Remote Desktop Services vs. TeamViewer vs. Zoho Assist

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Remote Desktop Services
Score 7.7 out of 10
N/A
Remote Desktop Services from Microsoft is virtual desktop and remote user session technology.N/A
TeamViewer
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
TeamViewer provides software for both remote management and online collaborations. With TeamViewer, users have access to fully integrated online conference solutions for audio and video communication, including interactive screen sharing and remote access features.
$299
per year
Zoho Assist
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Zoho Assist from Zoho Corporation is a remote administration tool for SMBs and outsourced IT.
$12
per technician/per month
Pricing
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Remote Access
$24.90
per month (billed annually) 1 Licensed User
Business
$50.90
per month (billed annually) 1 Licensed User
Premium
$102.90
per month (billed annually) 15 Licensed Users
Corporate
$206.90
per month (billed annually) 30 Licensed Users
Remote Support - Standard
$12
per technician/per month
Unattended Access - Standard
$12
25 unattended computers/per month
Remote Support - Professional
$18
per technician/per month
Unattended Access - Professional
$18
25 unattended computers/per month
Remote Support - Enterprise
$28
per technician/per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Free Trial
NoYesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoYesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptionalOptional
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Considered Multiple Products
Remote Desktop Services
Chose Remote Desktop Services
Since Remote Desktop Services comes with the Windows OS, there's no need to install any additional software or agent for it to function. Even on the Mac, there's a client that can be installed for this to run properly. Unfortunately, unlike TeamViewer or Ultra VNC, Remote …
Chose Remote Desktop Services
We used RDS on-site primarily because of how easy it is for users to transition from their own desktop to a remote desktop. However, from off-site, there are VPN and other security considerations to take into account, and the process gets a little more complex. In this …
Chose Remote Desktop Services
Because it is a built-in, free solution for a small set of managed computers. No extra licenses required. No budget. Setup and configuration is instanteneous.
Chose Remote Desktop Services
Solutions can be expensive and often offer more options than you need/want. Paying those extra dollars is tough when you have a budget. RDS in many cases works well and is cost effective.
Chose Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services is an initiation from Microsoft in my view. The rest all are adapters for this and have a considerably inovated feature base.
TeamViewer
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer is my personal favorite of all the products I've tried. My company pays for Zoho Assist, but I have so many customer who hate using it that I, out of pocket, paid for TeamViewer myself. The ease, recognition, and just overall quality, speed, file transfers, easy …
Chose TeamViewer
Webex basically used for video calls and online meeting, GoToMyPC commercials are on the high side compare to the TeamViewer
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer works well as back of other remote desktop access solutions.
Chose TeamViewer
Easier access faster than some of the others. We love the mobile feature where you can use the app to connect when on the road. Also it has the ability to access cell phones as well, which many times helps us help a client with their iphones. Great feature. There have been …
Chose TeamViewer
Overall TeamViewer is superior to other remote solutions that I've used. It is faster and more reliable, with a better overall interface and management console. AnyDesk is generally slower and the interface is not as intuitive or easy to use. Endpoint Central is also slower …
Chose TeamViewer
Remote collaborative capability is much better in TeamViewer as oppose to competition and fast connection makes TeamViewer as better choice
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer is significantly easier to set up at a small scale than Microsoft RDP, plus it's cross-platform unlike RDP and provides a better UI and many more capabilities than just remote control, like file transfer and some management controls like reboot.
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a one click solution that doesn’t require the client to be a networking tech savvy to set it up. With TeamViewer, no need to worry about private and public IPs nor firewalls and reverse proxies as the connection can be established through the TeamViewer servers …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer stands good among the one which we reviewed in market. Easy to use from customer end and cost bearable as well.
