This is a software which offers free and paid version, which is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Unlike other software, it allows encryption, chat, collaboration tools and VNC authentication. The use of this software is free for non-commercial purpose, otherwise, it charges $30 per desktop and $44 per desktop for Enterprise use. Compare the best Remote Desktop software for Mac of 2020 for your business. Find the highest rated Remote Desktop software for Mac pricing, reviews, free demos, trials, and more. TeamViewer is a premium remote-access tool with a generous free option. While many remote-access services charge for unattended access, TeamViewer does not. It’s also particularly easy to use and requires little setup. To get started, download the TeamViewer app on the computer you want to access. Like RDP, DRS offers multi-platform remote access, with support for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. In an enterprise setting, for example, it can work across your Windows desktops, Linux servers, and Mac devices staff may connect with from home.
There are numerous reasons behind the use of remote desktops, which play a crucial role in today’s IT software ecosystem. If you’re providing support services for desktops and laptops, working with virtual servers or applications, or working in a company in which the offices are distributed nationally or internationally, you’ll be using remote desktop software.
Windows systems come with a built-in protocol for remote connections. Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) provides a graphical interface through which users can connect to a remote computer via a network connection. However, there are now several RDP alternatives on the market, designed to address potential functionality gaps. My top recommendation for a remote desktop alternative is SolarWinds® Dameware®, offering an on-premises and a cloud version, both designed to facilitate the easy handling of remote desktop issues.
What Is RDP?
RDP, short for Remote Desktop Protocol, is a protocol developed by Microsoft. It allows you to connect to another computer using a graphical user interface, so you can interact with the remote machine. You can control a remote desktop session and delete or copy text between applications running on the host machine and the guest machine. This helps with remote troubleshooting and issue resolution, so IT staff won’t need to go directly to the computer experiencing the problem.
However, with the rise of cybercrime have come warnings about the security of RDP. Moreover, several RDP alternatives have appeared on the market, many of which offer much more in the way of capabilities depending on your specific needs. If you’re looking for an alternative to Remote Desktop Protocol, consider the options below.
Best Remote Desktop Alternatives 2020
Dameware Remote Support is a significant upgrade from RDP, designed to provide all of the same features as the Microsoft protocol along with added features that help enhance problem resolution and cybersecurity on remote devices. Like RDP, DRS makes it easy to connect remotely to other computers. With additional features built to go beyond those in RDP, DRS makes for a comprehensive and easy-to-use remote desktop connection manager alternative.
Like RDP, DRS offers multi-platform remote access, with support for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. In an enterprise setting, for example, it can work across your Windows desktops, Linux servers, and Mac devices staff may connect with from home. That includes providing access to computers from Android and Apple devices including tablets, which are not supported in RDP.
Both RDP and DRS offer the ability to connect over both the internet and LAN. This is particularly important in DRS since this, along with the tool’s other features, can help facilitate straightforward troubleshooting. With both DRS and RDP, you can remotely reboot entire systems or stop services and processes if something is causing the system to fail. DRS is designed to go beyond that, though—it includes system tools that allow you to fix problems on a computer you’re connected to remotely without having to interrupt the user’s session. DRS, like RDP, also lets you directly copy and paste—or delete—text in applications between the host and guest machine.
Dameware Remote Support offers a free trial for up to 14 days.
Another good option to consider, particularly if you are working in a cloud-based IT environment, is Dameware Remote Everywhere. DRE is in some ways the same tool as DRS, but it offers slightly different features.
First, DRE is designed for use in the cloud, which means it is accessible from any compatible device with internet connection. RDP also connects to remote devices over the internet; however, a distinction between the two tools may arise when it comes to speed. While DRE has a particular focus on speed, with remote connections typically established within eight seconds, RDP typically has slower connection times.
DRE also includes additional features for taking screenshots and recording during remote sessions and connecting with the user through VoIP or video call. RDP doesn’t natively include these features, with the only way to record or take screenshots during remote sessions is by implementing outside tools and procedures.
Dameware Remote Everywhere offers a free trial for 14 days.
Royal TS provides support for RDP and other connection protocols, including VNC, SSH, FTP and SFTP, and connection through web-based interfaces. Like other professional tools, it includes credentials management and sharing features, so you don’t need to log in repeatedly. It also provides remote troubleshooting capabilities.
One of the unique features of Royal TS is it can create command tasks and key sequence tasks, which allow you to create your own tasks and automate parts of your troubleshooting processes. For example, ping and traceroute are built in, and you can automate repetitive tasks, so you can execute them as soon as a connection is established.
Royal TS distinguishes itself from RDP when it comes to credential allocation. While RDP lets you save and share credentials between teammates, it does not let you save credentials tied to a remote desktop gateway. Not only does Royal TS let you create objects and folders and dynamically allocate credentials, it also lets you link folders and connections to inherit credentials. These features are designed to facilitate strong access and security measures.
Royal TS offers a free download of its “Lite” version, which allows up to 10 connections and 10 credentials. The paid version is also available through the developer’s website.
If you’re looking for an RDP alternative specifically for use with Mac computers or mobile devices, Edovia produces many products, including several versions of Screens.
Screens iOS allows you to control other computers from your iPhone or iPad, using an SSH connection. It can connect to Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows PCs, using the Screens Connect app. You can view the current session (e.g., for troubleshooting), or start a new session.
Screens Mac provides the same capabilities as Screens iOS, but from Mac OS systems.
