Splashtop Review

• Splashtop remote PC access software provides powerful security features to protect sensitive data.
• Splashtop excels at supporting remote teams and resolving technical issues to keep hybrid-remote workforces productive.
• We reviewed five of the most popular remote access software tools and selected Splashtop as the best for hybrid-remote computer access.
• This review is for small business owners and IT managers who are considering implementing Splashtop as their remote access software. 

Many businesses shifted to a remote work or hybrid-remote work model during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing many employees to work from home at least some of the time. Many of those arrangements will remain in place even as employees begin returning to offices, presenting unique challenges when it comes to accessing computers remotely, either for IT purposes or productivity. Splashtop Business Access is an easy-to-use remote desktop tool that provides access to unattended computers in real time with HD-quality video and sound. It provides a range of advanced security features, multi-device functionality, and multi-to-multi monitor support. The low entry price and ease of use make it an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses with employees who travel frequently or split their work schedules between the office and home. Splashtop also offers separate software solutions for remote support and distance learning. For these reasons, it is our best pick for remote PC access software for hybrid-remote access.

Splashtop Editor's Score: 96/100

Why Splashtop Is Best for Hybrid-Remote Access

With full-time in-office work becoming a distant memory for many companies across the country, the shift toward a hybrid-remote work scenario, with employees in the office a few days each week, brings new challenges. Splashtop Business Access helps ensure that employees who are regularly transitioning between their home office and traditional office never feel like they're missing access to the hardware and data they need to work efficiently from home. Splashtop accomplishes this better than most, with the ability to access your machine from almost any device, view multiple remote monitors simultaneously, and even share your desktop via weblink for lightning-fast collaboration.

The system is easier to set up than many others we've reviewed, meaning you don't necessarily need an in-house IT team to get your remote stations up and running. It's also an excellent solution for hot-desking, allowing multiple users to access the same machines.

Did you know? Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 17% of American employees worked from home five or more days per week. Now, 44% do – outnumbering the employees who never work remotely.

Source: Splashtop Business Access

Pros

• You can view multiple monitors simultaneously.
• It allows multiple users access to the same computer.
• Installation is easy and doesn't require an IT professional.

Cons

• All of the available business access plans require an annual subscription.
• The user interface feels a bit outdated in both the web-based and desktop dashboards.
• Remote access to the gesture-based "whitepad" annotation tool is only available on iPad.

Usability

We tested Splashtop's most popular plan, Business Access Pro. Right out of the gate, we found the installation process for our main computer and our unattended computer to be incredibly smooth and straightforward. While other products in this category have left us searching for various permissions to adjust during installation, Splashtop does an excellent job guiding new users through the steps.

Once you've installed the software, you can connect to an unattended computer with one click through the web-based dashboard, desktop dashboard or your mobile device. Once you're connected to your remote computer, everything from drag-and-drop file transfers to viewing spreadsheets is fast and easy, provided you have a strong internet connection for both machines.

You can access your remote computers from a mobile device with the Splashtop Business app. While the mobile functionality feels lacking for anything more than occasional use, the interface works surprisingly well when you pinch to zoom or tap to select folders and open files. There are five preset gestures to left-click, right-click, window scroll, screen scroll, and switch displays – and other gestures can be changed in the settings. For travelers who need to access files on their office or home computer while they're on the road, the mobile app is an efficient solution that gets the job done.

Features

Integrations

When considering new software, you need to make sure it will function well within your existing business ecosystem. Splashtop integrates with various apps and service platforms, such as popular CRM software. Its many integration partners include Jira, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Bitdefender, Datto, OneLogin and Microsoft Active Directory.

Security

Splashtop helps keep its users secure with an extensive list of helpful features, including multilevel password security, blank screen, screen auto-lock, session idle timeout, and remote connection notification. Apps are secured through device authentication, two-factor verification, TLS 1.2 and 256-bit AES encryption. The infrastructure is hosted on Amazon Web Services, which provides a secure network with firewalls, data encryption and DDoS mitigation. Splashtop also includes security breach prevention with 24/7 intrusion detection and defense mechanisms.

Source: Splashtop Business Access

Multi-to-Multi Monitor

One area where Splashtop stands out in a competitive field is the multi-monitor support. You can view several remote screens from your multi-monitor computer at the same time. This means you can easily access everything on your dual-monitor office setup from your home laptop or a multi-monitor home office computer. This relatively rare feature is incredibly useful for working with numerous spreadsheets simultaneously.

