AnyDesk is one of the best remote desktop access software. It supports various platforms, including macOS.

Today, we will take a look at AnyDesk and assess its features, performance, and overall user experience.

Key Features

• Cross-Platform Support – one of AnyDesk’s main selling points is its extensive support for different operating systems. This allows your Mac to seamlessly connect to devices running Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. 
• Security – AnyDesk is serious when it comes to security, offering features like RSA 2048 asymmetric key exchange and TLS 1.2 encryption. This ensures that your data remains safe and confidential during remote sessions. 
• Seamless File Transfers – AnyDesk allows users to transfer documents, images, and other files between local and remote machines. 
• Remote Printing – this feature allows users to print documents from a remote Mac to a local printer. 
• Intuitive Interface – AnyDesk’s interface is easy to navigate. Most of the functions you’ll need are accessible within a few clicks and all the menus and buttons are properly labeled and easy to understand. 
• Performance – AnyDesk is known for its speed and performance. The software uses its own video codec, DeskRT, that is optimized for data transfers, allowing smooth and responsive remote desktop experience even on slower internet connection.

User Experience

Downloading and installing AnyDesk is straightforward. The configuration process is user-friendly even for users with no extensive technical knowledge. 

AnyDesk’s interface is clean and most actions are just a few clicks away. 

Another thing worth noting is that even on slower internet connections, AnyDesk performed well, delivering smooth screen sharing with minimal latency. 

When connected to a high-speed fiber connection, the experience is even better. Remote access performance was almost indistinguishable from using a device locally. 

Besides remote access and screen sharing, I also liked AnyDesk’s support for remote printing, session recording, and file transfers between a local and remote machine. 

Performance

During my testing, I did not notice any issues with AnyDesk’s performance. Screen sharing was smooth and I did not notice any lags during remote sessions. 

I tried using it while connected to my phone’s hotspot and I was still able to remote access my Windows desktop without any problems. 

However, this is not to say that AnyDesk is flawless. While remote accessing my desktop, I did notice some issues with audio quality. 

I also noticed that AnyDesk uses a significant amount of system resources. Although it did not affect my M1 MacBook Air’s performance, it might slow down older Macs with Intel chipsets.

Pricing

Solo ($12.90)

• 1 Licensed User (up to 3 login devices)
• 1 Outgoing Connection
• Up to 100 Managed Devices (Unattended Access)
• Unlimited Devices to Connect to (Interactive Access)
• Support for Mobile Devices

Standard ($25.90)

• 20 Licensed Users (in a team)
• Starts with 1 Outgoing Connection (can add up to 20)
• Up to 500 Managed Devices (Unattended Access)
• Unlimited Devices to Connect to (Interactive Access)
• Custom Client Generator
• Support for Mobile Devices and Mobile Device Management

Advanced ($67.90)

• 1000 Licensed Users (in a team)
• Starts with 2 Concurrent Connections (can add up to 50)
• Up to 1000 Managed Devices (Unattended Access)
• Unlimited Devices to Connect to (Interactive Access) 
• Advanced User Management
• Custom Client Generator
• Command Line Interface
• Mass Deployment (MSI) and Group Policies
• Support for Mobile Devices and Mobile Device Management
• Phone Support

Final Thoughts

AnyDesk is a top contender in the remote desktop market, packing a well-rounded combination of performance, versatility, and user-friendliness. Whether you need to troubleshoot a device remotely or simply want to access your Mac on the go, AnyDesk’s smooth screen sharing, multi-platform support, and extensive features are simply hard to pass on. 

PROS: 

• Fast and smooth remote access performance
• Cross-platform support
• User-friendly interface
• TLS 1.2 encryption

CONS: 

• Uses significant resources
• Not the best audio quality during remote sessions