Best Remote Control Software for Small Business in 2026
Key takeaways
- Zoho Assist and Chrome Remote Desktop offer the lowest entry cost for small teams, with a useful free tier for basic support.
- TeamViewer and ConnectWise ScreenConnect suit teams that need audit trails, session controls and support for many clients.
- Pricing models differ sharply, with some tools charging per technician, some per device and some per user, so the cheapest headline price is not always the cheapest total.
- Security basics matter more than extra features: use strong passwords, two-factor authentication, session approval and access logs on every tool.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Great for | Pricing starts at | Free tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large support teams | $24.90 per month | Yes | Visit | |
| Fast low-latency sessions | See website | Yes | Visit | |
| Value for support teams | See website | No | Visit | |
| Small support teams | $10 per technician per month | Yes | Visit | |
| MSPs and IT teams | $30 per month | Yes | Visit | |
| Cheap unattended access | See website | No | Visit | |
| Cross-platform access | $8.25 per month | Yes | Visit | |
| Free basic access | Free | Yes | Visit |
The best remote control software for small business
We compared remote access and support tools on price, session quality, unattended access, security controls and fit for small teams. The best remote support software for small business depends on team size, because a one-person support desk and a ten-person MSP buy very different plans. All tools here offer remote control today, and all should be set up with two-factor authentication and session approval before use.

TeamViewer is the best-known remote control tool, and that familiarity helps when supporting clients who have seen it before. It supports Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile and many other platforms, with attended and unattended access in the same product. Session controls include file transfer, chat, multi-monitor support and recording, which suit formal support work. For a small business that supports many outside clients, that breadth reduces the need for a second tool.
Price is the main drawback. Business plans start higher than Zoho Assist or Splashtop, and costs rise with seats and devices. The free personal tier is not a business licence, and commercial use on a personal account can be flagged and blocked. TeamViewer fits best when client trust, compliance features and broad platform support justify the higher monthly cost.
- Wide device and platform support
- Session recording and audit features
- Strong brand recognition with clients
- Higher price than most rivals for small teams
- Free personal use can be flagged for suspected commercial use

AnyDesk is known for quick, low-latency sessions, which matter when supporting a client on a slow connection or an older machine. The app is small, starts fast and needs little setup on the remote side, so a support call can begin in minutes. Features include unattended access, file transfer, session recording and address book management for regular clients. That mix suits small IT teams that value speed over a large management suite.
Pricing needs care. AnyDesk moved to a connection-based model in late 2025, and prices vary by region, so older price lists may not match the current quote. Check the current plan on the vendor site and confirm what counts as a connection before committing. For pure session speed, AnyDesk remains a strong pick, but buyers should get the full price in writing first.
- Fast session performance on weak connections
- Small download and quick setup
- Unattended access and file transfer
- Pricing model changed in late 2025 and varies by region
- Business pricing should be confirmed before buying

