Best Open Source Remote Desktop Alternatives to TeamViewer in 2026

Introduction to Open Source Remote Desktop Solutions

TeamViewer has long been the go-to solution for remote desktop access, but high licensing costs ($600-$2,400 per user annually) and privacy concerns have pushed many users and businesses to seek alternatives. In 2026, numerous open-source and free remote desktop solutions offer comparable or superior functionality without the hefty price tag.

This comprehensive guide explores the best TeamViewer alternatives for Linux, Windows, and cross-platform environments, helping you choose the right remote desktop solution for your needs.

Why Look for TeamViewer Alternatives?

Reasons to consider TeamViewer alternatives:

• Cost savings: Open-source solutions eliminate $600-$2,400 annual per-user fees
• Privacy control: Self-hosted options keep data on your infrastructure
• No commercial restrictions: Avoid false commercial use flags
• Customization: Open source allows tailoring to specific needs
• No vendor lock-in: Freedom to migrate between solutions
• Better performance: Some alternatives offer lower latency and better compression

Top 10 TeamViewer Alternatives for 2026

1. AnyDesk – Best Direct Competitor

Best for: Windows/Linux remote support, freelancers, small teams

AnyDesk is the closest TeamViewer alternative with nearly identical features and better pricing.

Key Features:

• Low latency with DeskRT codec (60 FPS even on slow connections)
• Cross-platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS
• Unattended access with persistent connections
• File transfer up to 1TB
• Session recording and remote printing
• Free for personal use

Pricing: $12.90/month for Solo plan, $32.90/month for Standard (vs TeamViewer $50+/month)

Linux Installation:

wget https://download.anydesk.com/linux/anydesk_6.3.0-1_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i anydesk_6.3.0-1_amd64.deb
sudo apt install -f

Verdict: Best drop-in TeamViewer replacement for most users. Free tier generous enough for personal use.

2. RustDesk – Best Open Source Alternative

Best for: Self-hosted deployments, privacy-conscious users, enterprises

RustDesk is a fully open-source remote desktop solution written in Rust, offering TeamViewer-like functionality with complete self-hosting capability.

Key Features:

• 100% open source (AGPLv3 license)
• Self-hosted server option for complete data control
• End-to-end encryption
• Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS, mobile)
• File transfer and clipboard sharing
• No connection limits on self-hosted instances

Pricing: Free and open source. Optional RustDesk Pro: $8/month for managed hosting

Linux Installation:

# Download from GitHub
wget https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/releases/download/1.2.3/rustdesk-1.2.3-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x rustdesk-1.2.3-x86_64.AppImage
./rustdesk-1.2.3-x86_64.AppImage

# Or via package manager
sudo snap install rustdesk

Self-Hosting:

docker run -d --name rustdesk-server   -p 21115:21115 -p 21116:21116 -p 21117:21117 -p 21118:21118 -p 21119:21119   rustdesk/rustdesk-server

Verdict: Best for organizations wanting complete data sovereignty and no ongoing costs.

3. Remmina – Best Native Linux Client

Best for: Linux system administrators, multi-protocol support

Remmina is the premier remote desktop client for Linux, supporting RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE, and more.

Key Features:

• Native Linux application (GTK-based)
• Multiple protocol support: RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE, X2GO, HTTP(S)
• Connection profiles with organized folder structure
• Tabbed interface for multiple sessions
• SSH tunneling for secure connections
• Completely free and open source

Pricing: Free (GPL license)

Installation on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp remmina-plugin-vnc

Installation on Rocky Linux/RHEL:

sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf install remmina

Verdict: Perfect for Linux users needing to connect to Windows (RDP) and Linux (VNC/SSH) machines. Not a TeamViewer replacement for client-side support scenarios.

4. Apache Guacamole – Best Web-Based Solution

Best for: Enterprises, zero-trust security models, browser-based access

Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway accessible entirely through a web browser.

Key Features:

• HTML5 browser-based (no client installation required)
• Supports RDP, VNC, SSH protocols
• Multi-factor authentication (TOTP, Duo)
• Session recording and audit logging
• LDAP/Active Directory integration
• Perfect for secure remote access through firewalls

Pricing: Free and open source (Apache License 2.0)

Docker Deployment:

docker run -d --name guacamole   -e MYSQL_DATABASE=guacamole_db   -e MYSQL_USER=guacamole_user   -e MYSQL_PASSWORD=secure_password   -p 8080:8080   guacamole/guacamole

Verdict: Excellent for organizations needing browser-based remote access with strong security. Requires server infrastructure.

5. NoMachine – Best Performance for Graphics

Best for: CAD/3D workstations, high-resolution displays, multimedia

NoMachine excels at transmitting high-quality graphics with minimal lag, ideal for creative professionals.

Key Features:

• Superior video/graphics performance (H.264 hardware encoding)
• 4K and multi-monitor support
• Audio and video streaming
• USB device redirection
• Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, macOS, mobile)
• Free for personal use

Pricing: Free for personal use. NoMachine Enterprise: $199/concurrent user (one-time)

Installation on Linux:

wget https://download.nomachine.com/download/8.11/Linux/nomachine_8.11.3_1_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i nomachine_8.11.3_1_amd64.deb

Verdict: Best choice for graphics-intensive remote work. Free personal license is generous.

6. X2Go – Best for Low Bandwidth

Best for: Remote Linux desktops, slow internet connections

X2Go is designed specifically for Linux-to-Linux remote desktop access with excellent low-bandwidth performance.

