Best Free Android Remote Desktop Apps and Alternatives to Teamviewer
ss to computers from mobile devices have multiplied. Below we review some of the most prominent free applications.
Remote desktop applications are very easy to operate. We just have to install the application on both machines (client/server) and connect using a password.
- RealVNC Viewer
A classic application for remote access to personal computers that has also managed to make the leap to mobile devices. It works as follows: first we install the VNC Server application on the computer we want to access remotely, then we install VNC Viewer on the phone we will connect from.
The server application supports most operating systems, from Windows and Mac to Linux and even Raspberry Pi. The client application (Viewer) for its part has the same support, including Android and iOS.
VNC uses end-to-end encryption and password protection that is specific to each server computer. The touch screen on mobile devices acts as a mouse, although it is also compatible with Bluetooth keyboards.
- Splashtop Personal
Splashtop offers a very similar business model, offering the app for free for personal use. The system has a server app (Splashtop Streamer) for the computers we want to connect to, and a client app (Splashtop Personal App) for the phone we will connect to. Use it as a remote control.
You can also stream in 4K at 60fps. Finally, it is worth noting that it is one of the highest rated remote desktop apps in the Google Play Store along with VNC and RealVNC Viewe.
- Microsoft Remote Desktop
Microsoft also has its own application for accessing remote computers. The tool is compatible with Windows Professional, Windows Enterprise and Windows Server, so it is an application specifically aimed at the business world.
Microsoft Remote Desktop is available on Android and iOS, and it offers high-quality audio/video streaming and touch control starting with Windows 8. Although its drawback is that it is not as easy to install and configure as other programs. Microsoft has made available a comprehensive page for its users to get the most out of it, which we can consult at this link .
- AnyDesk Remote Desktop
With over 50 million downloads, AnyDesk is one of the most popular remote desktop apps on Android. It’s free and ad-free for personal use, which is great, and it has a pretty good set of features: file transfer, remote printing, and more.
To add an extra layer of security, the app also creates a private VPN when it establishes the connection between the remote device and our Android device. Overall, it's a very consistent app, although depending on the phone and the connection, the screen may freeze or hang at times. In this sense, Splashtop Personal and VNC offer a bit more stability.