SilkRemote
Android is a great remote desktop client. Phones are always with you, Android tablets make excellent portable screens, and Samsung DeX turns a Galaxy phone or tablet into a desktop-style workspace with windows, a keyboard and a mouse. Pair DeX with a good remote desktop app and you can run your full Mac or PC from a monitor, a tablet, or a hotel TV.
We tested eight remote desktop apps on Android phones, tablets and DeX.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Platforms | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SilkRemote | Smooth streaming on phones, tablets and DeX | Yes, on your local network | Host: Mac, Windows (beta). Client: native Android app, any browser | 120 fps, great with DeX |
| Windows App / Remote Desktop | Windows Pro PCs | Free (Pro host required) | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Native RDP |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Free basics | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Free |
| TeamViewer | Cross-platform access | Personal use | Nearly everything | Feature depth |
| AnyDesk | Lightweight access | Personal use | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Quick setup |
| Parsec | Gaming | Personal use | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | Low latency |
| Moonlight | Game streaming | Yes, open source | Clients incl. Android; host via Sunshine | High frame rates |
| RustDesk | Self-hosting | Yes, open source | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS | Own your server |
1. SilkRemote: best remote desktop app for Android and DeX
SilkRemote offers a native Android app that works great with Samsung DeX, and it is built for smoothness. It streams at up to 120 fps and up to 2560x1440 at around 40 Mbps, which suits the high refresh displays on many Galaxy phones and tablets. On a local network, capture-to-screen latency is around 17 ms, so dragging windows and scrolling long pages feels close to local.
In DeX mode, SilkRemote shines because DeX gives you a real keyboard and mouse. Keyboard, mouse and touch input are all supported, and audio streams from the host. On a Mac host (macOS 14+), SilkRemote creates a 120 Hz virtual display for the stream, so you are not just watching a 60 Hz desktop scaled onto your screen. If you would rather not install anything, SilkRemote also runs in Chrome or Edge on Android.
Every session is end-to-end encrypted using ECDH P-256 key exchange and AES-256-GCM, meaning even the relay cannot see your screen. Your Android device pairs with your computer by scanning a QR code or typing a one-time code, and unpaired devices are refused. Connections are peer-to-peer first; Pro adds hole punching across networks with an encrypted relay as automatic fallback.
The limits: there is no Linux host, and the Windows host is in beta. Pricing is free forever on your local network, with Pro at $6/month or $49/year for access from anywhere.
Pros: Native Android app, excellent on DeX, 120 fps, end-to-end encryption. Cons: No Linux host, Windows host in beta.
2. Windows App / Microsoft Remote Desktop
Microsoft's RDP client for Android delivers native Windows sessions that adapt well to DeX's desktop layout. It is free, but the host must run Windows Pro or Enterprise, and access outside your network requires extra configuration.
Pros: Free, native Windows experience, good with DeX. Cons: No Mac hosts, requires Windows Pro.
3. Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop has a free Android app and works with Windows, Mac and Linux hosts using a Google account.
Pros: Free and easy. Cons: Basic features, and motion is not as smooth as streaming-first apps.
4. TeamViewer
TeamViewer's Android app is full-featured and connects to almost any platform. It is free for personal use with commercial-use detection.
Pros: Rich features including file transfer. Cons: Busy interface on small screens; personal users may be flagged.
5. AnyDesk
AnyDesk is light and quick on Android and is free for personal use.
Pros: Small, fast, cross-platform. Cons: Free tier is personal-only.
6. Parsec
Parsec is built for low-latency gaming and has an Android client that works well for playing PC games on a phone or tablet. It is free for personal use.
Pros: Very responsive, good for games. Cons: Gaming-focused interface, less suited to desktop productivity in DeX.
7. Moonlight
Moonlight is an open-source game streaming client for Android that connects to the Sunshine host on your PC.
Pros: Free, very fast, great controller support. Cons: Designed for games, more setup required.
8. RustDesk
RustDesk is open source and self-hostable, with an Android client.
Pros: Free, private, flexible. Cons: Less polished, and self-hosting takes effort.
Getting the most from Samsung DeX
DeX works best with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, or a USB-C hub connected to a monitor. Set your remote desktop app to full screen in DeX so it uses the whole display, and pick a stream resolution that matches the monitor. For the smoothest results, keep both devices on fast Wi-Fi and connect the host computer by Ethernet if you can.
If you also use an iPad, see our list of the best remote desktop apps for iPad. Want to reach your computer while traveling? Read how to access your home computer from anywhere.
Verdict
SilkRemote is the best remote desktop app for Android and Samsung DeX in 2026. Its native Android app streams at up to 120 fps with low latency, works great with DeX's keyboard and mouse, and encrypts every session end to end. Start free on your local network and upgrade to Pro for access from anywhere. Download SilkRemote or compare plans.