This page is a comparison of notable remote desktop software available for various platforms.
Software | Protocols | Creator | First public release date | Latest stable year, version | License | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AetherPal | Proprietary | AetherPal Inc. | 2011 | 2016, Valet | Proprietary | No | No |
Ammyy Admin | Proprietary | Ammyy Inc. | 2007 | 2015, 3.5 [1] | Proprietary | Yes | No |
AnyDesk | Proprietary | AnyDesk Software GmbH | 2015 | 2023-04-11, 7.1.6 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
Anyplace Control | Proprietary | Anyplace Control Software | 2002 | 2012, 5.4.0.0 | Proprietary | No | No |
Apple Remote Desktop | RFB (VNC) | Apple | 2002 | 2017, 3.9 [2] | Proprietary | No | No |
Apple Screen Sharing ( iChat ) | Proprietary, RFB (VNC) | Apple | 2007 | 2014, 1.6 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes |
AppliDis | RDP | Systancia | ? | 2013, 4 SP3 | Proprietary | No | No |
Cendio ThinLinc | RFB (VNC) | Cendio AB | 2003 | 2024-07-10, 4.17.0 | Proprietary | Yes [lower-alpha 1] | Yes [lower-alpha 1] |
Chrome Remote Desktop | Chromoting | 2011 | 2018, 70.0.3538.21 | BSD Client, Proprietary Server | Yes | Yes | |
Citrix XenApp/Presentation Server/MetaFrame/WinFrame | RDP, ICA | Citrix Systems | 1995 | 2018-06-01, 7.18 | Proprietary | No | No |
ConnectWise Control (ScreenConnect) | Proprietary | Elsinore Technologies | 2008 | 2022, 22.5 | Proprietary | Yes [lower-alpha 2] | Yes [lower-alpha 2] |
Ericom Connect | Proprietary | Ericom Software | 2015 | 2019, 9.1 | Proprietary | No | No |
GO-Global | Proprietary | GraphOn | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
Goverlan Systems Management (Goverlan Reach Remote Control) | Proprietary, RDP, RFB (VNC), Intel vPro KVM, SSH | Goverlan Systems Management | 1998 | 2019, 9.01 | Proprietary | No | No |
GoToMyPC | Proprietary | Citrix Online | 2000 | 2013 | Proprietary | No | No |
HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) / ZCentral Remote Boost | HP RGS | HP Inc | 2003 | 2022-05-01, 22.1 | Proprietary | No [lower-alpha 3] | No [lower-alpha 3] |
IBM Director Remote Control | Proprietary | IBM | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
I'm InTouch | Proprietary | Communique | 2000 | 2015, 9.51 | Proprietary | No | No |
Krdc | RFB (VNC), RDP | Tim Jansen, Urs Wolfer, a.o. | 2010 | 2021-03-04, 20.12.3 [lower-alpha 4] | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
LogMeIn | Proprietary | LogMeIn, Inc. | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
Mikogo | Proprietary | BeamYourScreen GmbH | ? | 2015-03-24, 5.2.2 [4] | Proprietary | Yes | No |
NetSupport Manager | Proprietary | NetSupport Software | 1989 | 2019 | Proprietary | No | No |
Netviewer | Proprietary | Netviewer AG | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
NX technology (NoMachine) | Proprietary | NoMachine | 2003 | 2023-11-06, 8.10.1 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software / Sun VDI | AIP | Tarantella/Oracle Inc. | 1997 | 2015-04, 5.2.903 | Proprietary | No | No |
Parsec | Proprietary | Parsec Cloud, Inc | 2016 | 2016-07, 3.5 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
Proxy Networks | Proprietary | Funk Software Inc. | 1993 | 2020-01-29, 10.2 | Proprietary | No | No |
QVD | NX and HTTP | Qindel Group | 2001 | 2020-10, 4.2 [5] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
rdesktop | RDP | Matthew Chapman | 2001 | 2019, 1.9.0 | GPL-3.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
RealVNC VNC Server/Viewer | Proprietary, RFB (VNC), SSH | RealVNC | 2002 | 2024-01-11, Server 7.9.0, Viewer 7.9.0 | Proprietary | No | No |
Remmina | RDP, RFB (VNC), SPICE, XDMCP, SSH, EXEC | Originally written by Vic Lee | 2009 | 2022-12-20, 1.4.29 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services | RDP | Microsoft | 1998 | 2016 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 5] |
Remote Utilities | Proprietary | Alex Ter-Osipov, Remote Utilities LLC | 2004 | 2019 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
RustDesk | Custom Rendezvous protocol | Purslane Ltd. | 2020 | 2024-04-07, 1.2.3-2 | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
Splashtop | Proprietary | Splashtop Inc | 2010 | 2023-05-22, 3.5.8.0 | Proprietary | No | No |
SSH with X forwarding | X11 | ? | 1999 | 2015, OpenSSH: 7.1, protocol: 2.0 | BSD | Yes | Yes |
Sun Ray/SRSS | ALP | ? | ? | ? | Proprietary | ? | ? |
Symantec pcAnywhere | Proprietary | Symantec Corporation | 1986 | 2012, 12.6.65 | Proprietary | No | No |
TeamViewer | Proprietary | TeamViewer GmbH | 2005 | 2021-04-27, 15.17 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
Techinline | RDP | Techinline Ltd. | 2006 | 2016, 4.2.2 | Proprietary | No | No |
TigerVNC | RFB (VNC) | Red Hat, Cendio AB, The VirtualGL Project | 2009 | 2023-03-06, 1.12.0 [6] | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
TightVNC | RFB (VNC) | Constantin Kaplinsky | 2001 | 2023-04-06, 2.8.79 [7] | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
Timbuktu | Proprietary | WOS Datasystems | pre-1988 | 2013, 8.8.5 (macOS)/9.0.5 (Windows) | Proprietary | Yes | Yes |
TurboVNC | RFB (VNC) | The VirtualGL Project | 2004 | 2018, 2.2 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
UltraVNC | RFB (VNC) | Rudi De Vos, UltraSam, Martin Scharpf, Oliver Schneider | 2005 | 2023-01-17, 1.4.0.9 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
Veyon | RFB (VNC) | ? | 2005 | 2021-03-11, 4.5.4 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
