Comparison of remote desktop software
This page is a comparison of remote desktop software available for various platforms.
Contents
Remote desktop software[edit]
| Software | Protocols | Creator | First public release date | Latest stable version year | License | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AetherPal | Proprietary | AetherPal Inc. | 2011 | 2016, Valet | Proprietary | No | No |
| Ammyy Admin | Proprietary | Ammyy Inc. | 2007 | 2014-07, 3.5[1] | Proprietary | Yes | No |
| AnyDesk | Proprietary | AnyDesk Software GmbH | 2015 | 2017, 3.2.1 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
| Anyplace Control | Proprietary | Anyplace Control Software | 2002 | 2012, 5.4.0.0 | Proprietary | No | No |
| AnywhereTS | RDP, ICA | Qzone | ? | 2009, 3.4 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Remote Desktop | RFB (VNC) | Apple | 2002 | 2017, 3.9[2] | Proprietary | No | No |
| Apple Screen Sharing (iChat) | Proprietary, RFB (VNC) | Apple | 2007 | 2014, 1.6 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes |
| AppliDis | RDP | Systancia | ? | 2013, 4 SP3 | Proprietary | No | No |
| BeAnywhere Support Express | Proprietary | BeAnywhere | 1996 | 2015, 6.00 | Proprietary | Yes[a] | Yes[a] |
| Bomgar | Proprietary | Bomgar | 2003 | 2016, 16.1 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Cendio ThinLinc | RFB (VNC) | Cendio AB | 2003 | 2017, 4.8.1 | Proprietary | Yes[b] | Yes[b] |
| Chicken of the VNC | RFB (VNC) | ? | 2002 | 2011-02, 2.1.1 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Chromoting | 2011 | 2017 | BSD Client, Proprietary Server | Yes | Yes | |
| Citrix XenApp/Presentation Server/MetaFrame/WinFrame | RDP, ICA | Citrix Systems | 1995 | 2014, 7.5 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Fog Creek Copilot | RFB (VNC) | ? | 2005 | 2014[3] | Proprietary | No | No |
| GO-Global | Proprietary | GraphOn | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
| GoToMyPC | Proprietary | Citrix Online | 2000 | 2013 | Proprietary | No | No |
| HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) | HP RGS | Hewlett-Packard | 2003 | 2016, 7.3 | Proprietary | Yes[c] | Yes[c] |
| HOB HOBLink JWT | RDP | HOB GmbH & Co. KG | 1999 | 2014, V.3.3 | Proprietary | No | No |
| HOB HOB MacGate | RDP | HOB GmbH & Co. KG | 2012 | 2014, V.1.4 | Proprietary | No | No |
| IBM Director Remote Control | Proprietary | IBM | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
| I'm InTouch | Proprietary | Communique | 2000 | 2015, 9.51 | Proprietary | No | No |
| iTALC | RFB (VNC) | ? | 2005 | 2014-07, 2.0.2 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| KDE | RFB (VNC), RDP | Tim Jansen, Urs Wolfer, a.o. | 2010 | 2014-07, 4.13.95[d] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| LiteManager | Proprietary | LiteManagerTeam | 2009 | 2016-01, 4.7.2 | Proprietary | Yes[e] | Yes[e] |
| LogMeIn | Proprietary | LogMeIn, Inc. | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
| Mikogo | Proprietary | BeamYourScreen GmbH | ? | 2015-03-24, 5.2.2[5] | Proprietary | Yes | No |
| Netop Remote Control | Proprietary | Netop Solutions A/S | 1987 | 2017, 12.6 | Proprietary | No | No |
| NetSupport Manager | Proprietary | NetSupport Software | 1989 | 2013 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Netviewer | Proprietary | Netviewer AG | ? | ? | Proprietary | No | No |
| NoMachine | NX | NoMachine | 2003 | 2017, 5.3.12 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes[f] |
| OpenText Exceed onDemand | Proprietary | OpenText[g] | 1999 | 2011 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Open Virtual Desktop | RDP | Ulteo | 2009 | 2014, 4.0.1 | GPL Client, Proprietary Server | No | No |
| Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software/Sun VDI | AIP | Tarantella/Oracle Inc. | 1997 | 2015-04, 5.2.903 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Proxy Networks | Proprietary | Funk Software Inc. | 1993 | 2015-02-04,8.10.2 | Proprietary | No | No |
| QVD | NX and HTTP | Qindel Group | 2001 | 2017-02, 4.0.0[6] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| rdesktop | RDP | Matthew Chapman | 2001 | 2013 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| RealVNC Open | RFB (VNC) | RealVNC | 2002 | 2012, 4.1.3[7] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| RealVNC | RFB (VNC) | RealVNC | 2002 | 2016, 5.3.1 | Proprietary | Yes[f] | No |
| Remmina | RDP, RFB (VNC), SPICE, XDMCP, SSH | Originally written by Vic Lee | 2009 | 2017, 1.2.0.rcgit.26 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services | RDP | Microsoft | 1998 | 2016 | Proprietary | Yes | Yes[h] |
| ScreenConnect | Proprietary | Elsinore Technologies | 2008 | 2017, 6.2 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Splashtop Remote | Proprietary | Splashtop Inc | 2010 | 2017 3.1.2 | Proprietary | Yes | No |
| SSH with X forwarding | X11 | ? | 1999 | 2015, OpenSSH: 7.1, protocol: 2.0 | BSD | Yes | Yes |
| Sun Ray/SRSS | ALP | ? | ? | ? | Proprietary | ? | ? |
| Symantec pcAnywhere | Proprietary | Symantec Corporation | 1986 | 2012, 12.6.65 | Proprietary | No | No |
| TeamViewer | Proprietary | TeamViewer GmbH | 2005 | 2017, 12.x | Proprietary | Yes | No |
| Techinline | RDP | Techinline Ltd. | 2006 | 2016, 4.2.2 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Teradici | PCoIP | Teradici Corp. | 2007 | 2016 | Proprietary | No | No |
