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Top 3 Free Remote Access Solutions
Ever get a call from a friend with a computer problem so bad that they needed you come over right away and help them fix it?
Well, after reading this article you will be able to save yourself a ride and just click away from the comforts of your own home.
There are a lot of Remote Access options out there, and it might feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack (well, not really), but it can get a bit confusing.
In my experience, I’ve found three very easy and free alternatives that make remotely accessing another computer a breeze. You don’t have to worry about firewalls, static IP’s, fees, etc.
The top 3 remote access solutions I’m talking about are: TeamViewer, LogMeIn and CrossLoop.
Each of them has different features that make them stand out, and all are extremely helpful and easy to use. Today I’ll talk about all three and I’ll even show you how to set them up and use them so that you can decide which one is right for you.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is my favorite choice.
It’s extremely easy to setup and allows you to connect to a remote host, control the PC, transfer files between computers, and do other important things while connected through the internet.
Its ease of accessibility (through firewalls and NAT proxy) make it a breeze to work with and the additional features coupled with the fact that it’s free makes TeamViewer a great choice.
All you have to do to connect to another computer is run TeamViewer on both machines. Partner ID’s are generated on both computers along with passcodes so you can have instant access. Let’s take a look.
Start by going to the website www.teamviewer.com and click on the Start Full Version — It’s Free! link to start the download.
Once you download it, the setup guide should come up looking like this:
Select whether you want to install TeamViewer, or just run it
Select how you plan on using it
Accept the license terms and click next
Select one of the two Access Control options
As you can see, the setup is really straightforward. You just need to go through and answer, accept, click next, and repeat.
What eventually comes up is the TeamViewer screen with a Wait for Session or Create Session options as well as an ID and password. The ID & password is what you give to the host connecting to your machine and you can create a session if you have someone else’s ID information.
After you connect to a session you are able to remotely control the other PC and up on top you can see a file transfer option. This works great and is very helpful if you need to get a file from home while you are at work.
And that’s all there is to TeamViewer. It’s helpful on multiple levels and is easy to use when you have to connect to someone’s computer in a pinch.
LogMeIn
LogMeIn is also free remote access software that allows you to connect to your home computer from anywhere with an internet connection.
It differs in TeamViewer in that you don’t’ need the ID and password on the other end to connect to the computer. You just have to install the LogMeIn software on the PC and you can have multiple machines under one account.
For example, I have my parent’s PC, my friends, etc. under my account so if they ever call me with a problem I can easily access each machine from anywhere. Sounds pretty sweet right?
A word of caution — LogMeIn doesn’t allow file transfers, just remote access.
To use it, you have to setup an account at LogMeIn and you have to have the computer’s username and password to connect to it. Let’s take a look at how to do this.
First, select the option you want to use; you’ll have a few of them to choose from. You can pay for an account with multiple options such as transferring files, monitoring, and more, or you can use the free one with limited options. I’m a cheapskate so I signed up for the free account and I am satisfied with it, I think you will be too.
Let’s create an account — click on the Create an account link in the top right hand corner of the home page. Now you’ll see a list of all the products that are available. Look for LogMeIn Free under Personal Remote Access and click on Sign up.
You know the drill …
After you fill out your info you will see a page asking you if this is the computer you want to add to LogMeIn. Click Add Computer and the installation process will begin.
What you’ll see next is the LogMeIn installation process. It’s quick & simple.
Put in a description or Name for your computer …
Along with your account information …
Choose the install location …
And click Finish.
After installation is complete you should see the computer added under My Computers along with any others you have setup under your account.
Once you click on the name of the computer you will be prompted to enter username and password:
Then you can go ahead and remotely control the said computer. Pretty simple right? While you can’t do everything with the free version of LogMeIn, it is useful for control and setting up multiple PC’s under one account.
CrossLoop
Crossloop is similar to LogMeIn but it only allows a 1 to 1 connection at a time.
What I mean by that is while LogMeIn allows you to have multiple machines under one account, Crossloop does not.
You install Crossloop on the host machine and then on the connecting computer. The host machine issues out an access number that you give to the connecting PC and then a connection can be made.
It’s extremely simple, reliable, and the best part is — it’s FREE! So let’s take a look.
You will have to download a small app to use Crossloop on both computers.
Click on the Download button in the top right hand corner.
