Complete Visibility with the Best Remote Desktop Monitoring Software

Get detailed info on web & app usage, manage tasks & projects, and boost productivity across your remote team

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Dashboard showing top performers, total hours logged, project activity, and assigned projects.

Real-Time Desktop Monitoring

Accurately monitor your team’s activity live

Monitor remote employee computers in real-time to track performance and solve problems quickly. See how remote workers spend their time on different tasks, projects, or clients.

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Monitor URL & Application Usage

See what your remote team is doing on the internet

Track remote desktop and see which websites and apps employees are using. You can monitor internet usage & online activities and find out if your teams are really working or wasting time on social media.

Check Internet Activity

Usage report showing app and URL activity with total time, start, and end times.
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Screenshot & User Session Recording

Capture snapshots for better remote computer monitoring

Take remote desktop management to the next level using time tracker with screenshot. Review full session screen recording to optimize workflows and productivity, ensure compliance, and identify risks.

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Detailed Reporting & Analytics

Get advanced remote PC monitoring insights

Transform the computer monitoring data into actionable insights to optimize and boost productivity. Analyze the intuitive reports to find activity trends and potential bottlenecks.

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Team performance report with time worked, productivity, and a graph of daily activity comparison.
Activity settings page showing screenshot tracking, frequency, activity, and idle time options.

Advanced Security Measures

Manage remote desktop privacy & security risks

Multi-layer permissions and accessibility protocols provide secured remote computer monitoring. User-level data protection and deletion systems ensure privacy is always intact.

Secure Your Data

Reviews

Our 5100+ Clients Have a Habit of Saying Nice  Things About Us

Time tracking accuracy increased by 40%, payroll errors dropped by 30%

monitask review

Since adopting Apploye, Wing Assistant has seen a remarkable improvement in both time tracking and payroll efficiency. We have been able to scale our VA teams, successfully across multiple regions with minimal administrative burden.

Roland Polzin
Co-Founder,
WingAssistant

If you have a remote team you NEED this

monitask review

If you have a remote team you NEED this. I manage a remote team and figuring how productive or even if they are working or slacking off was a big issue. Early on I was screwed over again and again, then I switched over to Apploye and life changed again. Loads fast, easy to use, lots of updates and powerful. Get this and move your company to the next level.

Sharky J Liu
CEO,
DentistFind

Lifesaver for Time Tracking a Team

monitask review

It's been wonderful and a lifesaver from not having to use the competitor tools that cost an arm and a leg

Franky S.
CEO,
Marketing & Advertising Company

Great and affordable time tracker for our projects

monitask review

To me, the best takeaway is that it improves productivity for both myself and my team with its work cycles while still reminding us to take periodic breaks. It's also really helpful in stopping us invest too much time in less important tasks or ideas and instead moving on to other priorities.

Matt H
CEO & Founder
IT Services

40% improvement in time-tracking accuracy

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Apploye’s automatic time-tracking feature became a cornerstone for monitoring employee hours in real-time across departments, ensuring productivity and client satisfaction.

Kazi A.
Team Lead,
FundedNext

Monitor employee hours accurately and reliably

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Apploye’s time-tracking capabilities allowed Jezweb to monitor employee hours accurately and reliably, regardless of location.

Jeremy Dawes
Founder,
Jezweb

Superb Software + Top Class Customer Service

monitask review

I've recently bought this software to track my remote team. Works like charm. Lovely, as well the customer support was at a different level all together.

Krunal C.
Founder,
Information Services Company

Saved a ton of money with a little investment

monitask review

We have saved a ton of money with a little investment with Apploye compared to the many ask what we used to do. I would personally suggest to go ahead and try out Apploye and you will really thank me for this decision.

Kiran N
Founder & Chief Creative Officer,
BrandMojo

Useful tool for remote teams!

monitask review

I found it extremely easy to use, it feels native and UX is great unlike other similar tools I tried. I also find reports useful, they are a par of our monthly meetings now.

