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xrdp alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave xrdp: desktop and sound setup can be fiddly, and no relay for access across the internet. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces xrdp, 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
1NoMachine logoNoMachinePaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
2RustDesk logoRustDeskOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 457.2
  1. NoMachine logo

    1. NoMachineTop pick

    Best for: Linux and mixed-OS users who want fast, multimedia-friendly remote desktops

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from xrdp

    Faster commercial option with internet connectivity built in.

    Pros

    • Efficient NX protocol for video and audio
    • Excellent Linux and Raspberry Pi support
    • Enterprise terminal server options

    Cons

    • Free edition discontinued from version 10
    • Internet access without port forwarding needs a Network subscription
    • Product line-up is complex
    Visit NoMachine 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 NoMachine a good xrdp alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free edition
    Discontinued from version 10
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocol
    NX
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    SSH client
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Network trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nomachine.com(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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from xrdp

    Reaches Linux desktops across the internet without opening RDP ports.

    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 ×0.369
    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 RustDesk a good xrdp 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)

The best xrdp alternative for…

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

X2Go logo

Best xrdp alternative for most people

X2Go

Better over slow connections and resumes sessions, using SSH.

TigerVNC logo

Best xrdp alternative for a free option

TigerVNC

Standard VNC server if your clients already speak VNC.

RustDesk logo

Best xrdp alternative for open source

RustDesk

Reaches Linux desktops across the internet without opening RDP ports.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best xrdp alternative for self-hosting

Apache Guacamole

Puts xrdp or other RDP servers behind a browser-based gateway.

NoMachine logo

Best xrdp alternative for Mac

NoMachine

Faster commercial option with internet connectivity built in.

X2Go logo

Best xrdp alternative for Windows

X2Go

Better over slow connections and resumes sessions, using SSH.

X2Go logo

Best xrdp alternative for Linux

X2Go

Better over slow connections and resumes sessions, using SSH.

NoMachine logo

Best xrdp alternative for iPhone and Android

NoMachine

Faster commercial option with internet connectivity built in.

Apache Guacamole logo

Best xrdp alternative for working in the browser

Apache Guacamole

Puts xrdp or other RDP servers behind a browser-based gateway.

xrdp alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to xrdp?

X2Go ranks first right now. Better over slow connections and resumes sessions, using SSH. TigerVNC and NoMachine follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to xrdp?

Yes. X2Go (open source), TigerVNC (open source), RustDesk (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 xrdp?

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

Which xrdp alternatives work on Linux?

X2Go, TigerVNC, NoMachine and RustDesk run on Linux.

Why do people switch from xrdp?

The complaints we hear most: desktop and sound setup can be fiddly; no relay for access across the internet; linux and Unix only.

How is this list ranked?

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