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer has been widely used in the market since 2005, and it is the most popular remote control software. Its pricing plans are suitable for small to large enterprises. The software can be used for meetings and files transfer. It can also be used freely for non commercial …
Chose TeamViewer
I've tried a few different ways to provide remote help over the many years I've been providing technical help (since 1987) and Teamviewer consistetly comes out the best. I've also tried numerous ways to access my own computer and data remotely and Teamviewer is the only one I …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer's main advantage is its cross-platform compatibility, meaning that you can use it on other operating systems other than Windows. The main features are present in both tools, like file transfer and taking control of the endpoint machine. Teamviewer is a third-party …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer works really well and is easy to use when all versions are in sync. So our choice for overall ease of use would be TeamViewer but due to version issues and pricing issues, it is not our primary remote support platform. Should they improve the versioning issues and …
Chose TeamViewer
Teamviewer does everything the others do, if not more, but the cost was much better at the time of our purchase. I don't know what the price difference is currently.
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a well-known brand. It doesn't limit us to specific hardware or operating systems. It offers various other services along with screen sharing.
Chose TeamViewer
The all-in-one aspect seemed great at first and looked like it could justify its price tag. The product's easy setup and great performance were definitely there, and our teams got up to speed really quickly. Unfortunately, after a year or so, we migrated to ConnectWise because …
Chose TeamViewer
Mac users prefer TeamViewer over both of these hands down, and it is only slightly better on windows. TeamViewer is still far easier to use and more robust. Also, Kaseya suffered a significant breach. Splashtop is more difficult to establish connections with, especially on …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer is better than RDS because of the way it handles the video. At the core, they are both remote control applications. However the method for implementation is quite different. RDS gives you 90% experience of physically being at the terminal but TeamViewer gives you …
Chose TeamViewer
Since I access several customers and environments, I wanted an easy-to-install/use solution. Team Viewer provides desktop sharing, remote access, and file transfer in a single solution and most of my customers have already used it either personally or in a previous business, so …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer was chosen after we tried many different and well branded competitors. The most important factor was security [...]. TeamViewer HIPAA & SOC 2 compliant is trusted by the largest organizations.
Fast to implement/install, monitor and manage, is needed when we have now …
Chose TeamViewer
Zoho One is excellent. I highly recommend. TeamViewer is nothing special, although it works (well) as it should. Cancellation policy is that you must notify them 28 days before renewal. I got locked in when I found out we were renewing - there is NO NOTIFICATION that …
Chose TeamViewer
TeamViewer has a very simple operation and has been in the market for a long time. These were the factors that led us to choose this tool.
Chose TeamViewer
The basic functionality makes it at the top of the list. Without even purchasing an enterprise license this is an out of the box Technology tool!
Chose TeamViewer
Team viewer overall provides more features and perks which is much needed especially when dealing with a high amount of users.
Zoho Assist
Chose Zoho Assist
We also evaluated Intune remote support offering and TeamViewer. Those two performed worse than Zoho Assist, despite being more expensive, and their multi-platform support didn't match Zoho Assist either. So choosing the latter was a no-brainer for us.
Chose Zoho Assist
Better features, better pricing, better access options We've moved from 2 other products to Zoho Assist based on the price, features and access options. (Unattend versus support website/sending a link to a user)
Chose Zoho Assist
Price vs. Features and Performance we have found Zoho Assist to be the best.
Chose Zoho Assist
After evaluating several remote support solutions, I chose Zoho Assist primarily because it offers the same—if not better—features as its competitors, but at a significantly more affordable price point. The platform includes robust remote access, file transfer, and unattended …
Chose Zoho Assist
I have been impressed with the options that Zoho has for the price. It has really allowed us to do what we need to do at a price that is reasonable.
Chose Zoho Assist
Cost is one thing that makes Zoho Assist beat the competing software. The security plans from the software ensure files and anything sensitive are well maintained and governed. The interface, the simplicity, and the friendliness of Zoho Assist attracts attention of prospective …
Chose Zoho Assist
Zoho Assist is excellent. I've used Team Viewer extensively and will never use it again. It is a massive waste of money compared to Zoho Assist. I have not had subscriptions as a user to LogMeIn, JoinMe, or GoToAssist, however, I have used them while being assisted by …
Chose Zoho Assist
When the company bought this software, we decided on Zoho Assist because there were other management employees and specialists who already used and approved this software. Support and warranty are great. It is an easy tool to learn and use every day. Features work fine without …
Chose Zoho Assist
Regarding the issue of costs, I think that Zoho Assist is much more accessible and that is a benefit for both me and the customers who request remote assistance.