Jana F.
Growth Hacker,
Marketing Advertising Company

Apploye’s friendly and responsive support helps us a lot

monitask review

We've been using Apploye happily almost a year now. Not to forget, Apploye's friendly and responsive support which helps us a lot. Specially, at the beginning when we were implementing Apploye in our organization. At the end I would like to say a big thank you to Apploye for helping "Douglas Tech Academy" for delivering awesome classes to our future generations.

Mohammad Douglas
Cofounder,
Douglas Tech Academy

Great team tracking software to stay on track!

monitask review

With everyone on the team moving remote, we're able to prioritize employees work duties and improve overall productivity with Apploye.

Benjamin T.
Head of Marketing

One of my best software purchases

monitask review

Best productivity monitoring/tracking tool. I consider this as one of my best software purchases in recent times. Apploye served my employees time and productivity track from day one. Back office teams and on-field members tracking is done efficiently. Whatever initial day niggles existed are all ironed out and now is a stable product.

Pathare Parag
Digital Social Media Consultant

Getting started with Apploye is super easy. Let us show you around.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Remote Desktop Monitoring Software

What is remote desktop monitoring?

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Remote desktop monitoring means watching and controlling computers from far away.

IT workers use remote computer monitoring software to do this. The software lets them see what's on the computer screen. They can watch what users are doing and check how well the computer is working. Sometimes they can even control the computer themselves with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

Remote PC monitoring helps keep computers safe from hackers. It manages computer resources better. IT workers can fix problems without visiting each computer. They can also make sure people follow company rules when using computers.

How do you see what an employee is doing on their computer?

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Use Apploye to know what a remote employee is doing on their computer. Simply follow these steps to use this remote system monitoring software:

Step 1: Set up the Apploye Time Tracker: Install the Apploye time tracker on the employee's desktop.

Step 2: Activate Screenshots: Apploye can take pictures of the computer screen automatically. Turn this feature on, and it will take screenshots and record the screen to show what the employee is doing.

Step 3: Monitor Work and Online Activity: See all the screenshots and recordings on the dashboard. It also shows how much time employees spend on different tasks, programs & websites.

Step 4: Activity Level Reports: Apploye shows when the employee was active or idle and measures the productivity level.

How much does remote computer monitoring software cost?

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Most remote desktop monitoring software ranges from $5-20+ per user monthly. However, Apploye has a free package for up to 10 users and scales from $4.50 to $10 per user/month depending on features. It is much cheaper than most competitors. This makes it one of the more affordable options in the remote monitoring space.

How many resources can you spend on implementing Apploye?

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Getting started with Apploye remote PC monitoring software is easy and doesn't need much:

  • Time: You can set up and start using Apploye in just a few hours.
  • People: Only one or two team members need to handle the setup.
  • Cost: With the yearly plan discount, it costs about $4.50 per person each month. This makes it very affordable.

Apploye offers remote computer monitoring features at a low price. It's perfect for businesses that want to work better without spending a lot of money or time.

What can Apploye do with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

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Here are the primary features of Apploye's RDP session recording:

  • Records RDP sessions on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • Captures and indexes all user activity during RDP session monitoring.
  • Quick access to RDP recordings through the Apploye dashboard.
  • Simple RDP viewer with historical session playback.
  • Find RDP sessions by tasks and projects.

All these features make Apploye the most robust RDP monitoring and recording platform.

What kind of reporting and analytics does Apploye provide?

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Here are the primary reporting and analytics features for remote desktop monitoring:

Core Reports:

  • Time & activity report, manual time report, apps & URL usage report.
  • Available in PDF and Excel formats with graphical and tabular views.

Monitoring Analytics:

  • Take screenshots automatically at random and record the computer screen.
  • Apps and URL tracking help you record time spent on the used programs and visited websites.
  • Active time and idle time of employees.
  • Productivity percentage based on mouse clicks and keystrokes.

Dashboard Features:

  • Top 5 Members based on time logged, and the top 5 Members based on productivity.
  • Live feed to see who's currently online.