| Thinc | Thinc | Columbia university | 2007 | 2008 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| TigerVNC | RFB (VNC) | Red Hat, Cendio AB, The VirtualGL Project | 2009 | 2017, 1.8.0[8] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| TightVNC | RFB (VNC) | Constantin Kaplinsky | 2001 | 2017, 2.8.8 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| Timbuktu | Proprietary | ? | ? | ? | Proprietary | ? | ? |
| TurboVNC | RFB (VNC) | The VirtualGL Project | 2004 | 2017, 2.1.1 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| UltraVNC | RFB (VNC) | ? | 2005 | 2016, 1.2.1.2 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| Vinagre | RFB (VNC), SPICE, RDP, SSH | The GNOME Project | 2007 | 2015, 3.18[9] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| XDMCP | X11 | Keith Packard | 1989 | 2012, 1.1.1 | MIT | Yes | Yes |
| xpra | Bencode-based, rencode-based, YAML-based, RFB (VNC) for desktop mode | Nathaniel Smith | 2008 | 2017-10-24, 2.1.3[10] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| X11vnc | RFB (VNC) | Karl Runge | 2001 | 2011, 0.9.13[11] | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| X2Go | NX | Oleksandr Shneyder and Heinz-M. Graesing[12] | 2006[12] | 2017, 4.1.0.0 | GPL | Yes | Yes |
| x2vnc | RFB (VNC) | ? | 1998 | 2006, 1.7.2 | BSD | Yes | Yes |
| x2x | X11 | ? | 1996 | 2003, 1.27 | BSD | Yes | Yes |
| Software | Protocol | Creator | First public release date | Latest stable version | License | Free for personal use | Free for commercial use |
Operating system support[edit]
| Software | Microsoft Windows |
Mac OS X |
Linux |
FreeBSD | eComStation | Java (client) |
Android |
iOS | Blackberry (client) | Windows Mobile |
Chrome OS (client) |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Client | Server | Client | Server | Server | client | |||||
| AetherPal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| Ammyy Admin | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |||
| AnyDesk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | |
| AppliDis | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | |||
| Apple Remote Desktop | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | |||
| BeAnywhere Support Express | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
| Bomgar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No[13] | No[13] | ||
| Cendio ThinLinc | No[i] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes[j] | ? | Yes[k] | No | No | No | No | ||
| Citrix XenApp | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| Fog Creek Copilot | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | No | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ||
| FreeNX | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| GO-Global | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ||
| GoToMyPC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) | Yes[14] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | Yes | ||
| HOB HOBLink JWT | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ? | No | |||
| HOB HOB MacGate | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | No | |||
| IBM Director Remote Control | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| I'm InTouch | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| iTALC | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| KRDC | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| LogMeIn Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes[1] | ||
| Mikogo | ? | Yes | ? | Yes[l] | ? | Yes[m] | ? | No | ? | ? | No | Yes[n] | ? | Yes[o] | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Netop Remote Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| NetSupport Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ||
| Netviewer | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | ? | ? | No | Yes[18] | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| NoMachine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes[p] | |
| Open Text Exceed onDemand | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | |||
| Open Virtual Desktop | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | ||
| Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Proxy Networks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
| QVD | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
| rdesktop | No | Yes[19] | ? | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| RealVNC Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ||
| RealVNC Personal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ||
| RealVNC Enterprise | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Remmina | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[q] | Yes[21] | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes[r] | ||
| ScreenConnect | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | ||
| Splashtop Remote | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[24] | Yes | Yes | |
| SSH with X forwarding | No | Yes[s] | No | Yes[s] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes[25] | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Sun Ray/SRSS | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Sub7 | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| Symantec pcAnywhere | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | Yes | ||
