Softabase

Pricing

freemium

Best For

IT professionals who prioritize connection performance and low latency

Rating

8.0/10

Last Updated

Mar 2026

TL;DR

AnyDesk is the leaner, cheaper alternative to TeamViewer that many IT professionals prefer. Their proprietary DeskRT video codec delivers noticeably lower latency than TeamViewer, and the app is tiny — under 4MB. At $14.90/month for individuals (vs TeamViewer's $24.90), the value proposition is clear. The free tier for personal use actually works without aggressive commercial-use detection. Where AnyDesk falls short: enterprise features are thinner than TeamViewer Tensor, the brand is less recognized (which matters when non-technical users need to install it), and the admin console for managing large deployments isn't as mature.

What is AnyDesk?

The Performance Alternative

AnyDesk was founded in 2014 by former TeamViewer developers who believed they could build a faster, lighter remote desktop tool. They delivered. The DeskRT codec is proprietary technology that compresses and transmits screen data with measurably lower latency than TeamViewer or most competitors. The entire application is under 4MB — you can run it from a USB drive without installation.

DeskRT Performance Advantage

The numbers speak: AnyDesk achieves 60fps at 1080p with latency under 16ms on good connections. Office work feels native. Video playback is smooth. Even moderate-bandwidth connections (5-10 Mbps) deliver a usable experience. The codec adapts aggressively to bandwidth changes, maintaining responsiveness even when quality drops. For IT support where every second of lag frustrates the technician, this matters.

Clean, Functional UI

The interface is straightforward. Enter a remote desk ID, connect, done. The settings panel offers customization without overwhelming options. The address book manages frequent connections. Session recording works cleanly for compliance needs. What's notably absent: the feature bloat that TeamViewer has accumulated over 20 years. AnyDesk does remote desktop and does it well.

Enterprise Gaps

AnyDesk's enterprise offering (AnyDesk On-Premises) provides self-hosted deployment and centralized management, but the admin console isn't as feature-rich as TeamViewer Tensor. Mass deployment works but requires more manual configuration. ITSM integrations are limited. For small IT teams (under 50 technicians), AnyDesk is fine. For enterprise with thousands of endpoints, TeamViewer or ConnectWise offer more management depth.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • DeskRT codec delivers measurably lower latency than TeamViewer — remote work feels native
  • Tiny application size (under 4MB) with option to run portably from USB without installation
  • At $14.90/month, significantly cheaper than TeamViewer for equivalent individual plans
  • Free personal tier works without aggressive commercial-use detection that plagues TeamViewer
  • Clean, focused UI without feature bloat — does remote desktop extremely well

Cons

  • Enterprise admin console is less feature-rich than TeamViewer Tensor for large deployments
  • Lower brand recognition than TeamViewer — non-technical users may not trust installing it
  • ITSM integrations (ServiceNow, Jira) are limited compared to TeamViewer or ConnectWise
  • Mobile remote control experience is functional but less polished than TeamViewer
  • On-premises deployment option requires more manual configuration than competitors

AnyDesk Pricing

Free (Personal)

Free
  • Remote access
  • File transfer
  • Cross-platform
  • Basic features
Get Started
Most Popular

Solo

$15/month
  • 1 user
  • Up to 3 devices
  • Unattended access
  • File transfer
  • Session recording
  • Custom alias
Get Started

Standard

$30/month
  • Up to 20 users
  • Unlimited devices
  • Address book
  • Session logging
  • Custom branding
  • Priority support
Get Started

Advanced

$80/month
  • Unlimited users
  • On-premises option
  • Mass deployment
  • Active Directory
  • REST API
  • Custom MSI installer
Get Started

Pricing last verified: March 25, 2026

Who is AnyDesk Best For?

  • IT professionals who prioritize connection performance and low latency
  • Small to mid-size IT teams wanting TeamViewer capabilities at lower cost
  • Personal users wanting reliable free remote access without commercial-use restrictions
  • Organizations that value lightweight tools without unnecessary feature complexity

Technical Details

Platforms
windowsmaclinuxiosandroid
Deployment
cloudon premiseself hosted
Security & Compliance
soc2gdpriso27001

The Bottom Line

8/10Very Good

AnyDesk scores 8/10. It stands out for deskrt codec delivers measurably lower latency than teamviewer — remote work feels native Best suited for it professionals who prioritize connection performance and low latency Keep in mind that enterprise admin console is less feature-rich than teamviewer tensor for large deployments There is a free plan to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

For individual use and small IT teams, often yes. AnyDesk offers lower latency, a lighter application, cheaper pricing, and a less aggressive free tier. TeamViewer wins on enterprise features (Tensor), brand recognition, and ITSM integrations. The "better" choice depends on your priorities.

Yes, and unlike TeamViewer, the free tier doesn't aggressively flag personal accounts as commercial use. You can use AnyDesk for personal remote access without paying. The free tier has feature limitations (no unattended access, no address book) but the core remote desktop functionality works.

Score Breakdown
Ease of Use8.3
Features7.5
Value for Money8.3
Support8

Based on editorial analysis