Screen Connect vs Instant House Call

[Your Digital Handyman]

I don't do a lot of remote support, but would like to have something ready when needed. I've narrowed it down to screen connect (using their web version as the hosted one is too problematic for my needs) and instant housecall.

One thing I like is the idea of unattended access. It seems to me that with IHC it is a bit easier as I can instruct the client to download and authorize without me needing to do anything where with SC I still need to be able to login and download software for me to remote in. Also with SC seems harder for client to turn of the unattended access. Is my thinking correct on this?

Right now I won't be doing any monthly maintenance so the remote support is just to access for general break/fix issues, tune ups etc... Any other thoughts or comments are appreciated.

Thank You,
John DeKoven
Your Digital Handyman

 

[mrapoc]

As for screenconnect I did host it myself on an old windows box...then through Paul's recommendation got the cheapest digitalocean package - $5 a month (up to). Plonked it on there - works perfectly. Easy to setup and the SC tech help helped me iron out some bugs. For that price it isn't worth me using electricity to host it

 

[Moltuae]

with SC I still need to be able to login and download software for me to remote in. Also with SC seems harder for client to turn of the unattended access. Is my thinking correct on this?

I simply put the SC unattended installers on my website.

I actually use the unattended installers more than I use the temporary session invites. The customer can easily uninstall it afterwards, or you can uninstall it yourself from within SC's Host panel. I just find it more convenient to do that, especially if it's a business customer and they call while I'm busy or away from the computer. I just tell them to go to my website and click the installer link so that I can look at it later.

 

[16bwhitt]

Does anyone else have any opinions on SC vs Housecall? Both seem like a very good option.

 

[1337lee]

With SC you don't necessarily have to create the session. You can host the installer as stated above, or you can use some of the additional plugins that enable the client to create a session from the landing page.