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RealVNC Changes Home Plan
RealVNC, a popular remote access software provider, has announced that it will be discontinuing its free “Home” plan, which allows for usage by up to three users and five devices. This change is set to take effect on June 17, 2024.
Reason for Change
The decision to retire the Home plan comes as RealVNC seeks to offer a more diverse range of tiered plans that can better accommodate a broader user base. In order to maintain a cohesive set of plan options, the company has determined that the Home plan must be phased out.
Users who currently subscribe to the Home plan can expect to receive an email notification from RealVNC detailing the upcoming changes. The email, titled “Important changes to your Home subscription,” encourages users to upgrade to a paid plan in order to avoid any service disruptions. By making the switch now, users can take advantage of a 20% discount on their new plan.
Upon receiving the email notification, users can click on the provided link to explore the various plan options offered by RealVNC. This link directs them to the company’s account management page, where they can review their current usage metrics and expiration date for the Home plan.
Available Plans
Users will have the opportunity to choose from several alternative plans, including the “Essentials” and “Plus” plans, each of which comes with its own set of features and pricing. Additionally, RealVNC introduces a third plan called the “Lite” plan, which is designed for non-commercial use.
The Lite plan reduces the number of users from three to one and devices from five to three. It does not include features such as file transfer or remote printing, making it ideal for individual users with basic remote access needs.
Transitioning to the Lite Plan
Users considering the Lite plan must acknowledge multiple times that it is strictly for non-commercial use. They will be required to create a new Lite team and manually re-add their devices to the new account. RealVNC emphasizes that the Lite plan is not intended for business use.
While RealVNC is not obligated to offer a free plan, the way in which the transition from the Home plan to the Lite plan is presented may raise concerns. Some users have noted that the Lite plan is visually de-emphasized on the pricing page, potentially leading to confusion.
Ars has reached out to RealVNC for comment regarding these changes and will provide an update as more information becomes available.
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