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In this article, I'll cover 5 remote desktop apps for Mac. Two are completely free, and one is free for personal use. Each covers a different use case and suits a different type of user. As a bonus, I'll show you how to turn your iPhone into a mouse and start remote downloads on your Mac.
Let's start with a quick comparison, then dive into a detailed overview.
| Feature | macOS Screen Sharing | FaceTime Remote Control | TeamViewer | AnyDesk | Splashtop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free (personal); $24.90–$120.90/mo (commercial) | Free (personal); from $28.90/mo (commercial) | $6–$13/mo (individual/team plans) |
| Ease of setup | Simple (System Settings) | Very simple (FaceTime call) | Moderate | Simple | Moderate (complex for beginners) |
| Key features | - Secure VNC connection - Dynamic resolution - No installation required | - Presenter overlay - Input priority for host | - File transfer - Multi-monitor support - Session analytics | - File transfer
- Screen recording - Built-in address book | - Multi-monitor support
- User role management - 4:4:4 color accuracy - High-quality audio streaming |
| Best for | Mac-to-Mac local network access | Live, consent-based tech support for friends and family |
IT admins, cross-platform power users | Fast, lightweight remote access, even on weaker internet | Creative professionals, small teams |
| User feedback | "Dead simple for family tech support" | "Lifesaver for guiding parents" | "Saved me fixing mom's Mac remotely" | "Unreal speed on slow Wi-Fi" | "Low latency for design work" |
There are a few ways to remotely control a Mac using built-in remote desktop features. Let's take a closer look at what Apple has to offer.
If Screen Sharing is enabled on your Mac, you can view and control it from any other Mac on the same local network. It's a perfect tool if you need to access files on a desktop Mac from your laptop or quickly adjust some settings on your dad's device in the next room.
Mac users who need simple, secure remote control between two Macs on the same local network without installing third-party software.
To get started, you first need to enable it on the Mac you want to control:
On the Mac you're controlling from:
Once connected, you can open apps, move files, and even restart the remote Mac.
Free and included with macOS.
TipYou might sometimes enable screen sharing on your Mac and then forget to turn it off. This could pose a security risk. Therefore it's a smart idea to periodically perform security checks. I recommend using Pareto Security to run such security checks on your Mac, right from your menu bar. The app will identify all the settings you need to change to protect your computer.
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Starting with macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, you can grant or receive remote control of someone else's screen directly during a FaceTime call. This isn't a full remote desktop solution, but rather a powerful remote assistance tool perfect for helping someone in real time.
Quick, interactive tech support sessions with friends, family, or colleagues. Latest Apple software needed.
FaceTime remote control isn't ideal for long sessions — no one wants to spend hours on a call. But for quick fixes, it's hard to beat. If you need 5–15 minutes on a family member's or colleague's screen, give it a shot. Use it to walk through a workflow, tweak a setting, or guide someone around a new app.
Free and included with macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18.
When built-in tools aren't enough, third-party apps offer more power, cross-platform support, and features for professional use.
TeamViewer is one of the most well-known and feature-rich remote desktop clients. It's a common tool in the toolkits of IT admins and support professionals.
IT administrators, support professionals, and power users who need to manage computers across different operating systems (macOS, Windows, Linux).
The setup isn't very difficult: install the TeamViewer app on both devices and set up an account to connect your machines. For a one-off support session, you can simply share the remote computer's ID and password. For ongoing access to your own devices, you can add them to your account for one-click connections. Who would I recommend TeamViewer to? Most likely, advanced users or anyone who needs to provide remote support as part of their job.
Free for personal use. Paid plans start from $24.90/month for individual commercial users and from $120.90/month for teams.
AnyDesk is famous for its speed and lightweight design. People love using it for remote work, especially when internet connections aren't perfect.
Remote workers, freelancers, and small teams who need fast, low-latency remote desktop connections.
Launch AnyDesk on both computers, share the personal ID from the remote machine, and enter it on your local machine to request a connection. Once the remote user accepts, you have full control. For your own devices, you can set a password for unattended access, which is perfect for working from home and connecting to your office Mac.
Paid plans start at $28.90/month (billed annually) for the Solo plan.
Splashtop has carved out a niche among creative professionals and users who demand high-quality video and audio streaming during remote sessions.
Creative professionals like video editors, graphic designers, and animators who need color-accurate, low-latency remote access to powerful workstations.
After installing the Splashtop Streamer on your remote Mac and the Splashtop Business app on your local device, you log into your account to see a list of your available computers. A single click connects you. For a designer, this means you can use an iPad or a less powerful MacBook to connect to your office iMac Pro and continue working in Final Cut Pro or Adobe Photoshop without compromising quality.
Free trial available. Plans start at $6/month for individual users (billed annually) or $8.25–$13/month per user for teams.
Read also:
Sometimes you don't need a full remote desktop. For specific tasks, specialized remote tools can be much more efficient.
Did you know you could easily control your computer using a single app? Try Remote Mouse. With its help, you can turn your iPhone or iPad into a multi-functional remote control for your Mac — just stay on the same network. It's perfect for controlling presentations, managing a media center, or as a simple wireless trackpad.
Need to download anything? Remotely start downloads on a Mac by dropping the download link onto the Transloader software on an iPad, iPhone, or other Macs. If you assign one of your Macs to start the download, the process will begin automatically without you having to be at your desk. Transloader will notify you once the download is complete. This must be some seriously amazing experience!
Take the time to set up remote access on your computer. After that, you will be able to find documents, solve problems while away from the office, and have the confidence that you can access everything you might need in a pinch. For many of these tasks, you can find a dedicated app on Setapp.
Sign up to Setapp, and try Remote Mouse, Transloader, and 250+ other apps to solve almost any task on your MacBook, iPhone, and iPad. Just think of how much you get with a single subscription! Try Setapp now and enjoy the power it gives you.
Remote access software lets you control one computer from another over a network or the internet, as if you were sitting right in front of it. This allows you to run apps, manage files, and perform administrative tasks from a distance.
You might need it for:
Most remote access tools work by installing a client application on your local device and a host application, or "streamer", on the remote device. When you initiate a connection, the host app captures the remote screen, compresses it, and sends it to your client app over the internet. Your mouse and keyboard inputs are sent back to the host, allowing you to control it in real time.
TeamViewer is widely considered the industry standard for professional IT support due to its robust feature set, cross-platform support, and tools for managing multiple clients and sessions. Splashtop is also a strong, cost-effective alternative for IT teams.
When connecting between two Macs, the connection is encrypted and secure. However, if you use a standard VNC client from a Windows or Linux machine, the connection may be unencrypted. For secure access over the internet, it's highly recommended to use Screen Sharing in combination with a VPN or an overlay network like Tailscale.
Yes. Apps like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, and Splashtop are fully cross-platform and allow you to control a Windows PC from your Mac, or a Mac from a Windows PC. Microsoft also offers its own official Microsoft Remote Desktop client on the Mac App Store for connecting to Windows machines.
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