Chrome Remote Desktop vs Jump Desktop
We give Chrome Remote Desktop and Jump Desktop the same GPA: 3.2 out of 4.0. Chrome Remote Desktop grades higher on the free plan. Jump Desktop grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Chrome Remote Desktop
Google's free remote access to your own computers from a browser
Jump Desktop
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAChrome Remote DesktopVery good | 3.2GPAJump DesktopVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$0, with nothing to upgrade to: Google lists no paid plans, and reaching your own computers and one-time support sessions are both free. Of its rivals doing the same job, TeamViewer and AnyDesk are free for personal use only, and Splashtop's free app stays on your home Wi-Fi. | AFree on Windows, Android and the web, with no limit on computers or connections. On Apple devices you pay once: $34.99 for the Mac app and $14.99 for iPhone and iPad. Against Parsec's and Splashtop's paid personal plans for the same job, which renew every year, that's cheap. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright. Everything it does costs nothing, with no limit on computers in the listing, and there's no paid tier to push you towards. | BThe Windows, Android and web apps are free with unlimited computers, 480 fps, 4:4:4 colour and controllers, a plan one person can live on. The Mac and iPhone apps aren't free, though; the Mac app has a 14-day trial. |
| Features | CIt covers reaching your own Windows, Mac and Linux computers and helping someone with a one-time code. The gaps it lists itself: sharing must be confirmed every 30 minutes, each code works once, phones can't be reached, and there's no team or business version. | CThe Fluid protocol at up to 480 fps, plus RDP and VNC, virtual displays, controllers and Mission Control for AI agents. The gaps it lists itself: Linux hosts are alpha only, and 10-bit colour, extra displays, USB and more than 20 mbps need Teams Enterprise. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record. It runs on the Google account you already have: set up access once on each computer, then pick it from a list and enter its PIN. | B4.5 from 1,692 App Store ratings for the iPhone and iPad app. Install Jump Desktop Connect on the computer you want to reach and pick it from the list on the other device. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and a Chrome extension, so it's on everything. But there are no integrations or API on record, which keeps it at B. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, plus Linux in alpha, with a REST API on Teams and single sign-on through Okta and Azure AD. It speaks RDP and VNC too, so it reaches machines without Jump on them. |
| Best for | reaching your own computers for free | paying once for remote access to your Mac or PC |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Chrome Remote Desktop and Jump Desktop. How we grade
Where they differ
- Chrome Remote Desktop is free. Jump Desktop starts at $14.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad app); Teams from $7.99 per user / month, yearly.
- Only Chrome Remote Desktop lists a browser extension.
- Jump Desktop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Jump Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $14.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad app); Teams from $7.99 per user / month, yearly |
| Free plan | Everything is free: remote access to your own computers and one-time support sessions. Google lists no paid plans and the Android app has no in-app purchases. | Free on Windows, Android and the web, with unlimited computers and connections, up to 480 fps, one virtual display, 4:4:4 color, game controllers and privacy mode. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of Teams plans, no credit card required; 14-day trial of the Mac app |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Phase Five Systems | |
| Price read from | play.google.com | jumpdesktop.com |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Chrome Remote Desktop
- Reaching a home or work computer from a phone, tablet or another computer at no cost
- Occasionally helping a friend or relative with their computer
- Chromebook users who need to reach a Windows, Mac or Linux machine
Jump Desktop
- Mac or iPad owners who would rather pay once than subscribe
- Video editors and designers working on a powerful remote workstation
- Gamers streaming PC or Mac games to another device
- Small teams that want managed remote access for a few dollars per user
Worth knowing
Chrome Remote Desktop
- Google sells no paid or business version; help comes from its help pages and the Chrome Help Forum rather than a support team.
- When you share your computer, you have to confirm every 30 minutes that sharing should continue, and each support code works only once.
- Only Windows, Mac and Linux computers can be set up for access; the phone and tablet apps connect to computers but cannot be reached themselves.
- On a work or school account an administrator may block or limit it.
Jump Desktop
- The Mac and iPhone or iPad apps cost extra as one-time purchases; Teams plans include the Mac app but not the iPhone and iPad app.
- 10-bit color, more than one virtual display, USB redirection and bandwidth above 20 mbps need Teams Enterprise.
- Linux computers can be reached only through Connect for Linux, which is in alpha and meant for testing.
- Single sign-on and SCIM provisioning are Teams Enterprise features.
Key features
Chrome Remote Desktop
- Access your own computers
- Set up remote access once on each computer, then pick it from a list at remotedesktop.google.com/access and enter its PIN to connect.
- One-time support codes
- Someone who needs help generates a code and sends it to you; when you enter it they see your email address and choose whether to share.
- Phone and tablet apps
- Apps for Android, iPhone and iPad connect to your online computers; on a computer everything runs in the Chrome browser.
- Linux virtual sessions
- On Linux the host can start its own desktop session, and you can choose which desktop environment it launches.
- Admin controls
- Administrators of managed Google accounts can control whether and how people in their organization use Chrome Remote Desktop.
Jump Desktop
- Fluid protocol with RDP and VNC
- Its own Fluid protocol uses the host's GPU for encoding at up to 480 frames per second; the apps also connect to computers over standard RDP and VNC.
- Virtual displays
- Give the host a display that matches your screen's resolution and refresh rate even with no monitor attached; Teams Enterprise allows up to 4.
- Creative and gaming input
- Game controllers work on every plan; Enterprise adds USB drawing tablets, Stream Deck, color panels, pen pressure and tilt, and 10-bit color.
- Ask to share screen
- Ask the person at a computer to share their screen; they choose whether you can view or control, and several people can join one computer.
- AI agents with Mission Control
- Give AI agents a full desktop on a computer or virtual machine and watch, or step in, while they set up machines, test apps or fix problems.
- Team management
- Teams get a web dashboard for users, computers and permissions, access groups, a REST API, a command-line tool in beta and session watermarks on Enterprise.
Plans
Chrome Remote Desktop
Free$0
Remote access to your own Windows, Mac and Linux computers and one-time remote support sessions. No paid tier exists.
Jump Desktop
Free$0
The Windows, Android and web apps, with no recurring fees and no limit on computers or simultaneous connections.
iPhone and iPad app$14.99
one-time, on the US App Store
A one-time purchase with no subscription. Not included in Teams plans, which cover the Mac app only.
Mac app$34.99
one-time, on the US Mac App Store
A one-time purchase with no subscription, also sold directly with a 14-day trial. Included with Teams plans.
Teams Pro$7.99
per user / month, billed annually ($9.99 billed monthly)
Teams Dashboard, 5 access groups, Mac app licences, REST API, automated custom installers and 5 years of cloud access logs.
Teams Enterprise$15.99
per user / month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly)
Unlimited access groups, up to 4 virtual displays, 10-bit color, 60 mbps, USB and stylus pressure, security keys, SSO and SCIM.
Ways to pay less
Chrome Remote Desktop
No public discounts listed.
Jump Desktop
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves 20% on Teams
The pricing page says yearly billing saves 20%: Teams Pro is $95.90 a year against $9.99 a month, and Enterprise $191.88 a year against $19.99.
