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Free plans compared

Free remote desktop software compared: what each free plan allows

Looking for a free remote desktop app for home and for work? Free plans differ more than their names suggest: some are for personal use only, some only work on your home network, and some need port forwarding or a server you run yourself.

Here are the free versions of 16 remote desktop tools side by side, from their makers' own websites and docs. We make RemoteAccessApp, so it's first: free for 5 Windows or Linux PCs, for personal and work use.

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  • Facts from each maker's own site
  • Checked October 2026
  • Work use free on 5 PCs

Free plans side by side

What each tool's free version allows, and one more thing to know before you rely on it.

The free versions of 16 remote desktop tools and RemoteAccessApp, as of October 2026
RemoteAccessAppFree version Free for 5 PCs and 5 saved hosts, with 3 open at once, for personal and work useGood to knowUnattended access, browser access (phones too) and no port forwarding are all in the free plan, with no session time limit and no card.
TeamViewerFree versionPersonal, non-commercial use onlyGood to knowIts knowledge base counts checking your work computer from home as commercial use, and free users flagged for commercial use can get connection timeouts.
AnyDeskFree versionPersonal, non-commercial use onlyGood to knowIts terms say AnyDesk may suspend free use if it suspects commercial use.
Chrome Remote DesktopFree versionFreeGood to knowWhen you share your screen for support, Google's help page says you're asked every 30 minutes to confirm you want to keep sharing.
RustDeskFree versionOpen source, with a server you can run yourselfGood to knowKeeping that server online, patched and backed up is up to you, and its web console, single sign-on and access control are in the paid server edition.
SplashtopFree versionPersonal, non-commercial use on your home network onlyGood to knowReaching your computers from outside your home network needs a paid add-on, and Splashtop counts working from home as commercial use.
ParsecFree versionPersonal, non-commercial use onlyGood to knowA streaming tool: a chat and an on-screen banner for the person at the PC aren't listed on its site.
Microsoft Remote DesktopFree versionIncluded with WindowsGood to knowMicrosoft says Windows Home editions can't be Remote Desktop hosts, and reaching a PC from outside its network needs port forwarding or a private tunnel.
Quick AssistFree versionBuilt into WindowsGood to knowEach session starts with a new time-limited code, the helper needs a Microsoft account, and unattended access isn't listed.
NoMachineFree versionThe free server-side edition was discontinued as of version 10Good to knowIts Personal Edition allows one active desktop connection at a time, and reaching a PC from outside can mean mapping a port to port 4000.
SupremoFree versionNon-professional and/or non-continuous useGood to knowIts site asks you to subscribe to use it without restrictions.
TightVNCFree versionThe base version is free for personal and commercial useGood to knowSession encryption needs TightVNC Pro, a paid subscription active on both computers, and its FAQ says to forward port 5900 to reach a PC from the internet.
UltraVNCFree versionFreeGood to knowAcross the internet it needs a repeater you host or ports forwarded on your router, and encryption is a plugin.
MeshCentralFree versionOpen source, on a web server you run yourselfGood to knowKeeping that server online, patched and backed up is up to you, and the desktop prompt is an option you turn on.
Zoho AssistFree versionA free plan, with remote support and unattended access sold as separate editions beyond itGood to knowIts pricing page lists remote script execution in its Unattended Access Professional edition.
LogMeIn ProFree versionNo free plan: a paid service with a 14-day free trialGood to knowReaching your own computers after the trial needs a subscription.
ConnectWise ScreenConnectFree versionNo free plan: paid plans after a free trialGood to knowIts pricing page lists command line access on plans above its entry plan.

Facts about other products are from their official websites and documentation as of October 2026; products change, so check their sites for the latest. Select a name for the full comparison and its sources. RemoteAccessApp facts are for the current version.

What RemoteAccessApp's free plan includes

  • Up to 5 PCs and 5 saved hosts, with 3 open at once, for personal and work use. No card needed.
  • No session time limit.
  • Unattended access to your own PCs, turned on at the PC itself. Unattended access
  • Your PCs in any modern browser, on a Mac, a Chromebook, a phone or a tablet. Browser access
  • No port forwarding: PCs connect out, through any router. How it works
  • An Allow prompt on the PC (unless unattended access is on) and a banner during every session.
  • Chat, file transfer, clipboard sync and a remote command prompt, plus SSH, SFTP, RDP and VNC in the same app.
  • Windows 10 and 11, Home and Pro, and 64-bit Linux with X11 or Wayland.

Comparing more than free plans? Use the checklist for choosing remote desktop software, or see Free and Pro feature by feature.

Start free in a few minutes

  1. Step 1: Create a free RemoteAccessApp account

    Sign up with your email. No card is needed, and the free plan covers 5 PCs.

  2. Step 2: Install RemoteAccessApp on each PC you want to reach

    Download the app for Windows 10 or 11 or Linux, install it on the PC and sign in to your account. Connect your first PC.

  3. Step 3: Turn on unattended access on your own PCs

    If nobody will be at a PC when you connect, switch on unattended access at that PC. It can't be turned on from anywhere else. How to do it safely.

  4. Step 4: Connect from the app or a browser

    Open the RemoteAccessApp Console on your own PC, or sign in at remoteaccessapp.com in any browser, on a phone too, and pick a PC from your list.

How we wrote this page

We make RemoteAccessApp, so it's listed first. Every statement about another product comes from its official website or documentation, checked in October 2026, and each one is on that product's comparison page with its sources. If we couldn't confirm something there, it isn't here. We don't quote prices, because they change.

Questions, answered

TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop and other product names on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, used only to identify those products. RemoteAccessApp isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them. Facts about other products come from their official websites as of .

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