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Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs ScreenConnect comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 29, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.4
Microsoft Intune boosts ROI by reducing setup time, IT workload, third-party tool use, and infrastructure costs while enhancing security.
Sentiment score
4.7
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services improves access and productivity but opinions vary on cost-effectiveness and return on investment.
Sentiment score
7.9
ScreenConnect cuts travel costs, boosts efficiency, simplifies remote troubleshooting, and offers quick ROI, proving it a valuable investment.
Everything we've gained from it makes my job easier day after day, and I see value in it as an engineer.
IT Systems Engineer at Syracuse University
Microsoft Intune not only saves costs by reducing the number of personnel needed but also offers a comprehensive solution for managing laptops, applications, security, individual access, and enrollment.
Subject Matter Expert at Engage IT Services Pvt Ltd
With Microsoft Intune, tasks such as device provisioning, policy deployment, application delivery, and compliance enforcement require less manual effort than in more traditional management models.
Endpoint Cloud Solution Architect at Lutech
By unlocking a locked situation, I mean we couldn't connect to a server in any other way, so we had to use RDP.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped us to be efficient; we are a team of five serving the entire region of Africa and the Middle East, and it has truly improved our overall efficiency as a team.
System Engineer, Grid Software MEA at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has saved us considerable time because we don't have to be on-site for support and have more accessibility to the machines.
Managing Director
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.7
Microsoft Intune support is slow and inconsistent, but premium users experience faster, more effective assistance from higher-level engineers.
Sentiment score
4.6
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has mixed reviews, with satisfactory support varying by user licensing, community resources, and response speed.
Sentiment score
7.4
ScreenConnect support is reliable and efficient, though some users experience variable wait times and communication challenges.
When a support ticket is submitted, it directly reaches someone with Intune support expertise.
Collaborations engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
When I contacted Microsoft, they had the same expertise, if not more, which is phenomenal because I felt heard and my problem was solved.
IT Systems Engineer at Syracuse University
Sometimes, the support provided is excellent, and the representative is knowledgeable, while other times, the service needs improvement.
Engineer at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
I would rate the customer support of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services a 10.
Sr. Compliance Analyst at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Interacting with Amazon's customer support seems to route the request to the correct team almost immediately, resulting in quicker responses.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
If I have any issues related to the installation or initial setup, they have been great and a helping hand.
Senior FrontEnd Developer at Adobe
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft Intune offers scalable, cloud-based management for multiple platforms, seamlessly accommodating diverse organizational sizes and growth needs.
Sentiment score
6.6
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is scalable and efficient, but licensing, management, and network constraints pose challenges for large organizations.
Sentiment score
7.9
ScreenConnect is praised for its scalability, supporting thousands of endpoints and users, with straightforward license adjustments and expansion capabilities.
The scalability of Microsoft Intune is ten out of ten.
Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Ideally, we want to automatically segregate devices based on user properties like primary use, but currently, dynamic groups seem limited to device properties.
Engineer, Systems Admin . at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
It supports organizations with 200 endpoints and those with more than 15,000 endpoints.
Director at Provisioned
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is 10 out of 10.
Head Of Product & Engineering (Cpto) at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services scales very well; I could scale it to however many users I would want.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The scalability of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is high, as it is already providing me with the flexibility to access my system from anywhere.
Senior FrontEnd Developer at Adobe
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft Intune is reliable for endpoint management despite occasional minor bugs and delays during policy deployments or updates.
Sentiment score
8.0
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is stable with minimal issues, scoring highly in performance and reliability among users.
Sentiment score
7.9
ScreenConnect is generally stable and reliable, with occasional connectivity issues usually due to external factors or updates.
We have not experienced downtime, bugs, or glitches.
Head of IT at TWM SOLICITORS LLP
It appears Microsoft Intune undergoes changes without informing customers.
Support Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
In my experience, Microsoft Intune is a stable platform as it is a cloud-based service, and updates are regularly delivered by Microsoft.
IT Administrator at Newrest Inflight España, S.A
I have never faced any issues related to its working or its availability.
Senior FrontEnd Developer at Adobe
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is stable, and I can confirm this.
Senior System Administrator at Vatsin technology solutions pvt ltd
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Intune faces challenges with user interface, configuration, compatibility, integration, security, and customization, impacting efficiency.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services needs better UI, stability, multi-monitor support, security, compatibility, and performance to enhance user experience.
ScreenConnect users seek improvements in customization, documentation clarity, setup processes, integration, and user-friendly configurations, including licensing transparency.
Features like unlocking devices sometimes fail, and the support offered for other operating systems is insufficient.
Strategy & Portfolio Advisor at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
There are communication issues, so you might start working with a feature without knowing if it will be deprecated six months from now.
Collaborations engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Many third-party companies offer single-pane-of-glass reporting that shows you what your update environment looks like, how your patch is doing, application status, etc., but Intune's reporting is not intuitive.
Engineer at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
On macOS, we sometimes experience keyboard connectivity issues.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services can be improved by better integrating it within Teams or providing a Teams integration to connect to customer support teams or other systems' accesses using Remote Desktop internally, rather than as a separate individual tool.
technology consultant at Bank of America
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Intune is cost-effective for enterprises using bundled licenses, though standalone pricing may be high for smaller businesses.
Enterprises experience varied Microsoft RDS pricing; costs depend on complex licensing and additional required licenses like RDS CALs.
ScreenConnect offers cost-effective pricing and flexibility, appealing to enterprises with discounts, reliability, and a comprehensive feature set.
Introductory professional services, like a fast-track service, were included with our E5 membership, and there have been no additional costs.
Senior Systems Architect IV at a aerospace/defense firm with 10,001+ employees
The Intune suite and add-ons, such as batch management and remote help, are costly.
Technical Sales Professional (Microsoft Modern Workplace) at Alnafitha IT
It costs approximately forty euros per user per month.
Cyber Security Officer at Gudu
These licenses are not cheap, as they add up in cost.
Chief Technology Officer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
I understand it can get quite expensive and also complex to manage these different licenses.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
I don't think there was any cost, as this was built into our experience with Windows and Azure.
Managing Director
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Intune offers efficient device management, security, and integration with Microsoft 365, enhancing operational efficiency and user experience.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services enhances productivity with secure remote access, ease of use, and centralized management for flexible work environments.
ConnectWise ScreenConnect provides secure remote access with powerful management, customizable branding, and seamless integration, enhancing global client interactions.
Intune excels in configuration and compliance management for Windows 10, ensuring devices receive timely updates and adhere to organizational standards.
Microsoft Practice Lead at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Dynamic groups allow us to set conditions for automatic membership, eliminating the need for user intervention or manual review and ensuring a seamless workflow.
Engineer, Systems Admin . at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Windows Autopatch is the most valuable because it removes the burden of patch management.
Director at Provisioned
The main benefits that Microsoft Remote Desktop Services provide to me include streamlining my working process, ensuring security, and offering flexibility to connect to virtual desktops and apps from multiple devices.
Technology Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has helped my team save time and improve productivity because we had Microsoft servers that were impossible to connect from our MacBook Pro laptops, and once we started using RDP, we could connect and move forward to deliver the project.
AWS Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The best features Microsoft Remote Desktop Services offers include providing me administrator access, certain inbuilt client tools, and the ability to remotely access enterprise applications, as well as helping me validate whether certificates exist or are missing, or near to expiry.
technology consultant at Bank of America
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Intune
Sponsored
Ranking in Remote Access
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
356
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (2nd), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (1st), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (1st), Microsoft Security Suite (1st)
Microsoft Remote Desktop Se...
Ranking in Remote Access
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
91
Ranking in other categories
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) (5th)
ScreenConnect
Ranking in Remote Access
18th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
37
Ranking in other categories
Virtual Meetings (21st), Remote Visual Support (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Remote Access category, the mindshare of Microsoft Intune is 7.1%, down from 10.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is 7.1%, down from 11.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ScreenConnect is 3.1%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Remote Access Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Intune7.1%
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services7.1%
ScreenConnect3.1%
Other82.7%
Remote Access
 

