Remote login applications typically are used by tech support workers to take control of a remote computer to manage and troubleshoot the machine. They also can be used for logging into your home or office system while traveling, and for videoconferencing, sharing documents, and collaborating.
TeamViewer and LogMeIn Pro are two of the top-rated remote login solutions. Each provides a console that allows you to control a remote computer as though it was your own, and their overall feature sets for managing computers remotely are similarly comprehensive.
TeamViewer and LogMeIn each have a large and devoted following among tech support professionals, and there are online forums in which advocates argue passionately about the superiority of their preferred solution.
TeamViewer receives universally high praise for its unparalleled ease of setup and use, as well as its ability to install its login client remotely over the Internet without having to be physically present at the remote machine.
LogMeIn supporters praise its technical capabilities, performance, and ability to access a client without a person being physically present at the other end. LogMeIn also has the ability to install without being physically present at a computer.
Pricewise, although TeamViewer and LogMeIn are among the best remote login solutions, you have to pay a premium to license them. Comparatively pricing these solutions gets tricky because the licensing schemes and numbers of concurrent users and managed clients supported differ, as do features and capabilities that are priced as add-ons.
TeamViewer sells lifetime licenses for its Business, Premium, and Corporate plans for $749, $1.499, and $3,107, respectively. However, the number of remote sessions in its Premium plan is limited to one and in its Corporate plan to three, and additional sessions are $849 each.
LogMeIn Pro is priced at $12.20 per computer per month, or $69 per computer per year, with discounts for 5, 10, and 25 computers. For above 25 computers, you must contact sales for a quote. LogMeIn Central, a web-based management console, is $299 per year or $49 per month.
Some users feel the cost over the lifetime of using TeamViewer and LogMeIn is fair, while others find their pricing too expensive.
For TeamViewer, there are a number of complaints and warnings online from users who claim the company used misleadding practices, including disabling their clients, to force them to pay for upgrades to new versions soon after they had licensed a version.
For example, Mike from Xzyla Corp. complains:
“Be careful with Team Viewer licensing…The problem is team Viewer asks you to upgrade, so myself and clients have upgraded only to find out our licenses didn’t work anymore. To upgrade we have to pay an upgrade cost on each license including the ones we purchased 2 months ago.”
“You will buy a license, then they will update the ''version' and of course new versions are not compatible with old one(s) and you have to buy new licenses. Be careful with this company.”
Bottom Line: TeamViewer and LogMeIn Pro both have strong reputations for their ease of use and technical capabilities. Each offers a free version you can try. Choose the solution that best meets your needs and preferences, and be prepared to pay a premium for a business solution.
Comparz provides user reviews and rankings of software services and tools for small and mid-sized businesses. Click here to view Comparz' business software reviews and rankings.
You may also want to try free Ammyy Admin
http://www.ammyy.com
It doesn't require installation or specific config. It works behind gateways NAT without port mapping as well as within one LAN.
Good alternative though!
I think LogMeIn Rescue is more comparable to Teamviewer Business than LogMeIn Pro. Last Oct I upgraded my software so I did all the assessments again. While both of those are really good software (heck I used Teamveiwer for 3 years without many problems) there is also ScreenConnect for $275 (you own it after you purchase). I like that model as opposed to the SaaS based model- pay as you go.