Choosing remote desktop software used to mean picking whichever tool the IT department already had a license for. That's changed — pricing models now range from $1.84/month consumer plans to negotiated enterprise contracts, and a growing number of vendors are shipping official MCP servers so AI assistants can trigger sessions and pull device data directly.
TeamViewer is the strongest overall pick here — it pairs a genuinely official MCP server with an AI troubleshooting assistant and the broadest enterprise trust in the category. If you just need affordable, no-fuss access to your own machines, Splashtop's $6/month Solo plan is the better starting point.
We compared seven tools on pricing transparency, platform reach, AI features, and — increasingly the differentiator that matters — whether MCP and API access are officially documented or left to community projects.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Quick summary: We compared TeamViewer, Zoho Assist, Splashtop, AnyDesk, ConnectWise ScreenConnect, RemotePC, and Chrome Remote Desktop on pricing, platform support, AI features, and MCP/API access. TeamViewer wins on AI and official MCP support; Splashtop is the best value for individuals and small teams.
Why You Need Remote Desktop Software
- Support a computer you can't physically reach. IT teams and freelance technicians resolve issues on a colleague's or client's machine without a truck roll.
- Work from any device without carrying your files around. Your full desktop, apps, and file system travel with you, not just whatever you copied to a laptop.
- Automate access for AI assistants and scripts. A documented API or official MCP server turns manual remote sessions into something a script — or an AI agent — can trigger on its own.
- Keep unattended machines patched and monitored. Several tools bundle wake-on-LAN, scheduled reboots, and remote scripting so devices stay current without a technician physically present.
- Match session security to what you're accessing. Session recording, audit logs, and role-based permissions matter far more for a helpdesk team than for one person accessing their own home PC.
How We Evaluated These Tools
We scored each tool on five criteria: pricing transparency and value, platform and device coverage, AI feature maturity, whether an official MCP server or public API exists, and security/admin controls for team use. Every pricing figure and AI/MCP claim here comes from each vendor's own site or official documentation as of August 2026; where a vendor's page didn't render exact figures through automated fetch, we corroborated with third-party pricing trackers rather than guess.
Best 7 Remote Desktop Software in 2026
1. TeamViewer
TeamViewer built its reputation as the tool IT teams reach for when a session has to work on any device, and it now backs that up with an official, vendor-published MCP server — a rarity in this category.
Pricing: Single-user Remote Access plans start around $24.90/month (annual billing, third-party-corroborated figure); Business, Premium, and Corporate tiers scale up from there. TeamViewer's own pricing page doesn't render exact figures through automated fetch, so treat this as a corroborated estimate, not a vendor-confirmed exact price.
Top features:
- Tia AI troubleshooting assistant
- Session Insights AI note-taker and summaries
- Cross-platform access across desktop and mobile
- Unattended access and wake-on-LAN
- TeamViewer ONE unified IT management platform
- Asset management and endpoint monitoring add-ons
Pros:
- Deep enterprise IT management suite (TeamViewer ONE)
- Broadest enterprise and cross-platform trust in the category
- Genuinely useful built-in AI troubleshooting
Cons:
- Core pricing not transparently published
- Pricier than most alternatives here for solo use
AI/MCP Integration: Confirmed official MCP server (github.com/teamviewer/teamviewer-mcp-server), exposing TeamViewer's Web API as tools for AI assistants like Claude.
API Integration: Yes — official Web API v1, the same one the MCP server wraps.
Cloud Based: Yes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS.
Best for: teams that want AI-assisted troubleshooting and don't mind contacting sales for exact pricing.
Editor score: 4.6/5 — the only tool here combining an official MCP server with a genuinely useful AI assistant, docked slightly for opaque core pricing.
2. Zoho Assist
Zoho Assist is the other tool on this list with a confirmed official MCP server, and it backs that with a real free tier — a combination none of the other five vendors here match.
Pricing: A free plan covers basic remote support. Paid Standard, Professional, and Enterprise tiers exist for both Remote Support and Unattended Access, priced per technician; Zoho's official pricing page doesn't display exact dollar figures through automated fetch, so treat exact numbers as unconfirmed until checked directly with Zoho.
Top features:
- Deep integration across the wider Zoho product suite
- Free plan for basic remote support
- Session recording and audit trails
- Remote script execution and diagnostics
- Multi-monitor navigation and file transfer
- Departments and custom domain mapping (Enterprise)
Pros:
- Strong value at both the free and entry-paid tiers
- Real free tier, not just a trial
- Deep integration with the wider Zoho ecosystem
Cons:
- Exact pricing not published as static text
- Interface feels less polished than TeamViewer or Splashtop
AI/MCP Integration: Confirmed official MCP server, documented at zoho.com/mcp and zoho.com/assist/help/integrations/mcp-server.html.
API Integration: Yes — official developer API published at zoho.com/assist/developers/.
Cloud Based: Yes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Best for: teams already using Zoho's ecosystem, or anyone who wants official MCP support without paying for it.
Editor score: 4.4/5 — matches TeamViewer on official MCP support and undercuts it with a real free tier, but loses points for unpublished exact pricing.
