Choose a replacement by the job it has to do. Reaching your own computers when nobody's at them needs an unattended access tool, helping customers live needs attended support software, and looking after many client networks needs a platform built for managed service providers. Few products do all three well, so name your main job first.
Short version: if you only use one of the three things Splashtop sells, you'll be happier with a tool that does that one thing well. So the eight options here are sorted by job rather than by size, and every description is a paraphrase of what the vendor says on its own site.
One brand name, three separate jobs
Splashtop's homepage sells remote access for individuals and teams, remote support for IT and help desks, and endpoint management, all under a single name. That suits a business that needs every piece. It's far less helpful if you only ever log into the office PC from your kitchen table, because you end up judging alternatives against features you'll never open.
The alternatives below mostly lean hard towards one of those jobs. Knowing that up front changes the search. You aren't hunting for a like-for-like copy; you're looking for the best fit for the work that fills your week, and accepting a simpler experience on anything else.
Reach, help or manage: where each tool sits
Reaching your own machines. Unattended access means connecting to an office PC, a server or a home Mac when nobody's sitting at it. NoMachine lets you control a PC or Mac from another device, with terminal access included, per its own site. AeroAdmin's site says its connections need zero configuration. Parsec belongs here only if the remote work is visual, such as editing video on a powerful office machine, since its site pitches high-resolution streaming for work, games and creative projects.
Helping other people live. Attended support means a customer or colleague opens a session and watches while you fix the problem. ScreenConnect describes itself as remote support and access software for fixing IT issues on any device. ISL Online straddles both camps: the vendor says it's for supporting customers or reaching unattended computers from a mobile device.
Managing client networks. N-able Take Control is a remote-control and support tool built for MSPs. LogMeIn describes AI-assisted remote support and remote access stretching from endpoint management to support, which makes it the closest in shape to the three-job product you're leaving.
Building a remote support product that belongs in one of these three groups? Send it in for a look and it may be added when the page is next reviewed.
The eight side by side
| Tool | Main job | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| AeroAdmin | Zero-setup remote desktop | Quick connections without any configuration |
| ISL Online | Attended and unattended access | Live customer support plus mobile access to unattended PCs |
| LogMeIn | Remote access and IT support | IT teams wanting access and support in one product |
| N-able Take Control | MSP remote control | Fixing client issues across managed networks |
| NoMachine | Remote desktop | Reaching your own PC or Mac from elsewhere |
| Parsec | Low-latency remote desktop | Design, video and other visual work |
| RemotePC | Remote desktop access | Mixed fleets of PCs, Macs and mobiles |
| ScreenConnect | Remote support and access | Help desks fixing IT issues on any device |
Remote access and support tools, A to Z
Alphabetical, and in no particular order of preference. Each line picks out a different claim from the vendor's own site.
AeroAdmin
Best for: Full control of another computer with a connection set up in seconds, from a vendor that says it's free for business and home use.
ISL Online
Best for: Help desks reaching lots of machines, with the vendor promising access to unlimited computers with maximum security.
LogMeIn
Best for: IT teams that want one vendor for access and support, pitched as secure, intelligent tools that conquer IT complexity.
N-able Take Control
Best for: Managed service providers resolving client issues remotely, with the vendor promising swift fixes alongside good customer service.
NoMachine
Best for: Speed-minded users, from a vendor that calls it the fastest remote desktop you've ever tried.
Parsec
Best for: Visual work on a powerful remote machine, where the vendor promises smooth, high-resolution streaming with near-zero latency.
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RemotePC
Best for: Small teams reaching PC, Mac, Linux and mobile devices, with the vendor offering unlimited technicians and computers.
ScreenConnect
Best for: IT staff fixing problems on any device, with the vendor promising instant access to the machine that needs help.
Advice for small teams, help desks and MSPs
Don't choose from a feature grid. Remote desktop software is judged in the first few seconds of a real session on your own network, and no comparison page can tell you how that feels. Keep your current setup running until the new one has handled real work, because a help desk without remote access for even an afternoon can't help anyone.
If you're a small team reaching your own computers, start with the unattended group and keep it simple. If customers rely on you, put the attended tools through a live ticket. If you're an MSP, look at the platforms built for client networks first, and only then ask whether you need a separate app as well. My remote desktop software guide covers the wider field, and the TeamViewer alternatives page also lists RemotePC, which appears in both.
Three trial runs on an everyday laptop
Use an ordinary work laptop on home broadband, not a fast desktop on the office network. That's the setup your staff and customers will really have.
- A live support session. Ask a colleague to start a session from their side as if they were a customer. Time how long it takes them to get you connected without help, and note every prompt that confused them.
- An unattended connection. Leave a machine locked with nobody at it, then connect from home or a phone. Check it reconnects after a restart, that file transfer works and that the session closes cleanly.
- A look at the logs. See how each tool handles sign-in, two-step verification and access records. You want a clear trail of who connected to which machine and when.
Once those three runs are done, you'll know more than any write-up can tell you, and the shortlist tends to sort itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Is attended support the same as remote access?
No. Remote access means reaching your own computers, often when nobody's at them. Attended support means helping someone else in a live session while they watch, usually a customer or a colleague with a problem.
Can I use a free remote desktop tool for my business?
Sometimes. Check two things on the vendor's own site: whether the free edition is licensed for commercial use, and how it handles sign-in, encryption and access logs.
Which features matter most for an MSP?
Multi-client organisation, technician permissions, session logs and how well the tool fits the rest of your stack, such as monitoring and ticketing. The speed of one session matters less than how it handles many clients.
Will these tools connect to Macs and Linux machines?
Many will, but support varies by direction. Some can control a Mac but can't be controlled from one, so check the platform list for both ends of the connection.
How much disruption should I expect when switching?
It depends on how many machines need a new agent. A handful of office computers is an afternoon; a whole client base is a project, so roll it out in stages and keep the old tool live until the last machine moves.
Do I need endpoint management as well as remote access?
Only if you're responsible for keeping a fleet patched and configured. If you just need to reach or support machines, a focused remote tool is simpler to run.
