Splashtop Personal - Remote Desktop for Windows

Remote access for your home computer

There are many remote-desktop options available today. If your goal is to keep an eye on a household PC or to use your desktop from the couch, Splashtop Personal is one of the simpler solutions. Installed on your home computer and paired with a tablet or smartphone, it gives you full control of your desktop while connected to the same local network.

Quick, painless installation

Installing Splashtop Personal is intentionally simple — most users can complete the process in a few minutes.

• Create a Splashtop Personal account and sign in on the devices you plan to pair.
• Install the streamer component on the mobile device you’ll use as the remote controller.
• Download and install the Splashtop app on the computer you want to access.

Once those steps are finished, the devices should detect each other automatically and you’ll be ready to connect.

Cost and remote-access limits

Splashtop Personal is free for local, in-home use. If you need to connect to your PC from outside your home network, you must purchase the Access Anywhere add-on on a monthly or yearly basis. The personal edition is intended for private, noncommercial use only; businesses should choose the company-specific plans.

Key functionality

Splashtop Personal provides wide-ranging access to your machine:

• Full control over installed applications and access to the local file system.
• Ability to open and edit Microsoft Office documents and PDFs remotely.
• Web browsing with support for Flash and Java through the desktop browser.
• High-quality audio and video streaming in real time, enabling smooth media playback from the remote device.

Gaming and multimedia streaming

One standout capability is Splashtop’s performance for graphics-heavy tasks. The streaming technology supports interactive 3D titles and intensive PC games so you can play from a tablet or phone. On a fast network, audio/video quality is excellent and largely free of the choppiness common with many other remote-desktop tools.

Who it’s best for

This tool is a good match for home users who want convenient access to a personal PC. It supports up to five home computers under one account, making it useful for households with several machines. For commercial or enterprise needs, consider the provider’s business-grade offerings instead.