3. Splashtop
Splashtop skips the enterprise sales-call routine most competitors here rely on — every consumer and small-team tier has a clearly published price, which makes it the easiest tool on this list to actually budget for.
Pricing: Solo $6/month (billed annually at $72). Pro $8.25/user/month (billed annually at $99). Performance $13/user/month (billed annually at $149). Enterprise is custom-quoted.
Top features:
- Transparent, published per-tier pricing
- 4:4:4 color accuracy and 240 FPS streaming (Performance)
- Multi-monitor support and session recording
- Remote print and drag-and-drop file transfer
- SOS product for on-demand, one-off support sessions
- SSO and SIEM logging (Enterprise)
Pros:
- Clearest published pricing of any tool reviewed
- Strong streaming performance for design and video work
- Separate SOS product for occasional support sessions
Cons:
- No free tier
- API access locked to the Enterprise plan
AI/MCP Integration: No official MCP server found in Splashtop's public documentation as of 2026; Splashtop has published content about supporting third-party AI agent deployments, which is not the same as offering its own MCP server.
API Integration: Yes, but only on the Enterprise and Remote Support - Enterprise plans.
Cloud Based: Yes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, Raspberry Pi.
Best for: individuals and small teams who want clear pricing and strong streaming performance without an enterprise sales conversation.
Editor score: 4.3/5 — the best price transparency in the category, held back only by gating API access behind the priciest tier.
4. AnyDesk
AnyDesk built its name on connection speed and a lightweight client, and it backs that up with a documented REST API most competitors in its price range don't offer.
Pricing: Solo $28.90/month. Standard from $49.90/month per connection. Advanced from $111.90/month for 2 connections. Ultimate is custom-quoted. All figures are annual billing.
Top features:
- REST API included from the Standard tier
- Command-line interface and mass MSI deployment (Advanced)
- Custom branding and namespace add-ons
- Windows Group Policy support
- CRM and ITSM integrations (Ultimate)
- Cloud or on-premises hosting choice (Ultimate)
Pros:
- Documented REST API included from the Standard tier
- Fast, low-latency connections
- On-premises deployment option for compliance-sensitive teams
Cons:
- Fewer AI-driven features than the category leaders
- Per-connection pricing gets expensive for multi-technician teams
AI/MCP Integration: No official MCP server found in AnyDesk's documentation as of 2026; only unofficial third-party MCP connectors exist.
API Integration: Yes — official REST API, included from the Standard tier.
Cloud Based: Yes, with an on-premises option on the Ultimate tier.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, Raspberry Pi, FreeBSD.
Best for: teams that want a documented API without paying for the top enterprise tier.
Editor score: 4.0/5 — a real, documented API sets it apart from the no-API tools below, but per-connection pricing adds up fast for teams.
5. ConnectWise ScreenConnect
ScreenConnect is built for managed service providers running support desks, not individuals — the pricing and feature set both assume you're managing sessions on other people's computers, not just your own.
Pricing: Remote Support One from $28/month (annual). Remote Support Standard from $43/month. Remote Support Premium from $53/month. Unattended Access is priced per agent, from roughly $0.52/agent/month at high volume down to about $31/agent/year at lower volumes. A free single-user license is available.
Top features:
- Free single-user license to start
- Multiple installation and deployment methods
- AES-256 encryption and role-based security
- Unlimited simultaneous technicians and sessions (Premium)
- Remote printing and file transfer
- Official developer documentation for custom integrations
Pros:
- Purpose-built for MSP support desks
- Free single-user license available
- Official developer documentation for integrations
Cons:
- Less beginner-friendly than consumer-focused tools
- Pricing structure is more complex than a flat per-user model
AI/MCP Integration: No official MCP server for ScreenConnect specifically; the MCP servers found during research are built for ConnectWise Manage, a separate PSA product, not for ScreenConnect.
API Integration: Yes — official developer documentation is published at docs.connectwise.com/ScreenConnect_Documentation/Developers.
Cloud Based: Yes, with on-premises hosting also available.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Best for: MSPs and IT support desks running multiple technicians against client machines.
Editor score: 3.9/5 — strong fit for MSP workflows and a documented API, but no MCP support of its own and pricing complexity that isn't ideal for solo users.
6. RemotePC
RemotePC, from IDrive, undercuts nearly everyone else here on price, running a straightforward per-plan model instead of AnyDesk's per-connection math or TeamViewer's opaque sales process.
Pricing: Solo $1.84/month. Pro $6.22/month. Team $18.72/month (unlimited users, 50 computers). Enterprise $37.47/month (unlimited users, 100 computers). Figures are promotional first-term rates; longer terms unlock further discounts.
Top features:
- Lowest published starting price in this list
- Unlimited remote access sessions on every plan
- Whiteboard and session recording
- Active Directory and SSO (Team and Enterprise)
- Remote printing and file transfer
- Scales to 10,000 computers on the Team plan
Pros:
- Cheapest published pricing of any tool reviewed
- Simple, predictable per-plan cost structure
- Scales to very large device counts without switching products
Cons:
- No public API for custom integrations
- Fewer AI-driven features than TeamViewer, Zoho Assist, or Splashtop
AI/MCP Integration: No official MCP server or third-party MCP connector found for RemotePC as of 2026.
