Overview
What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
Remote Desktop with ease with the Apple Remote Desktop
Apple Remote Desktop is a day saver.
Apple Remote Desktop: All you need to know
Using Apple Remote Desktop to access headless build machines
Apple Remote Desktop... Great for onsite Apple remote access!
Nondisruptive Access
Apple Remote Desktop - Great for Mac Administration
It's free, it's Apple-native, and it just works
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
Powerful and Sophisticated Remote Administration for Mac Computers
OK for small players, but don't even think about it if you're not.
Apple Remote Desktop - The Time Saver
ARD, Essential for Apple Environments
Apple Remote Desktop, a must have for your Mac Network toolbox.
Take a bite out of this Apple Remote Desktop
Awards
Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards
Popular Features
- Instant message (20)9.393%
- File transfer (24)9.090%
- Screen sharing (25)8.989%
- Remote management of servers & workstations (21)8.484%
Pricing
What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Would you like us to let the vendor know that you want pricing?
25 people also want pricing
Alternatives Pricing
What is TeamViewer?
TeamViewer provides software for both remote management and online collaborations. With TeamViewer, users have access to fully integrated online conference solutions for audio and video communication, including interactive screen sharing and remote access features.
What is GoTo Resolve?
GoTo Resolve is an all-in-one IT management and support software built for today's small-to-medium-sized businesses. It helps IT professionals streamline their help desk by bringing together the tools they need to engage, identify problems, and fix issues faster—all in one place. It combines remote…
Product Demos
Apple Remote Desktop 3 Demo -Copy from remote to local-
Features
Remote Administration
Remote administration software is used to control a computer from a remote location.
- 8.9Screen sharing(25) Ratings
Allows participants to share their computer screens with others in the meeting, enabling collaborative work and presentations.
- 9File transfer(24) Ratings
Securely exchange files with remote computer without having to use email or FTP.
- 9.3Instant message(20) Ratings
Ability for administrator to communicate via instant message with remote user.
- 8.5Secure remote access with Smart Card authentication(3) Ratings
Establish secure remote connection via Smart Card authentication and Smart Card logon.
- 7.2Access to sleeping/powered-off computers(19) Ratings
Remote access and troubleshooting of out-of-band computers.
- 9Over-the-Internet remote session(19) Ratings
Establish secure remote connection with computers outside the network firewall.
- 7Initiate remote control from mobile(6) Ratings
Mobile application for remote controlling computers from mobile device (iOS, Android)
- 8.4Remote management of servers & workstations(21) Ratings
Server reboot, start/stop services & processes, clear logs, manage disks, shares, etc. without having to initiate remote control.
- 7Remote Active Directory® management(8) Ratings
Remotely unlock user accounts, reset passwords, manage Organizational Units, edit Group Policy, etc.
- 8.5Centralized management dashboard(16) Ratings
Dashboard to facilitate management of users, permissions, licenses etc.
- 7.3Session record(9) Ratings
Ability to record session for training purposes.
- 7Annotations(5) Ratings
Ability to markup and highlight end user’s screen to provide visual clues or to highlight areas.
- 8.3Monitoring and Alerts(12) Ratings
Monitor CPU usage, memory utilization to proactively address issues. Receive alerts indicating attention needed.
- 6.3Multi-platform remote control(7) Ratings
Ability to remotely connect to multiple operating systems (Windows®, Mac OS® and Linux®).
Product Details
- About
- Tech Details
- FAQs
What is Apple Remote Desktop?
Apple Remote Desktop Video
Apple Remote Desktop Technical Details
Operating Systems | Unspecified |
---|---|
Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Comparisons
Compare with
Reviews and Ratings
(103)Community Insights
- Business Problems Solved
- Pros
- Cons
Apple Remote Desktop has proven to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of users and organizations. IT departments, in particular, rely on this software for remote access, support, and maintenance tasks. Users appreciate the ability to remotely view and command multiple machines at once, which improves efficiency and saves time. The software is particularly helpful for silently pushing updates or gathering information about computer usage behind the scenes. It also offers encrypted connections and compressed data traffic, ensuring secure and efficient remote support. This makes it a popular choice for organizations that prioritize data security.
Educators have also found value in Apple Remote Desktop, using it to enhance student engagement through screen sharing and remote control. It allows educators to observe multiple devices simultaneously and organize them according to grade levels. In an educational setting, the software supports content and use management, facilitating screen sharing and file sharing among students. Additionally, Apple Remote Desktop streamlines logins for young students by pushing login information for various software programs.
