AnyDesk Security Breach 2024: What Actually Happened
AnyDesk security breach: source code stolen, certificate compromised, 18,317 credentials on dark web. What IT teams need to know. (CrowdStrike, 2024)
The remote desktop software market reached $3.92 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $14.73 billion by 2034 (Fortune Business Insights, March 2026). Yet IT administrators have been hunting for a TeamViewer alternative at record pace for two years. The reason: repeated price hikes, terminated perpetual licenses, and a major security breach in 2024.
If you're looking for a reliable TeamViewer alternative in 2026, here's the short version: Splashtop is the most recommended paid replacement on r/sysadmin, RustDesk dominates self-hosted environments, and Sobrii Remote is the only option that embeds remote control inside a full IT fleet management platform.
TL;DR: TeamViewer charges up to $229.90/month before add-ons for simultaneous connections and mobile device support. After the APT29 breach in June 2024 and the forced termination of v11/v12 perpetual licenses at end of 2025, IT teams are migrating. This comparison covers 7 verified alternatives with real pricing as of April 1, 2026.
The search for a TeamViewer alternative is no longer theoretical. Several concrete events accelerated migrations.
Prices keep climbing. TeamViewer charges $24.90/month for an individual, $112.90/month for a team, and $229.90/month for the Corporate plan — before add-ons. Extra simultaneous connections, mobile device support, and managed endpoints are billed separately. On Reddit, one IT director described his Tensor renewal quote as "3x more expensive than the competition — just insulting."
The APT29 breach shook enterprise trust. On June 26, 2024, Russian state-sponsored hackers (APT29 / Cozy Bear) compromised TeamViewer's corporate IT network through a stolen employee credential. Employee directory data was copied (BleepingComputer, June 2024). TeamViewer states production systems and customer data were unaffected — a distinction that provides limited comfort to security teams.
Perpetual licenses were terminated. On December 31, 2025, TeamViewer cut internet connectivity for versions 11 and 12. Customers who paid $5,000+ for "lifetime" licenses found their software deactivated with only discount offers as compensation.
Billing practices remain opaque. Unclear auto-renewal policies led to customer complaints and legal proceedings in multiple countries. Some customers were referred to debt collection over disputed renewal charges.
Sobrii Remote is not a standalone remote desktop tool. It's the remote control module included in the Sobrii IT fleet management platform — alongside 12 other modules: security, DEX scoring, asset inventory, Green IT, financial management, shadow IT detection, and more.
What makes Sobrii Remote different:
For a CIO or MSP, the argument is different from Splashtop or AnyDesk: you're not adding another tool. You're consolidating remote control, inventory, security, and device lifecycle into one platform.
Sobrii also integrates with Intune, SCCM, GLPI, ServiceNow, NinjaOne, and ManageEngine — making fleet-wide deployment straightforward.
Pricing: Sobrii Remote is included in all Sobrii plans. No per-technician licensing, no add-ons for simultaneous connections.
| Plan | Scope | Price | |------|-------|-------| | Starter | 50–200 devices | €20/device/year (min. €2,400/yr) | | Essential | 200–500 devices | €18/device/year (min. €5,400/yr) | | Business | 500–2,000 devices | €15/device/year (min. €9,000/yr) | | Enterprise | 2,000–5,000 devices | €12/device/year (min. €24,000/yr) |
All 13 platform modules are included at every tier. No feature gating.
Best for: IT teams and MSPs managing 50 to 5,000 devices who want to consolidate tools rather than add another one.
Explore Sobrii RemoteSplashtop is consistently the top recommendation on r/sysadmin and r/msp as a direct TeamViewer replacement. Its pricing model is transparent and, according to its own published benchmarks, up to 50% cheaper than TeamViewer.
Pricing (verified April 2026):
| Plan | Price | Use case | |------|-------|---------| | Remote Access Solo | $6/month | Personal use, 1 user | | Remote Access Pro | $8.25/user/month | Multi-monitor, chat, Wake-on-LAN | | Remote Access Performance | $13/user/month | USB redirection, HD audio, YUV 4:4:4 | | Remote Support SOS | $22/month | Attended support (10 users per license) |
Strengths: high-performance streaming with low latency even on consumer-grade connections, session recording, iOS/Android attended support, clean interface.
Limitations: advanced features (SSO, full audit logs) are gated to Enterprise. No permanent free plan. The separation between Business Access and Remote Support plans can be confusing when choosing the right package.
Best for: IT technicians and MSPs looking for a direct TeamViewer replacement at a lower price point with comparable features.
