The Best Remote PC Access Software of 2021

Remote PC access software allows one computer to remotely connect and access another device, regardless of where both devices are physically located. Remote PC access software is commonly used among IT departments that need to remotely access company devices and deploy necessary installations and configurations. It is also used by businesses that want to provide their team or customers with remote support and virtual help desk capabilities, as well as employees who need to remotely access office devices when they are working offsite. 

Connecting two devices (e.g., PC, Mac, iOS, Android) will depend on the software you are using. While some applications require you to install the software on one or both devices first before making a connection, other software is web-based and allows you to connect multiple devices via a web browser. Depending on the software and plan you purchase, the remote device may have to be turned on before you can make a connection; however, some software programs remotely "wake up" devices before accessing them. 

The best remote PC access software comes with essential security settings that allow you to restrict user access; these security features include two-factor authentication, secure session codes, role-based security and brute force protection. 

Once you remotely connect to a device and have permission to access and manipulate its contents, most remote PC access software allows you to easily drag and drop or copy and paste files from one device to the other. There are often chat capabilities and remote functions like remote printing or recording.

If you can access your work computer from home, is someone else able to as well? 

All of the software solutions we evaluated go to great lengths to ensure security. Each software program lets you customize the security settings for your remote session. These features typically include blanking the screen of the host machine while you access it, locking the keyboard and mouse, and automatically disconnecting if the session is inactive for too long. You can adjust these features and create or change credentials. 

Secure transmissions are a must when you're remotely accessing another computer, especially when sensitive or proprietary information is involved. The industry standard is 128-bit encryption; many software providers offer 256-bit AES encryption. Both encryption methods offer robust security. Further, many remote PC access solutions comply with industry and government standards and regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Payment Card Industry (PCI) and Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) 16. 

Passwords are a given for remote PC access software; many companies offer a second layer of security, such as IP filtering. IP filtering blocks access from specific computers, even if a valid password is used. This feature is particularly helpful in blocking access to unauthorized information.

Whether your business has ordered its employees to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic or your IT department needs a software solution to remotely control and troubleshoot devices, remote access is a key component of many businesses. 

Many platforms offer a host of convenient features, such as desktop shortcuts and drag-and-drop file transfers, to easily access and transfer information. This makes it easier than ever to quickly reach an office computer from a desktop or mobile device – you can access your work computer from anywhere on your personal devices. 

This software is especially ideal for IT work. IT staff can remotely connect to verified computers to update programs or troubleshoot connection problems. Many of the programs we evaluated are multifunctional enough to suit a business's IT department while remaining simple enough for general employee use. Some of the programs even allow for web conferencing and whiteboard chatting, which can be used for demos, classes or group projects. The video recording feature on most remote software allows you to record these sessions for future viewing.

Below is a roundup of the features that remote access solutions offer. Many companies tier the features, only offering comprehensive features to higher-tiered plans. Carefully review plans and take advantage of the free trial to make sure the plan includes the features you need.    

• Always-on remote access: Configure devices for remote access at any time. You can see a list of devices that are configured for remote access and their current statuses (e.g., all computers, in session, online, offline).
  
  
• Browser-based vs. installation: Access devices remotely via a web browser-based link, software installation or both.
  
  
• Communication: Communicate between devices using text chat, VoIP, video, annotation, whiteboards and screenshots.
  
  
• Cross-platform access: Access desktop platforms – Windows, Linux, Mac, Chrome OS and Raspberry Pi – and mobile devices – iOS, Android, Windows mobile and Blackberry. Some software limits the type of platforms it can connect to.
  
  
• Integration: Integrate the software with other business applications you use, such as G Suite, Zendesk, Jira and more. This is great for simplifying business processes.
  
  
• Logs and reporting: Track your remote access and web activity in easy-to-read logs and reports.
  
  
• Multiple monitor support: View multiple monitors on a remote computer.
  
  
• One-time instant access: Permit one-time access to a device using a unique access ID and key.
  
  
• Remote printing: Print from a device that you are accessing remotely.
  
  
• Scalability: Add or remove devices from your plan with ease.
  
  
• Session scheduling and recording: Schedule remote access sessions and record the activity that takes place.

Q: Who needs remote PC access software?

A: Remote PC access software is great for a number of business users. Employees who are working from home and want to access their office computers can use it, as can companies or educators who need to remotely teach multiple students simultaneously. It is also ideal for IT departments that need to access office devices, troubleshoot tech issues and deploy various technology protocols. Support agents and help desks use remote PC access software to remotely aid people experiencing technical issues or glitches. 

Q: What should you look for in a remote access solution?

A: The solution best suited for your business is going to hinge on your company and what you need from the software. For example, one business might prioritize collaboration features, whereas another might be focused on user management. In addition to your must-have features, consider usability, compatibility, security and customer support. 

You want to be sure the software is compatible with all of your devices and secure enough to safely transmit information. The level of usability depends on how advanced your team is – do they have extensive technical knowledge, or do they need a simple user interface? You also want to be sure the software you choose is backed with solid customer support so your questions and concerns can be quickly and efficiently addressed. 

