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AnyViewer Free vs Paid Versions: A Closer Look at the Differences

Author: Bohdan Mantula
Bohdan Mantula Article author

AnyViewer is more than just another remote desktop tool from AOMEI. It has built a following among solo technicians and small teams and is available with one free plan and three paid plans. 

The Free plan comes with no forced commercial-use block and no time-based session cutoff, and it holds up well on paper. But the issues become noticeable once you see the image quality or try to transfer your large files. 

In this article, we will take a closer look at both the plans and pinpoint differences between AnyViewer’s free and paid plans.

Note:  If you hit some of those caps with AnyViewer’s free plans, HelpWire offers a viable alternative. It is remote access software for Windows, macOS, and Linux that comes with a free plan as well. It has zero business-use restrictions and unlimited session time. Check out that section for a full breakdown of the details.

Limitations of the AnyViewer Free Version

AnyViewer covers basic remote-access work on its free tier, but the AnyViewer free version limitations push single users and small teams toward a paid plan or an alternative solution.

  1. A single account allows only three devices to log in: The Free plan restricts accounts to three logged-in devices only. Once you hit that cap, you’ll need to remove a device before adding a new one.

  2. File transfer speeds max out at 500 KB/s: AnyViewer limits free users to 500 KB/s across two threads, with a maximum of 100 files and 100 MB per file. With paid tiers, transfer speeds jump to 10 MB/s across five threads, files up to 2 TB in size, and no limit on file count per transfer. On the Free plan, connection speed and image quality are limited as well.

  3. No Linux client is available: AnyViewer offers its desktop version on Windows and macOS only and its mobile apps on iOS and Android only. It currently has no Linux desktop version.

  4. Some features for Mac are still pending: AnyViewer’s comparison table shows that features, such as Screen Wall, which displays multiple monitors from a single view, and proxy server support for remote connections are not yet available on macOS. The drag-and-drop file transfer feature also works only for Windows-to-Windows connections.

  5. Doesn’t support link-based session start: The remote user needs to install the AnyViewer app. And then, they will need to enter a device ID with a security code or sign in to an AnyViewer account. There’s no link-based option to start a session.

Now, we’ll line up AnyViewer’s free tier against its paid version and one alternative, HelpWire, to see where the free plan stands in the competition.

FeatureAnyViewer FreeAnyViewer PaidHelpWire Free
Unattended devices               3         5-100               5
File transferStandard speed (500 KB/s, 2 threads, 100 files at a time, up to 100 MB/file)High speed (10 MB/s, 5 threads, up to 2 TB/file)Not throttled, the same speed applies on every plan
Connection speedHighHigher Not throttled, stays the same on every plan
Image qualityNormalHigh/ultra-highNot throttled, stays the same on every plan
Access multiple monitors from a single view Supports 1 wall with 2 devices, but isn’t available on macOS1 to unlimited walls based on the plan, but not supported on macOSSupports 2 displays across Windows, macOS, and Linux
Linux support              ❌               ❌              ✅
Proxy server connection supportNo macOS supportNo macOS supportSupports all major desktop platforms, including macOS
Drag-and-drop files between devicesLimited to Windows-to-Windows transfers onlyLimited to Windows-to-Windows transfers onlyCompatible with Windows and macOS
Session startRequires app installation with a device ID/security code or account sign-inRequires app installation with a device ID/security code or account sign-inRemote users join through a link with no account required
Note:  On top of offering no limits on file transfer speed, image quality, or connection performance, a few more points work in favor of HelpWire’s free tier in comparison with that of AnyViewer.
  • • HelpWire runs on Linux, something no AnyViewer plan offers (free or paid).
  • • It allows you to connect through a session link, and the remote user joins it without installing any software or signing in, unlike AnyViewer.
  • • It includes features like multiple monitors from a single view, proxy server connections, and drag-and-drop on macOS.

HelpWire: A Solution to AnyViewer Free Plan Limitations

HelpWire steps up when you are looking for a way out after hitting a roadblock due to AnyViewer free version limitations. It addresses those issues as mentioned above and works across Windows, Linux, and macOS machines.

Take a look at what HelpWire’s free tier has to offer:

• Speed and quality: Whether you are transferring files or looking to avoid a remote desktop slow connection, HelpWire keeps performance consistent instead of holding it back on purpose. Image quality follows the same rule and stays untouched no matter which plan you are on. This means you get a similar experience to the one AnyViewer offers only on paid tiers. The free version of AnyViewer comes with restrictions on file transfers, image quality, and other remote access features.

• Multi-monitor support on multiple operating systems: HelpWire lets you view up to two displays at once across Windows, Mac, and Linux without OS-based limitations. Screen Wall is not available on AnyViewer for macOS across both free and paid plans, while HelpWire supports multi-monitor viewing on Mac. 

• Proxy server support across desktop platforms: For remote sessions, HelpWire automatically uses a direct P2P connection or switches to a proxy-relay server when needed, including on Mac. AnyViewer’s proxy-server support is still unavailable on macOS, with no difference between its free and paid plans.

• Drag-and-drop file transfer on Mac: HelpWire lets you transfer files using drag-and-drop on both Windows and Mac. This means you can send files to remote devices whether you are using Windows or macOS. AnyViewer’s drag-and-drop feature is limited to Windows-to-Windows transfers on every tier, while Mac users don’t get the feature even with a paid plan. 

• Remote access through a shared link: Remote users can join a session through a dedicated link instead of entering an ID or password. It is suitable for both one-time remote support and ongoing sessions. HelpWire makes remote access simpler by avoiding app installation, device IDs, and account sign-ins for remote users. AnyViewer doesn’t offer this even in the paid plan. 

Furthermore, the HelpWire Free plan supports 1 licensed user, 5 unattended devices, and 1 concurrent remote session, while allowing unlimited on-demand sessions.

AnyViewer Pricing Plans Comparison

AnyViewer offers 4 pricing plans to choose from:

• Free Plan: It is a no-cost plan for a single user with a small number of devices to manage.

• Solo Plan: This plan is ideal for individual users who need more device logins and better transfer speeds.

• Team Plan: It supports multiple licensed users, additional devices, and team-based device deployment for small businesses.

• Enterprise Plan: This plan is made for larger organizations that need to manage more users, devices, and deployments.

Paid plans are also available with 3-year and 6-year prepayment terms, which reduce the effective monthly rate compared with annual billing. Pricing and plan terms may change, so check the official AnyViewer pricing page for the current rates and details. 

 

PlanPrice (billed annually)Licensed usersCurrently connected devicesSimultaneous sessions
Free$01102
Solo$3.99/mo ($47.88/yr)130Unlimited
Team$15.99/mo ($191.88/yr)10200Unlimited
Enterprise$25.99/mo ($311.88/yr)30500Unlimited
See our AnyViewer review for additional details about the remote desktop software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The AnyViewer free version allows up to 3 logged-in devices, 10 connected devices, and 2 simultaneous remote sessions. File transfers are limited to 500 KB/s on the free plan, compared with 10 MB/s on paid tiers, while image quality and connection speed are also restricted. You can view up to two remote displays simultaneously from one screen, though this option isn’t supported on macOS. 

The Free plan is currently available alongside AnyViewer’s paid plans. However, the free plan comes with limitations mentioned above, and to get past those, you will need to switch to a paid plan.

Yes, individual users can use AnyViewer Free for their use cases without paying anything.

Like HelpWire, the AnyViewer free version can be used for both personal and business purposes, as the utility doesn’t come with a commercial-use detection system.

Tags:
Comparison, Free