TeamViewer vs AnyDesk: Best Remote Access Software for Small Business?

Remote access software is one of those tools every small business eventually needs — whether it’s an IT support person connecting in to fix a problem, a staff member working from home, or a team collaborating across locations.

TeamViewer and AnyDesk dominate this space. They’re both capable, both widely used, and both have free tiers that are constantly being cracked down on. Here’s what you need to know before committing to either.

At a Glance

What Is TeamViewer?

TeamViewer has been around since 2005 and is probably the most recognised name in remote access. It’s used by everyone from solo IT consultants to Fortune 500 companies, and that breadth shows in its feature set.

Beyond basic remote control, TeamViewer offers:

• Remote access to unattended devices (servers, kiosks, unattended PCs)
• IT asset management and device monitoring
• Augmented reality remote support (TeamViewer Pilot)
• Integrations with ServiceNow, Salesforce, Jira and more
• Comprehensive audit logs and session recording
• TeamViewer Tensor for enterprise-scale deployments

For an IT support business or MSP, TeamViewer’s management console is genuinely useful — you can organise all your client devices in one place, set up quick-connect shortcuts, and manage access permissions properly.

The catch: it’s expensive, and it’s become increasingly aggressive about flagging “commercial use” on free accounts. If you’re using it professionally at all, you need a paid licence.

What Is AnyDesk?

AnyDesk launched in 2014 as a faster, lighter alternative to TeamViewer — and that’s still its main selling point. The AnyDesk protocol was built from scratch to minimise latency, and on a good connection it genuinely feels more responsive than TeamViewer.

AnyDesk covers the essentials well:

• Remote desktop control (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android)
• Unattended access
• File transfer
• Session recording (paid plans)
• Multi-monitor support
• Custom branding (higher plans)
• On-premise deployment option

What AnyDesk lacks is the enterprise depth of TeamViewer — the integrations, asset management, and advanced IT management features aren’t there. But for most small businesses that’s not a problem, because they don’t need them.

Head-to-Head: The Key Differences

Performance and Speed

AnyDesk wins. AnyDesk’s DeskRT codec was specifically designed for low-latency remote sessions. On the same network conditions, AnyDesk typically feels snappier than TeamViewer. For day-to-day remote work this matters — laggy remote sessions are genuinely frustrating.

TeamViewer is no slouch, but AnyDesk’s performance advantage is real and consistently noted by IT professionals.

Pricing

AnyDesk wins clearly. TeamViewer’s pricing has increased significantly over the years and is now one of the most expensive options in the market. AnyDesk offers comparable core functionality at roughly a third of the price.

These are approximate figures — always check current pricing directly.

Free Tier

Neither wins — both are restrictive. Both TeamViewer and AnyDesk offer free tiers for personal, non-commercial use. Both actively monitor for commercial usage patterns and will prompt (or force) you to upgrade. If you’re using either for business purposes, budget for a paid licence.

Feature Depth

TeamViewer wins. If you need advanced IT management features — device grouping, monitoring, enterprise integrations, augmented reality support — TeamViewer is in a different league. For an MSP or IT support business managing multiple clients, the management console alone justifies the cost.

Ease of Use

AnyDesk wins slightly. AnyDesk’s interface is cleaner and less cluttered. TeamViewer has added so many features over the years that the interface can feel overwhelming for new users. AnyDesk gets you connected faster with less friction.

Security

Both are strong. Both use AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2. TeamViewer has had some high-profile security incidents historically, but has significantly improved its security posture. AnyDesk’s smaller attack surface is arguably an advantage. Both are appropriate for business use.

TeamViewer

AnyDesk

Which Should You Choose?

Choose TeamViewer if:

• You’re an IT support professional or MSP managing multiple client devices
• You need enterprise integrations (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Jira)
• Device grouping and management console features are important
• Budget is less of a concern than feature depth

Choose AnyDesk if:

• You’re a small business needing reliable remote access without complexity
• Cost matters — you want the best value for straightforward remote access
• Performance and low latency are priorities
• You don’t need advanced IT management features

For the majority of small businesses — a 5–20 person company where staff occasionally need remote access or an IT person needs to connect in — AnyDesk delivers everything you need at a fraction of TeamViewer’s cost.

TeamViewer earns its price tag for IT professionals managing fleets of devices across multiple clients. For everyone else, AnyDesk is the smarter buy.

Alternatives Worth Considering

If neither feels right, two other options are worth a look:

• Splashtop — Strong performance, competitive pricing, popular with IT teams
• RustDesk — Open source, free, self-hostable — worth exploring if you’re technical and privacy-conscious

Pricing Summary (2026)

Prices change — always check the vendor directly for current pricing.

Try AnyDesk → View TeamViewer Plans →

Last updated: May 2026. Pricing and features subject to change — check vendor sites for current information.