Best Free Remote Support Software in 2026

Remote work has provided employees and independent professionals with a different level of convenience. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote operations have become part of the norm, and among those who made the transition possible are IT professionals. With the help of remote support software, IT pros are able to provide tech support regardless of their and their clients’ location, especially for issues that involve complicated troubleshooting and software upgrades and installations.

Remote support solutions, however, often come with price tags that not everyone is willing to invest in right away. This is where free remote support applications have better advantages and here is a brief guide to help you learn more about the best software solutions in this category.

Free remote support solutions are the free trial versions of premium apps, the only difference is you can use them for as long as you like. Opting for vendors that offer free versions instead of limited free trials gives you an unlimited amount of time to test the features and other important elements that are included in the free plan. This allows you to make a more in-depth comparison of different remote support solutions, as well as helps you make a more informed decision on which software is worthy of upgrading to a premium version. 

When it comes to choosing the best free remote support software, the best approach we recommend is narrowing your list down to the platforms that currently have the highest SmartScore rankings and Customer Satisfaction Ratings in our remote support software reviews. This list includes ConnectWise Control, Zendesk,  Zoho Assist, HubSpot Service Hub, and Freshdesk.

Free remote support platforms are useful to IT professionals and businesses that only need standard or basic tools to access a computer remotely for different purposes, such as the following:

• SMBs looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly remote support solution for their clients. Small businesses have very limited resources. They cannot waste time and money on setting up and training for a sophisticated remote support platform. Remote support software free tools provide small businesses with the capability to assist customers from anywhere in the world.
• Companies with remote employees. Businesses with employees working remotely need access to office computers. Furthermore, remote employees also need hands-on assistance from the IT team, especially when it comes to troubleshooting or installing and updating work-related software.
• Freelance IT professionals. Independent IT professionals and IT consultants can benefit from free remote support platforms’ features, such as performing remote access on their clients’ devices, tracking issues, and more.

Below are some of the leading remote support software with completely free tools:

• ConnectWise Control. ConnectWise Control is a self-hosted remote support software that offers a free license for single-user accounts. The free version gives the user access to remote access, remote support, and remote meeting features.
• Zendesk. This popular helpdesk platform provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of applications that allow remote teams to provide customer support from any location via multiple channels, such as phone, email, live chat, social media, etc.
• Zoho Assist. Zoho Assist is a dedicated remote support and access solution designed for SMBs. It is a completely free platform that comes with advanced features, such as unattended access, two-way screen sharing, multi-monitor navigation, and SSL and 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard.
• HubSpot Service Hub. This product is part of the HubSpot CRM platform and provides businesses with free customer support tools, such as contact management, ticketing, and live chat.
• Freshdesk. Another leading helpdesk solution is Freshdesk and it offers modern customer support tools for small teams. Among free customer support features included in the free plan are an integrated ticketing system, a knowledge base, and team collaboration.

Free remote support solutions can be divided into the following major categories:

• Operating system-based solution. This type of remote support solution is built into the operating system a business is using.
• Third-party platforms. Third-party solutions fall under the more popular type of remote support software. These can either be self-hosted or cloud-based and require users to download the application to their devices or access the platform through the service provider’s website.

The features offered in the free plans of remote support platforms are typically standard tools that allow IT professionals to access, troubleshoot, and manage remote computers. Although the suite of tools can vary depending on the service provider, below are some of the important features you should be looking for in a good free remote support software:

• Unattended access. This feature allows IT technicians to access a remote computer even without anyone present on the other end. This feature is helpful during instances when remote clients are not capable of manually granting IT professionals access to their computers.
• File and clipboard transfer. Built-in file and clipboard sharing capability enables technicians to install applications, copy scripts or commands, etc., on their clients’ computers.

• Auto reboot and reconnect. This feature is critical when IT technicians need to manually install patches and software updates, or other tasks that require a reboot of their clients’ computers.
• Built-in chat. This eliminates the need for third-party communication tools as IT technicians and their clients can instantly exchange messages and updates through the remote support software’s chat feature.

Aside from being cost-effective, using a free remote support solution also have the following advantages:

• Less intrusive tech support. With the capability to access a client’s computer remotely and even when unattended, IT professionals are able to perform their tasks without disrupting their clients’ schedules.
• Immediate support. IT professionals no longer have to spend time traveling to their clients’ locations, which is very helpful during instances when clients need immediate assistance.
• Efficient network monitoring and management. For companies that have remote employees, remote support platforms allow their IT staff to monitor and manage user access to the company’s network and resources.

Using free remote support software is ideal for SMBs and independent IT consultants and technicians testing out a software’s reliability. There, however, comes a point when premium upgrades are necessary. Below are the pricing schemes remote support service providers typically offer:

• One-time purchase. This is a common payment scheme for on-premise or self-hosted software. You only have to purchase a software license once and you have complete control over your data, integration, configuration, and system updates.
• Fixed monthly and annual plans. This is typically offered by cloud-based remote support service providers and gives you more options based on your budget and frequency of payment.
• By-quote. This offers more flexibility, especially in terms of only getting and paying for the features you need.

For SMBs and independent IT professionals looking for a cost-effective remote software solution, opting for the free versions is an easy decision. Choosing the right software, however, is the real challenge as free remote software systems have limitations, especially when it comes to the number and type of features offered. This is why it is important to know and understand your business needs as it plays a crucial role in helping you decide which software solution is the best fit. 

Furthermore, it is also important to keep in mind that you will not be using a free remote support solution forever. This is where you have to take a software’s scalability into consideration and figure out whether its premium version is capable of supporting your business as it grows.