Key Features:

• Exceptional performance on slow connections (even 28k dialup)
• Linux-specific optimizations
• Session resumption after disconnection
• Printer and drive sharing
• Free and open source

Pricing: Free (GPL license)

Server Installation (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:x2go/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install x2goserver x2goserver-xsession

Client Installation:

sudo apt install x2goclient

Verdict: Perfect for accessing Linux desktops remotely. Not suitable for Windows remote access.

7. Chrome Remote Desktop – Best for Simplicity

Best for: Non-technical users, quick family tech support

Google’s solution offers the easiest setup with no configuration required.

Key Features:

• Zero configuration required
• Works through NAT/firewalls automatically
• Cross-platform (via Chrome browser)
• Free for personal use
• Integrated with Google account security

Pricing: Free

Installation:

1. Install Chrome browser
2. Visit chrome.google.com/remotedesktop
3. Install Chrome Remote Desktop extension
4. Follow on-screen setup

Verdict: Best for helping non-technical family/friends. Limited features compared to TeamViewer.

8. TightVNC – Best Lightweight VNC

Best for: Older hardware, minimal resource usage

TightVNC is an extremely lightweight VNC implementation ideal for low-resource environments.

Key Features:

• Very low CPU and memory usage
• Tight encoding for bandwidth efficiency
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Free and open source
• Simple and reliable

Pricing: Free (GPL license)

Installation on Ubuntu:

sudo apt install tightvncserver xtightvncviewer

# Start server
vncserver :1 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24

Verdict: Good for local network remote access. Not suitable for internet connections (use SSH tunneling).

9. Splashtop – Best for Business Use

Best for: IT support teams, enterprise deployments

Splashtop offers commercial-grade remote desktop with competitive pricing.

Key Features:

• High-performance streaming (4K support)
• Multi-monitor support
• File transfer and chat
• Session recording
• SSO and 2FA support
• Linux support (server and client)

Pricing: Business Access: $5/month per computer (much cheaper than TeamViewer)

Verdict: Excellent TeamViewer alternative for businesses needing commercial licensing at lower cost.

10. Parsec – Best for Gaming/High FPS

Best for: Game streaming, high frame rate requirements

Parsec specializes in low-latency, high-frame-rate remote desktop perfect for gaming and real-time applications.

Key Features:

• 60+ FPS performance
• Hardware-accelerated encoding (H.265)
• Gamepad/controller support
• 4:4:4 color mode for pixel-perfect accuracy
• Cross-platform support

Pricing: Free for personal use. Teams: $10/user/month

Linux Installation:

wget https://builds.parsec.app/package/parsec-linux.deb
sudo dpkg -i parsec-linux.deb

Verdict: Best for cloud gaming and graphics-intensive remote work. Overkill for basic remote desktop.

Comparison Table: TeamViewer Alternatives

Security Considerations for Remote Desktop

Regardless of which solution you choose, implement these security best practices:

• Use strong passwords: 16+ character random passwords
• Enable 2FA: Where supported (Guacamole, Splashtop, etc.)
• VPN tunneling: Route remote desktop through VPN for added security
• Firewall rules: Whitelist only trusted IP addresses
• Session recording: Enable logging for compliance
• Regular updates: Keep remote desktop software patched
• Unattended access: Disable when not needed

Performance Optimization Tips

For Low Bandwidth Connections

• Use X2Go or TightVNC
• Reduce color depth (16-bit instead of 24-bit)
• Lower resolution (1280×720 instead of 1920×1080)
• Disable desktop effects/animations
• Use lightweight desktop environments (XFCE, LXDE)

For High-Performance Needs

• Use NoMachine or Parsec
• Enable hardware encoding (H.264/H.265)
• Wired internet connection over WiFi
• QoS settings to prioritize remote desktop traffic

Enterprise Deployment Considerations

For organizations migrating from TeamViewer:

• Scale: How many concurrent connections needed?
• Compliance: HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR requirements
• Integration: LDAP, Active Directory, SSO
• Support: Commercial support vs community
• TCO: Calculate 3-year total cost of ownership

Cost Comparison (50 users, 3 years):

• TeamViewer Business: $144,000
• Splashtop: $9,000
• AnyDesk: $19,440
• RustDesk (self-hosted): $0 (infrastructure costs only)

Migration from TeamViewer

Steps to migrate to an alternative:

1. Pilot test: Try 2-3 alternatives with small user group
2. Document workflows: Ensure alternative supports your use cases
3. Training: Provide user guides for new solution
4. Parallel run: Run both solutions for 1-2 months
5. Gradual rollout: Migrate users in phases
6. Support plan: Have help desk ready for migration issues

Conclusion: Which TeamViewer Alternative is Best?

For most users: AnyDesk offers the easiest migration with familiar UI and features at better pricing.

For privacy-conscious users: RustDesk provides open-source, self-hosted solution with zero ongoing costs.

For Linux administrators: Remmina is the best native Linux client supporting multiple protocols.

For enterprises: Apache Guacamole offers browser-based access with enterprise-grade security.

For graphics professionals: NoMachine delivers best-in-class performance for high-resolution work.

The “best” alternative depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical requirements. Try 2-3 options to find what works best for your environment. With potential savings of thousands of dollars per year compared to TeamViewer, it’s worth investing time to find the right fit.

Ready to save money and gain more control? Start with the free tier of AnyDesk or deploy your own RustDesk server today!