Report Distribution:

  • Summarized weekly email report is sent to the admin periodically.
  • Daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly timesheet views.

How does Apploye help build employee trust?

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Here's how Apploye's remote monitoring tool helps build trust with employees:

  • Clear and Open: Employees can see their own work data. This includes their time records, screenshots, screen recordings, and work performance. They know exactly what the company is watching.
  • Your Choice: Employers can choose to start and stop monitoring computer activity remotely whenever they want.
  • Safe and Secure: Only specific people in your organization (like admins and managers) can see remote monitoring data. Regular employees can't spy on each other, and outside companies can't access your information.
  • Fair Monitoring: The remote employee monitoring software lets managers keep track of work without being too controlling.
  • Help, Not Catch: The remote PC tracking software is meant to help workers do better at their jobs. It's not designed to catch people doing wrong things.

As you can see, Apploye focuses on being open, keeping data safe, and working together. It's not about spying on people.

What makes Apploye the most fitting remote desktop solution for teams?

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The following features make Apploye the best remote monitoring software:

  • Takes random screenshots and records PC screens remotely.
  • Tracks apps and websites used by employees.
  • Shows real-time activity and productivity metrics.
  • Automated timesheet and payroll management.
  • Live feed to see who's working online.

Does your employer have to tell you if your computer is being monitored?

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In most US states: No, employers don't have to tell you if they're monitoring your computer.

Exceptions: Some states, like Connecticut and Delaware, require notification. The EU generally requires disclosure under GDPR.

Reality: Many companies do inform employees through employee handbooks or policies, even when not legally required.

If you're using a company computer, assume it's being monitored unless told otherwise.

The Complete Guide to
Remote Desktop Monitoring Software

Learn More About Remote Desktop Monitoring Apps

What is Remote Desktop Monitoring Software?

Remote employee desktop monitoring software helps keep your computer systems working well. It lets IT teams manage and protect computers remotely. IT workers, system managers, and tech service companies use it to stay connected to devices anywhere. This keeps work flowing smoothly and keeps systems safe.

This PC remote monitoring software can watch network activity. It can check how well employees are working. It can also find security problems early. IT teams can fix issues, update systems, and do repairs without visiting each computer in person.

The main parts of this software are desktop monitoring and management. You can set it up in the cloud or on your on-premise monitoring servers. It works either way.

The remote monitoring desktop software has activity logs, session recordings, and automatic alerts. These features help IT managers stay in control and help teams work better.

The computer remote monitoring software also has advanced security features. It can record screens, prevent data loss, detect insider threats, and check operational compliance.

Why Use Remote PC Monitoring Software in 2025?

This is how remote desktop monitoring software helps companies:

Remote Work Management

Many people now work from home or different offices. Companies need to measure their productivity. This helps them improve how work gets done and make sure everyone performs well.

Cybersecurity Protection

The PC remote monitoring software checks user behavior analytics. It can spot hackers trying to break in, harmful computer viruses, and stolen data. The software alerts companies right away when something suspicious happens.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Some businesses, like healthcare and finance, must follow strict laws about keeping records. The remote computer tracker software automatically creates reports that prove the company is following these laws.

IT Asset Management

Organizations can track all their computers and software. They can see which devices need fixing and make sure they have proper licenses for their programs. This saves money and prevents legal problems.

Proactive Technical Support

IT workers can fix computer issues remotely. They can install updates and solve problems before they affect work. This means less downtime and happier employees.

Data Loss Prevention

The remote monitoring computer software checks when people send files, emails, or use USB drives. This prevents workers from accidentally or purposely sharing company secrets.

Performance Optimization

The working from home monitoring software keeps track of how well computers and networks are working. It finds slowdowns and helps make everything run faster and smoother.

Which Remote Desktop Monitoring and Management Features are Most Important?

