Pros & Cons
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- Smooth performance
- Doesn't require an account
- Seamless file transfers
- Completely free for non-commercial use
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- Expensive paid plans
- Convoluted subscription cancellation process
TeamViewer Specs
| Desktop Shortcut for Remote PC | |
| Free Version For Personal Use | |
| Video Recording | |
| Whiteboard |
If you're providing remote access support, it's crucial that you choose software that's easy to set up and secure enough to leave running in the background. TeamViewer meets both of those requirements and offers an exceptionally smooth remote control experience. It also works across every platform you could need and provides a decently capable free version for noncommercial use. Its paid plans can be pricey, but TeamViewer is still an Editors' Choice winner, alongside the equally feature-packed and more SMB-friendly RemotePC.
Pricing: Generous for Personal Use, Pricey for Professionals
TeamViewer notably still offers a free version. The company uses AI to detect and block access if your traffic appears to be commercial activity. The AI isn't perfect, however, as evidenced by the many negative reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Follow the steps on this page if you think TeamViewer erroneously detected your traffic as commercial.
For a long time, the free version had all of TeamViewer's features, but now it has several restrictions. In summary, free users can't add more than three managed devices, transfer more than one file at a time, or use the wake-on-LAN (WOL) feature. Zoho Assist also offers a free version, but it has the same limitations.
As for premium plans, TeamViewer has solutions for individuals, teams, and enterprises. I focus on the first audience. At the individual level, you can choose between Remote Access ($24.90 per month, billed annually) and Business ($50.90 per month, billed annually) tiers. The Remote Access plan lets one licensed person access up to three unattended devices. It supports remote printing and file transfers.
The TeamViewer Business plan allows a single licensed person to manage up to 200 computers. It adds some AI assistance features, a Google Meet integration, and phone support, among other business features. The plans for teams and enterprise cost a lot more, starting with the Premium tier ($112.90 per month, billed annually) that enables 15 license holders to manage up to 300 devices.
TeamViewer's business prices are toward the top of the range of what you should expect to pay. RemotePC, for comparison, is much more affordable, with paid plans for individuals starting at $29.50 per year. Business-appropriate plans for managing five PCs cost just $79.50 per year, but you end up paying far more for RemotePC if you try to reach the level of 200 managed PCs. The difference is that all plans except the base plan include unlimited licenses. Like TeamViewer, GoToMyPC primarily targets businesses; it starts at $44 per computer per month for a single user.
Canceling a TeamViewer plan is a bit of a pain. It’s technically possible to cancel via the customer portal, but this wasn’t straightforward in testing. You are better off reaching out directly to the support them. This difficulty remains a serious downside for TeamViewer.
Interface and Ease of Use: Quick to Deploy Across Devices
TeamViewer offers management clients for ChromeOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows, as well as for Android and iOS. Here's the full list of system requirements. Two interfaces are available for the desktop app: the default TeamViewer Remote one and the Classic view. The former is more modern, but the latter has some additional functionality. A lightweight QuickSupport version for end users to download enables you to gain temporary access to their machines. In testing TeamViewer on Windows 11 and macOS Tahoe, I found all of the features I expected. I also tried the app on an iPad Mini running iPadOS 26.
(Credit: TeamViewer/PCMag)It’s possible to provide support to mobile users who have installed TeamViewer QuickSupport on their Android or iOS device. You can't remotely control an iPhone or iPad because of those devices' security features (you can only view the screen), but you can fully control Android devices.
By nature, you need to install remote access software on at least two machines: the computer you want to access remotely and the one you are connecting from. It's best if this process is straightforward, especially if you are trying to walk someone through the process over the phone.
To get started, head to TeamViewer.com and download the relevant client for your system. Using the software requires a TeamViewer account, which you can get for free if it's for personal use. This became a requirement a few years ago as part of a user interface refresh. The Classic mode technically doesn't require you to sign in to an account (although it restricts a lot of features if you don't).
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If you’re providing support to someone else and want to control their computer, you can start a new session. This lets you copy a link to share with the person whose computer you want to control. The link takes the person on the other end to a website where they can download TeamViewer. The site, helpfully, checks that the user knows what they're getting into—offering them your name and location to help confirm you are not trying to scam them. It strikes a good balance between ease of use and security, especially given how often bad actors misuse remote access software.
Accessing personal devices is a lot easier, assuming you installed TeamViewer on the ones you want to control and logged in with an account. In the Devices section of the management app, you can click any of your configured devices to take control of them. However, the legacy feature, which lets you type an ID and a password to access a specific device, remains available.
Performance: Smooth, Responsive Remote Sessions
I tested TeamViewer both on my local home network and from my local library. I connected to a Windows 11 machine from both a MacBook and an iPad. TeamViewer worked great in all of these scenarios.
On my local network, I barely notice when I'm using remote access software. Everything feels more or less like it's working in real time. I can browse the web, write a document, and even edit images with only occasional lag. The results aren't quite this smooth farther away from home, but the experience is still highly usable.
(Credit: TeamViewer/PCMag)TeamViewer supports sharing system audio. In my tests, this functionality worked flawlessly, and I could listen to music without much disruption. On my local network, I could even watch a video with sound this way, albeit with a little bit of stuttering. Nonetheless, this activity was smoother with TeamViewer than with other apps, including RemotePC and GoToMyPC. Moreover, TeamViewer supports audio sharing on Windows and macOS, unlike GoToMyPC, which can only do so on Windows.
The mobile version of TeamViewer, which I tested on an iPad Mini, makes controlling a large-screen computer relatively simple. You can pinch to zoom in and get a better look at anything, and tap to click. Typing means pulling up the on-screen keyboard, which is a little clumsy but doable with a little bit of practice. It’s a decently practical option to have in a pinch.
(Credit: TeamViewer/PCMag)Extra Features: Useful Add-Ons—If You Know Where to Look
TeamViewer's file transfer mode works with any of your connected computers. The two-pane file browser shows all files on both computers that are available for sending and receiving, allowing you to transfer files directly from a folder on one device to a folder on another. The Classic mode supports drag-and-drop file transfers, but only between Windows machines. RemotePC doesn't have that restriction.
(Credit: TeamViewer/PCMag)TeamViewer is sunsetting its meeting functionality, whereas RemotePC continues to offer video meeting functionality. The Classic view still supports a whiteboard feature that lets you draw on the screen to point out things, which is extremely handy for technical support scenarios. RemotePC is the only other remote management app we reviewed that offers whiteboard functionality. Both also allow you to record remote sessions, which can be helpful for training purposes.
Security: Is TeamViewer Safe to Use?
TeamViewer says it uses end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption and other industry-grade security features to protect your data. Multi-factor authentication is available, and you should use it.
Ultimately, however, you still need to be careful. You should never install remote access software if someone you don't know tells you to. If you do, cybercriminals can gain access to your computer, private information, and financial accounts. If someone claiming to be tech support calls you out of the blue to diagnose a problem or fix your bank account using remote access software, always hang up. Then, contact the company in question via official channels to see if there's actually a problem that requires your attention.