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SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS) vs. RealVNC Connect

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)

    Score8 out of 10
    N/ADameWare Remote Support from Austin IT company SolarWinds is remote administration software for the remote control of desktops, laptops, and servers behind or outside the firewall, allowing registry editing, restart services, logging activity, account and password management, and more. The mobile app also provides access from a phone or tablet. DameWare Remote Support licensing is per technician, the number of end-user remote machines is irrelevant; one technician may receive a license for…

    $520

    one-time fee

    RealVNC Connect

    Score8.9 out of 10
    N/ARealVNC® Connect is a secure remote access solution from RealVNC. It can be used to connect to a remote device anywhere in the world to view its desktop in real-time and take control as though sitting in front of it.

    $99

    per year (one concurrent session)

    Pricing
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Editions & Modules
    Dameware Mini Remote Control
    $370
    one-time fee
    Dameware Remote Support
    $520
    one-time fee
    Essentials
    $8.25
    per month (billed annually) per concurrent session
    Plus
    $16.50
    per month (billed annually) per concurrent session (add up to 3)
    Premium
    $29.75
    per month (billed annually) per concurrent session (add up to 5)
    Enterprise
    Custom Pricing
    per year
    Enterprise
    Custom Pricing
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Free Trial
    YesYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsDameWare Remote Support and Mini Remote Control are licensed based on the number of technician users that use the software for remote administration. There are no limits or restrictions for the number of end-users supported or the number of remote endpoints/computers supported. As you buy higher counts of licenses, the per-seat pricing goes down giving you a reduced total price.Plans work on a Per Concurrent Session basis. Each plan gives access to a bundled number of devices, but limits apply to the amount of devices that can be connected at any given time. The Premium plan includes On-Demand Assist, a useful tool for providing just-in-time remote support to end-users without them needing RealVNC Connect installed on their device.
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Considered Both Products
    SolarWinds
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    I have used a few remote support options over the years, but always come back to DameWare when it's all said and done. RealVNC was something that we tried out for remote desktop support at one point. It allowed for the connectivity to the devices fairly smoothly, but was …
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    It's there when you need it, no getting ready or looking for it. Just log on in the morning and it's there all day. No connection issues, firewall issues, relying on users to punch buttons. The performance is great and the service is reliable.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    We do use simple Lync screensharing and IM chat since we already use it. We evaluated Citrix GoToAssist, Windows Remote Desktop Connection/Manager, RealVNC, WebEx, TeamViewer.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    VNC and RDP are free solutions that do not have all the features in DameWare. While you might be able to remotely connect, DameWare Remote Support allows you to transfer files, lock out the screen, see the console session, take screen shots, reboot, etc... Plus it is supported …
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    VNC is a basic remote control application, it does not have the AD and PC integration tools to perform the other Help Desk tasks required.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    We used VNC before DameWare and have not looked at any other product since we started using DameWare. The employee that chose DameWare is no longer with the company so I cannot comment on any other products they might have compared.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    I like DameWare better.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    Dameware has less lag and a better user interface.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    DameWare is leaps and bounds more robust in the support aspects of any of the similar products that we reviewed. I am sure that we will be finding new tricks and features for years to come. It is a great product with more than adequate features for a company of our size or …
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    There are latency issues with RealVNC that are not there with DameWare Remote Support and GoToAssist requires user interaction. Neither has the Active Directory tie-in or the management consoles to monitor all aspects of computers.
    Incentivized
    Chose SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    Windows Remote Desktop allows remote access but does not allow for an interactive session where both support staff and customer view the same desktop. DameWare Remote Support allows both to view all the work as it is done. RealVNC was initially used to manage a few servers and …
    Incentivized
    RealVNC
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    11 Answers
    100%
    Would buy again
    11 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    11 Answers
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    10 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    91%
    Happy with the feature set
    10 Answers
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    11 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    78%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    7 Answers
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    7 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    90%
    Implementation went as expected
