Remote support software compared: 8 tools for screen sharing and remote control
The key question is rarely "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 against exactly those criteria — including 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. Help without installing anything →
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). Proprietary, paid for commercial use.
Best for: smooth remote control on graphics-intensive work. Auffi vs. AnyDesk in detail →
RustDesk
Open source (AGPL-3.0), self-hostable and free including commercial use — it does run an app on both ends, though.
Best for: open-source fans running their own server. Auffi vs. RustDesk in detail →
Chrome Remote Desktop
A free Google service. The controlling side works in the browser, the host installs a component — both sides need a Google account, and data runs over US servers.
Best for: quick access when everyone already has a Google account. Auffi vs. Chrome Remote Desktop in detail →
Splashtop & Zoho Assist
Paid cloud help-desk solutions for IT teams: Splashtop with affordable per-technician plans, Zoho Assist with a small free entry tier. Both proprietary and cloud-based.
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.
Best for: ad-hoc Windows-to-Windows help with no extra tool.
Which alternative fits you?
- You want to help someone ad hoc without them installing anything, 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.
- 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 doesn't have the most features — it has the lowest hurdle for the person helping. Of the options compared here, it is the only one that combines all four 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
Which remote support software fits which use case?
Ad-hoc help with no installation hurdle: Auffi. Self-hosting with an app on both ends: RustDesk. Mobile apps and enterprise features: AnyDesk or TeamViewer. Pure Windows-to-Windows help: Microsoft Quick Assist. A paid team helpdesk: Splashtop or Zoho Assist.
Which remote-support software is open source and GDPR-compliant?
Auffi and RustDesk (both AGPL-3.0) are open source and can be run entirely on your own infrastructure. TeamViewer and AnyDesk are German companies but proprietary. Full picture: open source remote support.
Is there screen sharing with no installation at all?
With Auffi, the person helping just opens the website in a browser — no installation, no account. Only the person sharing their screen downloads a small sharer. Most other tools require an app on both ends.
Which alternative needs no account for ad-hoc help?
Auffi needs no account for ad-hoc help — a 9-digit code is enough. TeamViewer and AnyDesk also work ad hoc without one. Chrome Remote Desktop requires a Google account on both ends, Microsoft Quick Assist a Microsoft account on the helping side.
Try it now
Share your screen — enter a code & connect · Download the sharer
All detailed comparisons
- TeamViewer alternative — free, open source, GDPR-compliant
- AnyDesk alternative — no install for the person helping
- RustDesk alternative — open-source remote support without an app on both ends
- Chrome Remote Desktop alternative — no Google account
- TeamViewer commercial use blocked? — free for business too
- Screen sharing without installation — straight from the browser
- Open source remote support — licences, self-hosting and what to check
- Free remote support — what "free" actually covers per tool