Radmin vs TightVNC (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, TightVNC grades higher than Radmin: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Radmin grades higher on features. TightVNC grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Radmin
Windows remote control software sold as a one-time license per PC
TightVNC
Free VNC remote desktop for Windows, with paid Pro encryption
Which one is for you
Pick Radmin if
- Fits if you control a few Windows PCs and prefer to pay once
- Works for IT admins deploying to many Windows machines
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as it's Windows only
- Pricey if you have many computers: Radmin 3 is $49 each, and packages start at 50 for $1,490
- Tight if you have more than 5 viewers at once, as a Radmin Server accepts 5 connections by default and more need a licence from sales
- Watch out: the 150-computer package, volume licences of 200 or more and a Help Desk licence with a 50-licence minimum are quoted by sales
Pick TightVNC if
- Fits if you want to control Windows machines on your own network for free
- Works for people who want a small VNC server and viewer with open-source roots
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as the downloads are Windows only
- Not for you if you need encrypted sessions on the free version, because encryption is Pro only
- Pricey if you need Pro on both ends, as checkout starts with two licenses at $12 each a year
- Watch out: a Corporate license allows one interactive Pro session per computer, so it does not suit terminal servers
- Watch out: Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate
How we grade them
| 2.4GPARadminFair | 2.6GPATightVNCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$49 one time per remote computer, under a year of the $10.00 middle subscription for remote access tools. But each remote PC needs its own licence. | AFree outright, so it sits well under 60% of the $4.17 the cheaper quarter of remote access tools starts at. Pro encryption is $12 a user a year. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day free trial of the full version, with no free plan after it. The pages read don't say whether a card is needed. | AThe base version is free for personal and commercial use and its features do not expire. The catch is that sessions are not encrypted without Pro. |
| Features | BViewer and Server programs, encrypted connections, low-bandwidth use, mass deployment, unattended administration and Radmin VPN. Nothing in the listing is missing for controlling PCs. | CRemote view and control, plus TLS 1.3 with Pro and a viewer SDK. The listing shows no encryption in the free version, which is a gap for a tool you point at the internet. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You install the server on every remote PC and set it up. | CNo store rating on record. You install a server, set a password and sort out how to reach the machine, which is more than a click-and-go app. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only: the download page offers Windows installers and lists no Mac, Linux or mobile apps. | DThe download page lists Windows installers only. No Mac, Linux or phone version, and no integrations. |
| Best for | paid remote control of Windows PCs with a one-time licence | free VNC remote control of Windows PCs |
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: Radmin and TightVNC. How we grade
Where they differ
- Radmin can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TightVNC is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Radmin | TightVNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49 per remote computer, one-time | $12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year |
| Free plan | None | TightVNC 4 base version is free for personal and commercial use, with features that do not expire. Connections are not encrypted without Pro. |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial of the full version | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Famatech Corp. | PE Konstantin Kaplinskii |
| Price read from | radmin.com | tightvnc.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Radmin
- The download page offers Windows installer packages only; the site does not list Mac, Linux or mobile apps.
- Each remote computer needs its own license, so the Standard license costs $49 per PC and larger packages start at 50 computers.
- A Radmin Server accepts 5 simultaneous connections by default; more need a 5-client access license from sales.
- The 150-computer package and volume licenses of 200 or more are quoted by sales, and the Help Desk license has a 50-license minimum.
TightVNC
- TightVNC 4 is remote desktop software for Windows; the download page lists Windows installers only.
- Without Pro, sessions are not encrypted, and Pro needs a license at each end of the connection.
- Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate.
- A Corporate license allows only one interactive Pro session per computer at a time, so it does not fit a terminal server.
Key features
Radmin
- Viewer and Server programs
- A Server is installed on each remote PC and the Viewer, which the vendor says is free, connects to it. A portable Viewer is also offered.
- Encrypted connections
- Radmin states that all transferred data is protected with 256-bit AES encryption.
- Low-bandwidth operation
- The site says Radmin is optimized to stay usable on slow links, including 3G connections.
- Mass deployment tools
- A free deployment utility installs Radmin with preset settings on many PCs, and a deployment package is available to download.
- Unattended administration
- Maintain unattended computers and servers over a LAN or the internet, update software and switch computers off remotely.
- Radmin VPN
- A separate free product, Radmin VPN, connects to remote computers behind firewalls and is offered on the download page.
TightVNC
- Remote view and control
- See the remote screen and use its keyboard and mouse, opening files and launching applications almost as if sitting at it.
- TLS 1.3 encryption with Pro
- Pro encrypts the whole session. Both the Viewer and the Server need a Pro license for a connection to be encrypted.
- Free base version that does not expire
- The free features stay available if a Pro subscription ends; only the Pro features switch off.
- Open-source TightVNC 2
- TightVNC 2 is available under the GNU GPL, with maintenance and security updates, and commercial source-code licenses are sold.
- Viewer SDK and source licenses
- Developers can license the source code or a Viewer SDK with libraries for .NET and other platforms.
- MightyViewer companion
- A separate paid viewer from the same authors monitors several VNC desktops on one screen and offers a 30-day trial.
Plans
Radmin
Radmin 3 Standard license$49
per remote computer, one-time
Perpetual license to control one remote PC from an unlimited number of machines. Two PCs need two licenses.
Radmin 3 50-license package$1490
one-time, for up to 50 remote computers
Perpetual licensing for up to 50 remote PCs, controlled from an unlimited number of machines.
Radmin 3 100-license package$2490
one-time, for up to 100 remote computers
Perpetual licensing for up to 100 remote PCs, controlled from an unlimited number of machines.
TightVNC
Free$0
TightVNC 4 base features for personal and commercial use, with no time limit. No session encryption.
Pro User License$12
per user account on one computer / year, billed annually
Adds TLS 1.3 encryption and email support. Encryption needs Pro at both ends, so checkout starts with two licenses.
Pro Corporate License$18
per computer / year, billed annually
Covers all user accounts on one computer, with one interactive Pro session at a time. Not suited to terminal servers.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Radmin or TightVNC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Radmin starts at $49 per remote computer, one-time, and TightVNC starts at $12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year.
Which has a free plan, Radmin or TightVNC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only TightVNC has a free plan. Radmin does not, though it has a free trial.
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.