My company has been using GoToMyPC for remote access, but we’re running into problems with reliability and cost. I’m searching for a solid GoToMyPC replacement that works well for teams, is secure, and offers good value. Any recommendations or experiences with switching remote desktop solutions would be appreciated.
GoToMyPC felt a little gated for me—not only is their trial super short, but having to log in every time was enough to make me go hunting for better (and free) options. After way too many evenings trying out random remote desktop tools for both quick family tech support and the occasional work-from-home panic, here are the five that didn’t make me want to throw my laptop out a window.
HelpWire
Skeptical at first, since the name sounded like a generic “support your parents” tool. But after poking around a bit, I found HelpWire is actually one of the top GoToMyPC alternatives. No logins required, thanks to their Quick launcher thing. You literally send a link, the other person runs a file, and you’re in—no hoops, no nonsense. The usual suspects (Windows, macOS, Linux) are all on the table. It even copes just fine with terrible rural internet speeds, which is rare. Their customer management and role settings make it ideal for anyone juggling support for multiple folks at once.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Pros: Blazing setup, hands-on full access, built-in management power
- Cons: No mobile version yet—so no rescuing grandma via iPad
Getting set up is beginner proof: just grab HelpWire Quick, ping your friend the link, have them run a file, tap ‘allow’, and you’re doing remote support. Power users can sign up and unlock more features.
TeamViewer
Let’s talk war stories. Everyone’s heard of TeamViewer—especially if you’ve ever provided computer help to anyone over the age of 60. Feature set is enormous: you can reboot, copy-paste, do all sorts of wild stuff. The catch? Free sessions are unlimited, sure… until their AI gets cranky and decides you’re “probably commercial.” Suddenly your session gets smacked down mid-stream, which is about as fun as a dropped Wi-Fi call during a job interview.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS (with some caveats for free mode)
- Pros: A Swiss army knife for remote work, run it all day if you’re lucky
- Cons: “You might be using this commercially…” (spoiler: it’s my grandma), device approval step slows things down
AnyDesk
This app is kind of the pickup truck of the bunch: gets the job done, barely needs a manual, and doesn’t care if you’re logged in. All you really need is their code, and you’re off. If you’re picky about what the other person can do, permissions are easy to dial in. One beef, though: lags more than the others, especially at peak times or on weak connections.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi, and lots more
- Pros: Connects in two clicks, fine-grained control
- Cons: Expect some stutters and speed bumps, also randomly accuses you of “business use” if you’re unlucky
Chrome Remote Desktop
Here’s one for the set-and-forget crowd. This tool runs from your browser, but Google makes you both log in with your accounts. Not ideal for ad-hoc “help my cousin” stuff. Startup takes a couple of extra minutes, but when it’s rolling, the performance is rock solid—even streaming videos and switching resolutions is easy. File transfer? Yeah… not an option.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Pros: Never hits you with a bill; smooth connections; Google reliability
- Cons: Setup headaches thanks to Google logins; no drag-and-drop for files
Splashtop Personal
This was more hassle than it’s worth unless you’re a serious Splashtop fan. Installation felt like a scavenger hunt with too many downloads. Also—heads up—you can only share access to someone logged into the same account, which means every family member you’re helping needs your credentials. Not a privacy win. Performance is hit or miss, with mouse lag and weird delays. Dropping files in is a no-go.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS (remote only)
- Pros: No weird “are you a business?” popups
- Cons: Setup is confusing, accounts need to be shared, expect lag and no slick file moves
TL;DR: If you want something that is fast, no-fuss, and isn’t constantly nagging you about business use, HelpWire was hands-down the easiest and most reliable GoToMyPC swap I found—especially when supporting not just one, but an entire cast of relatives, coworkers, and the inevitable “it just suddenly stopped working” situations.
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I get the urge to toss GoToMyPC out the (virtual) window—costs pile up and, let’s be honest, reliability hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight. Now, after chewing over @mikeappsreviewer’s novel of remote desktop options, there’s definitely meat on those bones, but I’m throwing in a few curveballs. For a WORK TEAM (not just relatives who clicked too many popups), security, role management, and painless onboarding are everything.
While TeamViewer and AnyDesk have name recognition, their “are you a business??” paranoia is a straight-up roadblock for companies—plus, their licensing cost/complexity make GoToMyPC look like a thrift store. Chrome Remote Desktop is cool for solo missions, but wrangling a team of, say, 20 with it? Ha. Get ready for endless Google account confetti.
