VMware Workstation Player vs. RealVNC Connect

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
VMware Workstation Player
Score 9.9 out of 10
N/A
VMware Workstation 17 Player is a platform for running a single virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC to deliver managed corporate desktops. Organizations can use Workstation Player to deliver managed corporate desktops, while students and educators use it for learning and training.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
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC 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
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPlans 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
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
Considered Both Products
VMware Workstation Player
Chose VMware Workstation Player
I haven't used VirtualBox a lot but I didn't find it as intuitive as VMware workstation. The later was much more simple for me to use. The Oracle tool is free however so it is definitely something to take into consideration.
Also, VirtualBox needs you to get some additional …
Chose VMware Workstation Player
Both free, VMware supports USB 3.0 while VirtualBox does not. VMware supports nested hardware-assisted virtualization while VirtualBox does not.
Chose VMware Workstation Player
VMware Player is easier to use for administrators and end-users when compared to anything else on the market.
Chose VMware Workstation Player
Most of this is apples to oranges. VMware Horizon View allows for a cloud-based virtualization solution, whereas VMware Player is better suited for educational purposes (basic, local, etc.). VMware Fusion is nice, but I prefer Parallels when it comes to local virtualization on …
RealVNC Connect
Chose RealVNC Connect
We selected RealVNC Connect due to their support of different OS's and having a mobile client.
Chose RealVNC Connect
Security is a big deal, even more so these days. We needed a remote access tool that we could trust to be secure and constantly evolve to modern standards. VNC Connect came at eh right price for us and provides all the tools we need.
Chose RealVNC Connect
VNC is light and sleek with the quick setup, was impressed with the quick setup despite poor Internet connection outdoor. Teamviewer is good, but the pricing is not as good as VNC. Both do the basic job, but VNC still outperform Teamviewer in terms of performance and ease of use.
Chose RealVNC Connect
TeamViewer is another easy to use remote connectivity software that I like for fast connection and little lag. TeamViewer is good for screen sharing. I often prefer VNC Connect for its cross platform compatibility and its mobile access capability. TeamViewer is a little …
Chose RealVNC Connect
The best part is that [the] VNC Connect application supports multi-platform compatibility with Windows and Linux systems. In addition, it is simple, and the session is approved or unapproved, which enables us to provide quick support in the business process. The running service …
Chose RealVNC Connect
It is good for one-shot use and not having to pre-configure remote devices, but we felt that the interface for connecting was not as simple.
Chose RealVNC Connect
With so many things tech-related we have many options and ways to accomplish the same thing. I think one of the important things to remember is the companies track record and support record for their users. In our experience, VNC Connect has been able to be competitive in all …
Chose RealVNC Connect
VNC Connect works just as well as the top products on the market. At the time VNC Connect was priced better and provided us with a simple reliable tool. VNC Connect works well cross-platform which is important to our institute as we are a 60/40 PC to Mac ratio. Reliability …
Chose RealVNC Connect

