7 easy Screen-Sharing and Remote-Access Tools (All Free)
Here you go, free and easy-to-setup screen-sharing and remote-access tools. There are several ways you can benefit from these apps: (1) Remote-Control: Help out your friend or mom with PC problems remotely, (2) Screen-Sharing: Collaborate on running programs and documents with friends. (3) Remote-Access: Access your PC files from work, school, etc.
Screen-Sharing and Remote-Collaboration Apps
1. CrossLoop – secure, easy-to-setup, screen-sharing application for your Windows desktop.
- Share your screen sessions with others.
- Share/Collaborate on running programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc) with friends or colleagues.
- File transfer and sharing.
- Available in more than 20 languages.
CrossLoop Video intro:
2. TeamViewer – slightly more complicated than Crossloop (not for dummies) but provides more or less same capabilities. Remote desktop sharing, collaboration, file transfer, chat, etc. You (the sharer) can decide whether you want to share the desktop or just allow the file transfer. More details can be found here.
3. Yuuguu – little desktop application (Mac, Windows) that lets you (a) share your screen with others, (b) collaborate on running programs with friends, and (c) access and control someone’s PC (friends, family, etc.) . Yuuguu comes with in-built chat application that allows you to store and keep history of all Yuuguu conversations online.
4. Unyte Lyte – Offers simple screen-sharing without any remote-control capability. Basically, the only thing you can do with it is to invite someone and guide them through documents, websites, etc. On the other hand, it can be integrated into your Skype client.
To Access your PC remotely
5. SoonR – access your PC remotely using your mobile or any other PC (work, school, etc.). Search files, view/share documents (PowerPoint, Word docs, etc.), access email clients (Outlook, Mac Mail, etc.), run your Skype client, and lots more right from your mobile or any web-enabled PC. Check it out in action in the video below:
6. FolderShare – free utility from beloved Microsoft 
, allows you to access your PC remotely (from work, school, etc.), share files (read/write) with others, and sync. files across multiple computers.
- Share files up to 2 GB in size. No restrictions on bandwidth or number of files.
- Sync any file type: files are synced and transferred in their original format.
- Supported Platforms: Windows and Mac.
Note: To access your PC remotely it’s required that your PC remains ‘ON’ with remote-access program running.
Other
7. sVNC – “sVNC is a downloadable application that users who need support can easily install, so a Mac guru (like you!) can help them out.“. Basically, it’s a program that enables you to provide remotes users with access and control of your system.
You can also include http://www.gotomypc.com and http://www.logmein.com
Hey thanks for including SoonR on the list! I am one of the SoonR folks and I noticed that the link to the video referenced in your post was missing. So I hope you don’t mind my filling in the blank.
Here’s the link to the blog embedded in the video:
http://soonrs.com/blog/2007/09/04/skype-on-the-iphone-using-soonr/
Also thanks for succinctly differentiating between screen sharing, remote control, and remote access. Most people mix it all up in one bucket. If you try the programs you mentioned, it’ll be clear that they are not the same.
Thanks for letting me know about the missing video, it’s up now.
@ DWiner
Thanks, but if I remember correctly none of these two applications is free.
In this post I focused only on free ones.
LogMeIn has both commercial and free version and the free one works great for me. You should give it a try
@ jonatankot
Thanks for heads up I will check it out.
useful
I too am a long time user of logmein. Great program and they just did a upgrade to the software. Faster and better display options. The only thing I don’t like about the free version is the lack of being able to cut and paste from one machine to the other.
Yakkle also does remote desktop (and voip and IM) all in one app and it’s free. I invite you to give it a try.
Background: I have been using LogMeIn-Free and TightVNC for a while and both are great in respect to acceptably low bandwidth usage. LogMeIn also has encryption. But LogMeIn does not seem to have any products that restricts the sharing to a single application and only a single remote user is allowed. TightVNC can restrict the sharing to a rectangular area that is defined on the server but has no encryption and the shared area must be on the top window.
Remote Panels (by National Instruments) uses much more bandwidth without encryption but the good thing is that the application does not have to be on the top window and multiple remote viewers can exist with one at a time in control.
What I need: I am looking to share a single application whether it is the top window or in the background.
I also need to allow multiple people to see that application.
Do any of these products allow that?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Dave
Try http://www.gogrok.com
It’s new. just came out. Very useful. You can share your whole desktop or single application. And you can release/retrieve editing (control) right. There is more, you can change role with your viewer, let him share his stuff with you by clicking one icon, you don’t need to re-start the whole process just to switch roles.
I need an app where
1/ I can grant access to only one application…
2/ My staff member has their won password and can log in and use that application remotely wihtout me being at the PC
3/ extremely secure
any ideas?
Al
This one is best of the Desktop Sharing breed.
http://showmypc.com
We hope you’ll take a look at Glance glance.net. We provide an easy-to-use screen sharing service. Show a PC or Mac screen, up to 100 guests on any OS. Low flat-rate pricing, Free Trial.
Thanks!
Hi Aibek,
Mikogo is a free screen sharing tool and is a great addition to your list.
Our app was reviewed recently on makeuseof.com here at Mikogo : Screen Sharing App for Skype and Windows
By the way Al, Mikogo has a great feature called “Application selection”. With this you can choose which applications you wish to share with others, while keeping all other applications hidden. This should help you.
We’re currently working on the next version which will contain some great new features – definitely something to keep your eye on
Thank you,
Andrew
The Mikogo Team
Techinline (http://www.techinline.com) is pretty awesome for this sort of thing. Perfect for sharing your screen or taking control of the remote machine, and very easy to use as well
Check out GeniusRoom! screen sharing, click to conference call. chat, messaging, file sharing and more! works great, secure, private. Works well, fast.
You should also try the amazing http://www.weezo.net, which only requires a browser (client-side), even for remote desktop (and so go through firewalls).
It is definitely the swiss knife of remote access & file sharing.
weezo works perfect. easy to setup. no hassle!
I’ve seen a remote desktop app for the PC that supports audio from the PC but not for mac, that’s basically what I’m looking for, a screen sharing app that supports audio for the mac over 3G, Edge, and wireless
err, on my iPhone
I’ve tried “Yuuguu” under Windows 7 and it works very well!
Anthony, I use Techinline too. After trying all these free services I got sick and tired of dropped connections and limitations. It’s ok to me to pay a little, but feel stable. So, the other reason for choosing Techinline is the rates which I don’t even consider a full price for such a great service!
Hows ?
Team
Hows Mikogo?
Team
Website Designing & Development
I recommend trying out TeamViewer if you have not already. Similar to Crossloop but many more features. There is a price but it is definitely worth the look.
This article helped me much. I picked TeamViewer up
I for sure tried few others and finally decided for http://showmypc.com for my small business.