Remote desktop software
Remote Desktop Software for Windows, macOS and Linux
See and control another computer as if you were sitting in front of it: to support a customer, reach your own office PC, or keep a fleet of machines running. Both ends run the same program, and a device ID is all it takes to connect.
What a first session takes
- 1 Install on both machines The controlling machine and the remote machine run the same program, on Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2 Enter the device ID Every installation has a fixed device ID. Entering it is enough to request a session.
- 3 Accept, or use the access code Someone at the other end clicks accept. For machines nobody is sitting at, the access code connects without anyone approving.
What to check before you choose
Most remote desktop tools can connect two computers. The differences show up in four places, and each one is cheaper to check before rollout than after.
Does it work across networks without a VPN?
Connecting inside one office is easy. Reaching a machine behind a home router or on a mobile network is where tools differ, and requiring a VPN quietly rules out most support work.
Can it reach machines nobody is sitting at?
Servers, kiosks and your own office desktop need unattended access. Check how it is authenticated, and whether you can limit it to the machines that need it.
Can you answer who connected, and what changed?
Encryption protects a session; it does not tell you what happened in it. Connection logs and session recording are what make remote work reviewable afterwards.
How does the price grow?
Per user, per device, or per concurrent session. The model decides whether adding more machines costs nothing or scales line by line.
What WorksLink gives you
Each of the four checks above, answered with what the product actually does.
Connects without a VPN
WorksLink establishes its own encrypted connection, so machines on home broadband or a mobile network are reachable without setting up a VPN first.
Getting connectedAttended and unattended access
Request-based sessions for helping someone, access-code sessions for servers and your own desktop. Any licensed device can be configured for unattended access.
Unattended accessLogs and session recording
Connection logs, file transfer records and automatic session recording with playback, from the Team edition up.
Security and auditPriced by concurrent session
Channels, the billing unit, follow how many sessions run at the same time rather than headcount. Accounts and managed devices are licensed separately, each sized on its own.
Pricing and licensingSSL/TLS plus 256-bit AES
Sessions are encrypted end to end with 256-bit AES over SSL/TLS, and dual passwords keep session credentials separate from machine credentials.
Security checklistWindows, macOS and Linux
One program on all three. Any machine can control or be controlled, and file transfer and text chat run inside the same session.
PlatformsWhich edition you need
The full comparison is on the pricing page. This is the short version.
Free
Licensed for personal, non-commercial use.
- Remote access and control, file transfer, text chat
- Grouping, bulk deployment, unattended access
- 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption
- One concurrent session per account
Team
Start hereWhere teams start, and where the audit trail begins.
- Connection logs and file transfer records
- Automatic session recording, with playback and download
- Group sharing: each person sees only the machines they cover
- Channels added as concurrent sessions grow
Standalone deployment
When the server has to run inside your own network.
- Server deployed in your environment
- Arranged with our team rather than as a standard plan
Remote desktop software, by what you need it for
Supporting customers
You connect to a machine you do not own, so the person at the other end approves each session. What matters is how fast they can get you in, and whether you can show afterwards what you did on their computer. See customer-facing remote support.
Reaching your own office computer
This is the unattended case: nobody is at the desk, and the machine has to be awake and reachable. Five minutes of setup before you leave beats an hour of troubleshooting from home. See how to access your work computer from home.
Managing company machines
Once there are dozens of machines, grouping, bulk deployment and who can reach which group matter more than the session itself. See internal IT operations.
Building it into your own product
If remote control has to live inside your own software rather than as a separate program, the SDKs and REST API are the route. See integrations.
What it is not built for
- Remote gaming. WorksLink is designed for work, technical support and IT operations, and is not optimised for games. For remote gaming, a consumer remote tool is the better fit.
- It is not file sync. You operate the remote machine; files stay where they are unless you transfer them.
Common questions
Is WorksLink free?
The Free edition is free to download and use, and is licensed for personal, non-commercial use. Business use requires a paid plan. Current allowances for each plan are listed on the pricing page.
Which operating systems does it support?
Windows, macOS and Linux, with the same program on each. Any machine can control others or be controlled.
Do I need a VPN to use remote desktop software?
Not with WorksLink. It establishes its own encrypted connection and does not depend on a VPN, which is usually what makes reaching people on home or mobile networks practical.
Can I connect to a computer when nobody is there?
Yes. Configure unattended access on the remote machine, then connect with its device ID and access code. No one needs to approve the session. On the Free edition those sessions are not logged or recorded.
Do both computers need the software installed?
Yes. Both ends install the same program, and whichever side starts the session is the controller.
Is remote desktop software safe to use?
It is as safe as its configuration. Look for encryption on both the transport and the session, separate credentials for unattended machines, and connection logs with session recording. The security checklist on our blog walks through each item.
How is it priced?
The billing unit is the channel, which corresponds to one concurrent remote session. Accounts and managed devices are licensed separately. Most teams need far fewer channels than they have people, so estimate from sessions that genuinely run at the same time.