AppBreakup
Submit an app

NoMachine alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave NoMachine: free edition discontinued from version 10, and internet access without port forwarding needs a Network subscription. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces NoMachine, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. X2Go currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1X2Go logoX2GoOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS +13 of 366.5
2RustDesk logoRustDeskOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 462.6
3TigerVNC logoTigerVNCOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS3 of 359.6
4Parsec logoParsecFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 557.2
5xrdp logoxrdpOpen sourceYesLinux, Self-hosted4 of 455.3
  1. X2Go logo

    1. X2GoTop pick

    Best for: Linux admins and teams who need responsive remote desktops on servers over slow connections

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from NoMachine

    Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology.

    Pros

    • Efficient over low-bandwidth links
    • Sessions survive disconnects and can be resumed elsewhere
    • Uses SSH, so no extra port to expose

    Cons

    • Server is Linux only
    • Some modern desktop environments work poorly
    • Development pace is slow
    Visit X2Go Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is X2Go a good NoMachine alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Display technology
    NoMachine NX3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.x2go.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Session resume
    Yes, even from another client
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.x2go.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows client
    Windows 7 and later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.x2go.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. RustDesk logo

    2. RustDesk

    Best for: Admins and privacy-minded users who want TeamViewer-style access on their own server

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from NoMachine

    Free open-source alternative now that NoMachine's free edition is gone.

    Pros

    • Free, open-source client and server
    • Traffic can stay entirely on your own relay
    • Familiar ID-and-password workflow
    • Affordable Pro server for teams

    Cons

    • Self-hosting the server takes some setup and upkeep
    • Admin console and user management need the paid Pro server
    • No vendor-hosted SaaS option
    Visit RustDesk Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is RustDesk a good NoMachine alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free self-hosting
    $0/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rustdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Individual Pro server
    $11.88/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rustdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted service
    No, self-hosted only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rustdesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. TigerVNC logo

    3. TigerVNC

    Best for: Linux admins who need a dependable, standards-based VNC server and viewer

    Open sourceLinux, Windows, macOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from NoMachine

    Free VNC server for Linux virtual sessions.

    Pros

    • Free, actively maintained and open-source
    • Packaged by major Linux distributions
    • Viewer available for Linux, Windows and Mac

    Cons

    • No relay service, so remote access needs a VPN or tunnel
    • Configuration is command-line heavy
    • No mobile apps
    Visit TigerVNC Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is TigerVNC a good NoMachine alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Builds
    Linux binaries, Windows installers, universal Mac binary
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tigervnc.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Distro packages
    Shipped by Fedora and other distributions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tigervnc.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Parsec logo

    4. Parsec

    Best for: Gamers and creative teams who need smooth, high-frame-rate remote sessions

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from NoMachine

    Lower latency for gaming and creative work, free for personal use.

    Pros

    • Very low latency and high frame rates
    • Free personal tier works well for remote gaming
    • Drawing-tablet and multi-monitor support on paid plans

    Cons

    • Hosting requires Windows or macOS, not Linux
    • Needs a decent GPU and connection on the host
    • Team plans cost more than general remote access tools
    Visit Parsec Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Parsec a good NoMachine alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Personal use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Warp (individual) price
    $8.33 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Teams price
    $30 per user/month, paid annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Host OS
    Windows 10+ or macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Frame rate
    Up to 240 FPS (60 FPS at 4K)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026parsec.app(opens source in a new tab)
  5. xrdp logo

    5. xrdp

    Best for: Admins who want Windows users to reach Linux desktops with the RDP client they already have

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from NoMachine

    Open-source RDP server so Linux boxes accept standard RDP clients.

    Pros

    • Works with any standard RDP client
    • Clipboard, audio and drive redirection
    • TLS encryption by default

    Cons

    • Desktop and sound setup can be fiddly
    • No relay for access across the internet
    • Linux and Unix only
    Visit xrdp Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is xrdp a good NoMachine alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Compatible clients
    FreeRDP, rdesktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    TLS by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Redirection
    Clipboard, audio, drives
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best NoMachine alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

X2Go logo

Best NoMachine alternative for most people

X2Go

Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology.

RustDesk logo

Best NoMachine alternative for a free option

RustDesk

Free open-source alternative now that NoMachine's free edition is gone.

Parsec logo

Best NoMachine alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Parsec

Lower latency for gaming and creative work, free for personal use.

TigerVNC logo

Best NoMachine alternative for open source

TigerVNC

Free VNC server for Linux virtual sessions.

xrdp logo

Best NoMachine alternative for self-hosting

xrdp

Open-source RDP server so Linux boxes accept standard RDP clients.

X2Go logo

Best NoMachine alternative for Mac

X2Go

Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology.

X2Go logo

Best NoMachine alternative for Windows

X2Go

Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology.

X2Go logo

Best NoMachine alternative for Linux

X2Go

Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology.

RustDesk logo

Best NoMachine alternative for iPhone and Android

RustDesk

Free open-source alternative now that NoMachine's free edition is gone.

Parsec logo

Best NoMachine alternative for working in the browser

Parsec

Lower latency for gaming and creative work, free for personal use.

NoMachine alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to NoMachine?

X2Go ranks first right now. Free open-source Linux remote desktop based on older NX technology. RustDesk and TigerVNC follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to NoMachine?

Yes. X2Go (open source), RustDesk (open source), TigerVNC (open source) and Parsec (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to NoMachine?

Yes: X2Go, RustDesk, TigerVNC and xrdp. X2Go, RustDesk and xrdp can also be self-hosted.

Which NoMachine alternatives work on Linux?

X2Go, RustDesk, TigerVNC, Parsec and xrdp run on Linux.

Why do people switch from NoMachine?

The complaints we hear most: free edition discontinued from version 10; internet access without port forwarding needs a Network subscription; product line-up is complex.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces NoMachine, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.