6 Best Free Remote Desktop Software in 2026

Remote access and support tools for controlling another computer over the internet or a local network.

6 programs

Free remote desktop programs

AnyDesk

Free tier
by 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
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

TeamViewer

Free tier
by TeamViewer SE

The best-known remote support and access tool.

  • Works through firewalls and NAT
  • Cross-platform remote control
  • File transfer and remote printing
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

RustDesk

Open Source
by RustDesk

Open-source remote desktop you can fully self-host.

  • Fully open source
  • Self-hostable relay server
  • No account required to start
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

Parsec

Free tier
by Parsec Cloud

Ultra-low-latency remote desktop built for graphics work.

  • Very low latency, high frame rate
  • Hardware-accelerated video encoding
  • Free for personal use
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

Remmina

Open Source
by 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
Linux

How to choose remote desktop software

Remote access and support tools for controlling another computer over the internet or a local network. With 6 free options on this page, the practical way to narrow it down is by three questions: which platform you run, whether you need the source code to be open, and how much complexity you actually want.

Because everything here is free, you are not risking money by testing two or three — which is usually faster than reading another comparison article. 2 of these are open source, meaning no vendor can revoke your access or move the software behind a paywall later.

Is free remote desktop software safe?

Yes — when you get it from the publisher. Nearly every "free software gave me a virus" story traces back to a third-party download portal that wrapped the genuine installer in its own bundler.

That is precisely why this directory hosts no installers at all: every button above opens the software author's own website, so you receive the authentic signed build.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free remote desktop software?

There is no single winner, and any page claiming otherwise is guessing on your behalf. AnyDesk, TeamViewer, RustDesk are the most widely adopted here. AnyDesk fast, low-latency remote desktop access.

Do I need to create an account?

Not with us. We have no accounts, no paywall and no download gate. Some publishers may ask you to register on their own site — that is their choice, not ours.

Why don't you show star ratings?

Because we have no honest way to produce them yet. Ratings on a directory are only meaningful if they come from verified real users, and inventing them — as many software listing sites do — would make every other fact on this page untrustworthy too. We publish verifiable attributes instead: developer, licence, platforms and features.