10 Best Screen Sharing Apps for Windows & Mac 2026

Need to present a project to a remote colleague, or guide a family member through a software issue? Finding the right screen sharing app for your setup can save hours of frustration.

We tested 10 screen sharing apps across Windows and Mac in February 2026, comparing them on performance, ease of use, security, and pricing. Here are the ones worth using.

Quick Picks

Best for	App	Price
Overall collaboration	Microsoft Teams	Free / $4/user/mo
Quick informal sharing	Slack	Free / $7.25/user/mo
Remote support	TeamViewer	Free personal / $24.90/mo

How We Tested

We evaluated each app on five criteria:

• Sharing quality: Clarity, lag, resolution handling, and video playback
• Ease of use: How many clicks to start sharing, interface simplicity
• Features: Remote control, annotation, audio sharing, integrations
• Security: Encryption standards and privacy controls
• Value: Pricing versus features offered

Complete Reviews

1. Microsoft Teams - Best overall

Microsoft Teams has robust screen sharing built into a full communication platform. Its connection with Outlook, OneDrive, and Office apps makes it a solid choice for both Windows and Mac users.

Pros:

• Excellent Microsoft 365 integration
• Share a specific window, entire screen, or PowerPoint directly
• Remote control, annotation tools, and system audio sharing
• Strong security and compliance features

Cons:

• Resource-intensive on older hardware
• Interface feels busy for new users

Pricing: Free tier available; paid plans start at $4/user/mo. Rating: 9/10

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2. Slack - Best for quick huddles

Slack’s “Huddles” feature makes starting a screen share as easy as a phone call. Multiple people can share screens and draw simultaneously.

Pros:

• One-click screen sharing in any channel or DM
• Multi-person screen sharing and drawing
• Deep integration with thousands of third-party apps
• Great for pair programming and design review

Cons:

• Screen sharing limited to Huddles
• Not ideal for large formal presentations

Pricing: Limited free version; Pro plans start at $7.25/user/mo. Rating: 8/10

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3. TeamViewer - Best for remote support

TeamViewer is the industry standard for remote access and control. It provides a stable, secure connection that lets you view and fully control another person’s screen.

Pros:

• Unattended remote access
• End-to-end 256-bit AES encryption
• Cross-platform control (Windows, Mac, mobile)
• File transfer and session recording. For post-session editing, tools like a video trimmer can help.

Cons:

• Expensive for business use
• Overkill for simple presentation-style sharing

Pricing: Free for personal use; Business licenses start at $24.90/mo. Rating: 8/10

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4. Zoom - Best for meetings

Zoom became ubiquitous for a reason: anyone can join a meeting easily and the screen sharing is reliable. A versatile choice for both Windows and Mac.

Pros:

• Share entire screen, a portion, or a specific app
• “Optimize for video clip” setting for smooth playback
• Annotation tools, whiteboarding, and breakout rooms
• Dual monitor screen sharing

Cons:

• 40-minute limit on the free plan
• Past security concerns still linger for some users

Pricing: Free for meetings up to 40 minutes; Pro plans start at $15.99/user/mo. Rating: 8/10

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5. Google Meet - Best browser-based option

Google Meet runs entirely in the browser, so there’s nothing to download. Its integration with Google Calendar and Gmail makes scheduling effortless.

Pros:

• No software download required
• Optimized tab sharing for video and animation
• Live captions during presentations
• Low system resource usage

Cons:

• Fewer advanced features than competitors
• Best performance requires Google Chrome

Pricing: Free for most users; advanced features with Google Workspace plans. Rating: 7/10

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6. Discord - Best for gaming and streaming

Originally built for gamers, Discord’s “Go Live” feature is optimized for streaming high-framerate content with low latency.

Pros:

• Low-latency sharing in voice channels
• Excellent push-to-talk and audio controls
• Free for core functionality
• Strong community management features

Cons:

• Less professional for business settings
• Interface confusing for non-gamers

Pricing: Free; Nitro subscription ($9.99/mo) for higher quality streaming. Rating: 7/10

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7. AnyDesk - Best performance

AnyDesk uses a proprietary video codec that delivers exceptional performance even on slower connections. Effective for remote work where bandwidth is limited.

Pros:

• Ultra-low latency (30-100ms)
• Hardware acceleration for smooth performance
• Works behind firewalls without configuration
• Lightweight installation

Cons:

• Less feature-rich than TeamViewer
• Smaller ecosystem of integrations

Pricing: Free for personal use; Professional plans start at $9.90/mo. Rating: 7/10

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8. ScreenApp - Best for recording

ScreenApp combines screen sharing with AI-powered transcription, smart editing, and cloud-based content organization.