Splashtop splits its range into Business Access for reaching your own computers and SOS for supporting other people's computers. That split helps small businesses buy only the product they need, rather than a single bundle with unused features. Session quality is strong for office work, with multi-monitor support, file transfer and chat. For a team of two to six technicians, Splashtop often costs less than TeamViewer for similar daily support work.
The product range can confuse new buyers. Business Access and SOS have different prices and limits, and some features sit on higher tiers, so the plan page should be read carefully. A free trial helps test session quality on the team's real machines before paying. For value-focused small teams, Splashtop is our pick for most support work.
- Good streaming quality at a lower price than TeamViewer
- Separate products for access and support
- Multi-monitor and file transfer
- Pricing differs across Business Access and SOS products
- Some advanced features need higher tiers
Zoho Assist is a natural fit for a small support desk, especially one already using Zoho apps. The free plan covers one technician and five unattended computers, which is enough for a very small business to start. Paid plans start at 10 dollars per technician per month, with attended and unattended support, file transfer, multi-monitor support and session reports. Integration with Zoho Desk links support tickets to remote sessions, which saves time on follow-up.
Scale is the limit. Zoho Assist works well for small teams, but larger MSPs with many clients may prefer the deeper fleet tools in ScreenConnect or TeamViewer. Some reporting and customisation features also sit on higher tiers. For a small business that wants a low-cost, tidy support tool, Zoho Assist is hard to beat.
- Useful free plan for one technician
- Per-technician pricing suits small teams
- Integrates with Zoho Desk and other Zoho apps
- Advanced features need paid plans
- Less suited to large MSP fleets than ScreenConnect
ConnectWise ScreenConnect, formerly known as ConnectWise Control, is a favourite with MSPs and IT departments. It offers attended support, unattended access, file transfer, chat and session auditing, with a free option for a single technician and a small number of access agents. That free start helps a solo technician test the product on real clients before paying. Paid plans charge per concurrent technician, which suits teams whose technicians do not all work at the same time.
The interface is more technical than Zoho Assist or Chrome Remote Desktop, and setup takes longer for a first-time user. Pricing also needs planning, since peak periods with several technicians online at once need more licences. For growing IT teams that need control, auditing and unattended access across many clients, ScreenConnect is a strong long-term pick.
- Free single-technician option
- Strong unattended access and session tools
- Self-hosted option for some plans
- Higher learning curve than simpler tools
- Pricing rises with concurrent technicians
RemotePC prices by computer rather than by technician, which suits a business owner who wants to reach a few office machines from home. Setup is simple, with always-on access, file transfer, remote printing and multi-monitor support. The annual price for a small set of computers is lower than most per-technician plans, which makes it a good pick for a single office or a small shop. A short free trial lets owners test access from home before paying.
Support work is not its strongest area. RemotePC is built for access to your own machines, not for running a helpdesk with many outside clients. Session tools are simpler than those in Zoho Assist or ScreenConnect. Check the renewal price too, since first-year discounts can rise in year two. For cheap unattended access to your own computers, RemotePC is the value pick.
- Low cost per computer for always-on access
- Simple setup for non-technical owners
- File transfer and remote printing
- Support features are thinner than SOS-style tools
- Pricing and first-year discounts should be checked at renewal
RealVNC Connect is based on the VNC remote access standard, and it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Raspberry Pi devices. That cross-platform range helps small businesses with mixed fleets, including older machines and small Linux boxes. The client is lightweight, sessions are stable for office work, and the Lite plan covers a small number of devices for personal use. Paid plans start at 8.25 dollars per month and add team management and cloud connectivity.
The interface feels dated beside TeamViewer or Splashtop, and some modern support features need higher tiers. RealVNC Connect is not the best helpdesk tool for outside clients, but it is a solid choice for reaching your own mixed fleet. For Raspberry Pi and Linux-heavy setups, it remains one of the most practical options.
- Long-standing VNC standard with wide platform support
- Lightweight client
- Free Lite plan for personal use
- Interface feels older than rivals
- Business features need paid plans
Chrome Remote Desktop is the simplest free option for reaching your own computers. Setup needs only a Google account and the Chrome browser, with a PIN for unattended access. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS, and the mobile app covers phones and tablets. For a sole trader who needs to reach an office PC from home, it costs nothing and takes minutes to set up.
Business support features are missing. There is no ticketing, no session audit trail, no chat built for helpdesk work and only basic file transfer. That makes Chrome Remote Desktop a poor fit for client support at scale. Use it for personal access to your own machines, and move to Zoho Assist or Splashtop when client support becomes a regular job.
- Free for personal and small business use
- Simple setup with a Google account
- Works in the Chrome browser
- No built-in helpdesk, ticketing or session reporting
- Limited file transfer and multi-monitor controls
How we picked these
We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, app store listings and public reviews for remote control tools available in October 2026. We kept tools that offer remote control today, support Windows and Mac at minimum, and state their pricing model clearly. We left out tools that had closed, tools that only offer screen sharing without control, and enterprise-only suites with no small business plan. Where a price varied across sources or could not be confirmed on the vendor site, we wrote See website rather than guessing.
Security checks before you roll a tool out
Start with access controls. Turn on two-factor authentication for every technician account, use unique strong passwords, and require session approval for attended support so no one can connect without the user agreeing. Limit unattended access to machines that truly need it, and remove access promptly when staff leave or a client contract ends. Review session logs each week, since an unusual login time or location is an early warning sign.
Next, check the device side. Keep the remote tool updated, since older versions are a common target for attackers, and set session timeouts so an idle connection does not stay open all day. Tell staff and clients what a normal support session looks like, including how the technician will identify themselves and what approval step to expect. A clear process stops most social engineering attempts, where an attacker pretends to be support to gain access. For regulated work, pick a tool with session recording and audit trails, and store those records under your normal retention rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best remote support software for small business?
Zoho Assist is our pick for most small teams, thanks to its free plan and low per-technician price. Splashtop SOS is a strong second for teams that support many clients each day. TeamViewer and ScreenConnect suit larger teams that need audit trails and fleet tools. The right choice depends on technician count, client count and whether unattended access is needed.
Is free remote control software safe for business use?
Free tools such as Chrome Remote Desktop can be safe for reaching your own machines, provided two-factor authentication, strong passwords and session approval are used. Free personal tiers from commercial vendors are not business licences, and using them for paid client work can breach the licence terms. For client support, a paid plan with audit logs and proper licensing is the safer choice.
How much does remote control software cost for a small team?
Costs vary by pricing model. Per-technician plans start around 10 dollars per technician per month, per-device plans can cost a few dollars per computer per month, and per-user plans start higher. Add up the total for your real technician and device counts, including renewal prices, before comparing headline rates. A free trial on real machines gives a better cost picture than a price page alone.
What is the difference between attended and unattended access?
Attended access needs someone at the remote computer to approve the session, which suits one-off support calls. Unattended access lets a technician connect without anyone present, which suits office machines, servers and regular maintenance. Unattended access needs stronger controls, including strong passwords, two-factor authentication and session logs, since the machine can be reached at any time.
Can remote control software work on slow connections?
AnyDesk and Splashtop tend to perform well on slower connections, thanks to efficient streaming and adjustable quality settings. Lowering the colour depth and turning off wallpaper effects can improve speed on weak links. For very slow connections, a lightweight tool such as RealVNC Connect may feel more stable than a feature-heavy suite. Test on the slowest real connection the team supports before buying.
Sources
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