The closest replacements are other open-source or self-run tools, because control over your own server is why most people chose the original. Decide first whether you'll host the server yourself, then pick between a web portal for many devices, a VNC tool for plain screen control, or a protocol server and client pair for desktop logins.
Do you want to run the server yourself, or do you just want remote desktop software that's free to use? Your answer splits the field the moment you look past RustDesk. Of the nine projects here, eight are open source or self-run and one is a closed commercial tool. None is ranked above another, and every description is paraphrased from its own site.
Nine self-run options at a glance
| Tool | Kind of tool | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Apache Guacamole | Browser-based gateway | Clientless access to VNC, RDP and SSH |
| MeshCentral | Self-hosted device portal | Managing many devices from your own server |
| Radmin | Commercial network tool | Supporting users across a corporate network |
| Remmina | Desktop client | One client for several remote protocols |
| TigerVNC | VNC implementation | Running graphical apps on remote machines |
| TightVNC | VNC remote control | Simple control of one computer over a network |
| UltraVNC | VNC remote access | Free remote PC access |
| X2Go | Community remote desktop project | Remote desktops from an association-run project |
| xrdp | RDP server | Graphical logins to remote machines over RDP |
Who runs the server, and why it shapes the choice
RustDesk's own site leads with two ideas: open source, and your own self-hosted server. The pitch is control. Connections go through a machine you run, so session data stays on your infrastructure instead of passing through a vendor's cloud. That's the thing to protect when you weigh anything else, because a slicker tool that routes everything through someone else's servers isn't really a replacement for that reason.
Self-hosted portals. MeshCentral is, per the project, an open-source, multi-platform website you host yourself to manage and reach devices. Apache Guacamole is a gateway that puts VNC, RDP and SSH sessions in a web browser.
The VNC family. TightVNC and UltraVNC both give you another computer's screen, mouse and keyboard over the network. TigerVNC is a VNC implementation for launching and using graphical applications on remote machines. VNC is the oldest and simplest model here: you see the screen and you drive it.
Protocol servers and clients. xrdp is an open-source Remote Desktop Protocol server that gives remote machines a graphical login, and Remmina is a desktop client for RDP, SSH, SPICE and VNC with file sharing. X2Go is a remote desktop project that, per its own site, is run by a registered German association rather than a company.
The commercial exception. Radmin is the one closed, commercial product in the set, built for IT pros supporting users on a corporate network. If the self-hosting part matters less to you than a tool aimed at Windows networks with a vendor behind it, it's the one to look at.
Maintaining an open-source remote access project that fits here? Put it forward for review and it'll be checked against the same approach groups.
Open-source remote desktop tools, A to Z
Sorted by name and in no particular order of merit, with one claim from each project's own site.
Apache Guacamole
Best for: Reaching VNC, RDP and SSH machines from a web browser, which the project says needs no plugins or client software and is always free and open source.
MeshCentral
Best for: Freely managing your own devices from what the project calls a feature-packed, self-hosted site.
Radmin
Best for: Corporate network users who need quick help, with the vendor promising instant remote tech support.
Remmina
Best for: Licence-minded users: the project calls itself not only free as in gratis and open source, but also copyleft.
TigerVNC
Best for: Launching and using graphical applications on remote machines, from what the project calls a high-performance, platform-neutral VNC implementation.
TightVNC
Best for: Controlling a computer over the network as if you were sitting in front of it, per the vendor, with VNC compatibility.
UltraVNC
Best for: Free remote PC access from software the vendor calls powerful and easy to use.
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X2Go
Best for: Remote desktop from anywhere, which the project sums up as everywhere@home.
xrdp
Best for: Letting people keep the RDP client they know, since the project says it accepts connections from a variety of them.
Where my advice lands for self-hosters
Pick the approach before the product. A web portal suits you if you look after lots of devices and want one place to reach them. A VNC tool suits plain screen control of a few machines. A protocol server and client pair suits people who want full desktop logins to Linux machines. Once you know which of those you are, the shortlist is usually two names long.
Then answer these before you install anything:
- Who patches and backs up the server you'll be running, and what happens when they're on holiday?
- Will people connect from outside your network, and if so, through a VPN or an exposed port?
- Do your users need to install a client, or must it work from a browser?
- Which operating systems sit at each end of the connection?
For the commercial side of the market, see my remote desktop software roundup, and the free remote desktop tools page takes in hosted options too.
Get those four answers down on paper and the right project tends to pick itself.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is a self-hosted remote desktop more secure?
It can be, because sessions stay on infrastructure you control. It's only as secure as your upkeep, though: an unpatched, exposed server is a bigger risk than a well-run cloud service.
What's the difference between VNC and RDP?
VNC shares the screen of a machine that's already running, so you see what's on its display. RDP gives you your own login session, which is how most remote desktop connections to Windows and many Linux servers work.
Can I reach a Linux machine from Windows?
Yes. Many open-source servers and clients work across Windows, macOS and Linux, but check the platform list for both the machine you connect from and the one you connect to.
Do I need a public server to self-host remote access?
Only if people connect from outside your network. Inside the office, a local server is enough; for outside access, most teams put it behind a VPN rather than opening it to the internet.
Is open-source software safe for business use?
Plenty of businesses run it. Check the licence, how active the project is and how quickly it fixes security issues, the same way you'd vet any vendor.
What does clientless remote access mean?
It means the user connects through a web browser and doesn't install any software on their own machine. The work happens on a gateway server you run.
