CrossLoop vs. LogMeIn Free — a comparison of free remote desktop software

CrossLoop and LogMeIn Free are free software packages which allow you to control a PC’s desktop remotely. Both work well and both are easy to install and use. There are some differences between the two, however, and it’s those differences that we’ll look at here.

I’ve previously written articles on both of these solutions (you can read my article about the free version of LogMeIn here and my article about CrossLoop here). Since CrossLoop and LogMeIn overlap quite a bit in the functionality department I thought I’d take some time and note the differences between the two products.

Ease of Installation

Both CrossLoop and LogMeIn require the remote user to download and install a small application. In the case of CrossLoop that procedure is straight-forward. In the case of LogMeIn, however, you’ll first have to walk the remote user through the process of logging them into your LogMeIn account (including giving them your password) and adding their remote PC to your list of clients. Only then will they be able to download and install the LogMeIn component required for remote-control.

Access to Remote PC

CrossLoop is meant to provide temporary remote access to a PC and requires the assistance of a user at the remote location. A random number gets generated each time that CrossLoop runs and that random number must be conveyed to the person attempting to control the remote PC. The random number will work until the CrossLoop application on either end is shut down. If the remote PC needs to be rebooted as part of the remote-control session the user at the remote PC will have to log back into their PC, launch the CrossLoop application again, and provide the random number to the local user so that a new remote-control session can be started. In addition to providing this random number to the local user the remote user must also agree to a dialog box when the local user first establishes a connection to the remote user’s PC.

LogMeIn, on the other hand, is meant to give more permanent access to a remote PC. Once the LogMeIn software is installed it can be set to run as a service and will start whenever the remote PC starts. There does not need to be any active involvement from a user at the remote end of the connection other than to help in the initial installation of the LogMeIn software. No random number is involved and no dialog box asking for permission to establish the connection is displayed. The local user will, however, have to supply username and password credentials to log into an account on the remote PC.

Security

Both of these solutions are conscious of security. Both applications use 128-bit SSL encryption to ensure that nobody can eavesdrop on the remote session by monitoring the traffic as it goes across the internet. In the case of both CrossLoop and LogMeIn the servers are only involved in the initial “handshake” between the local and the remote PC’s. Once the handshake is complete the traffic flows only between the two PC’s.

Application Interface

Both CrossLoop and LogMeIn require software to be installed on the “remote” PC (the PC that’s going to be remote-controlled). LogMeIn uses nothing more than a web interface to control the remote PC while CrossLoop requires the CrossLoop application to be installed on both the local and the remote PCs.That’s OK if you have the ability to install software on the local PC but may become a problem if you are using a PC in a library or an internet cafe which doesn’t allow you to install software. The CrossLoop package is Windows-only and requires a Windows OS (Windows 98 or better) on both sides of the connection.

Since LogMeIn uses a web interface the host computer can be running any OS, even a Pocket PC. The LogMeIn interface also scales with the size of your browser and offers a full screen mode that reclaims the real estate that would otherwise be taken up by the browser’s border and toolbars.

Performance

Both applications perform well using broadband connections on both the local and remote sides of the equation. CrossLoop uses VNC to handle displaying an image of the remote desktop (it includes the TightVNC binaries) while LogMeIn seems to use its own proprietary method. LogMeIn will also offer to install a plugin into your browser (IE or FireFox) to make the session even faster (in my experience the LogMeIn connection is noticeably faster if you install the plugins).

Conclusion

Both CrossLoop and LogMeIn Free give you the ability to remote-control a PC but there are advantages (and disadvantages) to both of these solutions. If your remote user is concerned about your ability to gain access to their PC at a later time without their permission then CrossLoop is probably the better choice. If you need that ability to access the remote PC without any user involvement then LogMeIn is probably the better choice.

You’ll also need to weigh the differences in the installation process. The LogMeIn installation process is a bit lengthier and involves giving your remote user access to your LogMeIn account; the CrossLoop installation process is simpler but requires the remote user to convey a random number back to the local user before a remote connection can be established.

The good news is that you have multiple ways to handle remote-controlling a PC. Both of these solutions work quite well and both are fairly easy to install. Since they’re both free I’d recommend trying out both and deciding for yourself which is better for you.

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