If you have a work or home computer that you would like to access from your iPad then you will want to check out a really good remote desktop app and preferably one that is simple with no complicated VPN requirements.
Non-VPN Remote Desktop Apps
If you haven’t ever used a remote desktop app they are pretty darn nice and very easy to use in fact. But some require the use of a VPN tunnel and that can be a little bit confusing for those that have never set one up or those that do do not have IT staff to do so.
In that light, I figured it might be a good idea to highlight some of the best iPad remote desktop apps that do not require a VPN and have great user feedback ratings.
And if you haven’t used a remote desktop app before, you may want to give it a try as it can really be a useful thing to have. Essentially, they turn your iPad into your work or home computer by pulling up your desktop and allowing you to work on your computer as if you were sitting in front of it. And you can do this using 3G or Wi-Fi as well.
So with that, here are some great (and high-rated) apps that you can use for personal use, business, or even while traveling.
Jump Desktop ($19.99)
Jump desktop has been a favorite ever since it was released for the first generation iPad back in 2010. It is very easy to configure and in fact all you have to do is visit their website from your PC or Mac and click the setup link and that’s it. Everything is done for you.
Jump Desktop is an RDC and VNC client that supports bluetooth keyboards, copy and paste functions, AirPrint, audio, and it even supports VGA-out so you can see your desktop up on a large screen. This is great for training if you wanted to just bring your iPad but access your work or home computer.
Jump Desktop will work over Wi-Fi or 3G, it supports multitasking, SSH tuneling, large screen resolutions, and for those that want, it will support traditional right-mouse functions as well. It will work all the way up to Windows 7 and Mac OS X (all versions).
This is on the more expensive-side but you do get what you pay for and with the included features plus the ease of configuration, it’s definitely worth the money.
iTap RDP (Remote Desktop For Windows) ($11.99)
If you are just looking for a remote desktop app to connect to Windows and you don’t need to connect to a Mac computer then you will want to check out iTap. It’s less cost that Jump Desktop and it is not as automatic to set up but for connecting to Windows and wanting to jump right on your dekstop, then this is a great way to go.
In fact, you can check out this nice user guide that the developer have put together so you can see what is involved.
iTap will work over 3G and Wi-Fi and it claims to take up to 60% less bandwidth than the other Remote Desktop apps. It also offers up automatic bandwidth reduction support for times with the network might seem congested and it will support very large desktops up to 4096×2048 pixels.
iTap has a 3.5 out of 5 rating and it support versions of Windows all the way from XP Professional to Windows 7 Professional.
Wyse PocketCloud Pro ($14.99)
Now here is a very interesting iPad remote desktop app. Wyse has a 4 out of 5 rating and it has some pretty nice features which make it stand out even more so than the others. And at a pretty good price for a remote desktop client.
With Wyse you can connect to both Windows and Mac over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi (preferred). Wyse will do the same functions as any remote desktop app and it does not require you to setup a VPN. In fact, it has a very interesting way to set it up which is right over Gmail. That’s a pretty nice feature and all you need on your Windows or Mac computer is their free “Companion” software which makes connecting to one or more computers a breeze – and there is no worrying about Firewalls, etc.
Wyse has been in business over 28 years and they fully understand remote capability so it’s no wonder this app has great ratings. You get all of the same features you would expect such as mouse control, keyboard support, video, audio, VGA-out, and compression for times when you want to use it over 3G (low bandwidth).
There really isn’t any reason why you would or would not choose this one over any of the others – it supports Mac and PC and it has one of the highest ratings, plus it does a cool feature where it will auto-discover your computer(s) and then the setup is fast, secure and simple.
Splashtop Remote Desktop For iPad ($2.99)
If you don’t want all of the bells and whistles of the more expensive remote desktop apps then Splashtop is definitely worth checking out. It also happens to have a 4.5 out of 5 rating!
It may not come with a huge long list of features but it does support exactly what you need including audio and video, Wake-on-LAN, computer discovery, Windows and Mac and more of the basics which may be exactly what some people are looking for.
The setup is easy as well and it uses the concept of a “Streamer” that you install on your Mac or PC. This is basically a way to connect to your desktop remotely and securely. Once you have that configured, then it’s very easy and a single tap to connect right up to your computer. And you can’t beat the price either. If you are unsure about using a remote desktop on your iPad then this is a great way to start out without a large investment.
Here is their forums where you can get help, see the setup procedures and learn more.
Hey Shane, Not sure if this falls in the same category, but I’ve been using LogMeIn for a while to help some clients out. Their claim to fame has been the ability to use their service to connect to any computer running their client (Mac or PC), and control it through a browser. I was happy when they released a version of for the iPad and iPhone, which works very well.
Hey there dower. Thanks. It sure does apply!! I was going to include log me in but I had reviewed it before although in hindsight it is one the best out there.
Don’t forget TeamViewer. It’s free for personal use (but they do not block you for commercial use it’s on the honor system). But it works awesome and I have it on my computers and my friends computers in case they need help.
Ahhhh ok. I was not sure because of the personal use issue but that clears it up
And does it require a VPN or just client software?
For TeamViewer, just client software is required. No VPN setup required.
It works whenever the client can connect to Internet.
I guess they have a server allows the clients to talk to each other.
Hi Shane,
Great article!
I currently use splashtop remote and it works great at home. However, it doesn’t support connection to my work Pc, which has to connect to the internet through a proxy, unless I connect the iPad on the office network as well.
Do you know if any of the others support connection through proxy?
Well I guess for $5 the splashtop does a tremendous job! Including streaming audio with videos. I tried team viewer and streaming audio is not supported. – splashtop seems to be the best bang for the buck although business professionals would prefer to have the proxy support.