What users are saying about
86 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener noreferrer'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 6.7 out of 100
Based on 86 reviews and ratings
13 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener noreferrer'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 6 out of 100
Based on 13 reviews and ratings
Likelihood to Recommend
Apple Remote Desktop
For a small deployment of macOS, I can see where Apple Remote Desktop could suffice. I can see where a company that is strapped for cash could benefit from a knowledgeable employee using it to automate some tasks. I am not comfortable giving an estimate number-wise.For a large deployment of macOS or iOS, this would be a very inappropriate tool. There are far too many obstacles for an app like Apple Remote Desktop to successfully manage a large fleet of macOS computers or really any number of iOS devices. You simply need an MDM solution in this day and age. This will become increasingly necessary, even in small numbers, but MDM providers have started to provide solutions for customers in these situations.

Verified User
Administrator in Information Technology
Education Management Company, 1001-5000 employeesSymantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
Synmantec pcAnywhere is excellent when you require a secure remote connection, and you have enough computational power and internet bandwidth.

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Aviation & Aerospace Company, 1-10 employeesFeature Rating Comparison
Remote Administration
Apple Remote Desktop
7.8
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
9.0
Screen sharing
Apple Remote Desktop
10.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
File transfer
Apple Remote Desktop
5.9
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
9.0
Instant message
Apple Remote Desktop
9.6
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication
Apple Remote Desktop
8.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers
Apple Remote Desktop
5.5
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Over-the-Internet remote session
Apple Remote Desktop
10.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
9.0
Initiate remote control from mobile
Apple Remote Desktop
2.5
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Remote management of servers & workstations
Apple Remote Desktop
9.8
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Remote Active Directory® management
Apple Remote Desktop
10.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Centralized management dashboard
Apple Remote Desktop
4.9
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Session record
Apple Remote Desktop
6.9
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Annotations
Apple Remote Desktop
6.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Monitoring and Alerts
Apple Remote Desktop
9.5
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Multi-platform remote control
Apple Remote Desktop
10.0
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
—
Pros
Apple Remote Desktop
- Automator Actions: This is a very cool feature and cost saving as it reduces human effort by automating the workflow of tasks.
- Curtain Mode: This lets you block your local user's view of the desktop while performing administrative tasks.
- Spotlight Search: It can perform lightning fast searches on machines using the spotlight search feature of OS X and thus saves a lot of time.
Senior Oracle Database Administrator
CGIInformation Technology and Services, 10,001+ employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
- Multiple connections
- Cross-platform
- Decent UX

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Aviation & Aerospace Company, 1-10 employeesCons
Apple Remote Desktop
- I would like to see more included Unix scrips that can be pushed to clients.
- Inclusion of a way to remote control or screen share with Windows machines would be useful, as I manage a handful of Windows machines. While this would be possible using VNC on the Windows machines, including the ability to connect using Windows terminal connections would be awesome, for me.

Verified User
Administrator in Information Technology
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad Company, 201-500 employeesSymantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
- Sometimes it is too slow
- Consumes too much bandwidth

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Aviation & Aerospace Company, 1-10 employeesLikelihood to Renew
Apple Remote Desktop
Apple Remote Desktop 10.0
Based on 2 answers
We use it on a daily basis and works well in our environment and could see how other Apple owned organizations would benefit.
Director of Technology
Austin Trinity Episcopal SchoolEducation Management, 51-200 employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Usability
Apple Remote Desktop
Apple Remote Desktop 9.7
Based on 3 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
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Apple Remote Desktop
Apple Remote Desktop 5.3
Based on 4 answers
I've never had to get support for ARD, so I can't give a real opinion.
IT Support Engineer
ConfluentComputer Software, 1001-5000 employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Apple Remote Desktop
Apple Remote Desktop 10.0
Based on 2 answers
Very quick and easy install with no real issues
Telecom Analyst
Shelby County SchoolsEducation Management, 10,001+ employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Apple Remote Desktop
I use TeamViewer with users who are having trouble connecting to the VPN. I think TeamViewer is a good alternative when ARD isn't working. However supporting the number of users we support, TeamViewer can come with a pretty hefty price tag.
Sr. Systems Engineer
Fullscreen MediaEntertainment, 501-1000 employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
[We chose Synamtec pcAnywhere because] its embedded both-direction encryption exceeds the industry requirements.

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Aviation & Aerospace Company, 1-10 employeesReturn on Investment
Apple Remote Desktop
- Apple Remote Desktop has a positive return on investment because for the expense to the school, the value it brings to teachers is important. The return on improved student performance is very difficult to measure financially, but there is a definite return.
- The overall objective of education is to increase student learning, ARD does that phenomenally. Parents see the tool used and are impressed at what the capabilities of the tool can do and how it impacts how active their students are as well as how well they can learn.
- One negative impact is that teachers rely too much on this tool rather than on actually teaching sometimes.
Virtual Enterprise Coordinator/Educator
NYC Department of Education / Francis Lewis High SchoolEducation Management, 201-500 employees
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
- It allows us to comply with the latest safe browsing requirements.

Verified User
Engineer in Research & Development
Aviation & Aerospace Company, 1-10 employeesPricing Details
Apple Remote Desktop
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Symantec pcAnywhere (Discontinued)
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No