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.