HelpWire vs. RealVNC Connect

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
HelpWire
Score 9.4 out of 10
N/A
HelpWire is a user-friendly remote desktop service for quick IT assistance to home and business users. It provides on-demand support for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices, along with unattended access to Windows and macOS computers. Technicians can instantly access client systems to resolve issues promptly, eliminating costly on-site visits. Tailored for sole proprietors, small to medium IT support teams, MSPs, and help desks, HelpWire ensures effective remote client…N/A
RealVNC Connect
Score 7.0 out of 10
N/A
RealVNC® Connect is a secure remote access solution from RealVNC. It can be used to connect to a remote device anywhere in the world to view its desktop in real-time and take control as though sitting in front of it.
$8.25
per month (billed annually) per concurrent session
Pricing
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Essentials
$8.25
per month (billed annually) per concurrent session
Plus
$16.50
per month (billed annually) per concurrent session (add up to 3)
Premium
$29.75
per month (billed annually) per concurrent session (add up to 5)
Enterprise
Custom Pricing
per year
Enterprise
Custom Pricing
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional DetailsThe product is free of charge, no Ads, no extra feesPlans work on a Per Concurrent Session basis. Each plan gives access to a bundled number of devices, but limits apply to the amount of devices that can be connected at any given time. The Premium plan includes On-Demand Assist, a useful tool for providing just-in-time remote support to end-users without them needing RealVNC Connect installed on their device.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Features
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
HelpWire
10.0
Ratings
0% above category average
RealVNC Connect
-
Ratings
Role-based user permissions10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Remote Administration
Comparison of Remote Administration features of Product A and Product B
HelpWire
8.2
Ratings
6% below category average
RealVNC Connect
7.3
Ratings
11% below category average
File transfer8.70 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Instant message7.80 Ratings6.10 Ratings
Screen sharing00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Access to sleeping/powered-off computers00 Ratings6.00 Ratings
Over-the-Internet remote session00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Initiate remote control from mobile00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Remote management of servers & workstations00 Ratings4.70 Ratings
Centralized management dashboard00 Ratings7.10 Ratings
Session record00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Annotations00 Ratings5.30 Ratings
Monitoring and Alerts00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Multi-platform remote control00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Remote Access
Comparison of Remote Access features of Product A and Product B
HelpWire
9.3
Ratings
0% below category average
RealVNC Connect
-
Ratings
Attended device access9.90 Ratings00 Ratings
Virtual device access10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Multiple-display support9.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Multiple concurrent sessions8.20 Ratings00 Ratings
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User Ratings
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Likelihood to Recommend
9.4
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.5
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
HelpWireRealVNC Connect
Likelihood to Recommend
Great for quick access to remote devices to check the software I need. Unattended access would be great to have, as it would make the testing process even easier for me.
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It is very easy to use if the remote device is already set up to receive connections, so if you are setting up devices before deploying them, it is a great tool to have. It is well-suited to use when shadowing users or using it as a teaching tool. There are other products that are better if you are trying to help someone on a one-use basis.
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Pros
  • Easy and quick, set up and connection establishment.
  • No mouse or movement lag while connected with remote system
  • Workd equally well with Windows or Mac systems.
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  • Allow remote connection to pc and servers that are located within our WAN. The connection is stable with fast response (no lag)
  • Allow remote connection to pc and servers that are located outside. The connection is stable with fast response (no lag)
  • It allows chat function with the user, and pasting capability from local desktop and mapped a drive to the remote system.
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Cons
  • UX/UI can be improved.
  • Sometimes the screen freezes but connection is not lost so we can close the window and open again.
  • It's an amazing App but most of the people I know have not heard about it. I think company should spend more on marketing.
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  • Some of the confusion of VNC upon installation is you need to be connected to the internet for it to function. This is not the case, but is unclear upon installation.
  • The licensing model is not ideal for locations that do not use the internet and function off of the grid.
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Likelihood to Renew
It's free, but I love their service, so I will buy their service if they introduce any paid program.
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VNC is a solid product for the price. It simply works and its reliable across different platforms. Some products state they work well in the Mac environment but don't deliver. This one does what it says. Connections are reliable, but of course, this depends on internet connections. The product works well over wireless connections as well. It delivers on what a remote tool should deliver on. My technicians are happy with the product and customers appreciate the ease of use when letting us connect to their systems. Some also appreciate the remote support while they are multi-task.
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Usability
I have no complaints about HelpWire’s usability. It’s quick to set up and easy to navigate, with a clear interface that avoids unnecessary buttons and input fields. It’s simple, which is perfect for my needs
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It's a niche product and in that niche they try to cater to as many use cases as they can. Other as a TCO aspect i don't see many use cases where you can't use this product as the one tool for all remote session use cases in your company
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
VNC Connect is a reliable product that has been around for a long time. It is reasonably priced and works well in the Mac & PC environment. When you have a small team that supports many users we need tools that we can rely upon and that will get the job done on the first try. Many customers appreciate the quick assistance and can multi-task while our team works on their computer issues remotely. From a customer service point of view, this tool gives us transparency and efficient effectiveness.
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Online Training
No answers on this topic
The training is very informative, quick and to the point. All of the details one would need are present so the user doesn't have to go searching for additional information just to use the application. The layout of the training was also neat and concise, some of the other training sessions for other companies I've done in the past were confusing and not well thought out, this one is much more superior
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
No problem at all, love the product.
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Alternatives Considered
A few years back, I was using TeamViewer and AnyDesk now and then, but they both started glitching, which was super frustrating. So, I switched to Splashtop, and while it was totally fine okay. When HelpWire came onto the market, I decided to give it a try, and I’m really happy I made the switch. Reliable performance, ease of use, and strong security were key factors for me.
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VNC Connect stacks up very well to other competitors. With this simple program, you can remotely connect and access other computers with the same VNC Connect agent installed. The only reason we're moving away from using this is that our current Ninja RMM Tools computer monitoring agent includes the TeamViewer tool for us to use.
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Return on Investment
  • Available for every budget, as it free for commercial use, so I can save my expenses
  • Simple initiation of sessions, easy to explain to my clients how to use the app
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  • I have just used the software for about 1 month and so far so god. I am saving time whenever I can access my client's computers from my desk as opposed to having to leave my office to go to their offices. Saves me time and the client money.
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ScreenShots

HelpWire Screenshots

Screenshot of the HelpWire web interface, showing connected user's workstations with multiple displays and a live chat conversationScreenshot of the HelpWire Operator application window, with connected workstations and multi-display supportScreenshot of the HelpWire Operator application window, with opened chat side-panelScreenshot of the HelpWire Client application chat-window

RealVNC Connect Screenshots

Screenshot of the Device List in the Connect v8 desktop appScreenshot of On-Demand Assist, which can be used to start a remote support session using a single-use code.