| TeamViewer | Yes[26] | Yes[26] | Yes[27] | Yes[27] | Yes[28] | Yes[28] | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes[29] | Yes[29] | Yes[30] | No | Yes[31] | Yes[32] | Yes[33] | Yes[34] | |
| Techinline | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| TightVNC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[t] | Yes[u] | Yes[u] | Yes[u] | Yes[u] | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| TigerVNC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[v] | Yes[v] | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| Timbuktu | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | ? | No | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| TurboVNC | No | Yes | No | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes[x] | Yes[v] | Yes[v] | No | No | Yes[y] | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| UltraVNC | Yes | Yes[z] | ? | No | ? | No | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| XDMCP | ? | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| xpra | Yes[aa] | Yes | Yes[aa] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No[ab] | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No[ac] | |
| X11vnc | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | No | ||
| X2Go | No | Yes[38] | No | Yes[38] | Yes[39] | Yes[38] | No | Yes[38] | No | No | No | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | ||
| x2vnc | No[ad] | No[ae] | No[ad] | Yes | No[ad] | Yes | No[ad] | Yes | No[ad] | ? | No | ? | No[ad] | ? | No | No | No[ad] | No | ||
| x2x | No[af] | No[ae] | No[af] | Yes | No[af] | Yes | No[af] | Yes | No[af] | ? | No | ? | No[af] | ? | No | No | No[af] | No | ||
| Software | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Server | Client | Java (client) |
Client | Server | Client | Server | Blackberry (client) | Server | Client | Chrome OS (client) |
|
| Microsoft Windows |
Mac OS X |
Linux |
FreeBSD | eComStation | Android |
iOS | Windows Mobile |
|||||||||||||
Features[edit]
| Software | Client/server |
Built-in encryption |
File transfer |
Audio support |
Multiple sessions |
Seamless window | Remote assistance | Access permission request | NAT passthrough | IPv6 support | Maximum simultaneous connections | Video | 3D | Drag and drop file transfer | Multiple passwords for remote access | Session recording | Screen blanking | USB forwarding | Export network services | Printing | Smartcard authentication | Whiteboard | Chat tool | H.264 support | Browser-based access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AetherPal | Client & server | SSL, TLS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Ammyy Admin | Client & server | AES, RSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | No | ? | |
| Anyplace Control | Client & server | RC4, RSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| AnywhereTS | Client only | SSL, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| AppliDis | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Apple Remote Desktop | Client & server | AES-128 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Apple Screen Sharing (iChat) | Client & server | AES-256 | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| BeAnywhere Support Express | Client & server | SSL, TLS, AES | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Bomgar | Client, server, & listening | SSL, AES 256 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Cendio ThinLinc | Client & server | SSH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[ag] | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Chicken of the VNC | Client only | No | No | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Client & server | SSL, TLS | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Citrix XenApp | Client & server | SSL, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| FreeNX | Client & server | AES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| GO-Global | Client & server | SSL, DES-56, DES-168, AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| GoToMyPC | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | Yes | ? |
| HOB HOBLink JWT | Client only | SSL, TLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| HOB HOB MacGate | Server only | SSL, TLS | No | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| IBM Director Remote Control | Client & server | AES, Triple DES, DES | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| I'm InTouch | Web client & Win server | SSL, AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| iTALC | Client & server | SSH | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? | No | Unlimited | Yes | No | No | Token-Based | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| KRDC | Client only | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| LogMeIn | Pro only | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Mikogo | Client & server[ah] | AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes[ai] | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Netop Remote Control | Client & server & listening | SSL, AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| NetSupport Manager | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Netviewer | Client & server | AES-128 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[aj] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| NoMachine | Client & server | SSL, SSH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[ak] |
