Remote PC Access Software Review

With remote PC access software you can enjoy complete freedom and flexibility. Imagine this common scenario: after spending an hour in traffic, you finally get home to realize you forgot to email a timely proposal that needs to be in your client’s inbox by morning. Nevertheless, there's no need to panic, no reason to get back in your car.

With remote access, you can access your office computer and email out the proposal from home. One of the best aspects of remote computer access is that it does not require much effort on your part; you don’t have to remember to save a file to your USB thumb drive or to back up files to an online storage site. You can have full access to your remote computer from anywhere.

Saving you from your own forgetfulness is only one of many reasons to get remote access to your PCs. Maybe you want to be able to go home, eat dinner with the kids and go for a jog before you finish your work. Or, maybe clients sometimes contact you when you're away from the office and you need to be able to log onto your work computer and make a quick change. On the other hand, perhaps your company will allow you to work from home; this software can make working at home, just like working at the office. Whatever your reason is, remote PC access can simplify your life and help you become much more productive and connected.

Our learning center provides you with informative articles about remote access software. You can also check out our article about iTwin for an alternative way to remotely access your computer files. To learn more about what the top services can do for you, see our award winners: GoToMyPC, LogMeIn and WebEx PCNow.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™ 

Remote PC Software: What to Look For

Simply put, we looked for easy-to-use, secure remote access services and software that can provide quick access and flexible sharing tools. Here are the criteria we used to find the best remote PC software.

Remote Access Features
Remote PC abilities include complete application control, the ability to access a remote computer from more than one device, the ability to turn the remote computer on and off and more. The best remote access products go beyond simple file access and support full interaction with the remote PC, even the ability to stream music and turn on the webcam.

Sharing Tools
Sharing tools refers to the two-way communications between the remote PC and the local device. This includes file synchronizing, the ability to drag and drop files between the two and the capacity to conduct private chat conversations between the two.

Ease of Use
The whole point of remote PC access software is to increase productivity and make life easier. If the software is difficult to install and use, it misses the mark. We looked for features that make using the software easier such as the ability to work around firewalls and the ability to remotely access computers that do not have a static IP address. It is also extremely helpful if a download to the local PC or device is not required.

Security
Without exceptional security (online banking level of security), people would not use remote PC access services. Secure services support password protection, encrypt data transfers and can block IP addresses from remote access. We also looked for services that can lock screens and keyboards so those near the remote PC cannot see what is going on. Additionally, it is helpful if they include an automatic time-out so if you forget to log out from a session, others cannot access the remote PC later.

Help & Support
Remote PC access software should be easy to use, but if problems arise ample support should be easily accessible. The best remote services provide free one-on-one telephone, Twitter and email support. Comprehensive documentation in the form of a user manual, embedded help files and a searchable knowledgebase online is also helpful.