Vinagre | RFB (VNC), SPICE, RDP, SSH | The GNOME Project | 2007 | 2019-05-08, 3.32.2 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
xpra | Bencode-based, rencode-based, YAML-based, RFB (VNC) for desktop mode | Nathaniel Smith | 2008 | 2020-06-04, 4.0.2 [8] | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
X11vnc | RFB (VNC) | Karl Runge | 2001 | 2019, 0.9.16 [9] | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
X2Go | NX | Oleksandr Shneyder and Heinz-M. Graesing [10] | 2006 [10] | 2020-02-13, 4.1.2.2 | GPL-2.0-or-later | Yes | Yes |
x2x | X11 | David Chaiken | 1996 | 2003, 1.27 | BSD | Yes | Yes |
Software | Protocol | Creator | First public release date | Latest stable version | License | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
Software | Windows | macOS | Linux | FreeBSD | Java (client) | Android | iOS | Blackberry (client) | Windows Mobile | ChromeOS (client) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Client | Server | Client | Server | Server | Client | ||||
AetherPal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? |
Ammyy Admin | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
AnyDesk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
AppliDis | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | ? |
Apple Remote Desktop | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
Cendio ThinLinc | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes [lower-alpha 6] | No | Yes [lower-alpha 7] | No | Yes [lower-alpha 8] | No | Yes [lower-alpha 8] | No | Yes [lower-alpha 8] | Yes [lower-alpha 8] |
Citrix XenApp | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? |
Ericom Connect | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
GO-Global | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ? |
Goverlan Systems Management (Goverlan Reach Remote Control) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
GoToMyPC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | ? |
HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) / ZCentral Remote Boost | Yes [11] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | Yes | ? |
IBM Director Remote Control | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
I'm InTouch | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
KRDC | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
LogMeIn Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | ? |
Mikogo | ? | Yes | ? | Yes [lower-alpha 9] | ? | Yes [lower-alpha 10] | ? | No | No | Yes [lower-alpha 11] | ? | Yes [lower-alpha 12] | No | No | ? | No | ? |
NetSupport Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ? |
Netviewer | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | No | Yes [15] | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ? |
NX Technology (NoMachine) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Parsec | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Proxy Networks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
QVD | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? |
rdesktop | No | Yes [16] | ? | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ? |
RealVNC Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ? |
RealVNC Personal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ? |
RealVNC Enterprise | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Remmina | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Remote Desktop Services /Terminal Services | Yes | Yes | No | Yes [lower-alpha 13] | Yes [18] | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes [lower-alpha 14] | ? |
Remote Utilities | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
RustDesk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? |
ConnectWise Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? |
Splashtop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes [21] | Yes | Yes |
SSH with X forwarding | No | Yes [lower-alpha 15] | No | Yes [lower-alpha 15] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes [22] | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Sun Ray / SRSS | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes | ? | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Sub7 | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ? |
Symantec pcAnywhere | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ? |
TeamViewer | Yes [23] | Yes [23] | Yes [24] | Yes [24] | Yes [25] | Yes [25] | No | No | Yes | Yes [26] | Yes [26] | Yes [27] | No | Yes [28] | Yes [29] | Yes [30] | Yes [31] |
Techinline | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
TightVNC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes [lower-alpha 16] | Yes [lower-alpha 17] | Yes [lower-alpha 17] | Yes [lower-alpha 17] | Yes [lower-alpha 17] | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ? |
TigerVNC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 18] | Yes [lower-alpha 18] | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
Timbuktu | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
TurboVNC | No | Yes | No | Yes [lower-alpha 19] | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 20] | Yes [lower-alpha 18] | Yes [lower-alpha 18] | Yes [lower-alpha 21] | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
UltraVNC | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 22] | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
Veyon | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
