Every comparison of remote control software eventually runs into the same problem: the prices go stale. Between 2024 and 2026 AnyDesk nearly doubled the cost of its entry plan, and most articles still quote the old number. So the figures below were checked against the vendors' own pricing pages in August 2026, and the date is on the page so you can tell when they start aging.
Short answer: If you want to drive a PC from your phone — cursor, keyboard, media keys, files — Any Command is free to start and can connect over Wi-Fi, over the internet, or over Bluetooth. If you need to see and operate a remote desktop full-time across platforms, or support other people's machines, TeamViewer and AnyDesk are built for that and priced accordingly. Chrome Remote Desktop is the free middle ground if you only need occasional screen access and already live in Google's ecosystem.
What these tools actually are
It is worth separating two different jobs, because comparing them on one axis is where most articles go wrong.
Remote desktop means mirroring a screen and driving it with a mouse and keyboard, usually from another computer. TeamViewer, AnyDesk and Chrome Remote Desktop are all built around this.
Phone-as-remote means your phone becomes the input device: a touchpad, a keyboard, a media remote, a gamepad. Any Command is built around this, and adds screen viewing and file transfer on top. The distinction matters because a phone is a poor window onto a 27-inch desktop, but an excellent trackpad and remote.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Any Command | TeamViewer | AnyDesk | Chrome Remote Desktop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free, optional premium | $24.90/mo, billed yearly | $28.90/mo, billed yearly | Free |
| Works over Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, internet only |
| Works over the internet | Yes, via relay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works over Bluetooth | Yes, nothing installed on the PC | No | No | No |
| Runs with no network at all | Yes, in Bluetooth mode | No | No | No |
| Touchpad and keyboard | Free | Via desktop mirroring | Via desktop mirroring | Via desktop mirroring |
| Wake-on-LAN | Free | Paid plans | Included in Solo | No |
| Clipboard sync | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Performance monitor | Free | Paid plans | Limited | No |
| Screen viewing | Premium | Yes, core feature | Yes, core feature | Yes, core feature |
| File transfer | Premium | Yes | Yes | Remote Access mode only |
| Virtual gamepad | Premium | No | No | No |
| Phone as a second monitor | Premium | No | No | No |
| Mac and Linux hosts | Windows only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial-use detection | None | Free tier flags it | Free tier is personal use | None |
Prices are US dollars, taken from the vendors' pricing pages in August 2026. Both TeamViewer and AnyDesk advertise monthly figures but bill twelve months up front — neither sells a true month-to-month plan.
The pricing trap worth knowing about
Both paid options quote a monthly price that you cannot actually pay monthly. TeamViewer Remote Access shows $24.90 per month, charged as one annual payment. AnyDesk Solo shows $28.90 per month, which is $346.80 for the year, up front. Neither offers monthly billing at the time of writing.
AnyDesk's trajectory is the part most comparisons miss. Solo listed at $14.90 per month in January 2024, $22.90 in January 2025 and $28.90 in January 2026 — roughly a 94% increase in two years. If you are choosing a tool you expect to keep for years, that trend is as relevant as today's number.
Detailed comparison
1. Any Command
Any Command Phone as remote Free tier
Best for: Driving a Windows PC from your phone — couch and HTPC control, presentations, media, quick fixes without walking to the desk, and gaming with a virtual gamepad.
Pros
- Free tier covers remote control, clipboard sync, Wake-on-LAN, performance monitoring and the video remote
- Three ways to connect: Wi-Fi, internet relay, or Bluetooth
- Bluetooth mode needs nothing installed on the PC at all
- Works with no network whatsoever in Bluetooth mode
- One-time lifetime purchase available instead of a subscription
- No commercial-use detection, no session time limits
- Virtual gamepad and phone-as-second-monitor have no equivalent in the others
- Installer is signed and its SHA-256 hash is published for verification
Cons
- Windows only — no Mac or Linux host
- Screen viewing and file transfer are premium, not free
- Bluetooth mode trades away screen viewing and file transfer for its independence
- A phone screen is a compromise for full desktop work
- Not designed for supporting someone else's machine
Where it differs:
- Bluetooth as a real option: Your phone pairs as a standard Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so the PC needs no server, no account and no network. Nothing else on this list can do that. It is also the answer for a machine where you are not allowed to install software. The trade-off is honest and documented on the Bluetooth page.
- The free tier is usable, not a demo: Cursor, keyboard, shortcuts, clipboard sync, Wake-on-LAN and live CPU, GPU and memory readings cost nothing and have no time limit.
- Buy it once: Premium is available as a one-time lifetime purchase, so it does not follow AnyDesk's annual price curve.
- Input first, screen second: The touchpad, gestures and shortcut panels are the product, rather than a mouse pointer borrowed from a mirrored desktop.
Pricing: Free, with premium available as a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. See the pricing page for what sits in each tier.
2. TeamViewer
TeamViewer Subscription
Best for: Remote support, cross-platform access, and businesses that need managed devices and an audit trail.
Pros
- Reaches machines anywhere over the internet, reliably
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android
- Mature file transfer, remote printing and multi-monitor handling
- Best of this group for helping someone else with their PC
- Long track record and enterprise features
Cons
- Expensive: $24.90/mo for Remote Access, $50.90/mo for Business, both billed annually
- No monthly billing option
- Free tier frequently flags personal users as commercial
- Sessions route through their infrastructure
- Heavier than the alternatives for simple tasks
Pricing: Free for personal use with restrictions. Remote Access $24.90/mo and Business $50.90/mo, each billed as a single annual payment.
