RemotePC minimizes headaches and maximizes convenience with fast, reliable access to remote machines at an impressively low price.
Compared with high-end products like our top picks, GoToMyPC and TeamViewer, RemotePC doesn't provide feature-packed toolbars or whiteboard capabilities.
Instead, it gives you a simple interface that never gets in your way.
For example, if all you want to do is transfer files between two machines, you can do so via a simple file-manager interface.
RemotePC works equally well on PCs or Macs and is an effective, low-cost app that you should seriously consider if you need remote access capabilities.
Price Plans
We tested the Consumer/SOHO (Small Office or Home Office) plan currently on sale for $6.95 for the first year (for one user accessing up to 10 machines).
After the first year, this plan costs $69.50 per year.
Team and Enterprise plans, which allow an unlimited number of users to access up to 100 computers, cost $49.50 for the first year and $499.50 thereafter.
The Enterprise plan adds security and management features.
RemotePC also offers a free one-user plan for access to one other remote computer.
In addition to working with Macs and PCs, RemotePC also has apps for iOS (which we tested) and Android (which we didn't test).
These apps are as fast and capable as their desktop counterparts, even though they are not as fully featured.
Configuration
You set up RemotePC by downloading and installing a client app on the local and remote machines.
When you launch the app, a simple interface lists available remote machines.
You can also configure your local machine for access at any time via a built-in button.
After you assign a name to your machine and create a password-style access code, you can connect from any other machine via the app.
You can also generate one-time access codes that you can send to other users who need to access your machine temporarily.
This isn't very convenient since you need to copy both a twelve-digit Access ID and a four-digit key into an e-mail or text message.
Other remote-access apps, like our consumer-level Editors' Choice GoToMyPC, can send an email for you with the access code included.
When you access a remote machine, RemotePC opens a window that shows the remote machine's desktop.
A simple menu at the top of the window lets you set the resolution, send keystrokes, write a temporary sticky note, open a chat window, record a video, restart the machine (optionally in safe mode), and perform other standard remote functions all on the remote computer.
Rival apps, such as GoToMyPC and TeamViewer, offer far more elaborate toolbars giving access to fine-tuning features, whiteboards, and audio options that RemotePC doesn't have at all, but, for many users, RemotePC's simplicity adds to its appeal.
As with other modern remote-access apps, you can copy files back and forth between local and remote machines merely by dragging them between their respective windows.
Unlike all other apps we tested, which offer this feature on Windows only, RemotePC also offers it on the Mac.
Alternatively, you can open an Explorer-style file transfer window that lets you copy files in both directions.
If you only need to transfer files, you can use this instead of opening the remote desktop in a full viewing window.
If the remote machine uses two (or more) monitors, you can only view one screen at a time through RemotePC.
To switch between the monitors on the remote system, you need to open the View menu on the RemotePC window and choose the Primary or Secondary monitor from the menu.
Most other remote-access apps give you the option to display both remote monitors in the same window at the same time.
Printing and Privacy
RemotePC makes it easy to print from an app on the remote machine to the local machine's default printer.
You simply choose Remote PC Printer from the Print menu on the remote app, and the document prints locally.
The whole procedure is blissfully simple.
However, the process of printing to a PDF or a specific printer on your local machine is inconvenient.
For that, you need to change the default printer on the local machine and then switch it back when you're done.
I'd prefer an option in the RemotePC interface that would let me use either the default local printer or select a printer with each print job, but that would add complexity to a refreshingly simple app.
According to the company, the RemotePC client uses machine-learning to improve performance by keeping track of whether (for example) you're editing images or text on the remote machine and adjusting its internal settings to match what you're doing.
All these settings changes are made inside the client app, and so the machine-learning feature doesn't compromise the AES-256 encryption that RemotePC uses when exchanging data between machines.
Fast and Simple
Compared with rival remote-access products, RemotePC costs less and keeps things simpler than most.
Of our two Editors' Choice products, TeamViewer offers the most airtight (and therefore the least user-friendly) security features, requiring you to enter both a nine-digit machine ID and an alphanumeric password before you can access a remote machine.
And TeamViewer lets you view a remote multi-monitor system with all the remote monitors visible at the same time in a single window.
As mentioned previously, RemotePC only lets you view one remote monitor's desktop at a time.
If you don't already know that the remote system has more than one monitor, you might not even notice that it is there.
GoToMyPC, another of our top picks, also lets you view all the monitors on a remote system in a single window.
It also includes conveniences like the ability to create a local desktop shortcut for quick access to a remote machine that you visit often.
Both TeamViewer and GoToMyPC, unlike RemotePC, have whiteboard abilities, meaning that you can temporarily draw arrows and other markup on the remote desktop.
This ability can be helpful if you need to provide detailed instructions to someone about a given task.
For corporate-level security and other advanced features, you're better off with GoToMyPC or TeamViewer.
You should also go elsewhere if you need access through a web browser window, remote audio, one-click e-mail invitations, and the option to switch between full remote access and remote viewing.
Still, RemotePC's fast, simple remote access and file transfer capabilities make it ideal for many SOHO users and individuals.
Pros
Effortless, simple interface with a flat learning curve.
Fast performance.
Easy file transfers between local and remote desktops.
Inexpensive.
View More
The Bottom Line
RemotePC is one of the best low-frills remote-access apps, offering identical features on PCs and Macs, fast performance, and a minimal, but intuitive, interface.