There is a free trial of Screens Mac, and a free version, called Screens Express, with limited usage for specific circumstances. Screens Mac is downloadable through the Edovia website. You can buy Screens iOS from the App Store.
Terminals is an open-source remote desktop manager intended to manage the problem of controlling multiple connections simultaneously. It integrates RDP as one of the protocols it supports, but also works with VNC, VMRC, SSH, Telnet, RAS, Citrix ICA, and HTTP and HTTPs.
It includes several basic features to make the remote connection experience smoother, including a multi-tab interface, resizable windows, customizable toolbars, and a connections history, so you can see which machines you have connected to recently. You can also search by server name and look at protocol notes. This tool is high-quality, but basic, and it may not be suitable for a large enterprise needing a greater set of features for IT support and troubleshooting management.
You can download Terminals for free on Github.
As a free tool, Terminals is a mRemoteNG alternative. For a comparison of mRemoteNG vs. Terminals, look at both repositories in Github to view the documentation, as it gets a little technical.
How to Choose an RDP Alternative
There are several factors behind choosing a good RDP alternative, but your decision will in large part depend on the number of connections you’re dealing with, the type of information in your environment (e.g., if it’s sensitive and needs extra security), and the size of your enterprise.
A free or open-source tool might be suitable in a low-risk, small business environment, in which case Terminals is a good choice. For a large enterprise or a company with sensitive data, invest in a professional tool such as Dameware Remote Support or Dameware Remote Everywhere.
Zoho Assist's remote desktop for mac helps you provide top-notch IT support to your customers. Remotely access Mac desktops and back-end servers through on-demand and unattended remote sessions.
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Why do you need a Mac remote access software?
The number of issues that pop-up in Mac computers are considerably less because of their inclusive software packages and invulnerable security system. Nevertheless, if issues do arise, subsequent troubleshooting is challenging because of the rarity of occurrence. Zoho Assist, Mac remote desktop software allows you to connect to technical support experts all around the world to fix issues.
How to access and control remote mac desktops?
One of the best-known taglines of Mac OS is 'It just works,' this tagline is true in most cases and the primary reason for users to root for Mac OS. However, if something were to go wrong on a Mac desktop, users would have no clue and are in desperate need of help. The troubleshooting process can be stalled at important points because of installation and compatibility issues. Zoho Assist's mac remote app software is an obvious choice to bypass these compatibility issues because the cloud-based technology that it runs on leaves you with no installation hassles. If you are a remote technician, all you need to have is a browser to start working on a macOS remote desktop. Click here for a step by step guide to access and troubleshoot a mac remote desktop.
Features that help technicians to access and troubleshoot a Mac remote desktop
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To take a remote technician's help to solve issues on a Mac desktop is a time-saving idea! But, remote technicians have many problems to contend with on a daily basis and have to accelerate troubleshooting to resolve more issues. Here are some of the features that Zoho Assist's Mac remote access software offers technicians to increase their efficiency.
Reboot and reconnect
Restart a remote computer to fix a frozen or unresponsive screen without losing control.
Instant chat
Exchange messages with your customers during a session to communicate smoothly then and there
Multi-monitor navigation
Switch between monitors of a mac remote desktop with ease.
Invite technicians
Ask colleagues with different skills to help you during remote support sessions
Swap Screen
During a remote session, technicians can broadcast their screen to the customer by reversing the shared screen.
Support and remotely access Mac desktops from other computer environments
Technicians have their preferences when it comes to the operating system they want to troubleshoot from. If a Mac remote app software is uni-dimensional in working, forcing the technician to troubleshoot from a particular computing environment, it will reduce the efficiency of the technician and thereby increase the time taken for issue resolution. Zoho Assist is a multi-platform remote desktop software that allows your technicians to troubleshoot a Mac remote desktop from Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices, so they can stick to the system that works best for them. Technicians who choose to troubleshoot from Windows can use the native application instead of the browser to establish a faster connection.
Safe and secure access to a remote mac desktop
Your customers may understandably feel vulnerable letting a technician access their Mac desktop over a remote connection, so building trust with the customer is the foremost step in remote troubleshooting.
Security and data protection should be the top priority while choosing a Mac remote desktop software. With SSL encryption and 256-bit AES encryption, inactive session timeout, data anonymization, consent-based access, and other data protection options, Zoho Assist's remote desktop app for mac gives customers good reasons to trust your service by ensuring safe and secure connections to Mac desktops.
Customize your Mac remote desktop software.
Best Free Remote Desktop Software For Macbook Pro
Big corporations are often hesitant to support their clients from an app with another company's brand. Zoho Assist offers you rebranding options so you can use your company's name, logo, favicon, and a customized portal URL. You can also customize the emails sent to customers and configure the sender's email address, along with reply-to and CC email addresses. This way, your customers know who they're talking to every step of the way. Learn more.
Ensure faster issue resolution on Mac desktops with our technician and customer apps.
If you are a support technician who isn't keen on working from a browser, Zoho Assist, Mac remote desktop tool gives you an option to run support sessions from the application. Technicians can download our application and start using Zoho Assist right from there to remotely access and control Mac desktops. Your customers on a remote Mac desktop can also download our customer app to join sessions faster.
Best Free Remote Desktop Software For Mac Computer
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If you're still not convinced about the real-time working capabilities of Zoho Assist, you can give it a shot by trying out our 15-day free trial. During the trial period, you can work with all the features with an unlimited number of technicians and unattended computers.
Best Free Remote Desktop Software For Mac
Best Free Remote Desktop Software For Mac
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