AnyDesk was the leading paid alternative before 2024. Two events changed the calculus.
Security breach (February 2024): Attackers compromised AnyDesk's production systems, stealing source code and private code signing certificates. 18,317 customer credentials were listed for sale on the dark web (Trend Micro / Infosecurity Magazine, February 2024). AnyDesk's 170,000+ customers include Samsung, NVIDIA, MIT, Comcast, and United Nations bodies.
October 2025 price hike: Prices increased 26–40% across all tiers (PriceTimeline.com, October 2025). The licensing model also shifted from user-based to connection-based — a change that significantly impacts MSPs running parallel sessions.
Current pricing (April 2026):
| Plan | Price | Scope | |------|-------|-------| | Solo | $28.90/month | 1 user, 100 managed devices | | Standard | $49.90/month | 20 users, 500 managed devices | | Advanced | $111.90/month | 50 users, 1,000 managed devices |
Strengths: DeskRT codec optimized for unstable networks, lightweight client (<4 MB), on-premises server option available.
Limitations: trust damaged post-breach, poor customer service ratings, connection-based model creates cost unpredictability for MSPs.
Best for: teams that specifically need an on-premises deployment option and are comfortable modeling costs under the new connection-based pricing.
RustDesk (v1.4.6, released March 5, 2026) is the most active open-source TeamViewer alternative available. Its client is AGPL-licensed — you can audit the full codebase.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Scope | |------|-------|-------| | OSS self-hosted | Free | Unlimited, your own infrastructure | | Individual Pro | $9.90/month | 1 user, 20 managed devices | | Basic Pro | $19.90/month | 10 users, 100 devices, LDAP/OIDC |
Important distinction: RustDesk is not "completely free." The client is open source, but RustDesk Server Pro — required for the web console, LDAP authentication, and audit logs — is proprietary and starts at $9.90/month.
Strengths: end-to-end encryption, data stays on your infrastructure, Windows/macOS/Linux/Android/iOS support, written in Rust for memory safety.
Limitations: self-hosted setup requires meaningful DevOps skills, iOS stability has had issues across versions, community support quality is inconsistent.
Best for: technical teams that want full infrastructure control and have the skills to configure and maintain a self-hosted server.
Chrome Remote Desktop is completely free and uses Google's relay infrastructure. No network configuration needed (no ports to open). According to independent review site TechInline (October 2024), it works for basic personal remote access but lacks the toolset any professional technician workflow requires.
Why it falls short for professional IT work:
Best for: personal use or occasional family support. Not suitable for professional IT support workflows.
Zoho Assist offers one of the few permanent free plans on the market, and integrates natively with Zoho CRM, Zendesk, and Jira. Gartner Peer Insights reviewers rate it 4.3/5 overall, noting its value for price as a primary strength (Gartner Peer Insights, 2025).
Pricing (billed annually, per technician/month):
| Plan | Price | Concurrent sessions | |------|-------|-------------------| | Free | $0 | Limited | | Remote Support Standard | $10/tech/month | 2 | | Remote Support Professional | $15/tech/month | 4 | | Remote Support Enterprise | $24/tech/month | 6 | | Unattended Access Standard | $10/user/month | Unlimited |
Strengths: permanent free plan, 14-day trial on all paid plans, remote script execution (Unattended Pro), webhooks for integrations.
Limitations: session recording storage capped at 5 GB included (extra 5 GB costs $4/month), the interface split between "Remote Support" and "Unattended Access" confuses new users.
Best for: SMBs already running the Zoho stack, or teams wanting a free entry point with a path to paid features.
Microsoft Remote Desktop (native RDP) is built into Windows Pro and Enterprise. No additional subscription is required if you already have the right Windows licenses.
Advantages: Active Directory integration, native Windows authentication, no added cost within a Microsoft environment.
Limitations: Windows-only on the server side, requires network configuration (VPN or tunneling), no MSP features (no audit trail, no multi-client dashboard), limited native mobile support.
Best for: 100% Windows environments with existing VPN infrastructure, for internal-only use cases.
You manage a fleet of 50 to 5,000 devices and want to consolidate tools: Sobrii Remote is the only option that includes remote control in a full platform (inventory, security, DEX, Green IT). No extra tool to manage or license.
You're replacing TeamViewer for standard MSP or IT support work and want transparent pricing today: Splashtop is the safest choice — most recommended on r/sysadmin, clear pricing, comparable features.
You have data sovereignty requirements and DevOps skills: RustDesk self-hosted. Make sure you understand the distinction between the free OSS client and the proprietary Server Pro ($9.90/month+).