Now all you have to do is enter your email address and download the CrossLoop package.
Once you’ve downloaded it, fire it up and start the installation. It’s a really simple process.
Once the installation completes, you should be prompted with the login box.
When you’re logged in you will see two options: Access and Share.
The Access option allows you to connect to another person’s computer and the Share option allows another person to connect to your computer.
So if you want to connect to your friend’s computer ask them to:
- sign in to CrossLoop
- click on the Share tab
- send you the Access Code number
- click on the Connect button
Then all you have to do is enter the Access Code that your friend sent you on the Access tab and click Connect.
On your CrossLoop screen, make sure the Access tab is selected, enter the Access Code you were given by the person who wants you to connect to them, and then click Connect.
It’s that simple.
Once you establish a connection you can go wild on their computer, just remember, they can see what you’re doing. Also, the host computer can disconnect at any time.
Which Remote Access Solution is the Best?
As I said before, there are a lot of options out there when it comes to setting up remote connections on your computer. Which solution is the best is really up to you — your personal preferences, and what you’re trying to accomplish.
The three solutions I listed here will help you accomplish most of the tasks associated with remote control, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. Give them a shot … hey, after all they are free!
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9 Responses to “Top 3 Free Remote Access Solutions”
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Kasia Grabowska Says:
August 12th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Chuck Beck posted a very useful comment on our Facebook page about Instant House Call:
“… number one, it has tons of features such as unattended remote support, small footprint, and uninstalls when your done doing work on a clients computer. Also the price for 3 months is 150 bucks for their medium level. And if you are a member of Technibble, you get 2 months for free. So it only cost me 150 bucks for 5 months… Who can beat that! yeah i know the free versions you offered can beat that, but they come with baggage and limitations! why do i want to have my client go to cross loop where they can find other reps to take my place? and the free version of log me in is just lame you have to go install it on the customers pc… instant house call also has a free version that you can use to support family and friends and its unlimited. Another thing about instant house call is you can reboot in safe mode and still be logged in.. a better atmosphere to remove spy-ware and virus’s!”
Thanks Chuck! We’ve added Instant House Call to the poll — so go vote for your favorite Remote Access software!
Kasia
Steven Says:
August 13th, 2009 at 3:17 am
I voted for Radmin. Like it for its stable work.
Arbee Says:
August 13th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Microsoft SharedView works a lot like TeamViewer and is freely downloable.
Jasmin Says:
August 13th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Hi,
Thanks for this nice post from the TeamViewer crew in Germany.
We really appreciate it!
If you are looking for fresh news about TeamViewer please subscribe to our feed:
http://feeds.teamviewer.com/company/newsfeed.aspx.
For any additional information on TeamViewer please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Jasmin
TeamViewer GmbH Germany
Bakkiyaraj.M Says:
August 13th, 2009 at 10:58 am
can anyone guide me to install an os via remote or an lan
Eddie S. Says:
August 15th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I know that LogMeIn supports being able to blank the clients screen while you work. Does any of these other programs have this feature?
ccox Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Yes, Logmein Free is limited but if you purchase the Pro version or especially the IT Reach version, there is nothing better on the market. It has every imaginable tool. If you need remote support that the user on the other end allows you in and then it uninstalls when done then look at LogMein Rescue. It is expensive but again nothing compares to it on the market. I have done much research and ended up with LogMeIn IT Reach and LogMeIn Rescue.
If you are just looking for something for free then all of them will work very well but my choice for a free one would be TeamViewer.
Andrew Donnelly, Mikogo Web Conferencing Says:
August 24th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Hi Roman,
Have you used Mikogo for free remote support? Mikogo is an easy-to-use desktop sharing app and free for both commercial and private use. It includes remote keyboard/mouse control and file transfer for remote support sessions, plus it allows you to share your screen with up to 10 people for web conferencing.
You can check it out at http://www.mikogo.com and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Cheers!
Andrew Donnelly
The Mikogo Team
Twitter: @Mikogo
Braintiller Says:
February 25th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Thank you so much for giving such an informative article. RHUB remote access is one product I know that ensures guaranteed connection even through lock down computers and restrictive firewall settings. As far as security is concerned, it provides the greatest security of your own firewall. In addition to that it has IP address-based access control. So, you don’t even need a VPN. Remote control is instant and faster, allowing you to connect to your PC from anywhere, anytime, without any hassles.