InfoWorld review: Free remote access tools for Windows and Mac
The best free tools combine firewall friendliness with easy remote access and an amazing array of handy features
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For anyone whose work follows them wherever they go (and whose doesn't?), a remote access solution is an easy sell. With a remote access tool, your office computer can be reached from home, your home computer can be reached from the office, and both can be reached from your hotel in Omaha or Maui or wherever you happen to be. Remote access means nothing ever gets left behind -- except maybe your laptop.
Best of all, a good remote access tool doesn't have to cost you a dime. There are plenty of good free tools available, and some of them are downright excellent. In this review, I examine seven of the most popular free remote access tools available for Windows and, in four cases, Mac users. Many of the free tools listed here also have paid versions that offer additional features (such as support for remote printing) or licensing (extra host computers or clients). For some users, the paid version will be the only true option.
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As you read about each tool, you'll notice that I put a lot of emphasis on remote printing. I rely on remote access tools on a daily basis, and in most cases I need to be able to print to my remote PC. For someone that just wants to check their home/office email account or view documents from outside the office, all of the utilities here will work fine. But for those trying to get some serious work done, remote printing may be the deal breaker.
Check out these free remote access tools for Windows and Mac.
- DESKTRA Freedom Desktop 1.1
- Gbridge 2.0
- LogMeIn Free Edition
- Remote Desktop Connection
- TeamViewer 5
- VNC
- WinRemotePC 2009 Lite
Free remote access tools at a glance
| Host & client support | Firewall friendly | Remote printing | File transfers | Noteworthy features | Overall score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESKTRA Freedom Desktop 1.1 | 32-bit Windows | No | No | No | No-install client can run from a thumb drive; multi-session support | Fair |
| Gbridge 2.0 | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | Many-to-many connectivity; file sharing; folder synchronization; automatic backups; shared clipboard | Excellent |
| LogMeIn Free Edition | Windows and Mac | Yes | No | No | Browser-based access; no remote audio | Good |
| Remote Desktop Connection | Windows and Mac | No | Yes | Yes | USB/serial port redirection; host-client drive mapping; shared clipboard | Very Good |
| TeamViewer 5 | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Yes, via VPN | Yes | Supports voice, video, and conference calls; displays multiple host monitors; remote rebooting; no-install portable client | Very Good |
| VNC | Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix | No | No | Yes, in TightVNC and UltraVNC | Browser-based access via Java client | Good |
| WinRemotePC 2009 Lite | Windows | No | No | Yes | Plug-ins for file transfer, console, shared clipboard, process explorer; SDK | Good |