Featured Reviews

Varun Mehra - PeerSpot reviewer
Collaboration Support Engineer at a retailer with 11-50 employees
Centralized device management has transformed security and streamlined remote provisioning
One area where Microsoft Intune can improve is the user interface. Sometimes the portal feels a bit complex and not very intuitive, especially for new users, and it can take time to find specific settings. Another point is troubleshooting. While logs are available, the diagnostic policies and sync issues can still be time-consuming and not very straightforward. I also feel that reporting could be more detailed and customizable. The built-in reports are helpful, but for deeper insights, I often need to rely on additional tools. Overall, it is a strong solution, but improving usability and troubleshooting experience would make it even better. While Microsoft Intune works very well within the Microsoft ecosystem, the integration of some third-party tools could be smoother and require less customization. Support is another area that could improve, as sometimes response times can be slow, and resolving complex issues may take longer than expected. In terms of features, I think more advanced automation and built-in remediation options would be helpful since common issues can be fixed automatically without manual intervention.
reviewer2795433 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Secure remote access has protected sensitive country data and supports strict compliance needs
I understand from the IT team managing Microsoft Remote Desktop Services that it is complex to set up the multiple roles, certificates, and networks required. Networking is quite complicated. Even though on the data center side it is quite simple, maintaining the farm of other connections that connect to that server is the complex piece. I understand there are more modern systems replicating what this solution does, which are easier to use, such as Azure Virtual Desktop within Microsoft Azure Cloud or Amazon WorkSpaces, which I have used before. Rather than having to manage all the complex networking, you could abstract it away a little further in the cloud for easier use. I also understand that this tool is in an end-of-life state now, with Microsoft actively pushing people towards Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365. I do not believe further features will be rolled out due to its end-of-life state, making it a legacy solution now.
Todd Blake - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior IT Specialist at COMMUNITY HEALTH CONNECTIONS INC
Simple to set up, reasonable pricing, and useful remote control capabilities
I'm on the latest version of the solution. I just updated it yesterday. While we have the solution on-premises at this time, we'll likely move to the cloud later this year. They have a trial version that you can try. They have a free version that you can try as well. I use it myself to support my family. I would try the free version or the trial version depending on your business. They can set you up and you can get to see all the features. I would also advocate going to the cloud version. Don't bother with the on-prem. It's just easier to jump to the cloud. I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
9%
Government
7%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Government
7%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Construction Company
9%
Marketing Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business150
Midsize Enterprise60
Large Enterprise177
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business45
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise36
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business15
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise7
 

Questions from the Community

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has been easy. I don't th...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services could be improved by providing a way to make it configurable without using VPN from...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services?
My main use case for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services is remoting into computers that I don't have physical access t...
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Also Known As

Intune, MS Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Remote Desktop Services
ConnectWise Control
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Mitchells and Buzzers, Callaway
Bank Alfalah Ltd.
Jon Rosen Systems
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. ScreenConnect and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.
893,221 professionals have used our research since 2012.