Chrome Remote Desktop
Google's free remote access to your own computers from a browser
Our verdict
First of our top three remote desktop apps
For: Most people reaching their own computers
Chrome Remote Desktop reaches your own Windows, Mac and Linux computers from a Chrome browser or the iPhone, iPad and Android apps: set up access once on each computer, then pick it from a list and enter its PIN. To help someone, they send you a one-time code and choose whether to share. All of it is free, and Google lists no paid plans. Know the limits: there is no business version or support team, sharing must be confirmed every 30 minutes, phones and tablets can connect but cannot be reached, and a work or school administrator may block it.
See all three and how we rankChrome Remote Desktop report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 18, 2026
Best for reaching your own computers for free
Chrome Remote Desktop is Google's free way to reach your own computers from a browser or phone. Set it up once on each machine, pick it from a list, type a PIN, done. It's bare-bones, though: there's no paid version, no support team, and sharing your screen with someone needs re-confirming every 30 minutes.
Who Chrome Remote Desktop is for
- Great if you just want to grab a file off your home PC while you're out
- Handy when a relative needs a quick hand and you don't want to buy anything
- Good for Chromebook owners who need to reach a Windows, Mac or Linux machine
Who Chrome Remote Desktop is not for
- Skip it if you support people for a living, as there's no team version or help desk
- Not for you if your work account's administrator has switched it off
- Too light for long support sessions, since sharing needs re-confirming every 30 minutes
Why Chrome Remote Desktop gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$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 plan and trialFree outright. Everything it does costs nothing, with no limit on computers in the listing, and there's no paid tier to push you towards.
- CFeaturesIt 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.
- BEase of useNo 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.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb, 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.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Google's own pages on 18 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/chrome-remote-desktop#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/chrome-remote-desktop.svg" alt="Chrome Remote Desktop: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Chrome Remote Desktop stands among remote desktop apps
Chrome Remote Desktop's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 14 of the 15 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 14 of 15) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Chrome Remote Desktop has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Chrome Remote Desktop’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 13 of 15, level with 2
- AFree plan and trialAbove 14 of 15, level with 1
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15, level with 11
- BEase of useAbove 5 of 15, level with 9
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 15, level with 12
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 12 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Chrome Remote Desktop, or make your own?
Keep it
Chrome Remote Desktop is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 14 of the 15 other remote desktop apps we grade.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
What this rests on. Chrome Remote Desktop’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Chrome Remote Desktop?
Chrome Remote Desktop is Google's free remote access tool, run from a website in Chrome with a small host app on each Windows, Mac or Linux computer and apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. It is mainly for reaching your own computers from anywhere with a PIN, though it also has a one-time code for helping someone else with their computer.
Chrome Remote Desktop is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Chrome Remote Desktop pricing
- Starts at
- 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.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Remote access to your own Windows, Mac and Linux computers and one-time remote support sessions. No paid tier exists. |
Read from play.google.com on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Chrome Remote Desktop before you buy.
Chrome Remote Desktop alternatives
- Chrome Remote Desktop vs RustDesk
Free plan · from $11.88/mo
- Chrome Remote Desktop vs AnyDesk
Free plan
- Chrome Remote Desktop vs TeamViewer
Free plan · from $619.99/yr
- Chrome Remote Desktop vs Splashtop
Free plan · from $23.99/yr
- Chrome Remote Desktop vs Jump Desktop
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Common questions
Is Chrome Remote Desktop free?
Yes. Chrome Remote Desktop is free to use. 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.
How much does Chrome Remote Desktop cost?
Chrome Remote Desktop lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from play.google.com on Oct 18, 2026.
What platforms does Chrome Remote Desktop work on?
Chrome Remote Desktop is available on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Is Chrome Remote Desktop open source?
Chrome Remote Desktop is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Who makes Chrome Remote Desktop?
Chrome Remote Desktop is made by Google.
What are the alternatives to Chrome Remote Desktop?
The closest alternatives to Chrome Remote Desktop in our directory are RustDesk, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Splashtop and Jump Desktop. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Chrome Remote Desktop.
How does Chrome Remote Desktop compare with other remote desktop apps?
Chrome Remote Desktop's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 14 of the 15 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 1. It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 14 of 15) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Is Chrome Remote Desktop good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Chrome Remote Desktop A for value for money. Chrome Remote Desktop has no paid plan. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Could I make my own version of Chrome Remote Desktop?
Chrome Remote Desktop is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 14 of the 15 other remote desktop apps we grade. What you could not make: A fast, secure link to another computer through any network. Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. Several people working in it at the same moment. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 18, 2026.