| Open Text Exceed onDemand | Client & server | SSL, SSH | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Open Virtual Desktop | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Unlimited | Yes | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software/Sun VDI | Client & server | SSL, TLS (AES-256) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Proxy Networks | Client, server, & gateway | SSL, AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, client | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| QVD | Client & server | SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| rdesktop | Client only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[al] | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| RealVNC Home | Client, server, & listening | AES-128 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | No | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| RealVNC Professional | Client, server, & listening | AES-128 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| RealVNC Enterprise | Client, server, & listening | AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[am] |
| Remmina | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No[an] |
| Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[ao] | Yes[ap] | Yes[aq] | Yes[ar] | No | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| ScreenConnect | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Splashtop Remote | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| SSH with X forwarding | Client & server | Yes | Yes | Partial[as] | Yes[at] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes[au] | Unlimited | Yes | Yes, server side[42] | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Sun Ray/SRSS | Client, server, & hardware | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Sub7 | Client & server | No | No | No | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Symantec pcAnywhere | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? |
| AnyDesk | Client & server | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| TeamViewer | Client & server | AES-256 | Yes | Partial[av] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, client & server | Yes | 3-15[aw] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
| Techinline | Client & server | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | 1 or unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| TightVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSH (Unix client only) | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes in listening mode | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| TigerVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSL, TLS | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Timbuktu | Client & server | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| TurboVNC | Client, server, & listening | SSL, TLS, SSH | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes in listening mode | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| UltraVNC | Client & server | With plugin | Yes | No | Yes | Partial[ax] | Yes | ? | Yes, with SC version + external "Repeater" server | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? |
| XDMCP | Client & server | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| xpra | Client & server | SSH, TLS, AES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[ay] | Yes | No | Yes, server[az] | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | VirtualGL | Yes | Yes[ba] | Yes[bb] | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| X11vnc | Server only | SSL | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| X2Go | Client & server | SSH | Yes | Yes[bc] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| x2vnc | Client only | No | No | No | Yes | N/A | ? | ? | ? | ? | Unlimited | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| x2x | Client only | Yes[bd] | No | No | Yes | N/A | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Software | Client/server |
Built-in encryption |
File transfer |
Audio support |
Multiple sessions |
Seamless window | Remote assistance | Access permission request | NAT passthrough | IPv6 support | Maximum simultaneous connections | Video | 3D | Drag and drop file transfer | Multiple passwords for remote access | Session recording | Screen blanking | USB forwarding | Export network services | Printing | Smartcard authentication | Whiteboard | Chat tool | H.264 support | Browser-based access |
Terminology[edit]
In the table above, the following terminology is intended to be used to describe some important features:
- Listening mode: where a server connects to a viewer. The server site does not have to configure its firewall/NAT to allow access on port 5900 (or 5800); the onus is on the viewer, which is useful if the server site has no computer expertise, while the viewer user would be expected to be more knowledgeable.
- Built-in Encryption: the software has at least one method of encrypting the data between the local and remote computers, and the encryption mechanism is built into the remote control software.
