Screen sharing & remote support: the alternatives compared
There are many tools for screen sharing and remote support — from TeamViewer and AnyDesk to the open-source RustDesk and Auffi. The key question is usually not "which has the most features" but: Does the person you're helping have to install anything? Do they need an account? And where does the data live? This overview compares the best-known options honestly against exactly those criteria — including a clear pointer to when another tool is the better pick.
Comparison table
| Tool | Price | Open source | Self-hostable | Person helping needs | Origin / servers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auffi | Free (private & commercial) | Yes — AGPL-3.0 | Yes (Docker) | Just a browser, no account | Germany (Frankfurt) |
| TeamViewer | Free for private use only | No, proprietary | No | QuickSupport app + ID | Germany (Göppingen), cloud |
| AnyDesk | Free for private use only | No, proprietary | Enterprise on-prem only | App / portable EXE + ID | Germany (Stuttgart), cloud |
| RustDesk | Free (incl. commercial) | Yes — AGPL-3.0 | Yes | App on both ends | Company Singapore; servers self-hosted |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Free | No (Google) | No | Browser, but Google account required | USA (Google), cloud |
| Splashtop | Trial, then paid | No, proprietary | On-prem only (separate product) | SOS app + code (+ technician account) | USA (EU region available) |
| Zoho Assist | Free tier + paid | No (SaaS) | No | Browser/link (+ technician account) | India (EU region available) |
| Microsoft Quick Assist | Free (built into Windows) | No, proprietary | No | Windows app + Microsoft account | USA (Microsoft), cloud |
As of: June 2026 · "free private" = free for non-commercial use only
The tools at a glance
Auffi
Free, open-source (AGPL-3.0) screen sharing with remote control. The person helping just opens the website — no installation, no account. Servers in Germany, end-to-end encrypted with DTLS-SRTP, fully self-hostable.
Best for: ad-hoc, privacy-friendly help without an installation hurdle — e.g. family, friends or customers.
TeamViewer
The incumbent with the broadest feature set: meetings, mobile apps, device management. A German company, but proprietary and paid for commercial use.
Best for: broad platform/mobile support and enterprise features. Auffi vs TeamViewer in detail →
AnyDesk
A German company from Stuttgart with a very fast, low-latency client (DeskRT codec) and broad platform support. Proprietary, paid for commercial use.
Best for: smooth remote control on graphics-intensive work. Auffi vs AnyDesk in detail →
RustDesk
The leading open-source (AGPL-3.0) TeamViewer alternative: self-hostable, end-to-end encrypted, free including commercial use. It does run an app on both ends, though.
Best for: open-source fans who want to run their own server and accept an app on both ends.
Chrome Remote Desktop
A free Google service. The controlling side works in the browser, the host installs a component — and both sides need a Google account. Data runs over US servers.
Best for: quick access when everyone already has a Google account.
Splashtop & Zoho Assist
Paid cloud help-desk solutions for IT teams. Splashtop offers affordable per-technician plans; Zoho Assist has a small free entry tier. Both are proprietary and cloud-based (EU region partly selectable).
Best for: professional team IT support across many endpoints.
Microsoft Quick Assist
Built into Windows and free. Works Windows-to-Windows only; the person helping needs a Microsoft account, while the supported side just enters a code.
Best for: ad-hoc Windows-to-Windows help with no extra tool.
Which alternative fits you?
- You want to help someone ad hoc without that person installing anything complicated, and privacy/EU hosting matter → Auffi.
- You need maximum performance, mobile apps or enterprise features → AnyDesk or TeamViewer.
- You want open source with your own server and an app on both ends is fine → RustDesk (or Auffi, if the person helping should only need a browser).
- Pure Windows-to-Windows help with no extra tool → Microsoft Quick Assist.
- You run a paid IT help desk for a team → Zoho Assist or Splashtop.
What makes Auffi different
Auffi isn't the tool with the most features — it's the one with the lowest hurdle for the person helping and a clear privacy promise. Of all the options compared here, Auffi is the only one that combines all four of these at once:
- The person helping needs only a browser — no installation.
- For ad-hoc help, no account is needed — a 9-digit code is enough.
- Servers in Germany, GDPR-compliant, no trackers, end-to-end encrypted.
- Open source (AGPL-3.0) and fully self-hostable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk?
It depends on the use case. For ad-hoc, privacy-friendly help with no installation for the person helping, Auffi is a good choice: free, open source (AGPL-3.0), servers in Germany. If you prefer open source with an app on both ends and self-hosting, RustDesk is a strong fit. For pure Windows-to-Windows help, the built-in Microsoft Quick Assist is enough.
Which remote-support software is open source and GDPR-compliant?
Auffi (AGPL-3.0, servers in Germany, self-hostable) and RustDesk (AGPL-3.0, self-hostable) are open source and can be run entirely on your own infrastructure. TeamViewer and AnyDesk are German companies but proprietary and cloud-based. Chrome Remote Desktop (Google) and Microsoft Quick Assist run over US clouds.
Is there screen sharing with no installation at all?
With Auffi, the person helping just opens the website in a browser — no installation and no account. Only the person sharing their own screen downloads a small sharer. Most other tools (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, RustDesk) require an app on both ends.
Which alternative needs no account for ad-hoc help?
For ad-hoc help, Auffi needs no account — a 9-digit code is enough. TeamViewer and AnyDesk also work ad hoc without an account. Chrome Remote Desktop, by contrast, requires a Google account on both ends, and Microsoft Quick Assist a Microsoft account on the helping side.
Try it now
Share your screen — enter a code & connect · Download the sharer · Auffi vs TeamViewer · Auffi vs AnyDesk