remote desktop tool · Purslane Tech Pte. Ltd.

RustDesk

Open-source remote desktop app you can run on your own server for free, with paid Server Pro licences for teams.

87/100

#1 of 8 remote desktop tools
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

The client is open source under AGPL-3.0, and the self-hosted server (hbbs and hbbr) is free^1,3,11.
Server Pro Individual costs $11.88 a month, billed annually, for 1 login user and 20 managed devices¹.
RustDesk says every connection is end-to-end encrypted with NaCl by default⁹.
OIDC single sign-on and LDAP start on the Basic Server Pro plan, at $23.88 a month billed annually¹.
Server Pro is a licence for a server you run yourself; it is not a hosted subscription and does not auto-renew¹.

RustDesk suits people and teams who want remote access that runs through their own server, free in its open-source form^1,3. It covers every major system plus a web client, and documents file transfer, remote printing, session recording and Android control^2,6,7. The catch: you run and maintain the server yourself, account features such as two-factor sign-in need Server Pro, and it publishes no security certification^4,5.

Best for: People who want to self-host their remote access.

Where the points come from

Systems20 of 20

Features30 of 30

Security20 of 25

Price17 of 25

Systems 20 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Apps	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidSupported platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and web; iOS devices cannot be controlled remotely².	15 / 15
Connect from a browser	YesThe docs list Web as a supported platform, and RustDesk runs a public web client^2,12.	5 / 5

Features 30 of 30 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Unattended access	YesRustDesk describes connecting when nobody is at the remote machine, now also on Linux with Wayland in a preview build¹⁰.	6 / 6
File transfer	YesFile transfer is a controllable permission, and the Android app transfers files with remote devices^6,8.	5 / 5
Multiple monitors	YesA monitors toolbar shows the remote displays, and multi-monitor setups are supported^7,10.	4 / 4
Remote printing	YesWindows devices can enable a remote printer for incoming connections⁷.	3 / 3
Session recording	YesSessions can be recorded, including automatic recording of incoming and outgoing sessions⁷.	4 / 4
Wake-on-LAN	YesAfter LAN discovery, Wake-on-LAN can work if the local network supports it⁷.	4 / 4
Control Android devices	YesAn Android device can share its screen and allow input control by the connecting device⁶.	4 / 4

Security 20 of 25 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Encrypted sessions	YesRustDesk says traffic is end-to-end encrypted, built on NaCl, on every connection by default⁹.	5 / 5
Two-factor sign-in	YesServer Pro accounts can turn on two-factor authentication⁵.	5 / 5
Single sign-on	YesOIDC single sign-on is included from the Basic Server Pro plan¹.	5 / 5
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001	Not published	0 / 5
Self-hosting	YesBoth the free open-source server and Server Pro run on systems you manage, with your own ID and relay servers³.	5 / 5

Price 17 of 25 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free for personal use	YesThe free self-hosting plan is open source and costs $0¹.	10 / 10
Cheapest paid plan	$11.88/moServer Pro Individual, $11.88 a month billed annually¹.	7 / 10
Monthly billing	NoRustDesk says it offers only annual payment plans¹.	0 / 5

The rule behind each line: how we score remote desktop tools.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Free (self-hosted)Anyone	Free¹	$0	Open-source server, community support
Server Pro Individual1 login user	$11.88/month, billed annually¹	$11.88	20 managed devices, 2FA, web console
Server Pro Basic10 login users	$23.88/month, billed annually¹	$23.88	100 managed devices, OIDC single sign-on, LDAP
Server Pro CustomizedChosen number of users	From $23.88/month, billed annually¹	$23.88	$1.20 per extra user, $0.12 per extra device

RustDesk does not auto-renew licences; it emails a reminder 14 days before expiry¹.

Strengths

Free and open source, including the self-hosted server^1,11.
Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and in a web browser².
Sessions are end-to-end encrypted by default, RustDesk says⁹.
Server Pro licences do not renew automatically¹.

Limits

You install and maintain the server yourself; the free server comes with community support only³.
Two-factor sign-in, the web console and access control need a paid Server Pro plan⁴.
iPhones and iPads cannot be controlled remotely².
No monthly billing; Server Pro plans are paid annually¹.
The web client is built into Server Pro only on larger plans, where users × 10 plus devices is at least 400¹.

What Purslane Tech Pte. Ltd. says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

RustDesk says its GitHub project has more than 113,000 stars¹³.

Other remote desktop tools

2
Zoho AssistSmall IT and support teams on a budget
86/100
$10/mocheapest paid plan
3
TeamViewer RemotePersonal use, and teams that need every platform
84/100
$20.02/mocheapest paid plan
4
Windows AppPeople with Windows Pro who want free remote access to their own PC
80/100
$0cheapest paid plan
5
SplashtopIndividuals and small teams reaching their own computers
80/100
$6/mocheapest paid plan

RustDesk vs Zoho Assist · RustDesk vs TeamViewer Remote · All 8 remote desktop tools

Sources

RustDesk Pricing - Self-Hosted Remote Desktop Server Plans, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
RustDesk Client – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Self-host – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
RustDesk Server Pro – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
2FA – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Android – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Advanced Settings – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Control Role – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
RustDesk vs VNC: NAT Traversal, Codecs, Encryption, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Unattended Remote Access on Wayland with RustDesk, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
GitHub - rustdesk/rustdesk, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
FAQ – RustDesk Documentation, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
RustDesk: Open-Source Remote Desktop with Self-Hosted Server Solutions, RustDesk. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: rustdesk.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Purslane Tech Pte. Ltd..