AnyDesk
Free tierby AnyDesk Software GmbH
Fast, low-latency remote desktop access.
- Low latency even on slow connections
- Tiny portable client, no install needed
- File transfer between machines
Free alternatives to Parsec
5 remote desktop programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — Parsec.
Alternatives to Parsec
TeamViewer
Free tierby TeamViewer SE
The best-known remote support and access tool.
- Works through firewalls and NAT
- Cross-platform remote control
- File transfer and remote printing
RustDesk
Open Sourceby RustDesk
Open-source remote desktop you can fully self-host.
- Fully open source
- Self-hostable relay server
- No account required to start
by Google
Free remote access through your browser and Google account.
- Completely free, including commercial use
- Works through the browser
- No firewall configuration needed
Remmina
Open Sourceby Remmina project
The standard multi-protocol remote desktop client for Linux.
- RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE in one client
- Saved connection profiles
- Tabbed multi-session interface
About Parsec
Parsec was designed for game streaming, which makes it dramatically more responsive than conventional remote desktop tools. That performance also makes it the pick for remote video editing, 3D and any latency-sensitive work.
It is free tier and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android. Below are 5 remote desktop programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.
Parsec alternatives compared
| Program | Licence | Platforms | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnyDesk | Free tier | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Low latency even on slow connections |
| TeamViewer | Free tier | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Works through firewalls and NAT |
| RustDesk | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Fully open source |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Completely free, including commercial use |
| Remmina | Open Source | Linux | RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE in one client |
The alternatives in detail
AnyDesk Free tier
AnyDesk provides responsive remote desktop access even over modest connections, with a very small client that runs without installation. Notable for low latency even on slow connections and tiny portable client, no install needed. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
TeamViewer Free tier
TeamViewer connects to remote machines through firewalls and NAT with no network configuration, supporting remote control, file transfer and meetings. Notable for works through firewalls and nat and cross-platform remote control. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
RustDesk Open Source
RustDesk is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk that works out of the box but can also be pointed at your own relay server, keeping remote sessions entirely within infrastructure you control. Notable for fully open source and self-hostable relay server. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Chrome Remote Desktop Free
Chrome Remote Desktop provides straightforward remote access with nothing to configure beyond signing into a Google account. Notable for completely free, including commercial use and works through the browser. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Remmina Open Source
Remmina connects to remote machines over RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE from a single application, with saved connection profiles. Notable for rdp, vnc, ssh and spice in one client and saved connection profiles. Runs on Linux.
How to choose
2 are fully open source (RustDesk, Remmina) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. For the widest platform coverage, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, RustDesk run on three or more operating systems. On a Mac, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, RustDesk support macOS natively.
All 5 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.