Connected IoT devices now outnumber the global population by more than 2.5 times. At the end of 2025, 21.1 billion connected devices outnumbered ~8.2 billion people worldwide. Yet many teams still pay for remote access as if supporting office desktops rather than distributed device fleets.
The global remote access software market reflects this shift, projected to grow from $2.929 billion in 2025 to $5.645 billion by 2030 at a 14.02% CAGR, driven by manufacturing, IT/telecom, and remote monitoring adoption globally. Yet many IoT teams rely on legacy desktop-focused pricing.
LogMeIn’s per-device pricing was designed for traditional computers, not for industrial sensors, gateways, or edge computing nodes. At around $30 for up to two computers per month, a modest 100-device deployment can reach roughly $18,000 per year, which in many cases exceeds the cost of the hardware itself.
After reviewing pricing data from Splashtop, ScreenConnect, RealVNC, Zoho Assist, and Chrome Remote Desktop, along with feedback from teams that have moved away from LogMeIn, clear patterns emerge around what works better at IoT scale.
Why Remote Access Has Become a Core Part of IoT Infrastructure
In traditional IT, remote access is mostly about helping employees or maintaining servers. In IoT, it is part of the infrastructure itself.
IoT teams rely on remote access to:
- Maintain uptime for critical systems
- Patch and update devices without physical visits
- Investigate performance and security issues
- Support operations across multiple locations
Most IoT devices operate without keyboards, screens, or users. They run unattended, often in industrial or public environments. That means remote access tools must be stable, secure, and designed for continuous access rather than occasional support sessions.
As the number of connected devices passed 21 billion in 2025, growing 14% year over year, remote access has become less of a convenience and more of an operational requirement.
This is where many legacy tools start to show their limits.
Why LogMeIn’s Pricing Model Creates Friction for IoT Teams
LogMeIn Pro costs $30 per two computers per month, or about $15 per device. For a deployment of 100 devices, that translates to roughly $18,000 per year.
That model makes sense when you are supporting office computers used by employees. It becomes far less efficient when applied to headless sensors, gateways, and edge devices that may be accessed only occasionally but must remain available at all times.
From a technology management perspective, this is similar to paying for enterprise software licenses for infrastructure components. Over time, it pushes up operating costs and limits how quickly an IoT system can scale.
This is why many organizations are now reviewing their remote access architecture as part of a broader IT cost-optimization and infrastructure-planning process.
How IoT Teams Are Reframing Remote Access Strategy
Rather than asking which tool is cheapest, more teams are asking how remote access fits into their overall technology stack.
Key questions now include:
- How many technicians actually need access
- How many devices will exist in two or three years
- What level of security and auditability is required
- Whether devices span Windows, Linux, Android, or embedded systems
This type of planning often sits alongside cloud migration, cybersecurity, and managed IT decisions, because remote access touches all three.
A Look at Common Alternatives
Several LogMeIn pricing alternatives for IoT remote access teams have emerged, each offering distinct advantages depending on team size, technician count, deployment preferences, and existing technology stack.
1. Splashtop
Splashtop uses a per-user licensing model in several of its plans. Business Access Pro, for example, is priced at $99 per user per year and allows each user to access up to ten computers. For teams with a limited number of technicians managing large device fleets, this structure can reduce costs significantly compared to per-device pricing.
The platform supports unattended access, Android and IoT devices in higher tiers, Wake on LAN for remote power management, and session recording for compliance and auditing. It runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Chrome OS, making it suitable for mixed environments.
2. ScreenConnect
ScreenConnect, formerly ConnectWise Control, offers both cloud and self-hosted deployments. This can be useful for organizations that want more control over how remote access is deployed within their network.
Pricing varies by plan. Entry tiers start around $372 per year for 25 agents, while per-technician licenses start around $33 monthly if billed annually, with unlimited agents and limited concurrent sessions. For some IoT teams, especially those already using MSP or PSA tools, this model fits well. However, recent price increases have made long-term scaling a consideration.
3. RealVNC Connect
RealVNC Connect uses native VNC technology for low-latency control and excellent Linux/Raspberry Pi compatibility in IoT deployments. Essential plans start at $8.25/month per subscription (up to 3 devices per user), with higher tiers (Plus $16.50/mo for 5 devices; Premium $29.75/mo for 10), plus a free Lite tier for non-commercial use. It offers stability across Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, and embedded systems.
4. Zoho Assist
Zoho Assist uses a per-user model with unlimited devices on its paid tiers. Standard tier plans start at $10 per user per month, with a Professional tier at $15 per user.
Features include unattended access, file transfer, session recording, and end-to-end encryption. For small and mid sized teams, especially those already using Zoho’s ecosystem, this approach can provide predictable costs as device fleets grow.
5. Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop is a free option that works through the browser and supports most major platforms. While it lacks enterprise-level management and auditing, it can be useful for development environments, prototypes, or internal access during early-stage IoT projects.
Many teams use it as a temporary or supplemental tool before moving to more structured platforms.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Pricing (Annual Est.) | Licensing Model | IoT Strengths | Platforms Supported |
| Splashtop | $99 per user | Per user | Android/IoT access (Enterprise), Wake-on-LAN | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome OS |
| ScreenConnect | From $372 (25 agents) | Per agent or technician | Self-hosted, unlimited agents (tech plans) | Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile |
| RealVNC Connect | $99 (Essential, 3 devices/user) | Per subscription/user | Native VNC, Raspberry Pi, low-latency | Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile |
| Zoho Assist | $120 per user (Standard) | Per user | Unlimited devices, Zoho integration | All major platforms |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Free | None | Quick access, no cost | Browser-based (Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android/iOS) |
Each of these tools supports different ways of structuring IT operations, and the right choice depends more on infrastructure design than on price alone.
Remote Access, Security, and Compliance
For many Beaconsoft clients, remote access is closely tied to security and compliance.
IoT devices often control physical systems, such as manufacturing equipment, energy networks, healthcare devices, and building automation systems. That makes access control, logging, and encryption essential.
When evaluating platforms, technology teams typically look for:
- Encrypted sessions
- Multi-factor authentication
- Device authentication
- Session recording and audit trails
- Compatibility with security frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO, or HIPAA
This is why remote access decisions are often reviewed alongside cybersecurity strategy and risk management.
Final Thoughts: What This Means for Technology Leaders
For organizations building or managing IoT platforms, remote access is no longer just a support tool. It is part of the business’s digital backbone.
Legacy pricing models based on per-device licensing were created for a different era. As IoT systems grow, many companies are shifting toward models that reflect how their teams actually work, how their infrastructure scales, and how security must be enforced.
Revisiting remote access strategy is now part of modern IT architecture, cloud operations, and digital transformation planning.