Developers utilize Apple Remote Desktop to remotely work on Mac devices for iOS and macOS application builds. The software enables seamless collaboration by providing remote access to Mac Mini devices, allowing developers to work on their projects without being physically present at the machine. Support teams also find great value in this tool as they can connect to end users' macOS devices for troubleshooting desktop support issues and performing software updates without needing physical access to the machines.
Overall, Apple Remote Desktop offers a wide range of features that cater to diverse user needs. Whether it's IT administrators managing a large number of computers or educators improving student engagement, this software provides the necessary tools to save time, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity in various professional settings.
User-Friendly Interface: Many users have praised the user interface of Apple Remote Desktop, noting that it is simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate. They appreciate the top navigation bar that provides quick access to all necessary tools and elements in the software, making tasks effortless to perform.
Reliable Remote Access: Several reviewers have highlighted the reliability of Apple Remote Desktop's remote access capabilities. They mention that the software can remotely access Apple computers even if they are not logged in or at the login screen. This feature has proven particularly useful for performing updates or managing machines without interrupting the user's workflow.
Comprehensive Feature Set: Users value the wide range of functionality provided by Apple Remote Desktop at a low cost. They mention features such as remote searching on devices, screen capture sharing, file copy transfer, application installation, and automator actions that automate workflow tasks and save time. This comprehensive set of features makes Apple Remote Desktop a valuable tool for various tasks.
Cross-platform limitations: Some users have expressed disappointment that Apple Remote Desktop is only compatible with Mac computers, and they would like to see more support for iOS and mobile devices.
Performance issues: Several users have mentioned that the performance of Apple Remote Desktop can be slow, especially when running operations on multiple machines simultaneously.
Outdated user interface: Many users have found the user interface of Apple Remote Desktop to be outdated and in need of improvement. They feel that the interface can be confusing and requires specific configurations on endpoints.
Attribute Ratings
Reviews
(1-14 of 14)Apple Remote Desktop is a day saver.
- One off software install
- Log in as separate user
- Network discovery of remote machines
- It is pretty refined. I can't think off hand what I would want changed.
- The interface is becoming a little dated.
- The ability to skip the server setting.
Apple Remote Desktop: All you need to know
- Managing devices on Same Netwok.
- Best Screen Sharing UI
- Default Maintenance Checks and commands for MACs
- A little slower performance
- Running the same operation on multiple machine is a challenge.
-> Running basic checks on different machines.
-> Sending out display messages for maintenance Breaks.
-> Screen sharing options for tutorial purposes.
Less Appropriate;
-> Installing simultaneous packages on multiple machines.
-> Slower processing time.
-> UI not so friendly
->
Apple Remote Desktop... Great for onsite Apple remote access!
- It is very reliable.
- It can access Apple computers remotely even if they are not logged in or even at the login screen in the case of an update.
- It's basic remote management features work well.
- It's onsite only without setting up a VPN or some other form of remote network access.
- It can be a little slow sometimes when compared to local access.
- It seems to be a neglected product by Apple and not continually developed.
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
- Remote searching on devices
- Screen capture/sharing
- File copy/transfer
- Application installation
- I just use what ARD offers and it works fine for my organization.
Powerful and Sophisticated Remote Administration for Mac Computers
Automator Actions is another cool feature we use often. You can create a workflow of tasks you want to perform and then schedule them to execute automatically on client machines.
One of the coolest features which I haven't used elsewhere is "Curtain Mode" while performing an administrative task on a client machine. You can block the local user's view of his own screen while performing administrative tasks.
- Automator Actions: This is a very cool feature and cost saving as it reduces human effort by automating the workflow of tasks.
- Curtain Mode: This lets you block your local user's view of the desktop while performing administrative tasks.
- Spotlight Search: It can perform lightning fast searches on machines using the spotlight search feature of OS X and thus saves a lot of time.
- As apple usually does, this is only for Mac computers. This is not a cross-platform utility.
- There is no mobile device interface to this software, it is only available on Mac App Store.
ARD, Essential for Apple Environments
- Allows us to execute UNIX scripts without alerting a user or interrupting their workflow.
- Allows us to observe, control, and share control of a user's machine flawlessly.
- Enables us to collect usage statistics from endpoints to determine machine usage and this, in turn, helps drive business decisions.
