TeamViewer alternatives: where to go and how to switch without losing access

Why switch to RustDesk. It's the one alternative that takes the vendor out of the loop. The client and the base server are open source and free to self-host, so nobody can flag your sessions as commercial or raise your renewal. On r/sysadmin and r/selfhosted threads about leaving TeamViewer, a self-hosted RustDesk server comes up first, again and again.

Who it's for. IT teams and MSPs with someone who is comfortable running a small Linux server, and anyone who wants their connection data on their own machine.

Who it's not for. A non-technical small business that wants to install an app and be done. Self-hosting means you patch, back up and monitor the server yourself.

The catch. Don't plan on the public server. RustDesk now requires the controlling side to sign in (Google, GitHub and others) on its public relays, after ongoing scam and botnet abuse, and says the public server is for demos and trials only. It was also knocked offline repeatedly by a botnet early in 2026. Teams that moved also report device sprawl in the console, no bulk delete, idle disconnects, and SSO only on the paid Pro server.

How to migrate. Stand up your own server first (hbbs and hbbr, or the Pro server), then push the host address and public key into every client. Out of the box the client talks to community servers, so a client you forgot to configure silently goes elsewhere. Roll it out with your usual deployment tool, then retire the TeamViewer IDs one by one.

What it costs. The self-hosted server is free. Server Pro starts at $11.88 a month for 1 user and 20 devices (Individual), then $23.88 a month for 10 users and 100 devices (Basic), with unlimited concurrent connections. Billing is yearly only, and licenses don't auto-renew: you get a reminder 14 days before the end.

Why switch to Splashtop. If what pushed you out is the TeamViewer bill, Splashtop is the paid tool that changes it most. Remote Access is priced per user, not per bundle of devices and channels, and the support product (SOS) is priced per concurrent technician. In the sysadmin threads, people who moved to Splashtop tend to say they don't miss TeamViewer.

Who it's for. Freelancers and small teams who reach their own machines, and help desks that support customers on demand.

Who it's not for. Teams that want to self-host, or that need one tool for remote access, monitoring and patching at the same time.

The catch. Two product lines with two price logics: Remote Access (your own computers) and Remote Support SOS (other people's computers). Pick the wrong one and you either miss features or overpay. Count how many technicians really work at the same time before you choose SOS.

How to migrate. Install the Splashtop Streamer on every unattended computer, group them the way your TeamViewer groups were set up, then hand out the Business app to your users. For on-demand support, replace the TeamViewer QuickSupport link on your site with the SOS download link.

What it costs. On the US pricing page, Remote Access Solo is $72 a year (about $6 a month), Pro is $99 per user per year, Performance $149 per user per year, and Enterprise is on quote. Remote Support SOS starts at $22 a month per concurrent technician, billed yearly.

Why switch to AnyDesk. Your users won't need retraining. AnyDesk works the same way: an address per device, a lightweight client, unattended access with a password. If your team simply wants a faster client and a different vendor, it's the least disruptive move.

Who it's for. Small teams that want a familiar experience and support people who already know the ID-and-password routine.

Who it's not for. Anyone leaving TeamViewer because of the commercial use flag on a free account: AnyDesk's free version is for personal, non-commercial use too, and it shows a "commercial use detected" warning of its own.

The catch. Two points to weigh. Its paid grid changes often, so compare it on your own user count. And in February 2024 AnyDesk disclosed that attackers had reached its production systems; it revoked certificates and reset web portal passwords, and said no customer device was affected. Ask your security team what they think before you sign.

How to migrate. Install the client on each unattended machine, set an unattended access password or a token, and rebuild your address book. Run both tools side by side until your TeamViewer end date, because the TeamViewer address book won't come across.

What it costs. AnyDesk's pricing page wouldn't load for our reader, so we're not printing a figure here. Paid plans are billed yearly and the top tier (Ultimate) is on quote. Check the current US price on anydesk.com before you budget.

Why switch to Zoho Assist. Zoho Assist is built for supporting other people: send a link, the customer joins, you take control. Pricing follows technicians and concurrent sessions, not devices, which suits a help desk better than TeamViewer's bundles. If you already run Zoho Desk or another Zoho app, it plugs in there.

Who it's for. Support teams and MSPs who mostly help end users on demand, plus a few unattended machines.

Who it's not for. One person reaching their own computers: a per-user remote access tool is simpler.

The catch. Remote Support plans cap concurrent sessions: 2 on Standard, 4 on Professional, 6 on Enterprise. Unattended access is sold separately. Read both grids before you compare totals.

How to migrate. Start with the free plan to try the flow, then deploy the unattended agent on your fleet. Swap your customer-facing support link for the Zoho Assist join page on the same day you stop handing out TeamViewer IDs.

What it costs. There's a free plan and a free trial. The official page didn't show amounts when we read it, so check the per-technician price on zoho.com/assist before you budget; yearly billing comes out cheaper than monthly.