RemotePC minimizes headaches and maximizes convenience with fast, reliable access to remote machines at an impressively low price.
Compared with high-end products like our top picks, GoToMyPC and TeamViewer, RemotePC doesn't provide feature-packed toolbars or whiteboard capabilities.
Instead, it gives you a simple interface that never gets in your way.
For example, if all you want to do is transfer files between two machines, you can do so via a simple file-manager interface.
RemotePC works equally well on PCs or Macs and is an effective, low-cost app that you should seriously consider if you need remote access capabilities.
Price Plans
We tested the Consumer/SOHO (Small Office or Home Office) plan currently on sale for $6.95 for the first year (for one user accessing up to 10 machines).
After the first year, this plan costs $69.50 per year.
Team and Enterprise plans, which allow an unlimited number of users to access up to 100 computers, cost $49.50 for the first year and $499.50 thereafter.
The Enterprise plan adds security and management features.
RemotePC also offers a free one-user plan for access to one other remote computer.
In addition to working with Macs and PCs, RemotePC also has apps for iOS (which we tested) and Android (which we didn't test).
These apps are as fast and capable as their desktop counterparts, even though they are not as fully featured.
Configuration
You set up RemotePC by downloading and installing a client app on the local and remote machines.
When you launch the app, a simple interface lists available remote machines.
You can also configure your local machine for access at any time via a built-in button.
After you assign a name to your machine and create a password-style access code, you can connect from any other machine via the app.
You can also generate one-time access codes that you can send to other users who need to access your machine temporarily.
This isn't very convenient since you need to copy both a twelve-digit Access ID and a four-digit key into an e-mail or text message.
Other remote-access apps, like our consumer-level Editors' Choice GoToMyPC, can send an email for you with the access code included.
When you access a remote machine, RemotePC opens a window that shows the remote machine's desktop.
A simple menu at the top of the window lets you set the resolution, send keystrokes, write a temporary sticky note, open a chat window, record a video, restart the machine (optionally in safe mode), and perform other standard remote functions all on the remote computer.
Rival apps, such as GoToMyPC and TeamViewer, offer far more elaborate toolbars giving access to fine-tuning features, whiteboards, and audio options that RemotePC doesn't have at all, but, for many users, RemotePC's simplicity adds to its appeal.
As with other modern remote-access apps, you can copy files back and forth between local and remote machines merely by dragging them between their respective windows.
Unlike all other apps we tested, which offer this feature on Windows only, RemotePC also offers it on the Mac.
Alternatively, you can open an Explorer-style file transfer window that lets you copy files in both directions.
If you only need to transfer files, you can use this instead of opening the remote desktop in a full viewing window.
If the remote machine uses two (or more) monitors, you can only view one screen at a time through RemotePC.
To switch between the monitors on the remote system, you need to open the View menu on the RemotePC window and choose the Primary or Secondary monitor from the menu.
Most other remote-access apps give you the option to display both remote monitors in the same window at the same time.
Printing and Privacy
RemotePC makes it easy to print from an app on the remote machine to the local machine's default printer.
You simply choose Remote PC Printer from the Print menu on the remote app, and the document prints locally.
The whole procedure is blissfully simple.
However, the process of printing to a PDF or a specific printer on your local machine is inconvenient.
For that, you need to change the default printer on the local machine and then switch it back when you're done.
I'd prefer an option in the RemotePC interface that would let me use either the default local printer or select a printer with each print job, but that would add complexity to a refreshingly simple app.
According to the company, the RemotePC client uses machine-learning to improve performance by keeping track of whether (for example) you're editing images or text on the remote machine and adjusting its internal settings to match what you're doing.
All these settings changes are made inside the client app, and so the machine-learning feature doesn't compromise the AES-256 encryption that RemotePC uses when exchanging data between machines.
Fast and Simple
Compared with rival remote-access products, RemotePC costs less and keeps things simpler than most.
Of our two Editors' Choice products, TeamViewer offers the most airtight (and therefore the least user-friendly) security features, requiring you to enter both a nine-digit machine ID and an alphanumeric password before you can access a remote machine.
And TeamViewer lets you view a remote multi-monitor system with all the remote monitors visible at the same time in a single window.
As mentioned previously, RemotePC only lets you view one remote monitor's desktop at a time.
If you don't already know that the remote system has more than one monitor, you might not even notice that it is there.
GoToMyPC, another of our top picks, also lets you view all the monitors on a remote system in a single window.
It also includes conveniences like the ability to create a local desktop shortcut for quick access to a remote machine that you visit often.
Both TeamViewer and GoToMyPC, unlike RemotePC, have whiteboard abilities, meaning that you can temporarily draw arrows and other markup on the remote desktop.
This ability can be helpful if you need to provide detailed instructions to someone about a given task.
For corporate-level security and other advanced features, you're better off with GoToMyPC or TeamViewer.
You should also go elsewhere if you need access through a web browser window, remote audio, one-click e-mail invitations, and the option to switch between full remote access and remote viewing.
Still, RemotePC's fast, simple remote access and file transfer capabilities make it ideal for many SOHO users and individuals.
Pros
Effortless, simple interface with a flat learning curve.
Fast performance.
Easy file transfers between local and remote desktops.
Inexpensive.
View More
The Bottom Line
RemotePC is one of the best low-frills remote-access apps, offering identical features on PCs and Macs, fast performance, and a minimal, but intuitive, interface.
