A Chrome Remote Desktop alternative for Mac: connect with Windows Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop needs a host app on the Mac and a web browser on the computer you connect from. If you use Windows, there is another route: put an RDP server on the Mac and connect with the Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) that already ships with Windows. That is what RDPyon does.
How they set up
| RDPyon | Chrome Remote Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| On the Mac (host) | RDPyon app (macOS 12.3+, Apple Silicon & Intel) | Host app, installed from Chrome. You may need to change security settings. |
| On the Windows PC (client) | Nothing. Built-in Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) | A web browser |
| Browser needed to connect | No | Yes, the client is a web browser |
| Price | $19 one-time, 2 Macs, 1 year of updates, optional renewal $9.50 | See Google's page |
| Limits | Windows client to Mac host only. One viewer and one display at a time. No connection at the login window. If the Mac screen locks during a session, the connection ends by default. | See Google's page |
The mstsc route in short
Install RDPyon on the Mac, allow Screen Recording and Accessibility, and read the Mac's address and port from the menu bar icon. On Windows, run mstsc with that address and sign in with the Mac account's short name and password.
The full steps are in the Windows to Mac Remote Desktop guide linked below. Nothing is installed on Windows, and no browser is involved.
When Chrome Remote Desktop is the better choice
You want to connect from a computer where you cannot or do not want to run mstsc, because a browser is the only client you need there. RDPyon connects only from Windows Remote Desktop Connection, needs the same network or a VPN, allows one viewer at a time and sends one screen at a time.
When RDPyon fits
Your Windows PC already has mstsc, you would rather not keep a browser session just to reach the Mac, and you want a one-time price.
Know the limits first: you cannot connect at the login window right after a restart or log out (including before FileVault is unlocked), so log in on the Mac first. Mac audio forwarding needs macOS 13 or later. Copying text and images works both ways; copying files is not guaranteed yet.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Chrome to connect to my Mac with RDPyon?
No. You connect with the Remote Desktop Connection app (mstsc.exe) that comes with Windows. You install RDPyon on the Mac only.
How do I set up a Mac as a Chrome Remote Desktop host?
Google's help page says to open remotedesktop.google.com/access in Chrome on the Mac and install the host app. You may need to change security settings. See the source link on this page.
How much does RDPyon cost?
$19 one-time, activated on up to 2 Macs, with a 30-day refund. See the pricing page for the current terms.
Checked October 2026. Sources: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523. Vendor plans and prices change, so check the vendor's page.
Related pages
See pricingStep-by-step: Windows to Mac Remote DesktopTeamViewer commercial use detected: an alternativeA Jump Desktop alternativeRDPyon vs RustDesk
Google, Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Apple, macOS and Screen Sharing are trademarks of their owners. HS Solution is not affiliated with them.