    9 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    11 Answers
    Features
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Remote Administration
    Comparison of Remote Administration features of SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS) and RealVNC Connect
    Feature
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)
    8.6
    65 Ratings
    9% above category average
    RealVNC Connect
    7.3
    32 Ratings
    8% below category average
    Screen sharing10.053 Ratings9.028 Ratings
    File transfer10.050 Ratings8.015 Ratings
    Instant message8.347 Ratings6.119 Ratings
    Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication8.716 Ratings7.05 Ratings
    Access to sleeping/powered-off computers9.035 Ratings6.09 Ratings
    Over-the-Internet remote session8.548 Ratings9.030 Ratings
    Initiate remote control from mobile9.025 Ratings9.019 Ratings
    Remote management of servers & workstations9.158 Ratings4.76 Ratings
    Remote Active Directory® management7.239 Ratings00 Ratings
    Centralized management dashboard8.238 Ratings7.116 Ratings
    Session record8.55 Ratings8.02 Ratings
    Annotations7.94 Ratings5.36 Ratings
    Monitoring and Alerts8.75 Ratings7.03 Ratings
    Multi-platform remote control7.131 Ratings9.011 Ratings
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    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
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    Medium-sized Companies
    Remote Desktop Manager
    Score9.6 out of 10
    Remote Desktop Manager
    Score9.6 out of 10
    Enterprises
    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
    Score9.1 out of 10
    BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access
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    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.3
    (66 ratings)
    9.7
    (38 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (13 ratings)
    8.0
    (8 ratings)
    Usability
    9.0
    (10 ratings)
    8.0
    (4 ratings)
    Availability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    8.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    5.0
    (9 ratings)
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Online Training
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    5.0
    (8 ratings)
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    Configurability
    9.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    9.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    9.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    9.5
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS)RealVNC Connect
    Likelihood to Recommend
    SolarWinds
    I feel like this is a very robust solution that I would recommend to anyone who relies heavily on remote support. Most of the colleagues I work with already use SolarWinds products to one extent or the other. I feel the price for the solution is very fair and a good value for the product.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    It is very easy to use if the remote device is already set up to receive connections, so if you are setting up devices before deploying them, it is a great tool to have. It is well-suited to use when shadowing users or using it as a teaching tool. There are other products that are better if you are trying to help someone on a one-use basis.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    SolarWinds
    • Troubleshooting computers remotely without the need for the user to even be around.
    • Install software that needs to be installed manually without having to travel.
    • Viewing what the user is doing specifically that triggers the issue, making replicating issues way simpler.
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    • VNC Connect does an excellent job in remotely connecting to a computer through either your local area network or even another computer on the internet. As long as the VNC Connect services is installed and the client is running in the background.
    • VNC Connect provides password protection to prevent unauthorized users from attempting to remotely access your computer. There's an option to have a separate password to remotely view vs view & access a computer. You can even add an additional level of security by turning on the feature to require Windows login credentials.
    • VNC Connect provides an additional set of controls after a remote connection has been established with another computer. You can have special keystrokes like Ctrl+Alt+Del sent as a command sequence to the other computer as well as access more than a single screen when in use at the remote computer location.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    SolarWinds
    • It would be nice if the installed agent would be able to check in with the server so that I can connect to laptops, etc that have the agent pre-installed for when they are off network.
    • DameWare could do better with the mobile app. I cannot connect in from the outside with the mobile app to provide quick support if needed. This kind of defeats the purpose of a mobile app. If I am on the network, I probably have access to my workstation.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    • Its a pretty straight forward product - I would like to see more tools with a "wow" factor.
    • Panel colors are blah - I would like more eye-catching colors.
    • A more consistent look with all platforms - like Mac & PC.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    SolarWinds
    This application is one of my most used tools when it comes to supporting end users and the network as well. I don't have to run all over the place to get things done when I can access multiple computers on the network at the same time to accomplish multiple tasks in a minimal amount of time.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    VNC is a solid product for the price. It simply works and its reliable across different platforms. Some products state they work well in the Mac environment but don't deliver. This one does what it says. Connections are reliable, but of course, this depends on internet connections. The product works well over wireless connections as well. It delivers on what a remote tool should deliver on. My technicians are happy with the product and customers appreciate the ease of use when letting us connect to their systems. Some also appreciate the remote support while they are multi-task.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    SolarWinds