The most critical remote tracking software for computers features include:

Security & Access Control

  • Multi-factor authentication and encrypted connections
  • Role-based permissions and session recording
  • Secure file transfer capabilities

Remote Performance Monitoring

  • Real-time system resource tracking (CPU, memory, disk, network)
  • Application performance monitoring
  • Bandwidth usage monitoring and optimization

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Capabilities

  • Unattended access for maintenance
  • Screen sharing and remote control with multiple monitor support
  • Wake-on-LAN functionality

Management & Administration

  • Centralized device inventory and asset tracking
  • Automated patch management and software deployment
  • Remote command execution and scripting

User Experience

  • Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile)
  • Low-latency connection with adaptive quality settings
  • Clipboard sharing and local resource access

Alerting & Reporting

  • Automated alerts for system issues or security events
  • Usage analytics and compliance reporting
  • Event logging and audit trails

Scalability Features

  • Group management and bulk operations
  • API integration for third-party tools

The priority of these features depends on your specific use case - whether it's IT support, employee remote work, or enterprise device management.

Why is RDP Monitoring Important?

RDP monitoring is important for keeping your systems safe and running well. Here's why:

Finding Security Threats

RDP session recording can spot when someone tries to guess passwords or break in. It also catches when stolen login details are being used to access your systems.

Meeting Rules and Keeping Records

Many business rules require you to track who connects remotely to your systems. And remote desktop monitoring creates records showing who accessed which computers and when. Having these RDP records proves you're protecting important data and following guidelines.

Seeing What's Happening

RDP monitoring tracks how users are using the system and finds problems like slow connections or system overload. It shows how long people stay connected and how many people connect at the same time. This helps you plan for future needs.

Responding to Problems

When something goes wrong, RDP session records give you the information you need to respond quickly. It helps you find which computers and users were affected and shows you how bad a security problem might be.

Reducing Risk

RDP gives people high-level access to important systems. That's why monitoring remote computers catches employees who might misuse their access. It also sends instant alerts when something suspicious happens. So, you can respond before bigger problems occur.

Since RDP can give someone control over servers and computers, monitoring these connections is essential.

How does Remote Employee Desktop Monitoring Software Ensure Employee Privacy?

The following steps help companies monitor work while respecting employee privacy:

Basic Security

Data is locked with codes when sent or stored. Organizations use secure computers with password protection and do regular safety checks.

Choosing What to Watch

Employers can pick what to monitor on remote employee computers and only watch during work hours. They can track work apps instead of everything and skip personal websites and apps.

Limiting Access

Only certain people can see the data, and managers have limits on what they can view. Bosses control how long data is kept.

Being Open with Workers

Companies tell employees what is being watched and get permission before starting monitoring. They write clear rules about what is tracked and let workers see their own data.

Collecting Less Information

Businesses only gather work-related information and delete old data automatically. They use general reports instead of detailed records and set privacy as the default option.

Following Privacy Laws

Organizations follow rules like GDPR and CCPA and check their privacy practices regularly. They give employees the right to see, fix, or delete their data.

Technical Protection

The remote computer monitoring software blurs sensitive information on screens and doesn't capture passwords or personal data. It groups websites by type instead of recording exact addresses and measures productivity without showing every detail.

What Impact does Computer Remote Monitoring Software have on Employee Morale?

Remote desktop surveillance software usually affects how employees feel about their jobs. But this depends on how companies use it and explain it.

How Remote PC Monitoring Software Hurts Employee Morale

  • Less trust and freedom - Workers think their boss doesn't trust them. This makes them feel watched too closely and less happy at work.
  • More stress and anxiety - 56% employees say that they feel nervous when someone is always monitoring. They worry about being judged for taking short breaks or doing small personal tasks.
  • Feeling like just a number - Employees feel like the company only cares about their computer data, not them as people. This happens more when businesses focus on things like how many keys they type or how long they look at their screen.
  • Privacy concerns - Even at work, employees don't like having all their computer activity tracked in detail.

Ways to Make Remote Desktop Monitoring Less Harmful

  • Tell employees clearly what you monitor, why you monitor it, and how you use the information.
  • Focus on work results instead of just activities. Use the data to help employees, not punish them.
  • Let employees help create the monitoring rules.
  • Set clear limits on what you will and won't monitor.