xpra | Yes [lower-alpha 23] | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 23] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No [lower-alpha 24] | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No [lower-alpha 25] |
X11vnc | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ? |
X2Go | No | Yes [35] | No | Yes [35] | Yes [36] | Yes [35] | No | Yes [35] | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
x2x | No [lower-alpha 26] | No [lower-alpha 27] | No [lower-alpha 26] | Yes | No [lower-alpha 26] | Yes | No [lower-alpha 26] | Yes | No | ? | No [lower-alpha 26] | ? | No | No | No [lower-alpha 26] | No | ? |
Software | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Java (client) | Client | Server | Client | Server | Blackberry (client) | Server | Client | ChromeOS (client) |
Windows | macOS | Linux | FreeBSD | Android | iOS | Windows Mobile |
Software | Client/server | Built-in encryption | File transfer | Audio support | Multiple sessions | Seamless window | Remote assistance | Access permission | NAT passthrough | IPv6 support | Maximum | Video | 3D | Drag and drop | Multiple passwords | Session recording | Screen blanking | USB forwarding | Export network services | Remote Printing | Smartcard authentication | Whiteboard | Chat tool | H.264 support | Browser-based access | Session persistence | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AetherPal | Client & server | SSL, TLS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Ammyy Admin | Client & server | AES, RSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | No | ? | No | No | Yes | No |
AnyDesk | Client & server | SSL, TLS 1.2, AES | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited (depends on license) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | No |
Anyplace Control | Client & server | RC4, RSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
AppliDis | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Apple Remote Desktop | Client & server | AES-128 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 28] | No | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Apple Screen Sharing ( iChat ) | Client & server | AES-256 | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
Cendio ThinLinc | Client & server (Linux only) | SSH, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 29] | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Chrome Remote Desktop | Client & server | SSL, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
Citrix XenApp | Client & server | SSL, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | No | No |
Ericom Connect | Client & server | SSL, TLS [37] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | No |
GO-Global | Client & server | SSL, DES-56, DES-168, AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Goverlan Systems Management (Goverlan Reach Remote Control) | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | No |
GoToMyPC | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
IBM Director Remote Control | Client & server | AES, Triple DES, DES | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
I'm InTouch | Web client & Win server | SSL, AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
KRDC | Client only | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
LogMeIn | Pro only | SSL, TLS [38] | ? | Yes [39] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes [39] | ? | ? | ? | Yes [40] | ? | Yes [39] | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Mikogo | Client & server [lower-alpha 30] | AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes [lower-alpha 31] | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | No |
NetSupport Manager | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Netviewer | Client & server | AES-128 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 32] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
NX technology (NoMachine) | Client & server | AES 128 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software | Client & server | SSL, TLS (AES-256) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Parsec | Client, Win8+ server [41] & Enterprise Relay [42] | DTLS (AES-128) [43] | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Paid [44] | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Proxy Networks | Client, server, & gateway | SSL, AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, client | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | No |
QVD | Client & server | SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
rdesktop | Client only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 33] | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
RealVNC Home | Client, server, & listening | AES-128 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | No | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
RealVNC Professional | Client, server, & listening | AES-128 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
RealVNC Enterprise | Client, server, & listening | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes [lower-alpha 34] | ? | ? | ? |
Remmina | Client only | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No [lower-alpha 35] | ? | Yes | Yes |
Remote Desktop Services | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 36] | Yes [lower-alpha 37] | Yes [lower-alpha 38] | Yes [lower-alpha 39] | No | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Remote Utilities | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited (depends on license) | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | No |