    Because it has enhanced my ability to trouble shoot more issues during the day. Instead of having to go to each machine and spend time at the machine, I can remote in from my desktop and assist the person 90 per cent of the time. I also use it from home to remote in which saves me the time from having to return back to the workplace.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    It's a niche product and in that niche they try to cater to as many use cases as they can. Other as a TCO aspect i don't see many use cases where you can't use this product as the one tool for all remote session use cases in your company
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    SolarWinds
    Yes, always available.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    SolarWinds
    The application always seems responsive to me
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    SolarWinds
    I use a Samsung mobile device; DameWare Mobile was working and then after an Android update it started crashing. I reported the issue to DameWare and worked with the technicians and developers to gather data for them to correct the issue. They quickly published a beta release for me to test (which corrected the crashes) and then published an update to the Google Play Store.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    VNC Connect is a reliable product that has been around for a long time. It is reasonably priced and works well in the Mac & PC environment. When you have a small team that supports many users we need tools that we can rely upon and that will get the job done on the first try. Many customers appreciate the quick assistance and can multi-task while our team works on their computer issues remotely. From a customer service point of view, this tool gives us transparency and efficient effectiveness.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    SolarWinds
    It was excellent
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    SolarWinds
    The videos were more than sufficient to learn the product
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    The training is very informative, quick and to the point. All of the details one would need are present so the user doesn't have to go searching for additional information just to use the application. The layout of the training was also neat and concise, some of the other training sessions for other companies I've done in the past were confusing and not well thought out, this one is much more superior
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    SolarWinds
    It helps greatly if you know someone already using DameWare Remote Support. I was fortunate as my tech support guys were using it at their hospital and assisted me through the purchase, download and implementation of remote support. As well as, knowing how many licenses to purchase at the time. You have to make sure that anyone assisting in IT can have access to the program with their own license.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    No problem at all, love the product.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    SolarWinds
    We previously utilized LogMeIn. They increased the pricing of their solution which made us reconsider it. I inherited LogMeIn. I am not a big fan of hosted solutions for some vital IT processes. There was convenience in LogMeIn, but there were also risks about the solution that I was never completely comfortable with. I had utilized DameWare at a previous company, so I knew what I was getting with it. It was an easy decision for me to make. DameWare is an exceptional product.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    VNC is light and sleek with the quick setup, was impressed with the quick setup despite poor Internet connection outdoor. TeamViewer is good, but the pricing is not as good as VNC. Both do the basic job, but VNC still outperform TeamViewer in terms of performance and ease of use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    SolarWinds
    You get an 8 because of the constant initial freeze on most connections. Takes a reconnect to have it work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    SolarWinds
    • DameWare has allowed us to maintain our non-traditional approach to IT support. It allows our administrators to work from anywhere and has extended their reach to clients domestic and abroad.
    • Return on investment was realized as soon as we purchased the licenses. We don't have to maintain a large office space or overhead costs due to the flexibility it allows our administrators.
    • First call resolution has increased drastically since implementing DameWare company-wide. The user no longer has to wait to reproduce an error. We can screen share and view it as it happens and mitigate the issues.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    RealVNC
    • I have just used the software for about 1 month and so far so god. I am saving time whenever I can access my client's computers from my desk as opposed to having to leave my office to go to their offices. Saves me time and the client money.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support (DRS) Screenshots

    Screenshot of DameWare Remote Support Management ConsoleScreenshot of Remotely Connect to Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X ComputersScreenshot of Over-the-Internet Remote Session via Secure Proxy ServerScreenshot of Connect to Remote Computers from iOS and Android Mobile Devices

    RealVNC Connect Screenshots

    Screenshot of the Device List in the Connect v8 desktop appScreenshot of On-Demand Assist, which can be used to start a remote support session using a single-use code.