FixMe.it alternative: Auffi compared head-to-head
FixMe.IT by Techinline is a paid remote support tool for IT
service providers: the technician installs a Windows app, the
customer downloads a Windows client, and billing is per technician
seat. Auffi takes the opposite approach: the helper opens
auffi.app in a browser and types a 9-digit code — no
installation, no account, free for business use too. If you
are looking for a FixMe.it alternative because license costs, the
Windows-only setup or a server outside the EU don't suit you, this
comparison shows where Auffi fits — and where it doesn't.
Comparison table
| Feature | Auffi | FixMe.IT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (personal & commercial) | Paid per technician seat (monthly or yearly), free trial |
| License / open source | AGPL-3.0, open source | Proprietary |
| Self-hostable | Yes (Docker Compose) | No, vendor cloud service |
| Person helping needs | A browser only, no account | Expert app (Windows) + account with a seat |
| Person being helped needs | A small sharer (Windows, Linux) | Client app from fixme.it (Windows) + session ID |
| Platforms | Helper: any browser · Sharer: Windows, Linux | Windows only (Mac only via the sister product SetMe) |
| Unattended access | Yes, paired devices with a per-device password (account needed) | Yes, up to 200 computers per seat |
| Encryption | DTLS-SRTP (WebRTC) | TLS 1.2 with AES-256 |
| Vendor / servers | Germany (Frankfurt) | Techinline, Toronto (Canada); server location not stated |
| Team features & session reports | No | Yes |
As of October 2026 · FixMe.IT details per the vendor's website and documentation
When Auffi is the better choice
- You don't want to pay a license per technician — Auffi is free for business use too.
- The helper is on a Mac, on Linux or on someone else's computer — a browser is enough.
- You want your data in Germany or want to run the service yourself.
- The source code should be open and auditable (AGPL-3.0).
When FixMe.IT is the better choice
- You run a paid help desk with several technicians and need user and seat management.
- You need session reports to bill your customers.
- Every machine on both sides runs Windows anyway, and you want to keep hundreds of devices permanently reachable.
FixMe.it alternative: where the difference shows up day to day
Who installs what. With FixMe.IT the technician sends the customer to the website, the customer downloads the client and reads out a session ID. The technician works in the expert app, which according to the vendor runs on Windows only. With Auffi, too, only one side installs anything: the person sharing their screen starts the small sharer. The helper needs nothing at all — they can help from a laptop at home, a Mac at the office or a colleague's computer.
What it costs. FixMe.IT bills per seat; a seat sets how many technicians can work at the same time. For a small IT shop that is a predictable cost. For someone who occasionally helps customers, club members or family, it is a recurring expense for something that happens a few times a month. Auffi costs nothing, including for commercial use, and there is no trial that runs out.
Who handles the data. FixMe.IT encrypts traffic with TLS through the vendor's servers. Auffi sets up the connection via WebRTC; video and input are encrypted with DTLS-SRTP and flow directly between the devices whenever possible. The public service runs in Frankfurt, and if you don't want to trust any operator, you start Auffi with Docker Compose on your own server.
To be honest: what Auffi can't do
A FixMe.it alternative shouldn't promise more than it delivers. Auffi has no technician management, no session reports, no ticketing integration and no mobile apps. The sharer runs on Windows and Linux, not on a Mac. The person at the shared computer must explicitly confirm every ad-hoc session — that is by design, but it costs a click. For devices you look after permanently there is unattended access with an account and a per-device password.
So if you run a help desk that bills per session, a commercial tool serves you better. If you simply want to help quickly, without a license and without the helper having to set anything up, Auffi is the leaner choice. The two don't exclude each other: many service providers use a help desk tool for regular customers and a browser tool for everything that comes up unplanned.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Auffi and FixMe.IT?
FixMe.IT is a paid support tool: the technician installs a Windows app and the customer downloads a Windows client. With Auffi the helper just opens auffi.app in a browser and types a 9-digit code — no installation, no account, no cost.
How much does FixMe.IT cost compared to Auffi?
According to the vendor, FixMe.IT is billed per technician seat, monthly or yearly, after a free trial. There is no permanent free plan. Auffi is free for personal and business use and can be self-hosted without a license fee.
Does FixMe.IT run on a Mac?
According to the vendor's documentation, the FixMe.IT expert and client apps support Windows only; for macOS Techinline points to its newer product SetMe. With Auffi the helper's side runs in any modern browser, including on a Mac. The sharer for the person sharing their screen is available for Windows and Linux, not macOS.
Is Auffi a full FixMe.it alternative for IT service providers?
For ad-hoc support and for devices with unattended access, yes. If you need session reports, team-wide technician management or hundreds of devices per seat, a commercial help desk tool like FixMe.IT is the better fit.
Where are the servers?
Auffi's public service runs in Germany (Frankfurt), stores no clear-text IP addresses and can be fully self-hosted. Techinline is based in Toronto, Canada, and its security page mentions a geographically distributed server network but no specific location.
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