Chrome Remote Desktop vs RemotePC
We give Chrome Remote Desktop a 3.2 GPA and RemotePC a 2.6, out of 4.0. Chrome Remote Desktop grades higher on value for money and the free plan. RemotePC grades higher on features. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
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
RemotePC
Low-cost remote access to your own computers, from IDrive
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAChrome Remote DesktopVery good | 2.6GPARemotePCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CSolo is $2.46 a month billed annually at renewal, after a first year at $1.84, but it reaches one computer. For a few you're on Pro at $8.29 a month for 10, or paying $20 a year for each one over. Chrome Remote Desktop and Splashtop's personal pack do the same job for less. |
| 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. | CNo free plan, but a 7-day free trial with no credit card. A week is enough to see whether it suits you. |
| 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. | BAlways-on access with unlimited concurrent sessions, multi-monitor, 4:4:4 colour, file transfer, remote printing, recording, chat and Linux and Raspberry Pi hosts. Nothing in the listing is missing from reaching your own machines; RDP and help desk support cost extra. |
| 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. | BNo App Store rating on record. Install the host once and the computer's always there, from a browser with nothing to install or from the phone apps. |
| 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. | BWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Chromebook and Fire OS. Active Directory is the only integration on record and there's no API, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | reaching your own computers for free | always-on access to one computer, cheaply |
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 RemotePC. How we grade
Price against what you get
Chrome Remote Desktop has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. RemotePC starts at $1.84 a month and scores 3.0.
RemotePC scores higher, and starts $1.84 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, none scores higher than Chrome Remote Desktop for less, and none scores higher than RemotePC for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Chrome Remote Desktop is free. RemotePC starts at $2.46 per month billed annually at renewal, after a first year at $1.84 a month.
- Chrome Remote Desktop has a free plan. RemotePC does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Chrome Remote Desktop lists a browser extension.
- RemotePC also covers screen recording.
At a glance
| Chrome Remote Desktop | RemotePC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $2.46 per month billed annually at renewal, after a first year at $1.84 a month |
| 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day free trial, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | IDrive Inc. | |
| Price read from | play.google.com | remotepc.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
RemotePC
- Individuals reaching one home or office computer for a few dollars a year
- Small teams that need always-on access to a fixed set of computers
- Businesses that already use IDrive and want access from the same vendor
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.
RemotePC
- Plans are capped by number of computers; each computer over the plan's limit is charged $20 a year in overage.
- Advertised yearly and two-year prices are first-term discounts; normal charges apply when the plan renews.
- The RDP Connector for reaching computers over RDP is an add-on at $20 per computer a year.
- There is no free plan, only the 7-day trial; Pro covers one user, so adding people means Team or above.
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.
RemotePC
- Always-on remote access
- Install the host once and reach the computer at any time, with unlimited concurrent access, multi-to-multi monitor support and 4:4:4 color.
- Browser and mobile viewers
- Connect from the web viewer without installing anything, or from apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook and Fire OS.
- File transfer and remote printing
- Move files between computers, print remote documents locally, and use a whiteboard, chat, mic passthrough and session recording.
- Team management
- Team and Enterprise add users with roles and access permissions, computer groups, deployment packages and scheduled remote access.
- Enterprise sign-in and HelpDesk
- Enterprise adds Active Directory and SSO with identity provider sync, and on-demand remote support for helping people who are not on your plan.
- Linux and Raspberry Pi hosts
- Host packages for Linux machines, headless servers and Raspberry Pi 3 and 4, alongside Windows and Mac.
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.
RemotePC
Solo (monthly)$2.95
per month for 1 computer, billed monthly
1 user and 1 computer, paid month to month.
Solo (yearly)$2.46
per month for 1 computer, billed annually, at renewal
1 user and 1 computer. RemotePC advertises $1.84 a month for the first year; normal charges apply from the second year.
Solo (2 years)$59.00
for 2 years at renewal, after a first 2-year term at $44.25
1 user and 1 computer for two years, advertised at $44.25 for the first term.
Pro (2 years)$199.00
for 2 years at renewal, after a first 2-year term at $149.25
1 user and 10 computers. Also $9.95 a month, or $8.29 a month billed annually after a first year at $6.22.
Team (2 years)$599.00
for 2 years at renewal, after a first 2-year term at $449.25
Unlimited users and 50 computers. Also $29.95 a month, or $24.96 a month billed annually after a first year at $18.72.
Enterprise (2 years)$1,199.00
for 2 years at renewal, after a first 2-year term at $899.25
Unlimited users, 100 computers, SSO, Active Directory sync and HelpDesk. Also $59.95 a month, or $49.96 a month yearly after a $37.47 first year.
Ways to pay less
Chrome Remote Desktop
No public discounts listed.
RemotePC
- Other savings
About 25% off the first year on yearly plans
Yearly plans are about 25% off for the first year only, e.g. Solo at $1.84 a month instead of $2.46; normal charges apply from the second year.
- Other savings
First two-year term discounted
The 2-year terms are discounted for the first term: Solo $44.25 instead of $59.00, Pro $149.25 instead of $199.00.
- Annual discount
Yearly billing cheaper than monthly
Solo costs $2.95 a month billed monthly against $2.46 a month billed annually at the normal rate.
- Education
Special pricing for students
The pricing page offers special pricing for students through a request form handled by RemotePC's sales team.
