Zoho Assist — The Complete Guide: Remote Support from the Browser, and What the Free Plan Includes
Zoho Assist is a remote support service from Zoho. The technician opens a session in the browser and sends a colleague an invitation, and the colleague approves and downloads a small component. You can also install an agent on office computers and connect to them with nobody sitting in front of them. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS.
Zoho Assist
Zoho Corporation
Remote support and unattended access from the browser, with a free plan for one technician and five unattended computers.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Support by invitation — the colleague approves every session themselves.
- Unattended access — connect to an office workstation even when nobody is there.
- Browser-based — no special software needed on the technician’s side.
- Many platforms — Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS.
- No session time limit — even on the free plan.
What is free and what is not
The free plan is for personal and small business use, with no credit card, and a Zoho account is required. It includes one technician, one concurrent session and up to 5 unattended computers. More technicians, concurrent sessions and advanced features need a paid plan. It suits a small office where one engineer is also the IT person.
Security tip
A support invitation gives control of the computer, so approve only a session from a technician you know and contacted yourself — never from someone who called you “from the bank” or “from support”. Turn on two-factor authentication for your account, and remove unattended access from computers that no longer need it.
Related tools
For self-hosted management of office computers with no device limit — MeshCentral. For open-source remote control — RustDesk. For free access without team management — Chrome Remote Desktop.
MeshCentral
Ylian Saint-Hilaire and contributors
A self-hosted web site for remote device management: remote desktop, terminal and file access from the browser.
Get it from the vendor
RustDesk
RustDesk (Purslane Ltd. and community)
Open-source remote desktop tool, an alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk, with the option to run your own relay server.
Get it from the vendorChrome Remote Desktop
Remote access to your own computers and one-off support for a colleague from the browser, free with no paid tiers.
Get it from the vendor
AnyDesk
AnyDesk Software GmbH
Fast, lightweight remote control between computers and mobile devices, free for personal use only.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A well-organised support service with a free plan that is enough for a small office. Once the team grows, the limits are felt quickly.