AnyDesk
Remote desktop for helping someone, or being helped, with a short number instead of setup.
Our verdict
AnyDesk is the app for the phone call that starts with "can you have a look at this". Both people install it, one reads out the nine-digit address on their screen, the other types it in, and the screen is shared.
That is the thing Remmina does not do. Remmina connects out to machines you control. AnyDesk lets someone connect in to you, which is what family tech support actually looks like.
It is closed source and your session is relayed through the company's servers, which is a real consideration if you are handling anything sensitive. It is free for personal use, and a paid licence is required if you use it for work. Installing it from AnyDesk's own site is the safer route, since the Flathub listing is packaged by the community rather than the vendor.
What's good
- Both sides just read out a number, with no router or network changes needed
- Lets someone see and control your Linux screen, which Remmina cannot do
- Same app on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, so relatives can stay on whatever they have
What to know first
- Closed source, and the connection goes through the company's servers
- Free use is for personal purposes only, and business use needs a paid licence
- The Flathub package is community made rather than published by AnyDesk
The details
- Cost
- Free with paid extras
- Open source
- No (Proprietary)
- How you install it
- .deb installer, .rpm installer, App store (Flatpak)
Windows apps it can replace
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