- File Transfer: the software allows the user to transfer files between the local and remote computers, from within the client software's user interface.
- Audio Support: the remote control software transfers audio signals across the network and plays the audio through the speakers attached to the local computer. For example, music playback software normally sends audio signals to the locally attached speakers, via some sound controller hardware. If the remote control software package supports audio transfer, the playback software can run on the remote computer, while the music can be heard from the local computer, as though the software were running locally.
- Multiple sessions: the ability to connect to a server in many users, and each one see his different desktop
- Seamless Window: the software allows an application to be run on the server, and just the application window to be shown on the clients desktop. Normally the remote user interface chrome is also removed, giving the impression that the application is running on the client machines.
- Remote Assistance: remote and local users are able to view the same screen at the same time, so remote user can assist a local user.
- Access Permission Request: local user should approve a remote access session start.
- NAT Passthrough: the ability to connect to the server behind a NAT without configuring the router's port forwarding rules. It offers an advantage when you can't reconfigure the router/firewall (for example in case it is on the Internet service provider's side), but is a serious security risk (unless the traffic is end-to-end encrypted), because all the traffic will pass through some proxy server which in most cases is owned by the remote access application's developers.[citation needed]
- Maximum simultaneous connections: number of clients connected to the same session
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Free use limited to 1 concurrent user & 5 sessions per day.
- ^ a b Free use limited to 5 concurrent users.
- ^ a b Receiver is a free download[4] Sender is free on HP Z Workstations.
- ^ Since 2010 KRDC has been integrated with the KDE desktop manager.
- ^ a b Free use limited to 30 monitored users.
- ^ a b Free version.
- ^ Formerly Hummingbird.
- ^ Admin mode available for servers & workstations without additional licensing, in TS mode a separate license is required.
- ^ However, the Linux server can act as an RDP client, connecting to a separate Windows Server with Remote Desktop Services.
- ^ HTML5 Client with Android support.
- ^ HTML5 Client with iOS support.
- ^ Some features are MS Windows-only.
- ^ Some features are MS Windows- and Apple Mac-only.[15]
- ^ Available to view a remote desktop from Google Android Linux devices.[16]
- ^ Available to view a remote desktop from Apple iOS devices.[17]
- ^ Works on ChromeOS running on Chromebook.
- ^ There exists an "official" client for Apple Mac OS, as well as several independent implementations. See for example the "CoRD" entry above, an alternative open source RDP client for Mac[20]
- ^ Windows Mobile Remote Desktop is an optional part of WM 6.1.[22][23]
- ^ a b To use Windows or Mac OS X as a client, an X server needs to be installed and running. Windows or Mac OS X can be used as a server, if they have an SSH server running; but only X11 applications (not native GUI applications) can display their GUI on the client; on Windows these probably have to be run within Cygwin.
- ^ As X application, 1.3.x version only.[35]
- ^ a b c d 1.3.x version only "Download (Previous Versions)". TightVNC. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
- ^ a b c d Requires installation from source.
- ^ Bundled Java application that uses libjpeg-turbo native library for accelerated JPEG decompression.[36]
- ^ Bundled Java application that uses libjpeg-turbo native library for accelerated JPEG decompression.[36]
- ^ Can use libjpeg-turbo through JNI to accelerate JPEG decompression.[36]
- ^ UltraVNC v1.0.4 RC4 (beta) claims "Greatly improved Vista support" as of 1 October 2007.[37]
- ^ a b No seamless mode
- ^ Working code exists but it is unmaintained
- ^ The server includes a built-in HTML5 client
- ^ a b c d e f g It is designed to run only on the client; it can connect to any RFB (VNC) server.
- ^ a b This could actually work when running an X server, but it is easier to use Win2VNC instead.
- ^ a b c d e f g It is designed to run only on the client; it can connect to any X11 server.
- ^ Only when host names are used.
- ^ Connections are centrally negotiated via Mikogo server.
- ^ Up to ten participants.
- ^ 8 simultaneously.
- ^ NoMachine Cloud Server only
- ^ With the addition of SeamlessRDP.[40]
- ^ Using a Java applet.
