Chrome Remote Desktop vs Windows App (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Chrome Remote Desktop: it is first in our ranking of remote desktop apps, and it grades higher too, 3.2 against 2.4.
Checked Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 18, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Chrome Remote Desktop grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. Windows App grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on features.
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
Windows App
Microsoft's free client for remote Windows PCs and cloud desktops
Which one is for you
Pick Chrome Remote Desktop if
- Fits if you just want to grab a file off your home PC while you're out
- Works for helping a relative now and then with a one-time code, without buying anything
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you support people for a living, as there's no team version, help desk or support staff
- Too light for long support sessions, since sharing needs re-confirming every 30 minutes and each code works once
- Not for you if you need to reach a phone or tablet, as only Windows, Mac and Linux computers can be set up
- Watch out: on a work or school account an administrator may block or limit it
- Too light for linking into other tools, as no integrations or API are on record
Pick Windows App if
- Fits if your employer gives you an Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 machine
- Works for people who reach their own Windows PC from a Mac or a phone
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to reach a Mac or Linux computer, as it connects to Windows only
- Not for you if you only have a personal Microsoft account, because cloud connections need a work or school one
- Too light for Remote Desktop Services on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app
- Watch out: the web client does not do remote PC connections
- Watch out: the cloud desktops are billed separately by Microsoft
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAChrome Remote DesktopVery good | 2.4GPAWindows AppFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CThe app is free, but the desktops it is built for are billed by Microsoft as Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box. Against a category that charges $4.17 to $28 a month, that leaves it at the middle. |
| 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. | CThe download is free and a remote PC can be added without signing in. For Microsoft's cloud connections you need a work or school account from an administrator, and a personal Microsoft account does not work. |
| 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. | CIt opens Windows desktops and apps, with display options, device redirection and Teams optimizations. Remote Desktop Services is not supported from Windows App on Windows or from the web client, and the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer. |
| 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. | CNo store rating on record. Getting connected means accounts, an administrator and a connection to set up. |
| 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. | AWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android and a web client, plus Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and Teams. Meta Quest support is a preview. |
| Best for | reaching your own computers for free | reaching Windows PCs and Microsoft cloud desktops |
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 Windows App. 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. Windows App has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, none scores higher than Chrome Remote Desktop for less, and none scores higher than Windows App 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
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
At a glance
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Windows App | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| 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. | The app is a free download from the Microsoft Store. Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box are separate Microsoft services with their own pricing. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Microsoft Corporation | |
| Price read from | play.google.com | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
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.
Windows App
- Signing in takes a Microsoft work or school account from an administrator; a personal Microsoft account does not work.
- Remote Desktop Services connections are not supported from Windows App on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app, or from the web browser client.
- Remote PC connections are not available from the web browser client, and the Meta Quest support is listed as a preview.
- It connects to Windows devices and apps; the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer with it.
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.
Windows App
- One app for several Microsoft services
- Connect to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services and remote PCs from a single customizable home screen.
- Connect to a remote PC without signing in
- On the platforms that support remote PC connections, the app can be used without signing in to a Microsoft account.
- Display options
- Multiple monitor support, custom display resolutions, and dynamic resolution and scaling.
- Device redirection
- Webcams, audio, storage devices and printers can be redirected between the local device and the remote session.
- Teams optimizations
- Microsoft says the app includes optimizations for Microsoft Teams inside remote sessions.
- Multiple accounts
- Sign in with several accounts and switch between them.
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.
Windows App
Windows App$0
Free client app. Sign-in with a work or school account is needed only for Microsoft's cloud and Remote Desktop Services connections.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Chrome Remote Desktop or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Chrome Remote Desktop and Windows App are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Chrome Remote Desktop or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Chrome Remote Desktop and Windows App have a free plan.
Which platforms do Chrome Remote Desktop and Windows App run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Chrome Remote Desktop lists a Linux app and a browser extension. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.