30% employees say monitoring helps them stay focused and responsible. But this only works when organizations present it as help, not spying.

How can HR Ensure Compliance with Remote PC Monitoring Laws?

Here are the key steps HR should take to follow the law when monitoring remote workers' computers:

Get Legal Permission First

Before you install any remote PC monitoring software, get written permission from your employees. A regular work contract is not enough. You need specific permission that clearly explains what you will monitor and why.

Check the employee monitoring laws in every state and country where your workers live. Different places have different rules. For example, California workers have different rights than Texas workers. If you have employees in other countries, you must follow their data protection laws too.

Some states treat remote computer monitoring like wiretapping, which has strict rules.

Write Clear Policies

Create remote desktop employee monitoring policies that they can easily understand. Don't use complicated legal language. Tell employees:

  • What you will monitor
  • Why you need to monitor
  • How long you will keep the data
  • What rights they have

Put these policies where employees can find them easily. Get signed forms showing employees understand the policies. You also need good business reasons for remote computer monitoring.

Start Monitoring the Right Way

Tell employees ahead of time before you start monitoring PC remotely. Only monitor what you actually need for business reasons. Don't look at everything just because you can.

Usually, you should not monitor:

  • Personal emails
  • Social media accounts
  • Apps not used for work

Treat the remote desktop monitoring data like sensitive information

Ongoing Compliance

Train your managers and IT staff on what they can and cannot do with remote PC monitoring tools. Mistakes by well-meaning people can cause big legal problems.

Check your monitoring practices regularly to make sure you follow your own policies and stay within the law. Keep learning about new laws in this area. Lawmakers and courts are still figuring out the rules for monitoring employees who work from home.

What Best Practices Help HR Implement Remote Desktop Monitoring and Management Software Successfully?

Here are the best practices for HR to set up remote computer monitoring software:

Legal and Policy Foundation

  • Check privacy laws in your area
  • Update employee contracts to mention remote PC monitoring
  • Get written permission when required

Transparent Communication

  • Announce desktop monitoring plans ahead of time
  • Explain what data you collect and how you use it
  • Create clear ways for employees to raise concerns

Technical Implementation

  • Test with a small group first
  • Make sure it works with your current systems
  • Give tech support during setup

Data Security Management

  • Only let certain people see the remote desktop monitoring data
  • Set schedules for keeping and deleting data
  • Store data safely with passwords

What are the Benefits of Remote Desktop Monitoring Software?

Operational Efficiency

Managing resources wisely and cutting costs, i.e., improving operational efficiency, is the end goal of remote desktop monitoring software. Also, integration with existing project management systems provides better productivity and smoother data management.

Security and Compliance

Monitoring employee computer usage remotely keeps organizations compliant and ready for audits. This creates a safer, more reliable IT environment.

Workforce Productivity

With remote employee desktop monitoring software, tracking performance becomes second nature. Managing projects, setting schedules, and hitting deadlines is easier than ever. Also, detailed reports help make smarter decisions to increase efficiency.

What are the Use Cases for Remote Desktop Monitoring Software?

For IT Administrators and Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

IT administrators and MSPs depend on remote access device monitoring for seamless management. It handles multiple clients easily, and service quality is always high.

For Remote Workers and System Managers

Remote employee monitoring tools track productivity. It keeps work-from-home employees focused on the task at hand. The best employee monitoring software offers seamless operations while maintaining security standards.

For Enterprises and Businesses

Enterprises use remote desktop monitoring to improve their security and compliance. Sensitive data stays protected, minimizing breach risks. Also, employee activity tracking ensures that operations flow efficiently.

For Educational Institutions and Public Services

Schools and public service organizations rely on remote computer monitoring to support online learning and manage their IT infrastructure. These tools enable continuous teaching and learning without interruptions.

For Healthcare and Legal Services

Healthcare and legal experts count on remote desktop monitoring software features that lock down sensitive information, maintain confidentiality, and meet strict security standards.