What users are saying about
Top Rated
68 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.1 out of 101
Based on 68 reviews and ratings
74 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 7.8 out of 101
Based on 74 reviews and ratings
Add comparison
Likelihood to Recommend
Apple Remote Desktop
[It's well suited] When you need the ability to see what your end user sees, or you need to send commands to large groups of computers.

Verified User
Technician in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 501-1000 employeesChrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop is great for accessing machines remotely which cannot be accessed via Microsoft's Remote Desktop. It's especially nice for accessing machines of varying operating systems from a machine of a single operating system. For example, if I'm on my Windows laptop, I can always use Microsoft Remote Desktop to connect to local machines (or machines via a VPN), but I can't do the same with Macs. I can do both from Chrome Remote Desktop though, and this program is very lightweight, which is nice.
Graduate teaching/research assistant
Journal of Linguistic GeographyResearch, 5001-10,000 employees
Feature Rating Comparison
Remote Administration
Apple Remote Desktop
7.4
Chrome Remote Desktop
7.8
Screen sharing
Apple Remote Desktop
9.2
Chrome Remote Desktop
9.4
File transfer
Apple Remote Desktop
8.9
Chrome Remote Desktop
7.1
Instant message
Apple Remote Desktop
8.6
Chrome Remote Desktop
—
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication
Apple Remote Desktop
8.0
Chrome Remote Desktop
—
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers
Apple Remote Desktop
5.5
Chrome Remote Desktop
7.1
Over-the-Internet remote session
Apple Remote Desktop
8.5
Chrome Remote Desktop
8.9
Initiate remote control from mobile
Apple Remote Desktop
3.4
Chrome Remote Desktop
8.8
Remote management of servers & workstations
Apple Remote Desktop
8.4
Chrome Remote Desktop
6.2
Remote Active Directory® management
Apple Remote Desktop
9.5
Chrome Remote Desktop
7.4
Centralized management dashboard
Apple Remote Desktop
8.0
Chrome Remote Desktop
7.7
Session record
Apple Remote Desktop
7.1
Chrome Remote Desktop
5.0
Annotations
Apple Remote Desktop
6.2
Chrome Remote Desktop
—
Monitoring and Alerts
Apple Remote Desktop
7.0
Chrome Remote Desktop
10.0
Multi-platform remote control
Apple Remote Desktop
5.2
Chrome Remote Desktop
8.4
Pros
- Remote commands for doing things to a large number of devices
- Allows us to see what the user is seeing
- Allows us to repair things without leaving the office.

Verified User
Technician in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 501-1000 employees- Setup is simple. Install the app, log in, choose a pin. You're good to go.
- Performance is fast. I can even stream games fairly well.
- The connections have been pretty stable. No serious issues.

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesCons
- Can be slow at times
- Network scanners don't always pull up all devices
- Agent running on client machines has to be restarted occasionally

Verified User
Technician in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 501-1000 employees- The session can be seen on the screen of the workstation. Could be a privacy issue. It DOESN'T work like traditional RDP, much closer to a screen sharing support session.
- There is no built in File Transfer. Its not a deal breaker, but definitely an annoyance.

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesLikelihood to Renew
Apple Remote Desktop10.0
Based on 1 answer
Great software easy to use
Telecom Analyst
Shelby County SchoolsEducation Management, 10,001+ employees
Chrome Remote Desktop7.2
Based on 2 answers
I like it for the most part. I'm still trying to find a way around the screen issues. It shouldn't show what I'm doing on my remote computer while I'm connected unless I specify that.

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesUsability
Apple Remote Desktop9.0
Based on 2 answers
The user interface is amazing. You don't have to dig in to look for options. It's not overwhelming and yet a powerful utility.
Senior Oracle Database Administrator
CGIInformation Technology and Services, 10,001+ employees
Chrome Remote Desktop8.6
Based on 3 answers
I would rarely give a 10 for usability to any tool, but Chrome Remote Desktop doesn't deserves 9 either :) I find all options easy to understand. I don't have to work my brain to understand how things work when using Chrome Remote Desktop.
Senior Oracle Database Administrator
CGIInformation Technology and Services, 10,001+ employees
Support
Apple Remote Desktop10.0
Based on 1 answer
Very easy to use not very buggy
Telecom Analyst
Shelby County SchoolsEducation Management, 10,001+ employees
Chrome Remote Desktop10.0
Based on 1 answer
We don't use their support

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesImplementation
Apple Remote Desktop10.0
Based on 1 answer
Very quick and easy install with no real issues
Telecom Analyst
Shelby County SchoolsEducation Management, 10,001+ employees
Chrome Remote Desktop10.0
Based on 1 answer
None, its quick and easy

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesAlternatives Considered
If you are managing Apple systems, ARD is hands down the number one way to manage these systems. It beats every other product out there with its deep macOS integration. No other product has as much focus on Apple as this one. We are primarily a Mac environment so it makes total sense that we would choose this product.

Verified User
Technician in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 201-500 employeesStill up in the air about which solution is best. We're actually leaning towards Windows RDP via Citrix session right now. It is secure, fast, and easy.

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesReturn on Investment
- The cost for ARD is so low, it's totally a no-brainer, if you manage any amount of Macs on your LAN, then ARD should be in your toolbox.
Digital Life Coach
Just Call JohnComputer Software, 1-10 employees
- Its helped us explore options for changing over expensive laptops to inexpensive Chromebooks.

Verified User
Employee in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesPricing Details
Apple Remote Desktop
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Additional Pricing Details
—Chrome Remote Desktop
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No