AnyDesk vs TeamViewer
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
AnyDesk
A fast, lightweight remote desktop client with a free personal tier and tiered business licences.
TeamViewer
The best-known remote access and support tool, free for personal use and sold on annual plans to businesses.
The short answer
TeamViewer and AnyDesk both let you control another computer over the internet, with free versions for personal use. TeamViewer suits help desks and families who want the tool the other person most likely already has, plus a wide set of IT add-ons. AnyDesk suits freelancers and small IT teams who want a light, responsive client at a lower cost. The biggest difference is TeamViewer's breadth versus AnyDesk's lightweight speed and on-premises option.
AnyDesk or TeamViewer: our take
The everyday workflow is almost identical: the person being helped shares a code or ID, you connect, and unattended access lets you reach your own machines later. TeamViewer has been around for two decades and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Raspberry Pi, plus a web app. It has grown into a broader IT platform with device management, monitoring and endpoint protection sold as add-ons, which has made its interface more crowded. AnyDesk is built around its own low-latency codec, so sessions tend to stay responsive on weak connections, and its small client supports Windows back to XP SP2 as well as macOS 11 Big Sur and later, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS and Android.
Both free versions have catches. TeamViewer is free for personal use on your own devices or for friends and family, but it watches for commercial-looking use and can flag accounts. AnyDesk's free version has session timeouts that force you to reconnect. For business, TeamViewer sells annual subscriptions licensed only to the person giving support. AnyDesk sells Solo, Standard, Advanced and Ultimate tiers, and the Ultimate licence can run on-premises for organisations that cannot route traffic through a vendor cloud. Both are abused by tech-support scammers, so only accept sessions from people you contacted yourself.
Choose TeamViewer if you support many people who may already have it installed, or you want device management and other IT tools from one vendor. Choose AnyDesk if you want a quick, light client for a small team, need very old Windows support, or need an on-premises deployment.
Which should you pick?
Choose AnyDesk if…
- Freelancers and small IT teams wanting a quick, light client at a lower price than TeamViewer
- You need to host it on your own servers
- Small client that starts quickly and stays responsive on weak links
- Free tier for personal use
Choose TeamViewer if…
- Help desks and families who want the tool the other person most likely already knows
- You need Web, which AnyDesk doesn't list
- Runs on almost every desktop and mobile operating system
- Free for genuine personal use
About each app
What is AnyDesk?
AnyDesk is a remote desktop app built around its own low-latency codec, so sessions tend to feel responsive even on slower connections. You install a small client, share an ID or address, and the other side accepts; unattended access with a password is also available for your own machines. It is a common pick for small IT shops and freelancers who find TeamViewer pricey, and the free version covers personal use with some session limits. Paid licences come in Solo, Standard, Advanced and Ultimate tiers that add more users, simultaneous sessions, address books, custom-branded clients and management features. The top Ultimate tier can run on an on-premises appliance for organisations that cannot route traffic through AnyDesk's cloud. Clients cover Windows going back to XP, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS and Android. AnyDesk is a frequent tool of phone scammers posing as tech support, so only accept sessions from people you contacted yourself.
What is TeamViewer?
TeamViewer lets you control another computer or phone over the internet, either with someone on the other end reading you a session code or unattended on devices you have set up in advance. It has been around for two decades, so many people already have it installed, which makes it an easy default for helping family or supporting customers. Beyond the core remote control it has grown into a broad IT platform with device management, monitoring, endpoint protection and augmented-reality support, sold as add-ons. Personal use between your own devices or with friends and family is free, but the free version watches for commercial-looking usage and can flag accounts, which frustrates some home users. Business plans are annual subscriptions licensed to the person giving support, not the people receiving it. Apps exist for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Raspberry Pi, plus a web app for starting sessions.
