Choose Raspberry Pi Connect to remotely access a supported Raspberry Pi OS device; choose Chrome Remote Desktop when you need Google’s documented unattended computer access or temporary support sessions. Both can provide remote desktop access through a browser, but Connect also offers remote shell and updates, while the setup requirements and published privacy details differ.
How the two services differ
| What matters | Raspberry Pi Connect | Chrome Remote Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Intended target | Supported devices running Raspberry Pi OS | General computer access and remote support |
| Remote functions | Screen sharing, remote shell, and remote updates | Unattended computer access and temporary support sessions |
| Account or access method | Link the Pi to a Raspberry Pi ID, then select it in Connect | Configure a host for unattended access and use a PIN; support sessions use a temporary access code |
| Privacy information published | Detailed explanation of session encryption, connection routing, and data retention | States sessions are fully encrypted and discloses collection of anonymized network-delay and session-duration data |
Connect’s features and requirements are described in Raspberry Pi’s Connect documentation. Google describes Chrome Remote Desktop as a way to access another computer and provide support in its official help guide and on the product page.
Which service should you choose?
Choose Raspberry Pi Connect for a Raspberry Pi OS device
Connect is the more directly tailored option when the computer you need to reach is a supported Raspberry Pi OS device. Its combination of screen sharing, remote shell, and remote updates can support both desktop use and administration from a browser.
Consider Chrome Remote Desktop for general access or support
Chrome Remote Desktop fits Google’s documented workflows for reaching a configured computer without someone present, or starting a support session with a temporary code. The cited Google guide includes Linux host instructions, but it does not establish compatibility with every Raspberry Pi model, architecture, or OS image. Do not assume that a generic Linux instruction proves support for a particular Pi setup.
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Raspberry Pi Connect: requirements and setup
Raspberry Pi says Connect requires Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm or later. Connect is included by default with the Desktop and Full editions. The Lite edition offers Connect Lite, which supports remote shell but not screen sharing. Consult the official requirements and feature details for your device and OS edition.
- Check the OS and edition. Confirm the device runs Bookworm or later, and note whether it is Desktop, Full, or Lite.
- Set up the device and link it. Link the Pi to a Raspberry Pi Connect account. For a headless first setup, Raspberry Pi’s setup guide explains how to use Raspberry Pi Imager to configure the OS, networking, remote access, and credentials.
- Connect from a browser. Open the Connect site, select the linked device, and choose an available remote method, such as screen sharing or shell.
For most Pi models, boot media is typically a microSD card, although Raspberry Pi’s setup guide also allows other compatible storage. A card is only relevant if you still need boot media; it is not a requirement for remote access on an already configured device.
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Chrome Remote Desktop: access and support setup
Unattended access
- On the computer you want to reach, configure the Chrome Remote Desktop host using remotedesktop.google.com/access.
- When connecting, select the computer and enter its PIN.
Temporary support
- The person sharing their computer opens remotedesktop.google.com/support and supplies the temporary access code to the helper.
- The helper uses that code to start the support session.
Google’s Linux instructions specify a 64-bit Debian host package and include optional instructions for selecting a virtual desktop session. These are Linux instructions, not confirmation that every Raspberry Pi OS image or Pi architecture can run the host. Google also says an internet connection is required. Its help guide identifies outbound UDP, inbound UDP responses, TCP 443, and TCP/UDP 3478 (STUN) as traffic that may need to be allowed on a network. See Google’s setup and connection troubleshooting guidance.
Privacy and security: what the companies disclose
Raspberry Pi Connect
Raspberry Pi says screen-sharing and remote-shell traffic is encrypted using DTLS between the Pi and the browser. Its documentation describes a fresh public/private key pair for each connection: the device’s private key remains in memory and is discarded after the session, while the browser and device derive session encryption keys directly. Raspberry Pi says its servers cannot derive those keys. The session channel carries screen frames, input, clipboard, shell traffic, and credentials; the API handles connection setup and device state.
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Connections are generally peer-to-peer. If a direct connection cannot be established, encrypted traffic may instead be relayed through TURN servers. Raspberry Pi says setup metadata can include device and browser IP addresses and is retained for at most one minute. Its documentation distinguishes other retention rules: organization audit logs cover 90 days, while personal accounts have no connection log. These are operational retention statements, not a claim that no other account or device data is processed. See Raspberry Pi’s current Connect security and privacy documentation.
Chrome Remote Desktop
Google’s help page says, “For your security, all remote desktop sessions are fully encrypted.” It also says Google collects and stores some anonymized information about network delays and session duration to improve the service. The cited help page does not provide a directly comparable account of session-key handling or metadata-retention periods. That difference in published detail is not evidence that one service is categorically more private than the other; compare the disclosures and your organization’s requirements. See Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop help.
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Network and price considerations
The connection documentation is not equally detailed. Raspberry Pi describes WebRTC connections that are usually peer-to-peer, with encrypted TURN relay as a fallback. Google’s cited guide instead gives network traffic requirements and troubleshooting information, including UDP, TCP 443, and STUN on port 3478. If a firewall or managed network is involved, use the relevant provider’s guidance rather than assuming both services route traffic the same way.
Raspberry Pi’s Connect product page, accessed October 7, 2026, lists individual use as free and Connect for Organisations at $0.50 per device per month, with fleet-management features. Google’s cited product and help pages do not state a price. Check the Raspberry Pi Connect product page for current terms, since pricing can change.
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A practical decision checklist
- Your target is a Pi running a supported Raspberry Pi OS version: start with Connect and confirm which functions your OS edition supports.
- You need unattended access to a configured computer: Chrome Remote Desktop documents a host-and-PIN workflow.
- You are helping someone temporarily: Chrome Remote Desktop documents support sessions using a temporary access code.
- You need remote shell or remote updates as well as screen sharing: Connect documents those Pi-specific functions; Connect Lite on Raspberry Pi OS Lite is shell-only.
- You are choosing for security or organizational use: compare the published data handling, account requirements, and your organization’s rules. The cited disclosures do not support a categorical privacy winner.
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