Features
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Remote Administration
Comparison of Remote Administration features of Product A and Product B
Remote Desktop Services
4.6
5 Ratings
53% below category average
TeamViewer
8.5
535 Ratings
2% above category average
Zoho Assist
8.1
24 Ratings
3% above category average
Screen sharing7.85 Ratings00 Ratings8.922 Ratings
File transfer4.55 Ratings8.8503 Ratings8.223 Ratings
Instant message1.01 Ratings8.6463 Ratings8.422 Ratings
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication6.12 Ratings00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers1.32 Ratings7.3354 Ratings7.620 Ratings
Over-the-Internet remote session6.05 Ratings00 Ratings8.923 Ratings
Initiate remote control from mobile3.44 Ratings00 Ratings7.314 Ratings
Remote management of servers & workstations7.74 Ratings00 Ratings9.019 Ratings
Remote Active Directory® management8.24 Ratings00 Ratings4.43 Ratings
Centralized management dashboard2.73 Ratings00 Ratings8.418 Ratings
Session record2.73 Ratings8.3362 Ratings8.515 Ratings
Monitoring and Alerts3.53 Ratings00 Ratings7.14 Ratings
Annotations00 Ratings7.9127 Ratings7.613 Ratings
Multi-platform remote control00 Ratings00 Ratings8.716 Ratings
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Remote Desktop Services
-
Ratings
TeamViewer
8.6
49 Ratings
2% above category average
Zoho Assist
-
Ratings
Role-based user permissions00 Ratings8.649 Ratings00 Ratings
Platform & Infrastructure
Comparison of Platform & Infrastructure features of Product A and Product B
Remote Desktop Services
-
Ratings
TeamViewer
8.0
35 Ratings
2% above category average
Zoho Assist
-
Ratings
Third-party software integrations00 Ratings8.035 Ratings00 Ratings
Remote Access
Comparison of Remote Access features of Product A and Product B
Remote Desktop Services
-
Ratings
TeamViewer
8.3
60 Ratings
6% above category average
Zoho Assist
-
Ratings
Attended device access00 Ratings9.159 Ratings00 Ratings
Unattended device access00 Ratings8.455 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile device access00 Ratings7.752 Ratings00 Ratings
Virtual device access00 Ratings8.349 Ratings00 Ratings
Multiple-display support00 Ratings8.250 Ratings00 Ratings
Multiple concurrent sessions00 Ratings8.349 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Small Businesses
Getscreen.me
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Score 9.6 out of 10
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Score 9.6 out of 10
Getscreen.me
Getscreen.me
Score 9.6 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Remote Desktop Manager
Remote Desktop Manager
Score 9.5 out of 10
Action1
Action1
Score 9.5 out of 10
Remote Desktop Manager
Remote Desktop Manager
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Remote Desktop Manager
Remote Desktop Manager
Score 9.5 out of 10
Remote Desktop Manager
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Score 9.5 out of 10
Remote Desktop Manager
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Score 9.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Likelihood to Recommend
7.7
(19 ratings)
8.7
(557 ratings)
8.8
(23 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
6.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(64 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(4 ratings)
9.1
(57 ratings)
8.7
(13 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
5.0
(1 ratings)
9.1
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
3.0
(1 ratings)
9.6
(50 ratings)
9.0
(6 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(119 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(4 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
5.0
(1 ratings)
9.1
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
8.5
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Remote Desktop ServicesTeamViewerZoho Assist
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
This is well-suited if you need to log in to a remote machine on occasion to make updates or change configurations. It is also good for a production environment or for environments where people need to log in to use common applications, so you don't need to install the application on each individual client.
Read full review
TeamViewer
I think it works well for IT management and help desk support of end users. I find it very useful to help users and send files to their desktop. Remote Workers still run into some problems with MFA and updates, both to the TV Host app and OS updates. However, it does give us secure direct access without the need of a VPN.
Read full review
Zoho
If you have many remote users in challenging-to-access locations and they use multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux), Zoho Assist is the solution. If you have a limited budget, you'll like Zoho Assist pricing. If you have a large team of IT technicians, you'll appreciate Zoho Assist's concurrent usage licensing.