RustDesk | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
ConnectWise Control | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
Splashtop | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | No |
SSH with X forwarding | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Partial [lower-alpha 40] | Yes [lower-alpha 41] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes [lower-alpha 42] | Unlimited | Yes | Yes, server side [47] | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | Yes | Yes |
Sun Ray/SRSS | Client, server, & hardware | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Sub7 | Client & server | No | No | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
Symantec pcAnywhere | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
TeamViewer | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Partial [lower-alpha 43] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, client & server | Yes | 3-15 [lower-alpha 44] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | No |
Techinline | Client & server | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | 1 or unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No |
TightVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSH (Unix client only) | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | No | Unlimited | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
TigerVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSL, TLS | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Timbuktu | Client & server | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
TurboVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSL, TLS, SSH | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
UltraVNC | Client & server & listening | With plugin | Yes | No | Yes | Partial [lower-alpha 45] | Yes | Yes | Yes, with SC version + external "Repeater" server | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
Veyon | Client & server | SSH | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Unlimited | Yes | No | No | Token-Based | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
xpra | Client & server | SSH, TLS, AES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 46] | Yes | Yes | Yes, server [lower-alpha 47] | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 48] | Yes [lower-alpha 49] | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
X11vnc | Server only | SSL | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
X2Go | Client & server | SSH | Yes | Yes [lower-alpha 50] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
x2x | Client only | Yes [lower-alpha 51] | No | No | Yes | — | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes |
Software | Client/server | Built-in encryption | File transfer | Audio support | Multiple sessions | Seamless window | Remote assistance | Access permission request | NAT passthrough | IPv6 support | Maximum | Video | 3D | Drag and drop file transfer | Multiple passwords | Session recording | Screen blanking | USB forwarding | Export network services | Remote Printing | Smartcard authentication | Whiteboard | Chat tool | H.264 support | Browser-based access | Session persistence | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
In the table above, the following terminology is intended to be used to describe some important features:
The X Window System is a windowing system for bitmap displays, common on Unix-like operating systems.
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop-sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control another computer. It transmits the keyboard and mouse input from one computer to another, relaying the graphical-screen updates, over a network.
TightVNC is a free and open-source remote desktop software server and client application for Linux and Windows. A server for macOS is available under a commercial source code license only, without SDK or binary version provided. Constantin Kaplinsky developed TightVNC, using and extending the RFB protocol of Virtual Network Computing (VNC) to allow end-users to control another computer's screen remotely.
RealVNC is a company that provides remote access software. Their VNC Connect software consists of a server and client application, which exchange data over the RFB protocol to allow the Viewer to control the Server's screen remotely. The application is used, for example, by IT support engineers to provide helpdesk services to remote users.
RFB is an open simple protocol for remote access to graphical user interfaces. Because it works at the framebuffer level it is applicable to all windowing systems and applications, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, the X Window System and Wayland. RFB is the protocol used in Virtual Network Computing (VNC) and its derivatives.
x11vnc is a Virtual Network Computing (VNC) server program. It allows remote access from a remote client to a computer hosting an X Window session and the x11vnc software, continuously polling the X server's frame buffer for changes. This allows the user to control their X11 desktop from a remote computer either on the user's own network, or from over the Internet as if the user were sitting in front of it. x11vnc can also poll non-X11 frame buffer devices, such as webcams or TV tuner cards, iPAQ, Neuros OSD, the Linux console, and the Mac OS X graphics display. x11vnc is part of the LibVNCServer project and is free software available under the GNU General Public License. x11vnc was written by Karl Runge.
