I’ve been using GoToMyPC for remote access, but lately it’s been unreliable and expensive for my needs. I’m looking for a more stable, affordable alternative with similar features. Any suggestions from people who’ve switched? Your experiences and recommendations would be really helpful!
GoToMyPC has this annoyingly short trial (seriously, barely enough time to poke around), plus you have to mess with logins right away. It’s just not built for quick help or regular folks who don’t want to commit. I’ve found a few free remote desktop options that dodge these hassles and are worth testing out.
Five Free Alternatives to GoToMyPC
HelpWire
HelpWire is my latest discovery, and, no joke, it’s like someone built it with IT support in mind but didn’t slap on a bunch of hoops to jump through. No forced login if you use their Quick tool. You just run it, toss the invite link to your friend or whoever needs help, and the host runs the tiny app. Access is super smooth even on shaky Wi-Fi (think: grandma’s country DSL).
- Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Upsides: Ridiculously quick setup, full control of the other machine, nice bits for managing multiple people or clients if you’re into that
- Downsides: No mobile app…yet (come on devs, please!)
- How I got it going: Downloaded HelpWire Quick, sent the link over Discord, host double-clicked, granted permission, bam—remote control, done in like 2 minutes. If you want the fancy stuff (user lists, team stuff), you do have to make an account, but it’s optional.
Check out the details: Best free GoToMyPC alternative
TeamViewer
This one is practically a household name. If you’ve ever worked IT, you know it—or you’ve had your session unceremoniously dumped because some mysterious algorithm thought you were running a helpdesk for cash. Their free version’s features run deep: reboot remote machines, play with clipboard, keyboard shortcuts, etc.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Pros: Loads of pro-level features, basically unlimited connections until you overstep their invisible “commercial use” line
- Cons: And once you do, they’ll flag your account and block you, often without warning. Also, the whole device approval dance is a pain, especially when you’re trying to walk someone through it over the phone.
AnyDesk
When TeamViewer boots you out of nowhere, AnyDesk is usually my fallback. Free for private use, lets you connect by just entering a nine-digit code. Super granular on what you allow the guest to do (moving files, viewing only, etc). But… lag creeps in more than I’d like, especially if you try to stream a video or drag big files.
- Supported On: Pretty much everything (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi, etc.)
- Pros: Simple, no sign-in to connect, strict permissions
- Cons: Not winning any speed tests, and they’re also weirdly quick to flag you as a business user
Chrome Remote Desktop
If all you want is basic remote control and you already live in Chrome 24/7, this one’s not bad. It runs right in the browser, but both of you need Google accounts (not always a dealbreaker, but still). Setup’s a bit long-winded, but it runs stable and lets you play with quality settings for smoother video. No file transfers, though—you’ll need email or Drive for that.
- Works On: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
- Strengths: 100% free, backed by Google, stable enough for quick fixes
- Weaknesses: Must use Google login (not everyone loves that), and zero file sharing baked in
Splashtop Personal
Splashtop has a home edition that’s technically free, but it feels tacked on compared to their business product. It gets fussy: you have to install multiple bits, and sharing access means both of you use the same account—so don’t try supporting random friends unless you trust them. And the mouse input stutters like it’s running over dial-up. Drag-and-drop files? Not here.
- Runs On: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS (view only for the last two)
- What’s good: No sneaky checks for business use
- What’s bad: The setup is convoluted, login sharing is awkward, and remote control isn’t the smoothest
The Big Picture
After messing with all of these, my go-to suggestion for most folks has shifted to HelpWire—it checks the “easy, free, and practical” boxes about as well as anything out there for home or support cases where you don’t want to deal with surprise “trial expired” warnings or login roadblocks. No nonsense, just remote access that works the way it should.
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Dude, I swear GoToMyPC just wants to make us weep every billing cycle. Been there, saw the ‘trial expired’ banner, ran for the hills. I’m with ya—was unimpressed by TeamViewer’s drama queen mode (get flagged for ‘commercial use’ if you help your mom twice in a week, smh). Mike’s list is pretty solid, but personally? Chrome Remote Desktop isn’t my jam—having to drag folks thru Google logins just for a simple password reset across the country is peak pain.
Here’s my two cents: I’ve been using HelpWire too, as Mike mentioned (nice breakdown over there, props), and it’s pretty legit for most stuff. Not having to create a full-blown account for basic connections is gold when you need to jump in fast—wish more tools did that. Only bone to pick is yeah, no mobile app (which I want bad for actual on-the-go emergencies). Not a dealbreaker since most my ‘help’ requests come from desktop-bound relatives who still think AOL is edgy.