Q: How does remote access software increase productivity?

A: Remote access and support software can increase productivity in more ways than one. For example, having the ability to access an office desktop via various devices allows you or your workers to edit, manage and submit essential documents outside of the office. This is especially helpful for companies who have workforces working at home. 

Another advantage is technical support. If someone on your team runs into a technical problem, they can lose several hours of productivity attempting to fix it themselves. Using a remote access software solution, an IT support tech can quickly access and troubleshoot their device. 

Q: What are the advantages of customizable security settings?

A: Security is one of the most important features of remote PC access software, especially for those who work in highly regulated industries. Although most software solutions offer encryption and other security measures to safely transmit data, some offer customizable security settings. This is advantageous for companies whose employees work with several individuals on one platform. Having the ability to create role-based security measures, and manage and restrict specific user access helps your business safely manage your team and/or customers. Customizing security settings is also helpful when working with varying levels of information. 

Q: Is it safe to use remote desktop software on public Wi-Fi?

A: Not really. Users always run a security risk when accessing a shared public Wi-Fi, especially if they have no other security measures in place. For example, if you are connecting to a public Wi-Fi, you are most likely connecting to an open port on a firewall – which is not safe. Open ports leave you vulnerable to attackers who can see where your RDP connection is hosted. Although you may be fairly secure to trivial attacks, always implement additional security measures when using remote access software on public Wi-Fi, like using a virtual private network.  

Q: What are some risks with using remote PC access software?

A: Remote PC access software often comes with a variety of security features to keep your network and devices safe, but that's not to say that using the software is without some risk. Remote access software can be accessed or installed on virtually any device, which means your business isn't only on the hook for monitoring in-office devices for security threats – you will need to keep an eye on every employee device that uses the remote software to ensure it has sufficient security software.

If your employees use remote access software to connect their business and personal devices, you also run the risk of them mixing their business and personal passwords. If your team doesn't follow strong password protocol and use multifactor authentication, this may leave your system vulnerable to cyberthreats. Additionally, since remote access software connects a variety of devices, one hacked device can leave your company at risk of security breach. To avoid these dangers, it is important to maintain strict security protocols, such as allowing users to access necessary devices and enforcing user-identity verification.

Q: How can you protect your computer when using remote access?

A: You can employ several business security best practices to protect your devices while using remote access software. Some of the most basic – yet effective – actions are using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, implementing firewalls to restrict access, setting an account lockout policy, limiting which users can log on to the remote desktop software, and updating software frequently. You should make sure that anyone connected to your business's remote access software is taking these security measures.

We interviewed small business owners to gain real-world insight into which software they use. Ease of use was mentioned by many as a top priority. 

Malte Scholz, CEO and co-founder of Airfocus, uses TeamViewer to help customers set up his company's app. He listed ease of use as his team's top priority for remote PC access software. 

"We love the fact that the user interface is so nice and that the app is overall incredibly easy to use," Scholz told business.com. "It doesn't take a lot of time to set up, and you can get going within 20 minutes from first trying out the app." 

Aqsa Tabassam, entrepreneur and editor-in-chief of InsideTechWorld, said her team uses Zoho Assist to work remotely and manage technical glitches. In addition to the usability of on-demand connections, they love Zoho's auto-detection capabilities. 

"The software comes with a great set of features, but what's more amazing … is that it auto detects the multiple monitors used, displays them with preference, and records their performance based on function, location and other relative parameters," Tabassam said. "It also detects basic troubleshooting during the connection … Zoho tries to resolve all the problems automatically with ease."  

Easily scaling the software is another key featured that small business owners cited. Veronica Miller, marketing manager at VPN Overview, said her team loves that their RemotePC plan was easily scalable. 

"It needs no additional software or hardware to add more computers to our plan," said Miller. "Without any other resources, we can expand it. So, it does not disturb our workflow or does not cause any hindrance."

We started our research by evaluating nearly two dozen vendors. After some preliminary research into each program, we settled on 15 remote PC access software options to consider as best picks: AnyDesk, Anyplace Control, BeyondTrust, ConnectWise Control, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, NoMachine, Radmin, Remote Utilities, RemotePC, ShowMyPC, Splashtop, TeamViewer, VNC Connect and Zoho Assist. 

Next, we evaluated each software solution on a more in-depth scale. We looked at company websites and online resources to evaluate the functionality and sharing features available, as well as the general usability of each program. We spoke with several small business owners about the software they used and the features that matter the most to them. 

After narrowing down the list to the top contenders, we created a list of essential features for each use case (best for easy implementation, best for small business, best Mac solution) and then ranked each program based on those necessary features. Before finalizing our best picks, we posed as small business owners and contacted each company to evaluate its customer service. 

We analyzed each program based on the following criteria: 

• Browser-based vs. installation
• Communication features
• Compliance
• Cross-platform access
• Customer support
• Integration
• Logs and reporting
• Scalability
• Security
• Session scheduling and recording
• Usability