- The software has some bugs. When I have tried to create detailed lists and scanners I have had the program crash entirely, this is extremely frustrating.
- Software does not scan as fast as I would like, though it does scan rather fast I wish it could scan faster.
If you are not a technical support person, this software is not for you, if you don't do IT work in your org, this is not for you. In my opinion, any org that has less than 10 macOS machines does not need this product.
Apple Remote Desktop, a must have for your Mac Network toolbox.
- Very easy to use, and robust. Apple Remote Desktop provides a wide range of functionality at very low cost
- It does network to network very well ( once setup)
- Working on your LAN (Local area network) ARD is probably the best tool out there for managing Mac networks, with a full array of features, screen sharing, and reporting
- The biggest flaw with ARD is its inability to map to multiple machines behind a router. Without the proper VPN router setup, you can only specify one machine on the other side of a router ( again without VPN'ing into the whole network)
Take a bite out of this Apple Remote Desktop
- Fast, this is great because usually remote desktops are rather slow.
- Group demos, helps me when I am needing to show multiple people things.
- Ease of use, freedom. Since it is so easy to use it makes it easier to not have to be stuck in front of your office computer.
- Initial login, I had to look up how to do it.
- Since everything is driven with mouse/touchpad. I have lost the remote desktop before and this has caused it to log out.
- More shortcuts.
MR.Power ON ARD
The problem that ARD addresses is the need to have a tool available for educators to improve the quality and control of the educational experience. Students often need files sent to them for lessons or project based learning. During other times teachers will need to use ARD in order to address the issue of student engagement and use Apple Remote Desktop to improve engagement by either screen sharing or sharing a student's screen to the rest of the class of students.
- Apple Remote Desktop has a very simple and easy to navigate user interface. The top navigation bar allows for easy and quick access to all necessary tools and elements in ARD.
- Apple Remote Desktop connects to all the computers on the network allowing for ease of use. This is a strength because it always works on the first attempt.
- Apple Remote Desktop drops files directly onto the desktop for all students without needing to use google drive.
- Apple Remote Desktop allows for sharing one screen to the rest of the class to allow to show student work to all students at once.
- Apple Remote Desktop could improve by allowing you to drop files into specific folders rather than on to a messy desktop where some files may get lost or not seen quickly.
- Apple Remote Desktop sometimes has a small lag. When I click my mouse I often need to wait another second or check the student machines to make sure that what they are seeing is what I am doing. It seems as if it does not live stream perfectly.
- Apple Remote Desktop pictures do not show up as clean and clear as they do on the screen I am sharing with. My teacher iMac shows quality images, however, when screen shared the ARD screen share shows a lower quality imagine with less colors shown.
ARD: Apple screenshare.app on steroids
- Screen sharing with Macs
- Remote Control of Macs
- I would like to see more included Unix scrips that can be pushed to clients.
- Inclusion of a way to remote control or screen share with Windows machines would be useful, as I manage a handful of Windows machines. While this would be possible using VNC on the Windows machines, including the ability to connect using Windows terminal connections would be awesome, for me.
Apple Remote Desktop will save you time & money
- Software deployments via PKG file installs remotely.
- Multiple observation of more then one computer at a time on screen.
- Remote terminal command line interface.
- It is resource intensive, sometimes it becomes locked up or unstable.
- The UI is dated and could be improved on.
- Would be nice if it offered abilities to clone or remotely install OS X upgrades.
ARD reviewed by a teacher
- Great for monitoring users on your network.
- Easy tech support.
- Good for sharing screens to a projector.
- Screen refresh rate can be a bit slow, but this depends largely on your network
Apple Remote Desktop Used In K-12 World
- Push and manage updates.
- Provide remote management and support.
- One easy tool to gather information regarding machines in the field.
- User friendly.
- More support for iOS and mobile devices.
- More support with pushing updates to mobile devices
- Remote lock a device or wipe a device that has been stolen.
ARD is a solid application.
- Apple has done a really good job at limiting the resources ARD uses in recent updates.
- Unix commands are a very easy to use and very efficient when trying to run group updates.
- The reports is a great option that makes quick work if you need to get serial numbers or computer specs on 1 or 100 computers
- When using the control feature. the screen will become black and you will have to move the mouse around to erase the black screen away or disconnect and reconnect to the end user device.
- When searching for specific IP address more times then not it wont find it.
- Copy/Paste does not work too well when going back and forth between your local machine and remote user
- Cant install printers.