AnyDesk vs TeamViewer vs Splashtop: Which Remote Access Tool is Best in 2026?
Remote access software lets you control another computer from anywhere — essential for IT support, remote work, and helping family members with tech problems. AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and Splashtop each target slightly different users. Here’s how to choose.
Quick Answer
- Best for personal / family support: AnyDesk
- Best for IT professionals and MSPs: Splashtop
- Best for enterprise features: TeamViewer (if budget allows)
AnyDesk vs TeamViewer vs Splashtop: Head-to-Head
| AnyDesk | TeamViewer | Splashtop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal free tier | ✅ (non-commercial) | ✅ (with limitations) | ❌ |
| Starting price (paid) | ~£10/month | ~£50/month | ~£5/month |
| Unattended access | ✅ (paid) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Session recording | ✅ (higher plans) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multi-monitor support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| File transfer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| iOS / Android | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mac support | ✅ (Apple Silicon) | ✅ (Apple Silicon) | ✅ (Apple Silicon) |
| Linux support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MSP / IT-specific plan | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Device management | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Connection speed | Very fast | Fast | Very fast |
AnyDesk
AnyDesk is built around speed and simplicity. The DeskRT codec delivers smooth remote sessions even over slower connections, and setup is fast — the person you’re helping just runs the app and shares a 9-digit code. There’s no account needed on the receiving end, which makes it ideal for helping less technical family members.
The free tier is genuinely usable for personal, non-commercial help. AnyDesk is quick to flag commercial use if patterns suggest it — keep this in mind if you’re supporting clients.
Paid plans are competitively priced and cover unattended access, which lets you connect to a device without someone sitting at it — useful for server maintenance or accessing your own home PC remotely.
Best for: Home users, freelancers supporting family and friends, small businesses that need straightforward remote access without complexity.
→ Read our full AnyDesk review
TeamViewer
TeamViewer has been the market leader for years and it shows — the feature set is the most comprehensive of the three. Session recording, script deployment, IT integrations (ServiceNow, Jira, etc.), device monitoring, and enterprise management tools are all available. If you’re running a large IT operation, TeamViewer’s breadth is hard to match.
The catch is price. TeamViewer’s business plans start significantly higher than both AnyDesk and Splashtop — around £50/month for a single user business plan, scaling up considerably for teams. Many smaller IT operations find this hard to justify when Splashtop delivers similar functionality at a fraction of the cost.
TeamViewer’s personal free tier exists but frequently triggers “commercial use suspected” messages if the software detects patterns consistent with professional use, which can interrupt sessions unexpectedly.
Best for: Enterprises and large IT teams with the budget for it, users who need deep third-party integrations, organisations already in the TeamViewer ecosystem.
→ Read our full TeamViewer review
Splashtop
Splashtop occupies the sweet spot between simplicity and professional capability. The Business Access plans offer unattended access, session recording, multi-monitor support, and file transfer at prices significantly below TeamViewer. The SOS (Support on Demand) plan is particularly well-suited to IT support professionals — it lets you connect to any device on demand without requiring pre-installation.
Performance is excellent — Splashtop uses its own streaming technology that delivers low-latency, high-quality remote sessions even over average broadband. The mobile apps are well-maintained and the Mac experience is smooth on both Intel and Apple Silicon.
Best for: IT professionals, MSPs, small businesses with professional remote support needs, and anyone who has outgrown AnyDesk’s feature set but doesn’t want to pay TeamViewer prices.
Try Splashtop →→ Read our full Splashtop review
Pricing Comparison (GBP approximate)
| Plan | AnyDesk | TeamViewer | Splashtop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (personal) | ✅ | ✅ (limited) | ❌ |
| Entry paid | ~£10/month | ~£50/month | ~£5/month |
| Professional / IT | ~£20/month | ~£100+/month | ~£10–25/month |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Splashtop and AnyDesk offer significantly better value for most SME and IT professional use cases.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose AnyDesk if: You mainly need to help family or friends remotely, want the simplest setup with no account required on the receiving end, or need an affordable personal remote access tool.
Choose Splashtop if: You’re an IT professional or MSP needing unattended access, session recording, and professional features at a reasonable price. Also best for small businesses that need employees to securely access office computers from home.
Choose TeamViewer if: You’re in an enterprise environment, already invested in the TeamViewer ecosystem, need specific integrations (ServiceNow, Jira, etc.), or have budget to match the feature set.
A Note on Mac-to-Mac and PC-to-Mac Support
All three work cross-platform — connecting a Windows PC to a Mac, or a Mac to a Windows PC, works without issues on any of them. macOS requires screen recording and accessibility permissions the first time, which takes about 30 seconds to set up in System Settings → Privacy & Security. After that, connections are seamless.
→ See our full guide to the best remote access software
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AnyDesk better than TeamViewer? For personal or small business use, AnyDesk is often the better pick — it’s cheaper, lighter, and fast. TeamViewer is more powerful for IT professionals and enterprises, with better management tools, session recording, and enterprise integrations, but at a significantly higher price. For home use or helping family members, AnyDesk wins on simplicity and price.
Is Splashtop good for IT professionals? Yes — Splashtop is an excellent choice for IT professionals and MSPs. The Business Access Pro and SOS plans are specifically designed for remote IT support, with features like unattended access, session recording, multi-monitor support, and competitive per-technician pricing. It’s consistently rated highly among IT support teams.
What is the cheapest remote access software? AnyDesk is the cheapest for personal and small business use, with a personal free tier (non-commercial) and paid plans from around £10/month. Splashtop is competitive at the professional level. TeamViewer is the most expensive of the three by a significant margin, particularly for business use.
Can I use remote access software on a Mac? Yes — all three support Mac on both sides of the connection (host and client). AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and Splashtop all have native Mac apps with Apple Silicon support. You may need to grant accessibility and screen recording permissions in macOS System Settings when first setting up.
What is the best free remote access software? AnyDesk is the best free remote access option for personal (non-commercial) use — it’s fast, lightweight, and has no session time limits. TeamViewer also has a personal free tier but frequently triggers commercial use warnings if used frequently. For commercial use, there’s no fully free option — Splashtop and AnyDesk both offer affordable paid plans.
Last updated: June 2026. Pricing subject to change — check vendor sites for current information.