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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Chrome Remote Desktop

    Score8.5 out of 10
    N/AChrome Remote Desktop from Google is a cross-platform remote administration and remote desktop tool that requires the Chrome browser and an extension. It is free to use.

    $0

    VMware Workstation Player

    Score9.9 out of 10
    N/AVMware Workstation 17 Player is a platform for running a single virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC to deliver managed corporate desktops. Organizations can use Workstation Player to deliver managed corporate desktops, while students and educators use it for learning and training.N/A
    Pricing
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesYes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Considered Both Products
    Google
    No answer on this topic
    VMware by Broadcom
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    12 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    12 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    92%
    Happy with the feature set
    11 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Remote Administration
    Comparison of Remote Administration features of Chrome Remote Desktop and VMware Workstation Player
    Feature
    Chrome Remote Desktop
    8.3
    21 Ratings
    5% above category average
    VMware Workstation Player
    -
    Ratings
    Screen sharing6.720 Ratings00 Ratings
    File transfer7.611 Ratings00 Ratings
    Instant message7.06 Ratings00 Ratings
    Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication9.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Access to sleeping/powered-off computers9.610 Ratings00 Ratings
    Over-the-Internet remote session9.221 Ratings00 Ratings
    Initiate remote control from mobile8.017 Ratings00 Ratings
    Remote management of servers & workstations9.319 Ratings00 Ratings
    Remote Active Directory® management7.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Centralized management dashboard9.08 Ratings00 Ratings
    Session record9.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Annotations9.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    Monitoring and Alerts9.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multi-platform remote control7.015 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Small Businesses
    N-able Take Control
    Score7.2 out of 10
    VMware Fusion
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Remote Desktop Manager
    Score9.6 out of 10
    VMware Fusion
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Amazon WorkSpaces
    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.5
    (21 ratings)
    6.9
    (9 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    8.9
    (7 ratings)
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    3.8
    (7 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Chrome Remote DesktopVMware Workstation Player
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Google
    It is well suited in cases where your company/organization is looking for a low/no cost remote desktop solution, or is looking for something that can be used by most anyone right away. Most organizations don't want things to be too complex, especially with a remote desktop solution, which is generally not very complex software to begin with. It would be less appropriate in cases where the company/organization has already purchased licensing for a commercial product, and/or has been heavily using a commercial product for some time.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    VMware will work great for the following test scenarios:
    • Testing windows updates on a system
    • Testing a new software or a new software version
    • Creating a sandbox to test options/features of an OS
    • Creating different VM to test a software on different OS without the need to have physical machines for all of them
    You can also use it as a "player" only where you have that static VM that you run from time to time as with my use for SAS University. Whenever you need to use the software, you simply start that VM.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Google
    • Unlike Microsoft's Remote Desktop, this program is the same across platforms, which is helpful for users.
    • This program also allows direct control over the desktop (like TeamViewer) and doesn't give you a simulated log on (like Remote Desktop). This is advantageous for seeing exactly what's on the screen but can make it a little laggy.
    • The interface is very nice and clear once it's set up. It's obvious which computer is which and it's just a couple of clicks from opening the program to a connection.
    • The mobile app is also really really well done.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    • VMware Player is easy to use.
    • VMware Player supports a wide variety operating systems.
    • Unity mode makes it easy for the end user to utilize needed legacy applications while maintaining their familiar Host OS desktop. It's seamless to the point where the end user doesn't know they're running applications from a VM.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Google
    • More fluid video rendering. Does a good job, but could use a more consistent framerate at times.
    • A way to easier switch between multiple monitors.
    • Adding an ability to zoom for multi-monitor display. Sometimes on a single screen it can get difficult to read if trying to view them all.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    VMware by Broadcom
    • Would be nice to use more VMs at once, but this is basically trial software, so it's hard to fault them.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Google
    A very easy lightweight tool that is completely scalable and deployed via google admin platform. The tool is free to use and works extremely well with the chrome devices we currently have deployed. Any organization using chrome or google suites should look into this tool as it's much easier to use then other remote software in the market
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    I give a rating of 8 because VMware Player has its use cases, for example it requires the host OS to be logged in, and the VMware Player application to be opened and the Guest VM started. Only one VM can run at a time. I'd give a 9/10 to VMware Workstation because you can run shared VMs at startup without logging in or starting the workstation application. and i'd give ESX a 10/10 because ESX is the leader in enterprise visualization.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Google
    Just a great product that has saved countless hours of commute to work and given the flexibility to be able to work from anywhere, whether at home or when away on holiday overseas. I love that it is a free product and is just as great as its competitors' products. It has also allowed me to prepare for work for the following day.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    Great product. Its user-friendly GUI and overall performance are really the biggest strength of this tool. The reason why I don't give a higher note is because of the price. Although it's decent (starting at around $200 for a license), there is a good free alternative in VirtualBox. Not everyone values friendly GUI as something worth paying for. For people that are more tech-savvy, I would recommend looking into VirtualBox as they might actually like the model better (with downloadable add-ons and packages).
    Incentivized
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    Performance
    Google
    No answers on this topic
    VMware by Broadcom
    Integration isn't really relevant here but I see this question more as an OS compatibility for the VM. They state that they support over 200 different OS versions. I honestly have never tried anything else other than Ubuntu and Windows myself but nonetheless, this is impressive. I have not hit any limitation in my use of this software in terms of limitation or conflicts with other software.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    Google
    The only support I ever accessed were help files and web tutorials. I never tried to access personal support, mostly because I don't believe much of it is available. As a free service, my expectations for support are pretty low; that said, Chrome Remote Desktop is easy enough to configure and troubleshoot even with limited technical knowledge.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    VMware support is very knowledgeable on their products, eveything from AirWatch to ESX clusters. VMware is easy to contact, they stay in touch and see the issue through to the end and a final resolution. They keep you up to date on your issue status and don't leave you waiting for answers.
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    Google
    None, its quick and easy
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    Installing the application was easily completed on the twenty computers that needed VMware Player. Once those 20 users were configured we copied our virtual machine template to the 20 users and turned on their newly provisioned virtual machines. We then configured unity mode so the user could easily work from within the virtual machine from their host desktop.
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Google
    Chrome Remote Desktop seems to be a an easy to use and efficient program. Such as TeamViewer, however TeamViewer offers more program features such as able to control a device's function (shutting down, restarting, audio input, cmd etc). With those added program features I believe Chrome Remote Desktop can almost be up to par with TeamViewer.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    Both free, VMware supports USB 3.0 while VirtualBox does not. VMware supports nested hardware-assisted virtualization while VirtualBox does not.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Google
    • Using Chrome Remote Desktop, we've saved money on remote desktop software.
    • Using Chrome Remote Desktop, we've saved money by not needing to purchase additional hardware (monitors).
    • Using Chrome Remote Desktop has improved the productivity of my organization by allowing employees to work from anywhere.
    Incentivized
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    VMware by Broadcom
    • A positive impact is that it require little to no funding to use.
    • Negative impact is that because it is free it can be hard to get support.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Chrome Remote Desktop Screenshots

    Screenshot of the option to share a screen or access another computer in Chrome Remote Desktop.Screenshot of the screen to setup a remote connection.