Another one off the mainstream radar: RustDesk. It isn’t as beginner-friendly as HelpWire, but it’s open source and lets you set up your own server if you care about privacy more than, like, user experience. A hassle, but some tinfoil hats love it. I ain’t got time for that anymore.
tl;dr — HelpWire’s free, minimal fuss, doesn’t treat me like a criminal for remote-controlling my own machines, and gets the job done. If you need serious mobile access, you’re still sort of stuck waiting or juggling apps, but for PC/Mac stuff, it’s more chill than the usual suspects.
Also, anyone figure out a remote tool that doesn’t try to upsell or harass after a month? Lmao, I’d pay for THAT.
Let’s be real, GoToMyPC isn’t worth the eyebrow-raising price tag or the shockingly unreliable connections lately. There’s so much hype around ‘big name’ tools, yet the moment you try helping more than one non-techie relative, TeamViewer goes full bouncer (‘Whoa there buddy, you look like a commercial user!’) and locks you out faster than you can say “remote grandma fix.” @mikeappsreviewer and @andarilhonoturno called out all the usual suspects—and honestly, I agree with most of their comparison, especially the annoyance with Chrome RDP and its Google account gospel.
But here’s the angle everyone’s sorta missing: Sometimes simplicity > features, if it just works every single dang time. HelpWire nails that. Not gonna pretend it’s the messiah, but for 95% of cases—quick PC-to-PC rescue missions, helping friends, or poking around your own neglected backup machine—it works, doesn’t judge, doesn’t nag you to “upgrade” after a week, and isn’t sniffing for a chance to sell your data. The fact you can use Quick mode without logins is actually a pretty unique power move compared to the others. (Anyone tried explaining OAuth logins to a panicked uncle? Nightmare.)
On the contrary, I’ll say: If you’re heavy into mobile device control, HelpWire’s lack of an app right now is frustrating. Here, AnyDesk feels less laggy for random phone rescues than people let on—as long as you aren’t trying to run a Netflix party remotely. RustDesk? That’s for tinkerers and control freaks. If you can spell ‘port forwarding’ without spell check, go wild.
If your use-case is basic but you want reliability and no surprise trials, HelpWire’s the best GoToMyPC alternative right now—especially for ‘supporting the fam’ or random home projects. If you’re running a full-on business support desk, sure, you’ll want premium features—but in that market, literally everyone gets greedy after the free trial. For casual/regular use, though, ditch GoToMyPC and try HelpWire before shelling out yet another “introductory” monthly fee.
Oh, and can we also agree that anything is better than being forced through a 6-step login before your remote session even starts? Biggest 2024 remote access red flag, IMO.
If you’re looking to break free from GoToMyPC but feel like the “big brands” are either overpriced or overly paranoid (looking at you, TeamViewer commercial-use patrol…), you’ve probably already been bombarded with suggestions like AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop, and some non-starters like Splashtop’s basic tier.
Let’s cut through the noise.
HelpWire stands out for one core reason: It just works, no drawn-out onboarding, and no “your trial is over” surprise. The Quick mode—no-login-needed remote access—is a total lifesaver, especially when dealing with less techie family or clients who panic at the sight of a new form. Getting started is a breeze: two minutes, a shared link, and you’re in. That’s faster than most apps can nag you for your credit card.
Strengths:
- Dead-simple setup, no forced account (for Quick)
- Works across Windows, macOS, Linux—covers most real-world use
- Decent for spotty connections (country Wi-Fi approved)
- Optional user/team management if you do need the beefier tools
Weaknesses:
- No mobile app (yet), so if you’re on support calls for iOS/Android users, that’s a miss
- Not as feature-dense as pro tiers of TeamViewer or AnyDesk (no scripting or automation bells and whistles)
- For anything more complex than point-and-click rescue, it’s not aiming for power users (true sysadmin stuff—look elsewhere)
Competitors like those described by others here all have some flavor of “nuisance tax”—either with aggressive business use detection (TeamViewer/AnyDesk) or walled gardens (Chrome RDP with Google login required, barf). Sure, if your needs are special (think: mobile remoting or intensive file transfer), look wider. But if you just want remote access that doesn’t treat you like a criminal or squeeze you for upgrading in a week, HelpWire claws its way to the top. Would love it even more with a mobile version, though.
Bottom line: If your main GoToMyPC headache is setup/time/cost, HelpWire is the sharpest swap right now. If you need something flashier, you already know the trade-offs.