widest. it even supports a voice chat for remote communication and supports multiple languages.
Free trial: 30 days, cost: $49.
Free trial: 30 days, cost: $49.
Main Window
Features
- Multiple interface languages.
- Support for any screen resolution.
- Support for animated cursors.
Advantages
- Free technical support
- Free text and voice chat
- Work via a local network
Disadvantages
- Limited access to "grey" IPs
- Only the trial version is free
Splashtop
Splashtop is a remote access program with some of the most diverse sets of features. It offers deep customization of access parameters and showcases one of the best performances overall. It's free for personal use.
Main Window
Features
- Smoothly runs resource-heavy programs.
- On-demand support files for quick error fixing.
Advantages
- Smoothly runs resource-heavy programs
- Works from USB sticks
- Copying and pasting passwords to remote programs
Disadvantages
- Can only be configured from the admin computer
- Optimized for single computer-to-computer access
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is rather hard to tell which program is the clear victor. The range of options available in programs of this kind is so wide, and the features are so diverse, that Team Viewer only manages to take the top spot by a very narrow margin. It is the recommended application, but there are many more. If you have any suggestions of your own, we would appreciate them. Feel free to state your choices for the best remote access programs in the comments.
I'm using Distant Desktop - the only remote desktop software that is free for commercial use.
How about the command line/console access?
In the unix world you've had telnet/rsh and now ssh.
but you can do the same in windows with servers such as
freesshd,KryM, MobaSSH, Bitevise...
and clients like putty, smartty...
I know cli can be scary, but so powerful :-)
I've never used such programs... it's time to start.
Am I secure while using these tools? I've heard that there is a lot of data thievery on the Internet, are these tools protected from it?
Is it legal to use the personal TeamViewer edition on my work?