Splashtop lets you drag and drop files between computers running different operating systems. You can also transfer files using a two-pane file transfer window. The Windows version of Splashtop lets you copy and paste files between computers, but that doesn’t work on the macOS version.
Splashtop’s Mac app showing a remote Windows 11 desktop (Credit: Splashtop/PCMag)
The Pro and Performance accounts support chat, meaning you can send text messages back and forth with whoever is sitting at the other computer. These plans also allow you to record a remote session as a local video file, which works well. You can specify a maximum file size if storage space is a concern.
Audio chat also worked pretty well in my tests. No video option is available, though most remote access apps don’t offer it—TeamViewer is the rare exception. In a pinch, you can use the free version of Zoom to remotely access someone else’s computer or give them access to yours during a video call, though the lag is noticeable compared with what you get from proper remote access software. Still, for a one-off case, such as helping a relative troubleshoot their computer, it’s a reasonable solution.
Splashtop’s whiteboard feature works only on mobile devices, meaning you can’t draw on the screen from a computer. You must connect from the Splashtop Android, iPad, or iPhone app to use the whiteboard. That’s disappointing, given how useful drawing on the screen can be during remote support sessions. Besides, that’s not an activity you’re likely to do from your mobile device. RemotePC’s whiteboard feature is more robust.
Performance Plan: Premium Features for Creators
The Performance plan should appeal to digital artists, thanks to 4:4:4 color support, a bridge for Wacom drawing tablets, higher-quality audio, and remote pressure-sensitive stylus support. The Wacom Bridge is unique, as mentioned, though I didn’t have the hardware on hand to test it.
The Access Performance plan also offers a Turbo mode that promises up to 240fps. Most remote desktop solutions stick to 60fps. Getting more than 60fps depends on your hardware, network connection, and the content you’re viewing. With Turbo mode active, Splashtop’s documentation says it makes a best-effort attempt to reach up to 240fps. A Splashtop representative told me that a local network connection and streaming from a PC using hardware acceleration (such as with Nvidia graphics hardware) would help. However, I didn’t see performance above 60fps in my testing, even over a local network. The experience was still extremely smooth at 60fps, but Turbo mode might not be something you can rely on.
The Performance plan also offers USB device redirection for devices like smart cards, as well as microphone pass-through. These features worked well in my experience, and I was able to set them up in a few clicks.
USB Device Redirection window in Splashtop (Credit: Splashtop/PCMag)
