xrdp

Open-source RDP server that lets Linux machines accept connections from standard Remote Desktop clients.

Open sourceSelf-hostableRemote desktop software

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About xrdp

xrdp is an open-source server that speaks Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol on Linux and other Unix-like systems. Install it on a Linux machine, and you can log in to a graphical desktop from Windows' built-in Remote Desktop Connection, Microsoft's Windows App on Mac and mobile, FreeRDP, Remmina or other RDP clients, with no special software on the client side. Alongside the screen it supports two-way clipboard for text, images and files, audio redirection and mounting the client's local drives on the remote machine, and the connection is encrypted with TLS by default. It is widely packaged by Linux distributions and is a common way to give Windows users access to Linux servers, VMs and cloud instances. It is free under the Apache License 2.0. The catch is configuration: getting the desktop environment, sound and session handling right can take some fiddling, and there is no built-in relay for access across the internet.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Desktop and sound setup can be fiddly
No relay for access across the internet
Linux and Unix only

Top xrdp alternatives

See all 5

1
X2Go
Better over slow connections and resumes sessions, using SSH.
66.5
2
TigerVNC
Standard VNC server if your clients already speak VNC.
62.6
3
NoMachine
Faster commercial option with internet connectivity built in.
59.6
4
RustDesk
Reaches Linux desktops across the internet without opening RDP ports.
57.2
5
Apache Guacamole
Puts xrdp or other RDP servers behind a browser-based gateway.
55.3

Why people left xrdp

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xrdp: common questions

Is xrdp free?

Yes. xrdp is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is xrdp open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at neutrinolabs/xrdp. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does xrdp run on?

xrdp is available for Linux and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to xrdp?

The highest-ranked xrdp alternatives right now are X2Go, TigerVNC and NoMachine. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 xrdp alternatives

xrdp facts

4 of 4 verified

License: Apache-2.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: Apache-2.0 (Apache License 2.0).”
Compatible clients: FreeRDP, rdesktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop; Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab); “xrdp accepts connections from variety of RDP clients: FreeRDP, rdesktop, NeutrinoRDP and Microsoft Remote Desktop Client (for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android).”
Encryption: TLS by default; Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab); “RDP transport is encrypted using TLS by default.”
Redirection: Clipboard, audio, drives; Checked Oct 25, 2026xrdp.org(opens source in a new tab); “two-way clipboard transfer (text, bitmap, file) audio redirection drive redirection”