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Windows App alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Windows App: only connects to Windows targets, and personal Microsoft accounts can't sign in to the cloud features. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Windows App, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Remmina currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Remmina logoRemminaOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 366.5
2Remote Desktop Manager logoRemote Desktop ManagerFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
3Chrome Remote Desktop logoChrome Remote DesktopFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 357.2
  1. Remmina logo

    1. RemminaTop pick

    Best for: Linux users who connect to RDP, VNC or SSH machines and want one client for all of them

    Open sourceLinux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windows App

    Free open-source RDP client for Linux desktops, which Windows App doesn't cover.

    Pros

    • One client for RDP, VNC, SPICE, SSH and X2Go
    • Free, copyleft and packaged nearly everywhere
    • Saved profiles and tabbed sessions

    Cons

    • Linux only
    • Client only, with no relay or attended-support mode
    • Plugin quality varies between protocols
    Visit Remmina 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 Remmina a good Windows App alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Protocols
    RDP, SSH, SPICE, VNC, X2Go, HTTP/HTTPS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remmina.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Distribution
    67 languages, 50+ distributions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remmina.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Install options
    Flatpak, Snap, distro packages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remmina.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Remote Desktop Manager logo

    2. Remote Desktop Manager

    Best for: IT teams juggling many RDP, SSH and VNC connections and the credentials that go with them

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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windows App

    Manages many RDP connections and their credentials in one place for IT teams.

    Pros

    • Huge range of supported connection types
    • Shared, permissioned credential storage for teams
    • Free edition for individual use
    • Available on desktop and mobile

    Cons

    • Dense interface with a learning curve
    • Team sharing usually needs extra Devolutions server products
    • Doesn't solve connectivity through firewalls by itself
    Visit Remote Desktop Manager 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 Remote Desktop Manager a good Windows App alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.devolutions.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Purpose
    Centralises connections and credentials
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.devolutions.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.devolutions.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Connection types
    RDP, SSH, Telnet, VNC, VMware, TeamViewer and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.devolutions.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Chrome Remote Desktop logo

    3. Chrome Remote Desktop

    Best for: Home users who want free, simple access to their own computers

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windows App

    Works without enabling RDP or a Pro edition of Windows on the target machine.

    Pros

    • Free with no commercial-use restrictions
    • Works from any modern browser
    • One-time codes make quick help sessions easy

    Cons

    • Few admin, logging or team features
    • Basic file transfer and multi-monitor support
    • Requires a Google account on both ends
    Visit Chrome Remote Desktop 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 Chrome Remote Desktop a good Windows App alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Host platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Support codes
    Single-use access codes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Unattended access
    PIN-protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Windows App alternative for…

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

Remmina logo

Best Windows App alternative for most people

Remmina

Free open-source RDP client for Linux desktops, which Windows App doesn't cover.

Chrome Remote Desktop logo

Best Windows App alternative for a free option

Chrome Remote Desktop

Works without enabling RDP or a Pro edition of Windows on the target machine.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Windows App alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Jump Desktop

Polished RDP and VNC client for Mac and iOS that also reaches Macs and Linux machines.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best Windows App alternative for open source

Apache Guacamole

Self-hosted browser gateway that serves RDP sessions without any client install.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best Windows App alternative for self-hosting

Apache Guacamole

Self-hosted browser gateway that serves RDP sessions without any client install.

Remote Desktop Manager logo

Best Windows App alternative for Mac

Remote Desktop Manager

Manages many RDP connections and their credentials in one place for IT teams.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Windows App alternative for Windows

Jump Desktop

Polished RDP and VNC client for Mac and iOS that also reaches Macs and Linux machines.

Remmina logo

Best Windows App alternative for Linux

Remmina

Free open-source RDP client for Linux desktops, which Windows App doesn't cover.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Windows App alternative for iPhone and Android

Jump Desktop

Polished RDP and VNC client for Mac and iOS that also reaches Macs and Linux machines.

Jump Desktop logo

Best Windows App alternative for working in the browser

Jump Desktop

Polished RDP and VNC client for Mac and iOS that also reaches Macs and Linux machines.

Windows App alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Windows App?

Remmina ranks first right now. Free open-source RDP client for Linux desktops, which Windows App doesn't cover. Jump Desktop and Remote Desktop Manager follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Windows App?

Yes. Remmina (open source), Jump Desktop (free plan + paid), Remote Desktop Manager (free plan + paid) and Chrome Remote Desktop (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Windows App?

Yes: Remmina and Apache Guacamole. Apache Guacamole can also be self-hosted.

Which Windows App alternatives work on Linux?

Remmina, Remote Desktop Manager and Chrome Remote Desktop run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Windows App?

The complaints we hear most: only connects to Windows targets; personal Microsoft accounts can't sign in to the cloud features; not designed for ad-hoc support of someone else's machine.

How is this list ranked?

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