Remote desktop - works well but not as easy to initiate

Teamviewer - works well, easy to initiate but more expensive

Chose RealVNC Connect
VNC is much easier to use than any of the listed platforms.
Chose RealVNC Connect
There is no comparison. pcAnywhere was terribly buggy and was never reliable. VNC connect is 99% reliable.
Chose RealVNC Connect
I like VNC over TeamViewer and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. Teamviewer seems slower than VNC and is more expensive. Microsoft RDP takes over the console so users cannot interact in any way.
Chose RealVNC Connect
VNC is way faster and has more features than Chrome Remote Desktop.
Chose RealVNC Connect
I have used TeamViewer and while both are great programs, VNC just seem more minimalist and tuned to doing EXACTLY what I need it to do.
Chose RealVNC Connect
Overall the VNC Connect software outperforms the TeamViewer software in most areas however, the TeamViewer billing model can be more appropriate for some situations.
Chose RealVNC Connect
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 …
Chose RealVNC Connect
Like I have mentioned before, depending on what you need, RealVNC may not be the best fit. It's the does-it-all Enterprise ready version produced by the original manufacturers. Installation's pretty simple, it's deployable if needed and it sports a lot of party tricks. …
Chose RealVNC Connect
I'm afraid that the only thing VNC has going for it is that it's free. Otherwise ConnectWise is an infinitely superior product and one which I would heartily recommend. We also looked at Bomgar, but the pricing there was astronomical in comparison with Connectwise. The free …
Chose RealVNC Connect
VNC works really well. It gives a superior level of access compared to far more expensive products such as GoToAssist or WebEx Support Center, and does so at a tiny fraction of the cost. It also consumes far fewer resources than either of those two competing products. It's an …
Chose RealVNC Connect
At the time of our switch to GotoAssist, we we seeking a solution that allowed admin access to workstations. GotoAssist met our requirements for this problem.
Chose RealVNC Connect
We have been using VNC for many years now and continue to use VNC due to its reliability and ease of use. When we need quick access to a remote computer for troubleshooting, VNC doesn't glitch or cause disconnects. Sometimes it may run slow but that is due to network issues, …
Chose RealVNC Connect
TeamViewer seems to crash often, causing the TeamViewer host to have to be restarted. The performance isn't comparable to RealVNC and the GUI isn't very intuitive. TeamViewer does shine better when using it for external connections, but RealVNC is moe lightweight and adaptable …
Chose RealVNC Connect
Screen quality compared to others like ScreenConnect, Bomgar, and others is not as good. But I don't need quality screens. I just need the minimal when connecting to servers so RealVNC fits that need very nicely.
Features
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
Remote Administration
Comparison of Remote Administration features of Product A and Product B
VMware Workstation Player
-
Ratings
RealVNC Connect
7.3
Ratings
11% below category average
Screen sharing00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
File transfer00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Instant message00 Ratings6.10 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
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VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
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All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
Likelihood to Recommend
6.9
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
VMware Workstation PlayerRealVNC Connect
Likelihood to Recommend
I think Vmware Workstation Player is great for test, dev environments allowing you to easily spin up virtual machines on a number of OSes. It is not as well suited for large enterprise environments as there are other more robust solutions from VMware that would work better. If you want to spend little or nothing this is your solution.
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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
  • Create VM of Linux OSes on my WIndows machine.
  • Create VM of Windows OSes on my Linux machine.
  • Create VM of WIndows OSes on my MAC.
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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
  • Would be nice to use more VMs at once, but this is basically trial software, so it's hard to fault them.
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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
I give a rating of 8 because VMware Player has its use cases, for example it requires the host OS to be logged in, and the VMware Player application to be opened and the Guest VM started. Only one VM can run at a time. I'd give a 9/10 to VMware Workstation because you can run shared VMs at startup without logging in or starting the workstation application. and i'd give ESX a 10/10 because ESX is the leader in enterprise visualization.
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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
Great product. Its user-friendly GUI and overall performance are really the biggest strength of this tool. The reason why I don't give a higher note is because of the price. Although it's decent (starting at around $200 for a license), there is a good free alternative in VirtualBox. Not everyone values friendly GUI as something worth paying for. For people that are more tech-savvy, I would recommend looking into VirtualBox as they might actually like the model better (with downloadable add-ons and packages).
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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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Performance
Integration isn't really relevant here but I see this question more as an OS compatibility for the VM. They state that they support over 200 different OS versions. I honestly have never tried anything else other than Ubuntu and Windows myself but nonetheless, this is impressive. I have not hit any limitation in my use of this software in terms of limitation or conflicts with other software.
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No answers on this topic
Support Rating
VMware support is very knowledgeable on their products, eveything from AirWatch to ESX clusters. VMware is easy to contact, they stay in touch and see the issue through to the end and a final resolution. They keep you up to date on your issue status and don't leave you waiting for answers.
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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
Installing the application was easily completed on the twenty computers that needed VMware Player. Once those 20 users were configured we copied our virtual machine template to the 20 users and turned on their newly provisioned virtual machines. We then configured unity mode so the user could easily work from within the virtual machine from their host desktop.
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No problem at all, love the product.
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Alternatives Considered
I haven't used VirtualBox a lot but I didn't find it as intuitive as VMware workstation. The later was much more simple for me to use. The Oracle tool is free however so it is definitely something to take into consideration. Also, VirtualBox needs you to get some additional packages depending on what you want to create/run as a VM. No big deal but you might be doing some tweaking before actually being ready to go as to with VMware, it's already part of it. Finally, and I'd rather mention that my memory is a bit fuzzy about that but, VirtualBox seemed a little less optimal when it comes to running VMs. If true, it might have been my type of usage. I did not have an extended experience with VirtualBox so you should definitely try it for yourself.
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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.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • For me the benefit was really high as I could use a solution that had a free educational version with VMware player. Without it, I would've needed to buy the SAS software itself which would have cost a few thousand dollars.
  • Although I have no details about the ROI, I know that software testing teams that use the software are saving a lot of money buy using virtual machines. It is obviously a great saving both in physical machine count but also in workstation lab sizes.
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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

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.