The most basic underlying difference is that Chrome Remote Desktop is built to remotely access a computer. Hence, you cannot use it to control a smartphone. Whereas, TeamViewer is more flexible and lets you remotely access any device. So, if you are still confused between both the apps, here is a brief rundown of TeamViewer vs. Chrome Remote Desktop and which one should you use.
Chrome Remote Desktop vs. TeamViewer
1. Cross-platform Compatibility
When it comes to cross-platform compatibility, both apps have a huge presence. To begin with, Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) is a web app. Hence, it doesn’t require any additional installation and is more convenient to use. However, if you want to host remote access, you will have to download the CRD host app. But since Google is shutting down Chrome apps, CRD will only be a web app in the future. On niche platforms like Raspberry Pi or Linux, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop via the Chromium browser. On the other hand, TeamViewer also has a web and a standalone app. For hosting remote access, you will have to install the TeamViewer standalone app. The app is available for a huge number of platforms like Linux, ChromeOS, macOS, Raspberry Pi, etc. Score: CRD 1 – 1 TeamViewer
2. Set up Process
Chrome Remote Desktop takes the cake here as it is extremely convenient to set up. In case, you want to remotely access a device, just use the Chrome Remote Desktop web app. For Android and iOS, you will have to download the mobile app. To establish a remote session via a smartphone, you just have to log in with the same Google ID on both the devices. Post that, enter your PIN for connection authentication and you are good to go. For one-off random system access, you can opt for a random access PIN instead. TeamViewer also follows a similar process but I found the TeamViewer app requires a few attempts before it can establish a connection. Score: CRD 2 – 1 TeamViewer
3. Features
Chrome Remote Desktop is a minimal app and it doesn’t provide any additional features worth mentioning. Both the apps provide you the option to sign up and register your devices under one account. On the other hand, TeamViewer provides a whole bunch of features that would suffice the need of any user. Foremost, you get a chat interface that often comes in handy as you have to communicate with the client. Additionally, TeamViewer also provides the flexibility of annotation, file transfer, etc. If you register and sign-in, you can also monitor your remote devices and take remote backup. Score: CRD 2 – 2 TeamViewer
4. Limitations
The major drawback with Chrome Remote Desktop is you cannot access your smartphone via the desktop. Additionally, if you want to remote control a random laptop, you cannot use a smartphone. Random access requires another laptop. In comparison, I didn’t find any such limitations on TeamViewer. The only thing is it requires you to install separate apps on mobile for remote control and host. Score: CRD 2 – 3 TeamViewer
5. Security
Security is also a major concern in remote access due to the recent scams. In terms of that, both the apps use AES/RSA to encrypt the connection. Hence, there are rare chances of data being sniffed in the network. Similarly, both the apps require user-id and password authentication when initiating a random connection. However, what I liked about TeamViewer is that while you are in the screen-sharing session, the desktop wallpaper turns black. Additionally, there is a dialog box at the bottom right-hand side indicating a screen sharing session. This makes you aware all the time that you are in a screen sharing session whereas I couldn’t find anything similar on CRD.
Having said that, once you have initiated a screen-sharing session, the person has unrestricted access to your files in both the apps. Hence, it personally comes down on you to be careful while dealing with a random user. Score: CRD 3 – 4 TeamViewer
6. Pricing
Chrome Remote Desktop is free by nature and there is no paid variant of it. Moreover, I wasn’t able to find a limit to the number of computers you can add to a single account. For personal use, TeamViewer is free. The only caveat is that you will get a pop-up after every session stating it is a free variant for non-commercial use. Hence, if you are planning to use it for commercial purposes, you should opt for the paid variant instead. TeamViewer offers multiple pricing starting at about $19/month. The paid services provide additional capabilities like establishing multiple concurrent sessions, in-depth remote device information, event logging, etc. Score: CRD 4 – 5 TeamViewer
Conclusion: Which one should you choose?
Although the winner is TeamViewer, the conclusion is not binary. In case you want to manage your own or family devices, Chrome Remote Desktop is an ideal option. Apart from remote file transfer, it provides the necessary controls that can get work done in most of the scenarios. However, if you want to start providing remote support to multiple individuals that have different operating systems, TeamViewer provides flexibility and a vast range of tools. For more issues or queries, let me know in the comments below. Also Read: Looking for Alternative to TeamViewer? Here are 5 Best of Them