Read full review
Pros
Microsoft
  • When you connect with RDS, everything looks and feels (and is) exactly like you're sitting at that desktop. This is great for us and for users.
  • You can sign in with RDS and the desktop will be the same as when you left it (if you choose to set it up that way).
  • Although they take some setup, RemoteApps are a very handy way to let users access a program without requiring them to actually connect to a remote desktop on the server.
Read full review
TeamViewer
  • It is secure and eliminates the need for VPN for remote users.
  • It offers a 2FA to insure that security is strong for our system.
  • Can save time with file transfer syncs for labels, batches and other files.
  • It supports multi device and cross platform usage within our warehouse.
Read full review
Zoho
  • One user's computer screen is black, no task bar and start button, after system crush, Unattended Access help me remote control it and use tools under quick Launch to change system settings and created new account for the user, so she can work few hours later.
  • One user computer need help vpn setup but it is not on Unattended Access list, so I create a temporarily Remote Support session, send the link to him by WhatsApp, after he download and install agent, I can connect and remote control it.
  • Sometimes user computer has randomly happening issue, I will connect it by Zoho Assist, record the remote screen, then will catch the issue and know it's triggered
  • sometimes I use video chat as a meeting tool with users
  • The file transfer by web client is useful for me, most of time is to upload files into user computer when it is not able to access our network drive
Read full review
Cons
Microsoft
  • Remote Desktop Services currently does not support multiple monitors on the terminal server. Unlike other applications such as Teamviewer, there's no feature to toggle between multiple screens even if they were connected to the terminal server.
  • Remote Desktop Services should provide an option to scale up or down the screen size after a connection is established. Currently you can only adjust the screen size prior to a connection is established. So you'll have to take a best guess at what display screen resolution will fit best on your screen.
  • Remote Desktop Services should offer some kind of menu to send special key strokes like Ctrl+Alt+Del to the terminal server. Currently the substitute for that particular combination is Ctrl+Alt+End. But I have yet to discover a replacement for other combination keystrokes such as Alt+PrintScrn.
Read full review
TeamViewer
  • With an iPad, you can't take control of the device, so you have to tell someone what to do. Which can be a challenge because the end user doesn't know what to do
  • With the free version of TeamViewer you cant enter Admin credentials because TeamViewer blocks the windows to fill in the credentials
  • The free version can be really limited which can be putting off people because they don't see the full potential of TeamViewer
Read full review
Zoho
  • Instructions to the tech and the person receiving support could be more clear.
  • Providing mobile support is still a bit clunky. Interacting with the user's device on the other end is not totally functional.
  • It would be nice to have a PC app to use instead of accessing via the browser.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
We need this tool in our day to day business. It is what we do all day remoting into clients devices. In this day and age we can access devices all over the world as long as we have secure internet connection. It certainly saves money in gas, and even if you are away you can help.
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Usability
Microsoft
The initial setup for Remote Desktop Services is complex, and licensing is costly. Each user connects to their virtual desktop hosted by a single server or group of servers, so a change or issue with servers quickly impacts every single user at the same time. Aside from that, users appreciate seeing their same personal desktop from any device or geographical location.
Read full review
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a reliable and really strong tool for accessing remote IT platforms secure and fast. We don't know any product that provide us such strong functionality to make our life as a internationally recognized MES provider with DIAMES with an international clientele so easy. We look forward for any new TeamViewer functionality that supports us even more.
Read full review
Zoho
Zoho Assist has proven to be a highly effective and reliable tool that I use on a daily basis. While the "wake up" feature occasionally fails to respond, this seems more likely due to network connectivity issues rather than a flaw in Zoho Assist itself. On rare occasions, the unattended access installation doesn't appear on the administrator's dashboard, which could potentially be caused by firewall restrictions rather than a problem with the software. Aside from these minor and infrequent issues, the platform has consistently performed well and has become an essential part of my workflow.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
Always available if setup correctly.
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Performance
Microsoft
There are some third party tools available that allow you to manage multiple connections.
Read full review
TeamViewer
The application is built on VNC which is a very stable technology.
