I’m looking for a free remote control software similar to TeamViewer. My current needs include helping friends or family troubleshoot their devices remotely. TeamViewer is great, but the free version has limitations, and I’m hoping to find something as effective without the restrictions. Any reliable options out there?
You want TeamViewer but don’t wanna pay? Classic. Alright, let me save you from software purgatory. Try AnyDesk – it’s free for personal use, pretty lightweight compared to TeamViewer. Works on almost all platforms, and the setup is so easy even my grandma could use it (if she wasn’t scared of the ‘internet demons’). However, if you’re that paranoid about privacy, maybe skip it – their free version isn’t the most private fortress out there.
Another good one is Chrome Remote Desktop. Literally requires your friends/family to have Chrome installed – that’s it. No ads, no ‘YOUR TRIAL IS OVER’ popups. Downside: you won’t find advanced features like file transfer or session recording there, but hey, it’s free.
Or maybe look at RustDesk? Open-source, so all the nerds love it. You can even self-host if you’re into being the king of your remote desktop kingdom. Though, let’s be honest, most people are way too lazy for that.
Oh, and skip alternatives like UltraViewer and DWService unless you’re chill with slower speeds and less functionality. They get the job done but feel like driving a lawnmower in a race car track.
Pick your poison.
Yo, so while @yozora gave you a decent rundown (props for the ‘internet demons’ bit, lol), lemme throw in a couple more things to chew on.
First off, Parallels Access. Okay, not as mainstream as AnyDesk or Chrome Remote Desktop, but hey, it’s got your ‘help Grandma with her 800 tabs issue’ basics covered. The thing with Parallels, though, is it’s heavily app-focused—like remote controlling her desktop but zoomed in on specific apps. Weird? Maybe. Handy? Absolutely.
If you’re into open-source stuff but not ready to build your own little RustDesk empire like @yozora suggested, you might wanna poke around at TightVNC. Possibly not the sleekest thing you’ll see, and yeah, it feels like it still lives in 2005, but it gets the job done. A bit more hands-on for setup, though, so if click-and-go is your vibe, forget I said anything.
Now, DistantDesktop is a sleeper. No flashy marketing, no ‘buy premium to unlock THIS -and THAT- feature!’ drama; it’s free-free. Works great if you’re just remote controlling and not trying to play tech wizard of Oz with ten fancy features. No self-hosting mumbo jumbo either–just install and go.
Oh, and while Chrome Remote Desktop is easy as pie, ngl, it’s lacking BIG if you’re troubleshooting deeper stuff. Like, have fun trying to tinker with BIOS settings remotely (you won’t). So if you deal with stuff beyond surface-level fixes, skip it.
IMHO, if you’re helping relatives who mostly flood Google with questions like ‘Why won’t my computer start?’ just slap Chrome Remote Desktop on there and call it a day. Anything too complex means they’ll prob just end up calling you anyhow.