IXON vs. Teamviewer

Understanding the solutions:
IXON vs. TeamViewer

IXON and TeamViewer solve two completely different problems. While TeamViewer was built to view and control PC screens for IT support, IXON was engineered from the ground up to connect machine engineers directly to PLCs, HMIs and OT networks securely.

IXON vs. TeamViewer at a glance

IXON vs TeamViewer: remote access features

Software

Both IXON and TeamViewer establish secure outbound connections without opening inbound firewall ports. However, their core operation differs fundamentally. IXON connects directly to the machine network (OT layer). Engineers can access HMIs and PLCs directly in their browser using EasyControl (VNC/HTTP) or StationAccess (RDP/SSH) or launch DirectVPN to work with native PLC software like TIA Portal or Codesys. No software is ever installed on factory PCs or PLCs.

TeamViewer is designed for remote desktop screen sharing on Windows, Mac or Linux PCs. Reaching PLCs or HMIs requires either running software on an internet-connected factory PC or setting up TeamViewer Tensor’s Agentless Access, a paid add-on requiring a separate Linux or Ubuntu jump-server inside the factory network.

Hardware

IXON offers a complete range of industrial edge gateways, available in Ethernet, cellular (SIM/eSIM), WiFi, combi models and IXagent software, alongside Docker container support on the SecureEdge Pro. Positioned physically between the factory network and machine network, the gateway acts as a hardware firewall that isolates the OT layer. TeamViewer offers no hardware. Because it relies entirely on software installed on factory PCs or jump-servers, it can't physically separate the machine network from the factory LAN, leaving PLCs exposed to whatever that factory PC can reach.

IXON vs TeamViewer: ease of use and workflow

Fleet Management

With IXON, you manage your entire machine fleet from one central cloud portal. Firewall rules, device templates and remote firmware updates are executed centrally across all gateways without extra software modules. TeamViewer focuses on remote PC endpoint monitoring and patching. Managing industrial fleets without dedicated hardware requires manually maintaining software updates, OS patches and jump-server configurations across every customer site.

User Management

IXON uses central cloud identity management with role-based access, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), SCIM provisioning (via Microsoft Entra ID) and time-bound approval flows for unlimited user accounts. TeamViewer supports SSO, SCIM, and role-based access in its Tensor tier, but lacks native factory-level access approval workflows and OT network restriction tools. Access is licensed per active user seat.

Expandability

IXON is built as an open IIoT ecosystem supporting REST APIs, MQTT data streaming, App Engine tooling and local Docker containers on the SecureEdge Pro to run custom edge apps or local databases. TeamViewer integrates primarily with enterprise IT helpdesk and ITSM tools. It does not support native PLC data logging, MQTT streaming, or local Docker container execution at the machine level.

IXON vs TeamViewer: cybersecurity

Security architecture

For machine builders, cybersecurity is not just about encrypted sessions. It's about network segmentation and limiting attack surfaces. TeamViewer runs as a software application on a factory PC or server connected to the internet. If that PC is compromised, unpatched or infected with malware, an attacker gains direct access to the local network. An IXON edge gateway provides true hardware network isolation, acting as a strict firewall between the factory LAN and the machine LAN. PLCs remain completely invisible to the public internet.

Accelerating factory acceptance (NIS2 & CRA)

Factory IT and OT security departments are increasingly rejecting IT remote-desktop software on the shop floor. International standards (such as IEC 62443, NIST and NIS2 guidelines) explicitly require brokered access through dedicated gateways and strict OT network segmentation. IXON pairs accredited IEC 62443-4-1 (process) and IEC 62443-4-2 (product) certifications from Bureau Veritas with native factory control tools (time-bound access approvals, detailed audit logs and an online Trust Center). This transparent, evidence-based setup makes it significantly easier for factory security managers to approve IXON than installing IT remote desktop software on their production network.

IXON vs TeamViewer: pricing

IXON operates an unmetered, flat-rate pricing model per cloud portal: Free Tier / Remote Access Cloud Plus (€300/month): includes unlimited user accounts, unlimited connected machines, unlimited concurrent VPN tunnels and unmetered data traffic without per-user fees or seat caps.

TeamViewer uses a per-user, seat-based SaaS licensing model:

• User & group plans: Billed per user seat (starting at €17.90/user/month for single users, or group packages starting at €83.90/month).
• Enterprise (Tensor): Custom enterprise pricing required for features like SSO, SCIM, Conditional Access, and Agentless Access for PLCs.

Disclaimer: This comparison is based on publicly available information and documentation as of September 2026. IXON is not affiliated with TeamViewer SE. TeamViewer, TeamViewer Tensor, and TeamViewer Frontline are registered trademarks of TeamViewer SE.

Thinking about switching from TeamViewer to IXON?

Compare IXON with your current setup in your own environment. Request an evaluation kit
and discover how easy remote access can be, or schedule a personalized 1-on-1 demo.