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Microsoft
As with any Microsoft Server product, support for Remote Desktop Services requires a paid support package. These are license-based and very costly, on top of the already costly product licensing. Microsoft's licensing is complicated to begin with, so setting up licensing alone essentially requires a licensing expert's counsel. There is community documentation and support available on Microsoft websites, as well as community websites.
Read full review
TeamViewer
the few times i have had to contact teamviewer support, they were very responsive and give me quick answers and seemed to understand my problems quickly and easily. I did not have to sit on the phone for hours on hold or get passed around to multiple phone support techs before finding a solution to my issues, so i would rate their support very highly.
Read full review
Zoho
Support is terrible. Quick to initially respond with the boilerplate "The information provided by you should be sufficient for my development team to analyse this further. I shall also write back to you as soon as I get an update from them on this
regard." And then you will hear nothing more from them. Chase further and you'll get stock responses such as "Our development team are still looking into this," etc.
Read full review
In-Person Training
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
As expected without any problem! Alternate in-person training is another efficient way to learn how a product works. There are many third party supporters for TeamViewer courses available that can give additional ideas how to use TeamViewer for specific functions and features as we did require in respect of our usage.
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Online Training
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
I have never used the online training either. I have watched a few informational videos that were helpful when learning how to do a specific procedure within TeamViewer and get the most out of the software by utilizing one of the many features that are available with the software. Again, 5 if for neutral.
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
TeamViewer installation and deployment to other devices is pretty straightforward and does not require much technical know-how. This makes ease of use attractive when supporting both new and existing clients with limited technical knowledge. I think ease of use is a huge factor in getting new clients. TeamViewer handles that extremely well.
Read full review
Zoho
Make it easier to deploy mulitple agents for different departments.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
We selected Remote Desktop Services based upon price alone. Other solutions on the market are significantly more expensive, but if your company can foot the bill you should seriously consider products that have been on the market for longer. The lack of an ability to easily upgrade farm servers has been a challenge for us - although it is still faster than updating an application on 2000+ machines. The lack of a centralized management console in 2008 R2 is also challenging, but you get by with the tools available to you. If you don't have the money to spend on Citrix or VMWare Horizon, Remote Desktop Services is a decent replacement.
Read full review
TeamViewer
TeamViewer's cost is much lower than that of other solutions, and its security is far superior to RemotePC's. TeamViewer is also a request-based remote session manager, unlike other software that allows indefinite connection time. TeamViewer's free version makes it even better for one end of the group to find support, while the other end has the paid version.
Read full review
Zoho
The value for Zoho Assist and the functionality is superior to what is now known as LogMeIn Resolve. I knew it before as Goto Assist. My decision to try out and ultimately purchase Zoho Assist has been a great one for my business. I am glad I heard about Zoho Assist and will continue using them for years to come.
Read full review
Scalability
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
TeamViewer
Stay up working. Easy to connect and disconnect. easy way to transfer files to another desktop
Read full review
Zoho
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Allowed remote users access from home
  • Shared file access for multipolar users from a centralized location
  • Cost to add additional users when maxed out
  • Purchase multiple licenses for programs to run in virtual machines. Or unable to run on a virtual machine
Read full review
TeamViewer
It took about 3 months.
  • Customer Support of our business has become more interactive with customers, leading to faster resolution of their problems.
  • Remotely accessing devices in our office allows employees to stay productive while working from home.
  • TeamViewer helps us to collaborate with other firms for projects we're doing.
Read full review
Zoho
  • Zoho Assist helped in managing our files and records even if ours is not an Enterprise version.
  • Connectivity is maintained despite having faced some latency issues, thus allowing us to save more time and money.
  • Low maintenance costs, since Zoho Assist is cloud-based
Read full review
ScreenShots

TeamViewer Screenshots

Screenshot of how TeamViewer lets users connect to devices and provide remote support.Screenshot of AI, automation and remediation.Screenshot of the interface to monitor and manage devices proactively.Screenshot of some of TeamViewer's integrations.

Zoho Assist Screenshots

Screenshot of On-demand Remote SupportScreenshot of Browser-based Remote SupportScreenshot of Unattended Access to remote computersScreenshot of Detailed Analytics