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X2Go alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave X2Go: server is Linux only, and some modern desktop environments work poorly. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces X2Go, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. NoMachine currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1xrdp logoxrdpOpen sourceYesLinux, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
2TigerVNC logoTigerVNCOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS3 of 359.6
3Remmina logoRemminaOpen sourceYesLinux3 of 357.2
4Apache Guacamole logoApache GuacamoleOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 355.3
  1. xrdp logo

    1. xrdpTop pick

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

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from X2Go

    Lets Linux servers accept standard RDP clients, including Windows' built-in one.

    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 ×0.387
    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 xrdp a good X2Go 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)
  2. TigerVNC logo

    2. 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 X2Go

    Standard VNC server for Linux virtual desktops.

    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 X2Go 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)
  3. Remmina logo

    3. Remmina

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

    Open sourceLinux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from X2Go

    Linux client that can open X2Go sessions alongside RDP and VNC.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Remmina a good X2Go 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)
  4. Apache Guacamole logo

    4. Apache Guacamole

    Best for: Admins who want browser-based access to internal RDP, VNC and SSH hosts through one gateway

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from X2Go

    Browser access to Linux desktops through a self-hosted gateway.

    Pros

    • Nothing to install for end users beyond a browser
    • One gateway for RDP, VNC and SSH
    • Free under the Apache licence
    • Supports MFA, LDAP and session recording

    Cons

    • You must run and secure the server yourself
    • Targets still need RDP, VNC or SSH enabled
    • Setup and configuration are fiddly for beginners
    Visit Apache Guacamole 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 Apache Guacamole a good X2Go alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    VNC, RDP, SSH
    Checked Oct 25, 2026guacamole.apache.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Client install
    None, browser only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026guacamole.apache.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best X2Go alternative for…

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

NoMachine logo

Best X2Go alternative for most people

NoMachine

The modern commercial NX product with faster performance and support.

xrdp logo

Best X2Go alternative for a free option

xrdp

Lets Linux servers accept standard RDP clients, including Windows' built-in one.

TigerVNC logo

Best X2Go alternative for open source

TigerVNC

Standard VNC server for Linux virtual desktops.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best X2Go alternative for self-hosting

Apache Guacamole

Browser access to Linux desktops through a self-hosted gateway.

NoMachine logo

Best X2Go alternative for Mac

NoMachine

The modern commercial NX product with faster performance and support.

NoMachine logo

Best X2Go alternative for Windows

NoMachine

The modern commercial NX product with faster performance and support.

Remmina logo

Best X2Go alternative for Linux

Remmina

Linux client that can open X2Go sessions alongside RDP and VNC.

NoMachine logo

Best X2Go alternative for iPhone and Android

NoMachine

The modern commercial NX product with faster performance and support.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best X2Go alternative for working in the browser

Apache Guacamole

Browser access to Linux desktops through a self-hosted gateway.

X2Go alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to X2Go?

NoMachine ranks first right now. The modern commercial NX product with faster performance and support. xrdp and TigerVNC follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to X2Go?

Yes. xrdp (open source), TigerVNC (open source), Remmina (open source) and Apache Guacamole (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to X2Go?

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

Which X2Go alternatives work on Linux?

NoMachine, xrdp, TigerVNC and Remmina run on Linux.

Why do people switch from X2Go?

The complaints we hear most: server is Linux only; some modern desktop environments work poorly; development pace is slow.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces X2Go, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.