3. AnyDesk
AnyDesk Subscription
Best for: A lighter, faster-feeling remote desktop for people who want an alternative to TeamViewer.
Pros
- Small, quick to start, responsive on decent connections
- Works over the internet and on a local network
- Free tier for personal use
- Solo includes Wake-on-LAN and up to 100 managed devices
- Broad platform support
Cons
- Solo is now $28.90/mo billed annually — $346.80 up front
- Price has climbed steeply: $14.90 in 2024, $22.90 in 2025, $28.90 in 2026
- No monthly billing option
- Free tier is for personal use only
- Sessions route through their infrastructure
Pricing: Free for personal use. Solo $28.90/mo, Standard $49.90/mo, Advanced $111.90/mo, all billed annually.
4. Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop Free
Best for: Occasional free screen access for people already signed into a Google account.
Pros
- Genuinely free, with no tiers or upsells
- Quick to set up if you already use Chrome
- Cross-platform, works from any browser
- File upload and download in Remote Access mode
- Clipboard synchronisation included
Cons
- Needs an internet connection even for a PC in the same room
- Requires a Google account and Chrome
- No file transfer in Remote Support mode
- No Wake-on-LAN, no gamepad, no phone-oriented controls
- Sessions route through Google's infrastructure
- Quality tracks your internet speed, not your network
Pricing: Free, Google account required.
Which should you choose?
Choose Any Command if
- Your phone is the device you actually have in your hand
- You want a touchpad, keyboard and media remote rather than a mirrored desktop
- You want to start free and pay only if you need the premium features
- You would rather buy once than subscribe forever
- You need to control a PC where you cannot install anything, using Bluetooth
- You want it to keep working when the internet is down
- You play games or run an HTPC from the couch
Choose TeamViewer if
- You support other people's computers
- You need macOS or Linux hosts
- You want a full desktop session, not phone-shaped controls
- You need managed devices, logging or compliance features
- The annual cost is acceptable for your use
Choose AnyDesk if
- You want a remote desktop that feels lighter than TeamViewer
- You need cross-platform access over the internet
- You are comfortable committing to a year and watching the price
Choose Chrome Remote Desktop if
- You need screen access a few times a month and want to spend nothing
- Basic control and occasional file transfer is enough
- You already use Chrome and a Google account
- You are comfortable with sessions passing through Google
Picking a connection method
If you land on Any Command, the next choice is how it should connect. Each mode has a real trade-off rather than a best answer.
Wi-Fi
The default and the fastest. Phone and PC on the same network, latency measured by your router rather than your internet plan, and screen viewing and file transfer both available. Best for everyday use at home.
Internet relay
For when you are not home. The connection is routed so you do not have to open a port on your router, which costs some latency compared with Wi-Fi but reaches the machine from anywhere.
Bluetooth
The one nothing else here offers. Your phone pairs as a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so the PC needs no server, no account and no network. You give up screen viewing and file transfer, and gain a remote that works on a locked-down machine or with no network at all. The Bluetooth page lists exactly what does and does not work.
Try the free tier first
Remote control, clipboard sync, Wake-on-LAN and live performance readings cost nothing and have no time limit. Install the server, or skip it entirely and pair over Bluetooth.
Download Any CommandFrequently asked questions
What is the best remote control app for Windows?
It depends on which job you mean. To drive a PC from a phone, Any Command is free to start and is built around touch input. To operate a full desktop from another computer, or to help someone with their machine, TeamViewer and AnyDesk are stronger and cost accordingly. For occasional free screen access, Chrome Remote Desktop is enough.
Can I use Any Command over the internet?
Yes. Alongside Wi-Fi there is an internet relay mode, so you can reach your PC when you are away without opening a port on your router. Expect slightly higher latency than on your local network, which is the usual trade for the extra reach.
Is TeamViewer really free for personal use?
There is a free personal tier, but its commercial-use detection is well known for flagging genuinely personal users, which ends a session and asks you to buy a licence. If that risk matters to you, a tool without commercial-use detection is the safer choice.
Why did AnyDesk get so much more expensive?
AnyDesk has raised its listed prices repeatedly: Solo went from $14.90 per month in January 2024 to $22.90 in 2025 and $28.90 in 2026. Since the plans are billed annually, the increase lands as a single larger payment at renewal.
Which one works without an internet connection?
Any Command, in two of its three modes. Over Wi-Fi it needs a local network but no internet, and over Bluetooth it needs neither. TeamViewer, AnyDesk and Chrome Remote Desktop all require a working internet connection.
Which is best for gaming?
Any Command, because of the virtual gamepad and because a Wi-Fi connection avoids the round trip to a remote server. The others are remote desktop tools; their latency is fine for work and poor for games.
Are free remote control apps safe?
Judge them on where your session goes and what you can verify. Chrome Remote Desktop routes through Google, TeamViewer and AnyDesk through their own infrastructure. Any Command's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modes keep control traffic on your own network or the direct Bluetooth link, and the Windows installer is signed with its SHA-256 hash published so you can confirm the file is the one we released.
Conclusion
The honest summary is that these tools answer two different questions. If you want a full desktop on a bigger screen, or you fix other people's computers, pay for TeamViewer or AnyDesk and treat the annual bill as the cost of a professional tool — but go in knowing AnyDesk's entry price has nearly doubled in two years and that neither vendor bills monthly.
If what you actually want is your phone acting as a touchpad, keyboard and remote for your own Windows PC, that is a different product, and it is free to try. Bluetooth mode in particular has no equivalent anywhere else on this list: no server, no account, no network.