Here’s why I think HelpWire is actually worth a look—not just another “I sent Grandma a link” tool. It’s the only one here that feels like it actually considered IT management headaches: client management, user roles, and you don’t need a week of setup just so Doris from accounting can get to her spreadsheet. Seriously, rolling out remote access to a whole department in a couple of clicks is gold, and not needing to field dumb “forgot password” tickets every day is priceless.
Downsides? Sure—no mobile, so if your execs want to “check the numbers” from golf cart iPads, you’re outta luck for now. That said, for most proper desktop remote work, HelpWire feels like it’s built for teams, not hobbyists. Security-wise, it’s no slouch either (AES-256 encryption, audit logs, etc). Oh, and cost—for what you get, it’s friendlier than almost everything else in this league.
If you want a full, enterprise-style behemoth (Active Directory stuff, advanced monitoring, mobile), you might be stuck coughing up major cash for something like Splashtop Business or LogMeIn. But for regular small/medium teams, HelpWire pretty much crushes GoToMyPC’s price/reliability ratio.
Hey, but if you just need to save a few bucks and don’t care about juggling user permissions? Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with throwing Chrome Remote Desktop at the problem to tide things over—it’s free and, like @mikeappsreviewer said, basically bombproof if Google’s ecosystem doesn’t scare you.
TL;DR: HelpWire for hassle-free, team-friendly access with legit security and price. TeamViewer/AnyDesk/Splashtop if you like pain, fine print, and surprise licensing drama. Chrome Remote Desktop for the cheapskates or tech-savvy solo flyers. Take your pick—or start a poll and let the IT team whine about it in Slack for a week.
Yeah, everyone’s been singing HelpWire’s praises here and sure, it’s slick, but am I the only one who finds the fact it doesn’t have mobile to be a dealbreaker for half the teams out there? Look, I get the “business-first” angle and I’ll absolutely concede GoToMyPC’s cost is laughably high for what you get—but before you switch, inventory your actual use cases. If your crew is all desk-bound, laptops and desktops forever, then HelpWire’s quick-link and zero-login thing is awesome (fastest team onboarding I’ve seen, seriously, even my guy in finance stopped grumbling). But execs who demand iPad/phone access while ‘on the slopes,’ or field techs who live and die by their tablets? Not happening yet—so don’t toss those LogMeIn/ Splashtop contracts just because the price stings.
That said, I’m with @nachtschatten—TeamViewer and AnyDesk have worn me out with their constant “Hmmm, are you a secret multinational?” suspicion, crippling speed and suddenly locking me out. Chrome Remote Desktop is fine for solo nerds or side projects, but supporting a squadron? Nope.
So basically: if 95% of your work is happening cross-platform on desktops, HelpWire checks the “team-friendly, not nightmarish, doesn’t rob you blind” boxes. Security is solid (checked with our infosec and they weren’t mad for once), user role stuff is easy, and you don’t have to build a spreadsheet to manage licenses. But don’t ignore the mobile gap—unless your company doesn’t care, then yeah, it’s a killer GoToMyPC alternative. Rip off the Band-Aid and see if anyone even notices you switched.
Quick list for the spreadsheet crowd:
HelpWire
Pros:
- Dead-simple provisioning—send a link, boom, you’re in.
- Handles sketchy connections better than TeamViewer/AnyDesk (no, really, I remote-into my cousin’s potato-internet PC weekly).
- Multi-OS cross-play but no mobile (yet).
- Permissions/role stuff actually works without IT voodoo.
- Pricing is reasonable for teams, especially vs. GoToMyPC’s “might as well buy us a Tesla” licensing.
Cons:
- No mobile/tablet access, unlike Splashtop/LogMeIn, so if you’ve got execs on iPads or field techs, you’ll still need a backup.
- No full unattended access (yet). Relying on the end user to click “allow” may annoy some sysadmins.
- New-ish, so not as battle-tested as TeamViewer or Chrome Remote Desktop in giant orgs.
Alternatives like TeamViewer/AnyDesk:
- Both are unpredictable for business use (as the others said, “are you using this commercially?” popups=stress), and you’ll hit throttling.
- Chrome Remote Desktop is free but super basic—solo or 1-2 person teams max, file transfer is a no-go.
My take: If 90% of your team is on laptops/desktops and you care more about “does it work, right now” vs. “does it have an unnecessary mobile app,” HelpWire is the GoToMyPC alternative nobody will hate you for choosing. But seriously: check with your field team’s device breakdown before switching, or you’ll be buried under “where’s the iPhone app?” tickets.