Best 8 Screen Sharing Software in 2026: Compare Features & Pricing

Introduction

Zoom remains the best screen sharing software for live video calls and presentations. This list also covers remote-control utilities, asynchronous screen recorders, and all-in-one collaboration suites so you can find a tool that matches the way your team actually works.

Quick comparison table

The table gives you a quick overview. Each review below digs into the trade-offs and standout features.

1. Zoom

Best for: live team meetings, client calls, and webinars where real-time screen annotation adds clarity.

Share your entire desktop, a single app, or a cropped region, so you control exactly what others see. Built-in annotation tools let participants draw and highlight right on your shared content. Breakout rooms keep screen sharing active when you split a big call into smaller groups. That means presenters can continue showing slides or designs without interruption. You can also request or give remote control during a session, which is handy when a colleague needs to drive a demo or fix a setting without switching tools.

2. TeamViewer

Best for: IT support, remote machine management, and unattended device access.

TeamViewer gives you full control of a remote computer across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. A file-transfer pane sits next to the session, and you can switch between multiple monitors without dropping the connection. Record sessions for audits or training. The permanent-access setup for servers or kiosks removes the need for someone to accept each connection, so you can manage unattended devices as if you were sitting right in front of them.

3. AnyDesk

Best for: lightweight remote assistance with minimal latency, especially on low-bandwidth connections.

A proprietary video codec keeps screen sharing smooth at 60 fps without hogging the CPU. That matters a lot when you support users on older hardware. The portable “run without install” option lets you start a session from a USB drive or a download that needs no admin rights. An address-book view stores frequent connections for one-click access. Privacy mode blanks the remote screen during support, so sensitive data stays hidden while you work on the machine.

4. Microsoft Teams

Best for: organizations already using Microsoft 365 who want screen sharing tied to persistent chat and document collaboration.

You can share a full desktop, a specific window, or a PowerPoint deck that attendees can click through at their own pace. The “give control” feature hands the mouse and keyboard to a colleague without leaving the call. System audio sharing means any video you play is heard clearly by the group. Screen sharing also works in channel meetings and live events, with presenter and attendee roles that keep large broadcasts structured.

5. Google Meet

Best for: frictionless screen sharing inside Google Workspace, with zero-install browser access.

Present your entire screen, a single application, or a specific Chrome tab. Tab sharing captures audio from that tab, so it is great for playing a video clip. Built-in captions and low-light camera adjustment keep meetings accessible without add-ons. Hosts can block participants from presenting unless they have permission, which cuts down on unwanted disruptions. Everything runs in the browser, so external guests join without downloading a thing.

6. Loom

Best for: asynchronous screen and camera recordings that replace a live meeting or a long email.

Record your screen, webcam, and microphone at the same time. The moment you stop recording, a shareable link is ready. Viewers can react with emoji, leave time-stamped comments, and click embedded call-to-action buttons, turning a one-way clip into a lightweight conversation. Viewer analytics show who watched and how much they viewed, so you know whether your walkthrough, demo, or update actually landed with the intended audience.

7. Splashtop

Best for: businesses and IT teams that need high-performance remote access at a lower per-seat cost than legacy tools.

Splashtop streams 4K at 40 fps, handles multi-monitor setups, and supports remote wake-on-LAN, so you can power on a sleeping machine before you connect. Add-ons for attended support and unattended endpoint management let you mix helpdesk and always-on access under one roof. Blank-screen and screen-lock policies keep the local terminal private while you work. Session-transfer features let you hand off an active support call to a teammate without reconnecting.

8. Cisco Webex

Best for: enterprise environments that require strong security controls and flexible screen sharing in large meetings.

Share your whole screen, a specific file, or a whiteboard that participants can annotate together in real time. Virtual backgrounds, post-meeting transcripts, and integrations with room hardware make it a fit for companies with mixed office and remote setups. The stage-view layout separates shared content from speaker video, so audiences can focus on the presentation without losing sight of the presenter. Hosts get granular controls over who can share and when.

How we picked these tools

We tested each tool on desktop, web, and mobile, timing how quickly screen sharing starts and how stable the connection stays under normal office network conditions. We focused on clarity of shared content, how easy it is to invite guests (one-click links vs. codes), true cross-platform reach, and the security toggles that matter: waiting rooms, passwords, host controls, and the ability to lock a session.

We deliberately balanced live-meeting platforms, remote-control utilities, and asynchronous recording apps to cover the most common searches for “screen sharing software.” Tools that buried essential features behind aggressive upselling or consistently lagged during high-motion sharing (like scrolling or video playback) were cut from the list.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between screen sharing and remote desktop?

Screen sharing shows others what’s on your display. Remote desktop hands over full mouse and keyboard control. Many tools do both, so clarify which one you actually need before choosing.

Can I share just one window instead of my entire screen?

Yes. Every meeting tool here lets you select a single app window or browser tab. Remote desktop apps like TeamViewer and AnyDesk default to full-screen control, but you can still limit what’s visible during a session.

How do I keep a screen sharing session secure?

Pick a tool that offers waiting rooms, meeting passwords, and host controls to block attendees from presenting. Lock the session once everyone has joined, and look for end-to-end encryption when you handle confidential material. For remote support, use privacy or blank-screen modes to keep the local display hidden.

What’s the best option for recording a tutorial to send later?

Loom leads with instant, shareable links and viewer analytics. Zoom and Google Meet are solid choices if you prefer a locally saved recording you can edit. TeamViewer’s session recording is useful when you need to capture a full remote-device walkthrough, clicks and system responses included.

Do these tools work on Linux?

AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and browser-based options like Google Meet support Linux without issues. Zoom offers a Linux desktop client with most of its core features. Microsoft Teams and Splashtop have limited Linux support, and a few collaboration-specific perks remain Windows- or macOS-only.

The verdict

Zoom is the best all-round screen sharing software for live meetings. Sharing starts instantly, annotation tools work well, and the connection stays solid. Pick Loom when you do not need a live call and an async link makes more sense. TeamViewer or AnyDesk take the lead when your primary need is full remote machine control for IT support or unattended access.