Your budget is zero for personal use: Chrome Remote Desktop. Don't expect to use it for professional IT support — it lacks session recording, audit logging, and multi-session management.
You're already running the Zoho stack: Zoho Assist integrates natively and offers a free plan to start.
Many comparison posts still list AnyDesk Solo at $14.90/month. That's the pre-October 2025 rate. The current price is $28.90/month — a 94% increase from the old entry price. And the shift to connection-based licensing changes the math entirely for MSPs with concurrent workloads.
The RustDesk client is free and open source. But for a web management console, LDAP/OIDC authentication, and audit logs — everything a professional IT team expects — you need Server Pro, which is proprietary and starts at $9.90/month. Setting up a self-hosted server also requires solid Linux and Docker skills.
The APT29 breach in June 2024 hit TeamViewer's internal corporate IT network (HR, employees), not production systems. TeamViewer states customer data remained intact. By contrast, the AnyDesk breach in February 2024 hit production systems — source code and code signing certificates were stolen.
Migration isn't instant, especially if you have agents deployed across hundreds or thousands of endpoints. A practical three-step approach:
Step 1 — Map your real usage. How many technicians actively use TeamViewer? What's your peak concurrent session count? Do you need unattended access (no user present) or only attended support? The answers determine which alternative fits your actual profile.
Step 2 — Test under real conditions before negotiating. Every alternative listed here offers a trial period. Test on your own networks, with your own technicians, against the types of devices you actually manage (mixed Windows and Mac fleets? VPN-connected endpoints? Remote sites with limited bandwidth?).
Step 3 — Deploy the new agent in parallel. Don't uninstall TeamViewer until the replacement is tested across your full fleet. Tools like Sobrii deploy via Intune, SCCM, NinjaOne, or ManageEngine — which simplifies large-scale rollout significantly.
For teams managing a full fleet, migration to Sobrii Platform can also consolidate other tools: asset management, security alerts, DEX scoring, and device lifecycle management in a single interface.
If you're deciding between TeamViewer and AnyDesk specifically, our TeamViewer vs AnyDesk comparison covers both 2024 breaches, real pricing, and the security certification gap in detail.
The shadow IT angle is worth keeping in mind here too — unmanaged remote access tools are one of the most common sources of shadow IT in enterprise environments. Our guide on detecting and controlling shadow IT covers this in detail.
Explore the Sobrii PlatformIs TeamViewer actually too expensive in 2026? For individuals, $24.90/month may seem reasonable. For a team or organization, costs escalate quickly: $112.90/month for Teams, $229.90/month for Corporate, plus add-ons for concurrent connections, mobile devices, and additional managed endpoints. Multiple alternatives deliver comparable functionality at 50% lower cost.
Is the TeamViewer 2024 breach a sufficient reason to switch? The APT29 breach in June 2024 targeted TeamViewer's internal corporate network (employee data), not production systems or customer data. If your security team requires specific certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001), verify TeamViewer's current compliance status directly. The breach primarily amplified existing concerns around pricing and billing practices.
Is RustDesk actually free? The client is open source and free. For personal use or small teams with the skills to configure a server, it's a viable no-cost option. For professional use with a web console, audit logging, and LDAP/OIDC authentication, you need Server Pro ($9.90/month from one user).
Which TeamViewer alternative is best for an MSP? Splashtop is the most-recommended option on r/sysadmin for MSPs seeking a direct replacement. Sobrii Remote is the recommended option if you want to embed remote control into a comprehensive fleet management platform — without paying for an additional standalone tool.
Is AnyDesk still cheaper than TeamViewer? No, not since October 2025. AnyDesk raised prices 26–40% across tiers and switched from user-based to connection-based licensing. For an MSP managing concurrent sessions, the total cost under AnyDesk's new model can now exceed Splashtop's.
Can Chrome Remote Desktop be used in an enterprise? For occasional internal support or one-off troubleshooting, yes. For regular professional IT support: no. There's no session recording, no audit logging, no multi-session management, and no technician-facing team features.
Does Sobrii Remote work without software installed on the remote device? Yes. The Sobrii agent is already deployed on managed endpoints as part of the fleet management platform. For attended support sessions with unmanaged users, Sobrii Remote requires no pre-installation on the user's side.
The remote access market is being reshaped. TeamViewer has lost ground through repeated price hikes, the forced termination of perpetual licenses, and the 2024 APT29 breach. AnyDesk — once the safe refuge — surprised customers with a 26–40% price increase in October 2025 and a shift to connection-based licensing.
For IT teams looking for a TeamViewer alternative in 2026:
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