RemotePC by iDrive evaluation: The large canine of distant desktop and backup

Greatest Costs In the present day: RemotePC by iDrive

Having reviewed iDrive’s on-line backup service a number of instances through the years, I’m accustomed to the corporate’s penchant for feature-rich efforts. And RemotePC, which may leverage iDrive for backup, is probably the most feature-laden distant desktop software program on the planet. I just like the perspective—if it might probably or must be accomplished, let’s simply do it.

Notice: This evaluation is a part of our roundup of Greatest distant desktop software program. Go there to be taught extra about our analysis course of and the way competing merchandise examine./

Design and options

Even on the subject of the fundamentals, RemotePC is enjoying big-league ball. It helps each consumer/server entry utilizing regionally put in software program, in addition to web-based entry out of your browser. You can too invite others for one-off periods. RemotePC doesn’t depend on net entry for variegated OS help both: there are servers for Home windows, macOS, Linux, and—very unusually—Android. In distant desktop lingo, a server or host is the software program on board a tool that permits you to management it.

Android management might be insanely helpful for finding a misplaced telephone. Entry it out of your PC, and have your telephone make noise (play a tune, or change the ring tone) so you could find it. Don’t ask me why I instantly considered this… 😉

Most distant desktop applications present solely shoppers/viewers for Android (or iOS), from which you’ll management your remotes gadgets. Sadly, there’s no iOS server/host.

As talked about, iDrive is legendary for its top-rated on-line backup and storage (its amongst our prime picks for this activity), and the corporate leverages the service for backing up computer systems/gadgets with RemotePC put in. It prices an additional $60 a yr (solely $6 for the primary yr) however may be very beneficiant by way of capability—3TB whole. That must be sufficient for almost any end-user, even when safeguarding a number of PCs. Utilizing this facility requires putting in iDrive 360.

RemotePC is embarrassingly feature-rich. Simply a few of the highlights are: multi-monitor help with mapping to native shows; drag-and-drop file switch between the native and distant computer systems; display recording; distant sound and printing; whiteboarding (drawing on the show) and chat; in addition to display seize of distant periods.

RemotePC additionally provides an internet assembly facility, though, as with iDrive backup, it’s further—$10 a yr, which is fairly low cost. Low cost, but additionally competing with free options comparable to Zoom and Skype. It’s a troublesome market section.

RemotePC additionally offers a better expertise for Home windows RDP (Distant Desktop Protocol featured in pricier variations of Home windows). The software program offers brokers (a entrance finish for the Home windows service) for all RDP-enabled variations of Home windows, in addition to a viewer for each Home windows and macOS. It’s $10 per RDP laptop per yr.

Why would you wish to pay for one thing that’s in any other case free? Ease of use. RemotePC’s model provides portal-based connections and group administration so that you don’t should configure firewalls or routers.

Pricing

RemotePC isn’t free, so it’s possible solely of curiosity to customers with ongoing distant desktop wants, not these searching for the occasional one-off. I examined the Soho plan which is $79.50 a yr for 10 computer systems, however the $39.50 two-computer plan is probably going the very best match for many folks. There are additionally heftier plans for bigger companies and the enterprise class companies. All are discounted for the primary yr. See beneath.

Notice that the variety of computer systems in every plan is the variety of computer systems which may be managed. As with all providers, you may set up and use a consumer on/from any laptop. All of the presently accessible plans and the accompanying first-year reductions are proven beneath. As famous, backup to iDrive, RDP help, and conferences help are separate add-ons.

Efficiency

iDrive pressured to me the efficiency features of RemotePC. And in my expertise it was clear that it’s a precedence. Connections are made via iDrive’s net portal, however after that communications journey the shortest route. That made RemotePC fairly sprightly with each my native community and web periods. The pace with which RemotePC linked and transferred recordsdata was glorious, and navigating menus and home windows on the distant PC was extraordinarily facile.

I can’t say if RemotePC is the quickest RC program I’ve used, however it’s darn near TeamViewer—the general quickest in my expertise. The identical connections using Microsoft’s and Chrome’s Distant Desktop software program had been significantly much less zippy, albeit nonetheless completely usable. This was, nonetheless, from macOS so the state of native GPU driver help is suspect. I used to be additionally impressed with the standard of the audio RemotePC delivered from the, ahem… distant PC.

Efficiency controlling my Android telephone was first rate, although not good. There was the occasional bother scrolling, and the connection wavered a few instances. However as I mentioned earlier, that RemotePC can do it in any respect may be very helpful. I did really use it to find my telephone as soon as.

Wonderful in all regards

There are in fact free distant options, however RemotePC provides a lot extra performance (free and pay), and performs so effectively, that I’d advocate it for even the common person if the free stuff has confirmed irritating. It ought to in fact be on the brief listing for any IT division. In fact, it in all probability deserves greater than a 4.5. Add iOS management and we’ll discuss.