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Compare Remio vs Parsec
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Remio vs Parsec:
The Honest Comparison

Parsec pioneered butter-smooth remote gaming. We respect that. Here's how Remio takes a different approach — with privacy, simplicity, and independence at the core.

🟣 Choose Remio if you want:

  • No account needed — just enter a PIN and connect
  • True privacy — we literally can't see your sessions
  • A lightweight native app that doesn't drain your battery
  • An indie product not owned by any corporation
  • More modern video codecs (VP9, AV1) for sharper image

🔵 Choose Parsec if you want:

  • Arcade mode to play local co-op games with friends online
  • Wacom tablet support with pressure and tilt sensitivity
  • Enterprise fleet management with SSO
  • A web browser client for quick one-off access
  • Windows as your primary host platform

What's Actually Different

We skipped the rows where both apps are equal (4K, 60 FPS, gamepad support, etc.) and focused on what matters.

Feature Remio Parsec
Privacy & Access
Account needed? ✓ No — just a PIN code ✗ Mandatory email account
End-to-end encrypted ✓ Always on ✗ Relay servers can see traffic
Session privacy We can't see your sessions Servers log connections
Technology
App type 100% native (Swift/Kotlin/Go) Proprietary (some web tech)
Connection Direct P2P first Relay-based with P2P option
Video codecs H.265, VP9, AV1 H.264, H.265 only
Features & Platform
Multi-monitor ✓ Free for everyone Paid plans only ($9.99/mo)
Multiplayer / Arcade mode ✗ Not planned ✓ Core feature — best in class
Wacom tablet support Coming soon ✓ Pressure + tilt
Windows host Coming soon ✓ Primary platform
Web client (no install) ✗ Not planned ✓ Chrome browser
Business
Who owns it? Independent indie developer Unity Technologies
Enterprise features (SSO, teams) Coming soon ✓ Mature

The Real Story

Beyond the checklist — here's what actually matters when choosing.

Why Remio

What makes us different
  • No account, no tracking. Just open the app, get a PIN, and connect. No email, no profile, no data collection.
  • Your sessions are truly private. End-to-end encrypted — not "encrypted in transit." We physically cannot see what you're doing.
  • Native app = better performance. No Electron wrapper. Less RAM, less CPU, better battery life on your phone or tablet.
  • Independent and user-driven. Not owned by Unity or any corporation. Our roadmap comes from users, not shareholders.

Why Parsec

Credit where it's due
  • Unmatched for co-op gaming. Parsec's arcade mode lets friends play local multiplayer games together online. Nothing else comes close.
  • Digital artists love it. If you need Wacom pressure sensitivity and tilt over remote desktop, Parsec is currently the better choice.
  • Enterprise-ready. SSO, team management, audit logs — Parsec has a mature offering for businesses.
  • Windows is home turf. If your host machine is Windows, Parsec has had years to optimize for it.

Pricing Comparison

Both offer free tiers. Here's how the paid plans compare.

🟣 Remio Pricing

Free
$0
All core features, multi-monitor, no limits
Pro
$8.99/mo
Priority relay, advanced features
Teams
$14.99/user/mo
Team management, admin controls

🔵 Parsec Pricing

Personal
$0
1 monitor only, basic color
Warp
$9.99/mo
Multi-monitor, better color, tablet support
Teams
$35/user/mo
Admin panel, SSO, team management

Who Should Use What?

Honest recommendations based on your actual use case.

🎮 Gaming with Friends

Parsec has the edge (for now)

If you want to play local co-op games online with friends, Parsec's arcade mode is genuinely unmatched. Both apps feel equally fast — but Parsec's multiplayer features are the real differentiator.

💼 Remote Work

Remio wins

Need to access your work computer from home? Remio's instant PIN setup, real privacy, and native performance make it the smarter choice. No corporate tracking, no mandatory login.

🎨 Creative Work

Depends on your tools

Need Wacom tablet support? Parsec is better right now. For everything else — photo editing, video, 3D — Remio's modern codecs (AV1, VP9) deliver sharper visuals at lower bandwidth.

🏆 The Verdict

Parsec is great at what it does — especially for gaming with friends. Their arcade mode is genuinely fun, and they've earned their reputation in the gaming remote desktop space.

Remio is built on a different philosophy. We believe you shouldn't need an account to connect to your own computer. We believe your remote sessions should be truly private. And we believe native apps will always feel faster than wrapped web tech.

If privacy matters to you, if you want a lightweight native app, if you're tired of mandatory accounts — give Remio a try. It's free and takes 30 seconds to set up.

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