AnyDesk Free vs Paid Differences and Limitations You Need to Know!

Remote work wasn’t very common in all industries a decade ago, and the developers or tech people would mostly use software to connect devices or work on remote workstations. However, in recent times, we have witnessed an increasing trend of remote working and hybrid work models, which increased the need and importance of remote access software for any industry.

And when we say remote access software, AnyDesk has undoubtedly been the industry leader and winner. It is the most used remote support software with too many features to integrate it perfectly for any business type or size. However, when it comes to the pricing of AnyDesk, many small-scale businesses find it hard to cope with the recurring cost of using the paid version of AnyDesk.

In today’s article, we will walk you through the differences between AnyDesk free vs paid and AnyDesk trial limitations. We will also guide you on overcoming the AnyDesk free license limitations and using free remote access software.

So let’s get into it.

What Is AnyDesk?

You must be familiar with AnyDesk software, but here is a brief intro of the software for the people who’re just starting and trying to explore the alternatives of AnyDesk and the capabilities of AnyDesk’s free version.

AnyDesk is a remote desktop software that is built to allow users to connect to computers and other devices remotely. The cross-platform software also offers platform-independent remote access to remote devices. Besides, the software API can be integrated with your business management system and turn your business model into a hybrid one. Many other features of AnyDesk, like VPN, file transfer, etc., have increased the popularity of AnyDesk among all business industries.

Pricing Plans of AnyDesk

When you’re considering integrating AnyDesk software with your business or for personal use, the first thing you would need to do is go through the pricing plans of the software and the features you unlock with every plan.

So here are the pricing plans of AnyDesk, which you need to compare:

Solo

The basic plan of AnyDesk for personal use is Solo which costs around $10.90 per month. The users are billed annually, and you get one licensed user with access to 3 login devices. You get unlimited devices to connect with interactive access and up to 100 managed devices with unattended access. Besides, you get mobile device support, one outgoing connection, and all the features available for individual users.

Standard

The standard plan is the best value, costing $21.90 monthly and billed annually. When you purchase a standard plan, it allows 20 licensed users in a team, and one outgoing connection can be increased up to 20. There are up to 500 managed devices via unattended access and unlimited devices via interactive access. The standard plan also allows custom client generation, standard user management, and mobile device management.  

Advanced

The advanced plan of AnyDesk costs $57.60 per month and is billed annually. It is a perfect plan for small to medium-sized businesses and gives you access to extensive features needed for business management. The plan allows 100 licensed users with two concurrent connections that can be increased up to 50. There are up to 1,000 managed devices with unattended access and unlimited devices with interactive access.

Advanced user management, custom client generation, group policies, phone support, mobile device management, command line interface, and mass deployment(MSI) are the features in the advanced plan that are perfect for running your business in the hybrid model.

Ultimate(Custom)

Finally, if you think you have complex business needs and the standard features are not enough to cater to the scope of your business, you can get a custom plan tailored to your needs. The Ultimate plan involves a 1-to-1 discussion with the sales consultation team of AnyDesk to help you get the maximum value out of your professional license.

Can You Use AnyDesk Free Version?

We have already walked you through the plans of AnyDesk. However, if you’re unsure if it is the right software for you, you must be wondering if there is a free version of AnyDesk.

So the answer is yes. AnyDesk offers a free business trial version that you can download and try until you’re ready to purchase a full-fledged plan. Here is how you can get access to AnyDesk free version:

What Are Differences Between AnyDesk Free vs Paid Versions?

Although you can preview the features of AnyDesk by downloading and using the trial version, the full extent of the features set can’t be explored. Before you download the free license of AnyDesk, you should know the differences between the two versions. It will help you know what to expect when going for the free version.

The biggest difference between the paid and free versions is that you cannot access advanced features like user management, session settings, a higher number of users, and a lot more. The trial version works like a preview of the AnyDesk paid plan, and you cannot experience the software’s full capabilities.

We will further discuss the limitations of the software, so you know what to expect.

AnyDesk Free License Limitations

Here are the AnyDesk free version limitations that are unavoidable and make it a non-practical solution for long-term use:

Limited Device Access

The free version of AnyDesk will limit the number of devices that can be accessed. This means that only one user is allowed to access up to 3 remote devices over the network. This limitation is a big hurdle for users of the free version who have a need for multi-device access.

You Get No Access to Various Advanced Features

When you’re in the process of purchasing a business solution for AnyDesk, the free version seems like fresh air. However, as soon you download and install the software to walk through the feature, there is a big limitation.

The free version of AnyDesk doesn’t give you access to features like transferring files across devices(remote and local computer), remote printing, and session recording capabilities.

Session Limit Applies

Yet another among the AnyDesk free license limitations is the session time limit. Unlike the paid plans, you can only run a single session of up to 60 minutes. As soon as the session time limit hits, the current session will automatically disconnect. You will need to reconnect and begin a new session to continue your work. The session time limit is a big shortcoming for personal users who have to work for several hours.

Only for Non-commercial Use

Finally, AnyDesk’s personal use limitations include the disclaimer that the free version can be used only for non-commercial purposes.

The implications?

You can’t use the software’s free version if you intend commercial use. Besides, you will get annoyed by frequent ‘AnyDesk Commercials are detected’ messages leading to instant disconnection. As a  result, small businesses with budget constraints can’t use the AnyDesk software.

AnyDesk Trial Alternative: AirDroid Remote Support

After walking through AnyDesk’s free version limitations, you might wonder if it is worth it to pay for the full-fledged plan of AnyDesk.

The answer?

We have identified a great alternative to AnyDesk that allows you remote access and file transfer to unlimited devices for free or at a minimal price, depending on your needs.

AirDroid Remote Support is a remote access software allowing you to remotely support your mobile device for screen sharing, accessing augmented reality, and more. You can download the software right away and experience the features like:

Conclusion

We have walked you through AnyDesk’s free limitations, and there is not a lot you can do about it except opt to purchase the full-fledged plan of AnyDesk. However, when you have personal needs and are tired of Commercial Use Suspected notification of AnyDesk, you can try downloading and using AirDroid Remote Support software on your device and connect to remote devices on the go.