GoToMyPC review

Remote access software It has two main uses: accessing your own computer, so you can use tools on it or grab files from wherever you are, and accessing other people’s computers, usually to help them. Solve technical problems. GoToMyPC works better for the first use case than the second. Although you can technically provide technical support to other people, you will need to set up their machines for remote access in advance. You can’t do it ad hoc. For that reason, GoToMyPC is more limited than other remote access software. Still, GoToMyPC is a handy tool if all you want to do is access your own computer, especially its files. But we don’t recommend it because other software does the same thing at a lower cost. TeamViewer We recommend the app to individuals, especially for its generous free version and Remote PC Our top picks for business. Both are Editors’ Choice winners.

How much does GoToMyPC cost?

There is no free version of GoToMyPC, just a seven-day trial. Personal plans start at $44 per computer per month or $528 per year for access to a single computer. You pay the same price for each computer you want to connect to, so connecting five computers would cost $2,640 per year.

The Pro plan allows you to access your enrolled computers from an unlimited number of remote devices. It costs $41.50 per PC per month or $498 per year, but has a minimum of two PCs. So, at minimum, you pay $83 per month to access two computers from an unlimited number of user accounts. A corporate plan costs $28 per computer per month and adds some features for business users, such as advanced administration tools and Wake on LAN so you can remotely wake up a PC that’s in sleep mode or turned off until it’s turned off. Connects to your local computer. Area network.

Even if you get a 20% discount (which you sometimes can for the first year), the price is very expensive compared to other remote access software, especially for personal use. TeamViewerFor example, free for personal use; Paid plans start at $298.80 per year for access on three devices. It is much cheaper than GoToMyPC, however Remote PC Even better—it starts at $29 per year to control one device and $99.50 per year to access 10 computers. A 10-device access plan with GoToMyPC costs $5,380!

Platforms supported by GoToMyPC

GoToMyPC may provide access from Windows and macOS computers only. But you can access your PC from A host of other devices. With the latest version of GoToMyPC, you now get access from a web browser with Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge supported. This means any device with a browser works, including those running Linux and even ChromeOS. GoToMyPC also has mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.

For this review, we accessed a Windows 11 desktop computer from a MacBook Pro, a Windows 11 laptop, and an iPad mini.

Getting started with GoToMyPC

You launch GoToMyPC from the company’s website, and you need to create an account before you can use it.

After setting up your account, you can share your computer by clicking Add this computer The server software (available for Windows and macOS) then downloads and prompts you to install it. From here, the server runs in the background of your device so that you can connect to it from anywhere else You should only install it on the computer you want to access it (not on the devices you’ll access it from). During setup, you set an access code that you’ll use to connect to that computer.

Now, on another device, go to GoToMyPC.com and log in to your account Click Connect, enter the access code for the device and you’re done. Remote sessions occur in your browser, as do file transfers. On mobile devices, you install the GoToMyPC app from Google Play or the Apple App Store, but it otherwise works the same way. Log in, choose your device, and enter the access code.

It works, but could be better

This new browser-based version of GoToMyPC runs much better than the old one Basic PC functions all work fine, like word processing and writing, as do slightly more computationally intensive processes like watching videos. On balance, however, TeamViewer and RemotePC work a little better, especially for video playback. But for a browser-based connection, GoToMyPC works extremely well. Note that if you prefer the old, desktop-based app, you can switch back to it—just toggle the New Version switch in the top-right.

By default, remote sessions are of small type. You can make your window larger by maximizing it and using full screen mode or reducing the size of the left and right panels.

The mobile version also works well, even if it’s a little weird. You get an on-screen mouse with tappable buttons and you drag the mouse around your mobile screen. Driving your PC from the mobile app takes some getting used to, but once you’re there, you can click and drag fairly intuitively. You can pinch to zoom in and out on any area of ​​the screen and three-finger-tap to toggle the on-screen keyboard.

File transfer and other features

The right-hand panel of the web client allows you to browse each file on your controlled PC, view details such as file size, and download it. A dedicated file transfer tool lets you browse folders on your current device and the device you’re connected to and transfer files between them. GoToMyPC’s sidebar also provides system information, such as statistics about CPU usage, storage, and memory.

A few features that were present in older versions of GoToMyPC are no longer available. For example, you couldn’t click and drag files from the host computer to the device you were controlling, which was very slick. A Guest Access feature, which allows people to control your computer without a subscription, has also been removed.

A company representative said that these features will eventually come to the new version of GoToMyPC and customers who depend on them should switch to the older version now. It’s frustrating that users have to choose between the higher streaming quality of the new version or the full feature set of the old one. Hopefully that won’t be the case for much longer.

Another change is that new customers won’t get the free antivirus protection from BitDefender that was previously included with the purchase (but you still have it if you bought GoToMyPC with BitDefender included). Check out PCMag’s list of the best free antivirus software if you need it.

Verdict: A legacy institution

If you look at the home page of GoTo, the company that owns GoToMyPC, you’ll notice that remote access software isn’t prioritized. It is not mentioned in the copy, only listed in the footer. GoToMyPC does not come as a core product for the company. Couple that fact with the extremely high price, and we can’t recommend GoToMyPC more highly. It might be worth using if having access to your PC through any browser becomes a game changer for you. We recommend the Editors’ Choice winners instead TeamViewer For personal use and Remote PC for business

About Justin Potts

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Justin Pott believes technology is a tool, not a way of life. He writes tutorials and articles that inform and entertain. He likes beer, technology, nature and people, not necessarily in that order. Learn more at JustinPot.com.

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