Cost

Splashtop Business Access lists three subscription options for individuals and small teams to access their computers from anywhere. It also has a fourth enterprise option with custom pricing and features. The plans vary in price and available tools, including the number of computers a user can access. Unlike many of its competitors, Splashtop requires an annual commitment for all of its plans. We highly recommend spending as much time as possible with the seven-day free trial version to ensure that Splashtop will be a good fit for you and your team before you make the annual commitment.

• Business Access Solo: $5 per monthly user, billed annually. You can access your unattended computers from any major operating system, view one remote monitor at a time, and switch between monitors. Other features include file transfer, remote print, audio and logging.
  
  
• Business Access Pro: $8.25 per monthly user, billed annually. Two users can access the same remote computer, access multiple remote monitors simultaneously, manage multiple users, share desktops via weblink, chat, record sessions, and remotely wake and reboot computers.
  
  
• Business Access Pro Volume Licenses: $6.19 per monthly user with 10 or more users; $6.60 per monthly user with 4-9 users (both billed annually). This plan includes the same features as Business Access Pro but with discounted pricing for four or more users.
  
  
• Enterprise options: Contact Splashtop sales for pricing. This plan includes Active Directory and single sign-on integration, granular privilege control, group-based access permissions, scheduled access, and more, with cloud and on-premises options available.

Setup

Splashtop feels like it was designed for the everyday computer user as opposed to an IT professional. The initial setup required to connect one computer to another is relatively easy, compared with many of the other access software providers we've reviewed. We like how Splashtop's install client leads you through the process of granting various permissions within your system preferences – a task that could be difficult for anyone who's new to this type of software. On the mobile side, access is as easy as downloading the app for Android or iOS and logging in with your Splashtop credentials.

Source: Splashtop Access

Customer Service

Splashtop has U.S.-based customer support, with international agents available outside of U.S. business hours to help resolve technical issues quickly, no matter what time they happen. The company boasts of "no hidden phone numbers, no automated agents, and no long hold times," which we found to be true in our limited experience with the live chat feature.

Splashtop also has a robust resource center with regularly updated articles, case studies and helpful videos. It offers a solid library of useful on-demand webinars, and users can also register for upcoming live webinars in advance. The team's open availability and emphasis on resolving issues quickly place Splashtop's customer service above average for remote access software vendors.

Drawbacks

One major drawback is the annual-only subscription options. That could be a dealbreaker for businesses that have committed to staying lean and flexible with their monthly software fees. Most of Splashtop's competitors offer a low-cost annual option as well as a higher-priced monthly option. You can see an example in our review of RemotePC by IDrive. The other issue with this pricing structure is the remaining uncertainty as to how offices will handle hybrid-remote policies moving forward, with some companies struggling to commit to a long-term plan for where their employees will work.

The desktop console for Splashtop Business feels and looks lacking compared to the web-based console. While many remote access customers are more than happy to accomplish their work through a web browser, some users may find the lack of a robust desktop client an issue. We think the overall experience would improve if the desktop and web-based consoles followed a similar design structure.

Methodology

We spent one month with 10 of the most popular unattended access and remote support tools, testing their remote access and support capabilities on multiple Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. For each individual review, we spent at least two days attempting to find any shortcomings across devices and activities. Once our review sessions were complete, we scored each product on pricing, ease of use, features, integrations, and security to arrive at a relative score that takes the entire industry's offerings into consideration.

What Is Unattended Access and Remote Support?

Unattended access is a category of software that gives business owners, IT staff, and other workers the ability to take control of a second computer or mobile device from anywhere in the world with a strong internet connection. It was developed to allow technicians to troubleshoot computers from a distance, but it has become a very popular tool for hybrid-remote employees who need to access their office computers from home or vice versa. Most unattended access software providers also feature remote support as part of the same subscription plan or as an add-on that functions within the same user interface.

FAQs

Is Splashtop free for individuals?

Yes, Splashtop does offer a free limited plan for personal use. The free version is limited to your home network, granting access to your computer from an iPhone, iPad or Android device for mobile remote access. Personal users can also access a remote computer from another computer when connected to the same network.

Is Splashtop safe?

Yes, Splashtop utilizes a number of cybersecurity measures, including multifactor authentication, 256-bit AES encryption, 24/7 intrusion detection and DDoS protection. In fact, Splashtop is used in organizations with strict regulations regarding data security to comply with HIPAA, GDPR, PCI and other high standards.

Bottom Line

We recommend Splashtop for …

• Individuals who want to access up to 10 computers simultaneously through one account.
• Small businesses and enterprise-level companies looking for a cost-effective solution for computer access software.
• Small businesses without dedicated IT staff seeking easy setup and quick remote access.

We don't recommend Splashtop for …

• Businesses that prefer a monthly billing option for their tech stack.
• Individuals who want a sleek and modern interface that's consistent between the desktop and web-based consoles.