TeamViewer vs ZeroTier (2026): which should you pick?

Pick TeamViewer if

• Fits if you're the one the family calls when the computer plays up
• Works for help desks already running ServiceNow, Jira or Intune that can pay $619.99 a year or more

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you're a one-person IT shop, as Business is $619.99 a year for one user
• Skip it if you need to control iPhones or iPads, which only share their screen, and phones need a paid add-on
• Not for you if your use is really work and you want it free, as the free version is personal only
• Tight if you need more than one connection at a time, which Business doesn't allow
• Watch out: prices change by visitor location, and the Remote Access, Premium and Corporate prices couldn't be read in dollars

Pick ZeroTier if

• Fits if you have up to 10 devices at home and want them on one virtual network
• Works for developers who want an API and CLI to manage the network

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to see and control a remote screen, since it only connects devices
• Tight if you have more than 10 devices on the free plan, or want it for work, which needs a paid plan
• Pricey if you want a support ticket, as that starts at Scale, $179 a month, and Essential has community support only
• Watch out: devices past the included count cost $2.00 each on Essential and $1.80 on Scale every month

TeamViewer

• TeamViewer's website shows prices by visitor location and could not be read in US dollars; Remote Access, Premium and Corporate prices are missing here.
• The free version is for personal use only; any business or work use needs a paid licence, which TeamViewer offers to trial for 14 days.
• Licences are billed yearly and cap the number of managed devices and simultaneous connections, e.g. one connection at a time on Business.
• Supporting phones and tablets is a paid add-on; for iPhones and iPads it is screen sharing rather than control.

ZeroTier

• ZeroTier connects devices into a network; it does not share a remote screen, so desktop access needs a separate remote desktop or VNC tool on top.
• The Personal plan is limited to 10 devices, one network and non-commercial use.
• Essential includes community support only; ticketed support with an SLA starts at Scale, $179 per month.
• Devices beyond the included count are billed monthly, $2.00 each on Essential and $1.80 each on Scale.

TeamViewer

Attended and unattended access

Connect to any number of devices when someone at the other end accepts, or to a set number of managed devices without anyone present, depending on the licence.

File transfer and remote printing

Send and queue files between devices and print documents from the remote computer to your local printer.

Wake-on-LAN and black screen

Power on a remote computer, block local keyboard and mouse input, and black out its screen while you work on it.

Session recording and switch sides

Record and replay sessions, and swap who controls whom during a session. Custom branding of support sessions comes with paid licences.

TeamViewer AI

Business includes 25 AI credits a month, one per support session, for AI-guided troubleshooting and written session summaries.

Mobile device support add-on

An add-on to reach and support Android devices and share the screen of iPhones and iPads, alongside desktop-to-desktop connections.

ZeroTier

Virtual networks across sites and clouds

Private networks that span public clouds, data centers, on-premises machines and remote devices, without proprietary hardware.

Peer-to-peer connections

Devices connect directly to each other whenever possible, with traffic encrypted end to end and policy enforced at every endpoint.

Identity-based access control

Network behavior is set by policy tied to each node's cryptographic identity, with custom flow rules on the Scale plan.

Management through UI, CLI and API

Personal includes a CLI, a UI and webhooks. API access and OIDC single sign-on start on Essential.

Broad client coverage

The download page lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker, FreeBSD and NAS packages.

Post-quantum option

ZeroTier Quantum is a separate platform for regulated and air-gapped environments, scoped per deployment through sales.

TeamViewer

• Free (personal use)$0

  For non-commercial use only: remote help for friends and family and access to your own computers, phones and tablets.

• Business$619.99

  per year, as an in-app purchase in the iOS app

  One licensed user, one connection at a time and up to 200 managed devices, with 25 AI credits a month. Price read on the US App Store.

ZeroTier

• Personal$0

  Non-commercial use only. 10 devices, one network, one network admin, CLI, UI and webhooks, community support.

• Essential$18

  per month for 10 included devices, then $2.00 per extra device

  Commercial license, 10 networks, five admins, API access, OIDC single sign-on and 30-day audit logs. Community support only.

• Scale$179

  per month for 100 included devices, then $1.80 per extra device

  Everything in Essential plus unlimited networks, 10 network admins, custom flow rules and ticketed support with an SLA.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Sized for 500 or more devices, with self-hosted and air-gapped options, 90-day audit logs and priority support. Sold through sales.

TeamViewer

• Nonprofit

  30% off for nonprofits and education

  Registered nonprofit and educational organizations that apply through TeamViewer's form get a 30% discount.

ZeroTier

No public discounts listed.