Side by side
| Attribute | AnyDesk | TeamViewer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | Freelancers and small IT teams wanting a quick, light client at a lower price than TeamViewer | Help desks and families who want the tool the other person most likely already knows |
| Status | Active | Active |
AnyDesk vs TeamViewer pricing
AnyDesk: free plan + paid
- Licence tiers: Solo, Standard, Advanced, Ultimate source
- Free version limits: Session timeouts source
TeamViewer: free plan + paid
- Who needs a licence: Only the supporting expert source
- Free for personal use: Yes, own devices or friends and family source
- Add-on trial: 30 days source
Platforms
| Platform | AnyDesk | TeamViewer |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
AnyDesk facts
5 of 5 verified- Licence tiers
- Solo, Standard, Advanced, Ultimate
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.anydesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “AnyDesk offers the following licenses: Solo Standard Advanced Ultimate”
- On-premises
- Yes, with the Ultimate licence
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.anydesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “License: Ultimate The AnyDesk On-Premises lets you host your own AnyDesk appliance server on your internal network, using either physical or virtual hardware.”
- Oldest Windows supported
- Windows XP SP2
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.anydesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Desktop operating systems Operating System Supported Versions Notes Windows Windows XP SP2 and later”
- macOS support
- macOS 11 Big Sur and later
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.anydesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “macOS 11 Big Sur and later”
- Free version limits
- Session timeouts
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.anydesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “If you want to avoid session timeouts altogether, consider upgrading to a paid license.”
TeamViewer facts
5 of 5 verified- Who needs a licence
- Only the supporting expert
- Checked Oct 25, 2026teamviewer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Does every session participant need a paid license? No, only an expert needs a license.”
- Free for personal use
- Yes, own devices or friends and family
- Checked Oct 25, 2026teamviewer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “This means if you are making connections between your own personal devices at home or are connecting to friends and family to assist or communicate with them.”
- Billing
- Annual subscriptions
- Checked Oct 25, 2026teamviewer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “At TeamViewer, we offer our customers annual subscriptions, which are paid for and renewed on an annual basis.”
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS, Raspberry Pi
- Checked Oct 25, 2026teamviewer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “\r\nAvailable for all major operating systems: Windows | macOS | Linux | Android | iOS | ChromeOS | Raspberry Pi”
- Add-on trial
- 30 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026teamviewer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Add-ons can be selected at checkout. 30-day free trial”
Pros and cons of AnyDesk
- Small client that starts quickly and stays responsive on weak links
- Free tier for personal use
- Supports very old Windows versions
- On-premises option on the top tier
- Free sessions time out and need restarting
- Many useful management features sit in higher tiers
- Widely abused by tech-support scammers, so some firms block it
Pros and cons of TeamViewer
- Runs on almost every desktop and mobile operating system
- Free for genuine personal use
- Only the person giving support needs a licence
- Large set of IT add-ons once you outgrow plain remote control
- Free users can be flagged for suspected commercial use
- Business plans are annual only and add up quickly with add-ons
- Interface has become crowded as the product widened
Other apps to consider
RustDeskInstead of AnyDesk
Open-source with a similar ID-based workflow, and you can run the relay server yourself.
SplashtopInstead of AnyDesk
Comparable speed with straightforward annual pricing for individuals and teams.
SupremoInstead of AnyDesk
Another light, install-free client with low prices and free non-professional use.
Chrome Remote DesktopInstead of TeamViewer
Completely free with a Google account and no commercial-use checks.
Zoho AssistInstead of TeamViewer
Lower-priced remote support with a lasting free plan, handy for small IT teams.
ConnectWise ScreenConnectInstead of TeamViewer
Popular with managed service providers and available as an on-premises install.
AnyDesk vs TeamViewer: common questions
Is AnyDesk better than TeamViewer?
TeamViewer and AnyDesk both let you control another computer over the internet, with free versions for personal use. TeamViewer suits help desks and families who want the tool the other person most likely already has, plus a wide set of IT add-ons. AnyDesk suits freelancers and small IT teams who want a light, responsive client at a lower cost. The biggest difference is TeamViewer's breadth versus AnyDesk's lightweight speed and on-premises option.
Is AnyDesk free?
AnyDesk has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is TeamViewer free?
TeamViewer has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is AnyDesk or TeamViewer open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do AnyDesk and TeamViewer support?
AnyDesk: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. TeamViewer: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Web.