NX technology, commonly known as NX or NoMachine, is a remote access and remote control computer software, allowing remote desktop access and maintenance of computers. It is developed by the Luxembourg-based company NoMachine S.à r.l.. NoMachine is proprietary software and is free-of-charge for non-commercial use.
Remote administration refers to any method of controlling a computer or other Internet-connected device, such as a smartphone, from a remote location. There are many commercially available and free-to-use software that make remote administration easy to set up and use. Remote administration is often used when it's difficult or impractical to be physically near a system in order to use it or troubleshoot it. Many server administrators also use remote administration to control the servers around the world at remote locations. It is also used by companies and corporations to improve overall productivity as well as promote remote work. It may also refer to both legal and illegal remote administration.
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) is a Macintosh application produced by Apple Inc., first released on March 14, 2002, that replaced a similar product called Apple Network Assistant. Aimed at computer administrators responsible for large numbers of computers and teachers who need to assist individuals or perform group demonstrations, Apple Remote Desktop allows users to remotely control or monitor other computers over a network. Mac Pro (2019), Mac mini with a 10Gb Ethernet card, and Mac Studio (2022) have Lights Out Management function and are able to power-on by Apple Remote Desktop.
A home server is a computing server located in a private computing residence providing services to other devices inside or outside the household through a home network or the Internet. Such services may include file and printer serving, media center serving, home automation control, web serving, web caching, file sharing and synchronization, video surveillance and digital video recorder, calendar and contact sharing and synchronization, account authentication, and backup services. In the recent times, it has become very common to run literally hundreds of applications as containers, isolated from the host operating system.
In computing, the term remote desktop refers to a software- or operating system feature that allows a personal computer's desktop environment to be run remotely from one system, while being displayed on a separate client device. Remote desktop applications have varying features. Some allow attaching to an existing user's session and "remote controlling", either displaying the remote control session or blanking the screen. Taking over a desktop remotely is a form of remote administration.
Adaptive Internet Protocol (AIP) is a multi-channel protocol that allows an application running on any of multiple platforms to be displayed on any of a wide range of client systems. It supports rich remote display and input services with a number of display options to deliver the presentation of the remote applications onto the local display either as a standalone window, or within a contained remote environment delivered full-screen or in a standalone window. The protocol also supports audio, printing, and other device mapping services.
ThinLinc is a cross-platform remote desktop server developed by Cendio AB. The server software and the users' main desktops run on Linux. Clients are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, and a number of thin clients. A browser client using HTML5 technologies is also available.
Remote Desktop Services (RDS), known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and earlier, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allow a user to initiate and control an interactive session on a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. RDS was first released in 1998 as Terminal Server in Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, a stand-alone edition of Windows NT 4.0 Server that allowed users to log in remotely. Starting with Windows 2000, it was integrated under the name of Terminal Services as an optional component in the server editions of the Windows NT family of operating systems, receiving updates and improvements with each version of Windows. Terminal Services were then renamed to Remote Desktop Services with Windows Server 2008 R2 in 2009.
Eggplant Functional is a black-box graphical user interface (GUI) test automation tool. It was developed in Boulder, Colorado, by Doug Simons, Jonathan Gillaspie, and John McIntosh. The software was developed by Redstone Software starting in 2002. Redstone was acquired on 2 September 2008 by a UK-based company called Eggplant.
Remmina is a free and open source remote desktop client for POSIX-based computer operating systems. It supports the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), VNC, NX, XDMCP, SPICE, X2Go and SSH protocols and uses FreeRDP as foundation.
X2Go is open source remote desktop software for Linux that uses a modified NX 3 protocol. X2Go gives remote access to a Linux system's graphical user interface. It can also be used to access Windows systems through a proxy.
xrdp is a free and open-source implementation of Microsoft RDP server that enables operating systems other than Microsoft Windows to provide a fully functional RDP-compatible remote desktop experience. It works by bridging graphics from the X Window System to the client and relaying controls from the client back to X Window Server.
Remote Utilities is a remote desktop software that allows a user to remotely control another computer through a proprietary protocol and see the remote computer's desktop, operate its keyboard and mouse.