API Integration: No public developer API documented as of 2026.
Cloud Based: Yes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Best for: budget-conscious teams that don't need API access or AI features.
Editor score: 3.8/5 — unbeatable on price, but the complete absence of API or MCP support is a real gap against the rest of the field.
7. Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop is the one genuinely free tool on this list with no paid tier at all — Google built it for quick personal access, not IT department deployment.
Pricing: Free, with no paid plans or tiers of any kind.
Top features:
- Completely free with no account limits found
- Browser-based setup, no separate client install required
- Cross-device access from computer, Android, or iOS
- Google account-based authentication
- Simple screen-sharing mode for one-off support
- Runs entirely through Chrome on the host side
Pros:
- Completely free, no hidden tiers
- Extremely simple setup
- Backed by Google's infrastructure and reliability
Cons:
- No admin, audit, or team-management features
- No API access or AI features of any kind
AI/MCP Integration: No API, MCP server, or AI features found in Chrome Remote Desktop's documentation as of 2026 — it's a consumer product without a developer surface.
API Integration: No public developer API documented as of 2026.
Cloud Based: Yes, browser and Google account based.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iOS (via Chrome browser).
Best for: individuals who need free, occasional access to their own computer.
Editor score: 3.6/5 — unbeatable price and simplicity for personal use, but zero admin, API, or AI capability for anyone managing more than their own machine.
Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Standout Feature | AI-MCP Support | API Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TeamViewer | Teams wanting AI-assisted troubleshooting | ~$24.90/mo* | Official MCP server + Tia AI assistant | Official MCP server | Official Web API |
| Zoho Assist | Free MCP-connected support | Free tier available | Official MCP server | Official MCP server | Official developer API |
| Splashtop | Clear, budget-friendly pricing | $6/mo | Published per-tier pricing | Not documented | Enterprise tier only |
| AnyDesk | Documented API without enterprise pricing | $28.90/mo | REST API from Standard tier | Not documented | Official REST API |
| ConnectWise ScreenConnect | MSP support desks | $28/mo | Free single-user license | Not documented (ScreenConnect itself) | Official developer docs |
| RemotePC | Budget-conscious teams | $1.84/mo | Lowest price in category | Not documented | Not documented |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Free personal access | Free | Zero-cost, browser-based | Not documented | Not documented |
How to Choose Remote Desktop Software
- MCP and AI needs: if you want an AI assistant to trigger sessions or pull device data directly, TeamViewer and Zoho Assist are the only two here with confirmed official MCP servers.
- Budget model: RemotePC and Splashtop publish clear per-plan pricing; TeamViewer, Zoho Assist, and ConnectWise ScreenConnect require more digging, or a sales call, to get an exact number.
- Team size and management: ConnectWise ScreenConnect and TeamViewer's Business/Corporate tiers are built for multi-technician support desks; Solo/Pro tiers elsewhere fit individuals better.
- API access: AnyDesk includes its REST API from the Standard tier; Splashtop locks API access behind Enterprise; RemotePC and Chrome Remote Desktop have no public API at all.
- Compliance needs: AnyDesk's on-premises Ultimate tier and ConnectWise ScreenConnect's on-premises hosting option matter if cloud-only tools are a non-starter for your environment.
- Free-tier fit: Zoho Assist and Chrome Remote Desktop both offer genuinely free options — Zoho for basic support, Chrome Remote Desktop for personal-only access with zero admin controls.
- Platform coverage: all seven support Windows, macOS, and mobile; AnyDesk and Splashtop go further with Raspberry Pi and extra Linux support most competitors skip.
What Does Remote Desktop Software Cost at Scale?
For a 10-person support team needing unattended access to client machines, Splashtop's Pro tier runs about $99/user/year, or roughly $990/year for the team — the cheapest transparent option that still includes multi-monitor support and session recording. The same team on AnyDesk's Standard tier, priced per concurrent connection rather than per user, would need at least 10 connections at $49.90/month each before volume discounts, pushing the true annual cost well past $5,000 unless usage overlaps heavily. RemotePC's Team plan, by contrast, covers unlimited users and 50 computers for $18.72/month (about $225/year) at its promotional rate — the cheapest way to cover a growing team, provided you don't need API access or AI features.
Final Thoughts
TeamViewer and Zoho Assist are the two real options if official MCP support matters to you — TeamViewer for the stronger built-in AI assistant, Zoho Assist if you want that same MCP access without paying for it. For everyone else just trying to access their own machines affordably, Splashtop's transparent pricing beats fighting through a TeamViewer sales call.
Skip Chrome Remote Desktop the moment you need more than one person's occasional access — it has no admin layer at all. MSPs running support desks for multiple clients should look past the consumer tools straight to ConnectWise ScreenConnect, and anyone who needs a documented API on a mid-tier budget should give AnyDesk's Standard plan a serious look before assuming TeamViewer is the only option.