dufs
Focus: file sharing, file server and upload. Shares self-hosted and open source with RustDesk. Rated 4.4 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeCross-Platform
4.4Visit
Desktop App
RustDesk
Open-source remote desktop you can run on your own server.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Intermediate
Works on
macOS, Windows, Linux
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is RustDesk?
RustDesk is a remote desktop app that works out of the box with no configuration. You can use the project's rendezvous and relay server, set up your own, or write one yourself, so you keep full control of your data. It is a free, open-source alternative for helping family or reaching your own computers remotely.
Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.
Pros: what RustDesk does well
- Works without setup
- Run your own server to keep your data private
- Free and open source
Cons: where it falls short
- Self-hosting takes some technical skill
- Both computers need the app
Who RustDesk is for
People who support relatives' computers or reach their own machines from elsewhere.
Who can skip it
Anyone happy with their current remote desktop tool.
RustDesk alternatives
Not sold on RustDesk? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Mumble
Focus: voice chat and audio. Shares self-hosted and open source with RustDesk. Rated 4.4 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.4Visit
croc
Focus: file transfer, encryption and command line. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Rated 4.7 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
tmux
Focus: terminal, sessions and multiplexer. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Rated 4.7 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit
Bruno
Focus: api client, api testing and postman alternative. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
D2
Focus: diagrams, diagram as code and command line. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Adds Offline. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
Free alternatives to RustDesk
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
delta
Focus: git, diff and code review. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
Deskflow
Focus: keyboard and mouse sharing, software kvm and multi-computer. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
NetBird
Focus: vpn, private network and wireguard. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Adds Android and iOS. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
Whiteboard
Focus: software design, code review and diagrams. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Rated 4.5 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Syncplay
Focus: watch together, video sync and chat. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. Rated 4.4 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeCross-Platform
4.4Visit
Grafana
Focus: dashboards, monitoring and metrics. Shares open source and github with RustDesk. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (RustDesk: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, Linux
4.7Visit
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