Apple Remote Desktop vs. TSPlus

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apple Remote Desktop
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.N/A
TSPlus
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
TSplus Remote Access solution enables remote connections to desktops and apps from any device, at any time. It is presented as an alternative to Windows Terminal Server,RDS & Citrix, enabling users to start applications and hold Remote Desktop sessions from any device, anywhere.
$29
per month per workstation
Pricing
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
TSPlus Remote Work
starting at $25
one-time fee per workstation
TSPlus Remote Support
starting at $1,250
one-time fee up to 25 agents
TSPlus Remote Access - Desktop Edition Plus
starting at $29
one-time fee
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Top Pros

No answers on this topic

Top Cons

No answers on this topic

Features
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Remote Administration
Comparison of Remote Administration features of Product A and Product B
Apple Remote Desktop
8.0
25 Ratings
3% below category average
TSPlus
10.0
1 Ratings
19% above category average
Screen sharing8.925 Ratings10.01 Ratings
File transfer9.024 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Instant message9.320 Ratings00 Ratings
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication8.53 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers7.219 Ratings00 Ratings
Over-the-Internet remote session9.019 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Initiate remote control from mobile7.06 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Remote management of servers & workstations8.421 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Remote Active Directory® management7.08 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Centralized management dashboard8.516 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Session record7.39 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Annotations7.05 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Monitoring and Alerts8.312 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Multi-platform remote control6.37 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Small Businesses
Getscreen.me
Getscreen.me
Score 9.8 out of 10
Getscreen.me
Getscreen.me
Score 9.8 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG
Score 9.7 out of 10
mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG
Score 9.7 out of 10
Enterprises
Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services
Score 9.0 out of 10
Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services
Score 9.0 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Likelihood to Recommend
8.4
(25 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
10.0
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apple Remote DesktopTSPlus
Likelihood to Recommend
Apple
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.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
It is useful in all the cases where users have to work via rdp. The possibility of making available to users only the applications they need is very useful. However, it is less appropriate in environments where there is a need for large computing power such as design studios. It would require a hardware requirement that is too economically high to be justified
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Pros
Apple
  • 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.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
  • Detailed management of users or user groups and the applications associated with them
  • Using MS app standard RDP or creating TS Plus runtime
  • license management and updates
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Cons
Apple
  • 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.
Read full review
TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
  • The custom client doesn't always work with all applications, I solved it by configuring connections with classic RDP on individual PCs
  • the procedure for activating and renewing the licenses was not very clear to me, I went by trial and error but in the end I was able to activate it
  • nothing else in particular, everything works in a simple and intuitive way
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Likelihood to Renew
Apple
We use it on a daily basis and works well in our environment and could see how other Apple owned organizations would benefit.
Read full review
TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
No answers on this topic
Usability
Apple
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.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Apple
Apple support is great.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Apple
Very quick and easy install with no real issues
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Apple
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.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
It is much easier to manage and implement. Even if it is not very intuitive the management of licenses is still better than that of the Remote Desktop environment of Microsoft. With Microsoft, the limit is the ability to simply access the remote desktop, while with TS Plus you can manage individual applications so as to give the user only the tools he needs.
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Return on Investment
Apple
  • 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.
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TSPlus (Terminal Service Plus)
  • Flexibility in use that allows lean management by the IT manager
  • Wide compatibility with almost all sw
  • Speed ​​in configuring work sessions
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ScreenShots