- ^ Since it is a GTK+ application, it can be accessed using the Broadway HTML5 back-end, but this is not yet mature or a full replacement for a browser remote desktop client.
- ^ Remote Desktop Services are single user only. Local screen is locked when remote user connects and local user can not view remote user's activities. Remote user is disconnected when local user logs in. Terminal Services use multiple independent desktops. Local user views its own desktop and can not view remote users' activities. Local user is not notified when remote user connects.
- ^ Provided the server is running Windows 2008 or later.
- ^ Assistance mode uses a separate client named MSRA (Microsoft Remote Assistance). Remote user must approve your access in assistance mode.
- ^ Access approval is always requested in assistance mode and never in remote access mode.
- ^ When using something like pulseaudio
- ^ No sessions at all, just individual windows. However one can use Xnest.
- ^ OpenSSH supports IPv6 and IPv6 forwarding.[41]
- ^ Audio sharing not available on Mac
- ^ 3 with the free version; up to 15 with a license
- ^ UltraVNC allows a single Window to be shown, however it is still doing full screen polling and not capturing the application details. This can cause other windows to overlap and popup windows to "disappear".
- ^ Only for X sessions.
- ^ Using the proxy server.[43]
- ^ Through SSH and/or xpra's authentication modules.[44]
- ^ Via configuration and external tools.[45]
- ^ Via PulseAudio.[46]
- ^ Can be used over SSH session.
References[edit]
- ^ "Admin" (press releases). Ammyy.
- ^ "Remote Desktop", Mac App Store, Apple.
- ^ Fog creek status, Type pad.
- ^ RGS, Hewlett-Packard.
- ^ "Download". Mikogo. Beam Your Screen.
- ^ "Release Notes - QVD: The Linux VDI platform". QVD: The Linux VDI platform. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ Download, Real VNC.
- ^ https://github.com/TigerVNC/tigervnc/releases
- ^ "Vinagre releases". Gnome (source code). SE: UMU. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
- ^ xpra (source code archive).
- ^ x11vnc, Source forge.
- ^ a b "about:start". X2Go. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ^ a b Bomgar Mobile Device Support, Bomgar.
- ^ HP Remote Graphics Software version 7 (PDF) (data sheet), Hewlett Packard, 2014, p. 3.
- ^ "GNU/Linux", Download, Mikogo.
- ^ "Google Android Linux", Download, Mikogo.
- ^ "Apple iOS", Download, Mikogo.
- ^ "Netviewer Meet Mobile Netviewer AG". Play. Google. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ^ "rdesktop 1.6 windows port". 40in. RU: 2g0. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ Cord, Source forge.
- ^ XDPxrdp: An open source remote desktop protocol (rdp) server, Source forge.
- ^ Windows mobile remote desktop connect (blog), Mobile Views.
- ^ WM6 RDP mobile remote desktop client, PDA Phone Home.
- ^ "Splashtop Downloads". Splashtop. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ^ "Darkside", Play (applications store), AU: Google.
- ^ a b TeamViewer for Windows, TeamViewer.
- ^ a b TeamViewer for macOS, TeamViewer.
- ^ a b TeamViewer for Linux, TeamViewer.
- ^ a b TeamViewer for Android, TeamViewer.
- ^ TeamViewer for iOS, TeamViewer.
- ^ TeamViewer for BlackBerry, TeamViewer.
- ^ TeamViewer QuickSupport for Windows Mobile, TeamViewer.
- ^ TeamViewer for Windows Mobile, TeamViewer.
- ^ TeamViewer for Chrome OS, TeamViewer.
- ^ "Tightvnc Portfile". MacPorts. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ a b c User's Guide, TurboVNC.
- ^ MS Windows Vista Support, UltraVnc.
- ^ a b c d Client, X2Go.
- ^ Server, X2Go.
- ^ Seamless RDP, Cendio.
- ^ ssh (manual page), Open BSD.
- ^ Ars technica.
- ^ Xpra Proxy Server.
- ^ Xpra Authentication Modules.
- ^ Feature Ticket.
- ^ "doc:newtox2go". X2Go. Retrieved 2015-03-08.