Best remote desktop apps for iPad: Access your Mac or PC from anywhere!

August 11, 2014

In search of the best iPad apps that let you access your desktop PC or Mac from anywhere? Let's face it, sometimes as humans we can be forgetful. Ever walked into a meeting and realized that you didn't remember to transfer a document or presentation you needed to your iPad? Or perhaps you forgot to email your finished lab assignment to yourself before leaving your dorm. Remote desktop apps for iPad let you take control of your computer, or someone else's if given permission, in order to view and transfer files while on the go. If you get work done both behind a desk and on your iPad, it's not a bad idea to have a remote desktop app handy. These are currently the best remote desktop apps available in the App Store for iPad!

Screens VNC

Screens VNC is dead simple to set up and start using. Just install Screens on your iPad and on your desktop computer and you're ready to fire up connections. Screens VNC has native apps for both iOS and Mac, but you can still create connections with Linux and Windows machines. Screens supports multiple displays too so if you have more than one hooked up to your Mac, it's not a problem. There's also support for shortcut keys, touch and trackpad modes, hot corners, AirPlay mirroring support, and more. Since Screens supports iCloud syncing, set up your computers on one of your iOS devices and you've got access from every device your iCloud account is linked to without any additional setup.

If you want a streamlined remote desktop experience, it doesn't get much better than Screens VNC.

$19.99 - Download Now

See also:

Screens for Mac - $29.99 - Download Now

TeamViewer: Remote Control

TeamViewer is available on virtually any desktop platform you can think of including Mac, PC, and Linux. Once TeamViewer is running on your desktop computer, you can easily access your files on the go. TeamViewer also has support for multiple displays as well as wake-on-LAN functionality so you can access your desktop remotely even if it's asleep. Since anyone can go to TeamViewer on the web, it's a great tool for remote support too. Just direct someone to the website and they can give you an access code to quickly and easily take control of their desktop. The best part is that TeamViewer is completely free for private and personal use.

If you provide remote support to friends and family now and again, or only need sporadic access to your own desktop computers on the go, TeamViewer is a great choice.

Free - Download Now

Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop

Splashtop 2 is one of the more flexible remote desktop apps available for iPad. If you just want to access your files from your iPad, you should be good to go with a one time purchase. However, if you want more than that such as the ability to annotate on the screen, play games with a built-in game pad, and much more, Splashtop 2 gives you those options as additional in-app purchases. Without them you can still access your remote desktop anywhere, view files, and use any application installed on your computer just as you would on your desktop.

Splashtop 2 is a great option for those that need advanced features such as annotation and full support for gaming with a dedicated gamepad.

$19.99 with IAP - Download Now

Currently on sale for a limited time for $4.99

iTeleport Remote Desktop

iTeleport is an incredibly powerful remote desktop app that gives you complete control over as many desktops as you'd like. Need support for international keyboards or Bluetooth keyboards? iTeleport supports them all and also offers SSH encryption for all platforms. There's also wake-on-LAN support, multiple display capabilities, and tons more. And if you plan on using iTeleport for education, there's even discounts available by contacting them directly. iTeleport also uses Google accounts for login which means there's one less username and password for you to remember.

If you have multiple computers to access and manage, iTeleport gives you truly unlimited access to all of them.