The Windows App Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Windows App in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Windows App
The Insider’s Guide
Microsoft's free client for remote Windows PCs and cloud desktops
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Windows App’s own pages.
Made by Microsoft Corporation · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Windows App’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Windows App’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade
Windows App is Microsoft's client for connecting to Windows devices and apps remotely: Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 Cloud PCs, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services and individual PCs. It runs on Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, Android and ChromeOS, in a web browser and on Meta Quest. The app itself is free; the cloud desktops it connects to are billed separately.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Windows App, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Getting connected means accounts, an administrator and a connection to set up.
- 1
Best for reaching Windows PCs and Microsoft cloud desktops
Windows App is Microsoft's free client for Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and remote PCs, on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the web.
- 2
It is free
Windows App has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Web.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Display options
Multiple monitor support, custom display resolutions, and dynamic resolution and scaling.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 11 of 35
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Windows App is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Windows App at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Microsoft Corporation
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for reaching Windows PCs and Microsoft cloud desktops
Windows App is Microsoft's free client for Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and remote PCs, on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the web. The app costs nothing, but the cloud desktops it opens are separate paid Microsoft services, and signing in takes a work or school account from an administrator.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The 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 | C | The 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 | C | It 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 | C | No store rating on record. Getting connected means accounts, an administrator and a connection to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and a web client, plus Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and Teams. Meta Quest support is a preview. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Windows App is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Employees who connect to Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 Cloud PCs
- People connecting to a remote Windows PC from a Mac, phone, tablet or browser
- Organizations standardizing on Microsoft's remote desktop stack
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Windows App is free to use.
The download is free and a remote PC can be added without signing in.
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.
The free plan
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.
Read from apps.microsoft.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Microsoft's free client for remote Windows PCs and cloud desktops. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: file sharing, remote desktop.
It opens Windows desktops and apps, with display options, device redirection and Teams optimizations.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Azure Virtual Desktop
- Windows 365
- Microsoft Dev Box
- Microsoft Teams
Windows App is made by Microsoft Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/35
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Windows App's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 31 of 35) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Windows App 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 36 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Windows App’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 35
- CFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 35
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 35
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 35
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 35
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Windows App is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Windows App is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 16 of the 35 other remote desktop apps grade higher.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Windows App’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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Chrome Remote Desktop, Jump Desktop, Royal TS, Remmina and mRemoteNG
The 5 tools Windows App is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Chrome Remote Desktop
Free
Google's free remote access to your own computers from a browser.
- Only Chrome Remote Desktop lists a Linux app.
- Only Chrome Remote Desktop lists a browser extension.
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
- 3.2GPA
Jump Desktop
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan.
- Only Jump Desktop lists a Linux app.
- Jump Desktop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
- 2.8GPA
Royal TS
Free plan · from €49 one-time
Connection manager for RDP, SSH, VNC and web sessions.
- Only Windows App lists a web app.
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
- Royal TS also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Remmina
Free
Free Linux remote desktop client for RDP, VNC and SSH.
- Only Windows App lists a web app.
- Only Windows App lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Remmina lists a Linux app.
- 2.6GPA
mRemoteNG
Free
Free tabbed connection manager for RDP, VNC and SSH on Windows.
- Only Windows App lists a web app.
- Only Windows App lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- mRemoteNG is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Windows App free?
Yes. Windows App is free to use.
How much does Windows App cost?
Windows App lists one plan. Windows App: $0.
What platforms does Windows App work on?
Windows App is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Web.
Does Windows App have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Windows App is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Web.
Is Windows App open source?
Windows App is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Windows App integrate with?
Windows App's listing names Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box and Microsoft Teams.
Who makes Windows App?
Windows App is made by Microsoft Corporation.
What are the alternatives to Windows App?
The closest alternatives to Windows App in our directory are Chrome Remote Desktop, Jump Desktop, Royal TS, Remmina and mRemoteNG.
How does Windows App compare with other remote desktop apps?
Windows App's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Windows App good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Windows App C for value for money. Windows App has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Windows App?
Windows App is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Windows App’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Windows App's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft Corporation. Prices change, so check apps.microsoft.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Windows App, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/windows-app
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Windows App: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/windows-app
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/windows-app/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Windows App, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 36 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- Jump Desktop Insider's GuideRemote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan3.2 GPA
- Moonlight Insider's GuideOpen-source client for streaming PC games to other devices3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Windows App’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Windows App is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft Corporation. Prices and plans change: check apps.microsoft.com before you buy.