Pros:

• AI-powered recording with automatic transcription
• Smart editing and trimming
• Cloud storage and multi-format export
• Built-in collaboration tools

Cons:

• More focused on recording than live sharing
• AI features require internet connection

Pricing: Free tier available; Premium plans start at $9.99/mo. Rating: 7/10

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9. VNC Connect - Best open-source option

VNC Connect provides enterprise-grade remote access with the flexibility of open-source software. Popular in educational and government institutions.

Pros:

• Open-source foundation
• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi)
• End-to-end encryption
• On-premise deployment available

Cons:

• More complex setup than commercial alternatives
• Requires technical expertise for advanced features

Pricing: Personal plans start at $3.33/mo; enterprise pricing available. Rating: 6/10

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10. Chrome Remote Desktop - Simplest setup

Chrome Remote Desktop is free and requires zero setup beyond a Chrome extension. Good for helping family with computer issues or accessing your own machine remotely.

Pros:

• Completely free
• No software installation needed
• Works on any device with Chrome
• PIN-based security

Cons:

• Limited features compared to professional tools
• Basic security options
• Not suitable for business use

Pricing: Free. Rating: 6/10

Performance Comparison

Security Comparison

Best Use Cases

Education: Google Meet + Microsoft Teams. Meet removes download barriers for students; Teams handles course management and collaboration.

Remote work: Microsoft Teams + Slack. Teams for structured collaboration, Slack for quick informal screen sharing and problem-solving.

IT support: TeamViewer + AnyDesk. Both offer robust remote control with strong security, essential for technical support.

Gaming and streaming: Discord. Optimized for low-latency, high-framerate content with excellent audio controls.

Sales and presentations: Zoom + Microsoft Teams. Zoom for external client presentations, Teams for internal sales workflows.

Content creation: ScreenApp + Discord. ScreenApp for AI-powered recording, Discord for real-time creative collaboration.

Security Tips

According to a Gartner survey, hybrid work is the norm for over half of all knowledge workers in 2026. When sharing sensitive information:

• Use an app with end-to-end encryption (TeamViewer, Zoom, or Teams)
• Share a specific window instead of your entire desktop to avoid exposing notifications or personal files
• Verify who is in the meeting before sharing
• Record sessions for documentation rather than relying on live-only access

System Requirements

Windows: Windows 10 or later, 4GB RAM, 1GB free disk space, broadband connection.

macOS: macOS 10.14 or later, 4GB RAM, 1GB free disk space, broadband connection.

Network: Upload 2 Mbps minimum (5+ Mbps recommended for HD), download 1 Mbps minimum (3+ Mbps recommended), latency under 100ms for real-time use.

Troubleshooting

Poor video quality: Check your internet connection, close unnecessary apps, and lower the sharing quality setting in your app.

Audio not working: Enable “Share system audio” in the sharing options, check microphone permissions, and verify audio output settings.

High latency: Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, close bandwidth-heavy apps, and try a different server region if available.

Permission errors: Grant screen recording permissions in system settings (macOS requires this under Privacy & Security), restart the app, and update to the latest version.

FAQ

What is the best free screen sharing app?

Google Meet requires no download and runs in a browser. For more features, the free tier of Microsoft Teams is a strong option. Both work on Windows and Mac.

Can I share my screen with audio?

Yes. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Discord all have an option to include system audio when sharing. Look for “share sound” or “include system audio” in the sharing dialog.

Do I need to download an app?

Not always. Google Meet and Chrome Remote Desktop work entirely from a browser. Most other apps require a desktop client for the best experience.

Which app has the lowest latency?

AnyDesk at 30-100ms, followed by TeamViewer at 50-150ms and Discord at 80-200ms. These are the best choices for real-time collaboration and gaming.

Can I use these on mobile?

Yes, most of these apps have mobile versions. Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet provide the best mobile screen sharing experience, though features are more limited than on desktop.

What is the difference between screen sharing and remote desktop?

Screen sharing lets others view your screen. Remote desktop gives them full control of your computer. TeamViewer and AnyDesk offer both; most communication apps only offer viewing.

How much bandwidth does screen sharing use?

Generally 1-8 Mbps depending on quality settings. AnyDesk and Discord are the most efficient. Higher resolution sharing uses more bandwidth.

Final Verdict

There is no single best screen sharing app. The right choice depends on your use case:

• Business collaboration: Microsoft Teams
• Quick problem-solving: Slack Huddles
• Remote IT support: TeamViewer
• Easy-to-join meetings: Zoom
• High-performance remote access: AnyDesk
• Recording and content creation: ScreenApp
• Simplest free option: Chrome Remote Desktop

Start with free options like Google Meet or Teams. Upgrade to TeamViewer or AnyDesk if you need remote control. Most people get the best coverage with 2-3 apps: one for communication, one for remote access, and one for recording.