Why switch to ScreenConnect. ConnectWise ScreenConnect is the tool many US MSPs run all day. It's priced per concurrent technician, comes with deep session controls, and can be self-hosted on-premises. If you support many client companies, its access model and audit trail fit better than TeamViewer's.

Who it's for. MSPs and internal IT teams with several technicians and many client sites.

Who it's not for. A single user or a small office: it's more tool than you need.

The catch. Price grids we found don't agree with each other, and the vendor page is the only reference. It also has more settings than TeamViewer, so plan an afternoon to configure roles and session groups.

How to migrate. Deploy access agents through your RMM or a script, group them by client, then turn on session recording before the first live session. Keep TeamViewer running in parallel for the stragglers until the end date.

What it costs. Priced per concurrent technician, with monthly or yearly billing. We found conflicting figures outside the vendor site, so we don't print one: get the current price from ConnectWise.

Why switch to Chrome Remote Desktop. It costs nothing, needs only a Google account, and runs in the browser. If your TeamViewer account was flagged for commercial use while you were only helping your parents, this is the fastest way to stop worrying about it.

Who it's for. Individuals reaching their own computers or helping family and friends.

Who it's not for. Any business that needs session recording, an audit log or per-technician permissions: none of that exists here.

The catch. No recording, no audit log, no fine-grained rights. For ad hoc support, the person on the other side reads you a one-time code, and you must confirm every 30 minutes that the session should go on.

How to migrate. Install the Chrome extension and the host on each computer you want to reach, set a PIN, and you're done. Then uninstall TeamViewer.

What it costs. Free.

Why switch to Quick Assist. It's built into Windows 10 and 11, and free. For a one-off help session with a colleague or a relative on Windows, there's nothing to download on their side.

Who it's for. Occasional, attended help between two Windows users.

Who it's not for. Unattended access: Quick Assist has none. Nobody at the keyboard means no session.

The catch. The helper signs in with a Microsoft account and the other person types a 6-digit code that's valid for 10 minutes. Windows only.

How to migrate. Nothing to migrate. Remove TeamViewer from the machines you only ever helped while someone was in front of them, and point people to Quick Assist in the Start menu.

What it costs. Free, included with Windows.

Why switch to Parsec. Parsec streams at high frame rates with very little lag. Video editors, 3D artists and game studios who work on a powerful machine from somewhere else find TeamViewer sluggish next to it.

Who it's for. Creative studios and remote workers on graphics-heavy software.

Who it's not for. IT support for end users: it isn't designed as a help desk tool.

The catch. The free Personal plan and the Individuals plan are for non-commercial use: Parsec states you can only use it for work with a license that covers it. That means Teams, at the least.

How to migrate. Install the host on the workstation, invite your team into a Parsec Teams account, and set who can reach which computer. Try it from the slowest home connection you have before the switch.

What it costs. Teams costs $30 per user per month billed yearly ($35 month to month), Enterprise $45, with a 14-day trial.

TeamViewer subscriptions are annual and renew automatically every 12 months. To stop, you cancel through a support ticket or in writing at least 28 days before the end date.

Send it well before that, in writing, and keep the confirmation. Several users on the TeamViewer community and the BBB describe renewals they say they never got a reminder for, and cancellations confirmed but not applied. Your proof of notice is what settles it.

Export or screenshot your Computers and Contacts list: device name, ID, group, who uses it, and whether it's unattended. Unattended servers and kiosks are the ones that get forgotten, and you won't be able to walk up to them later.

This list is also what you need if you ever request a commercial use reset, since the form wants every ID involved.

Go back to the router above. Cost: Splashtop or RustDesk. Control over data: RustDesk self-hosted. Help desk: Zoho Assist or ScreenConnect. Family help: Chrome Remote Desktop or Quick Assist.

Start a trial on two at most, on real machines, for a week.

Install the new client on unattended machines first, while TeamViewer still gives you a way in. If you ever lose access to a remote server, it's TeamViewer that gets you back in to fix it.

With RustDesk, set your own host and key in every client before deployment, otherwise they connect to public relays.

Keep TeamViewer running until the paid period ends. Each time you connect to a machine, use the new tool; fall back to TeamViewer only if it fails, and note why.

Update your support links, email signatures and internal docs that still tell people to download TeamViewer QuickSupport.

Set two-factor authentication for every technician, unique unattended passwords, and per-group permissions in the new tool. Turn on session recording if your tool has it and your clients expect it.

Delete the TeamViewer unattended passwords from your password manager once they're no longer used.

Once the new tool has run a full cycle without fallback, uninstall TeamViewer from every machine and remove the devices from your account. Note that uninstalling does not clear a commercial use flag: it stays attached to your IDs.

Check your next card statement to make sure no renewal went through.