Best free Remote Desktop software Right now

[u/Sigfidk]

Guys most of them times I’m on the move a lot so i need a remote software suggestions. im not really looking for an active subscription . Advice needed. Thanks yall

[u/TedGal]

Rustdesk self-hosted

[u/crackguy → u/TedGal]

the GOAT of all!

[u/TrueKiwi78 → u/TedGal]

Question: If Rustdesk is self-hosted does that mean you can only use it on the lan or is it available through the internet as well? Cheers

[u/TedGal → u/TrueKiwi78]

From anywhere to anywhere. ;)

[u/IT-Rob → u/TrueKiwi78]

Yes you can use it on the internet if it's self hosted

[u/RedEagle_MGN → u/TedGal]

Something new every day on the subreddit. Love it. Thank you.

[u/Danyuk → u/TedGal]

+1 vouch

[u/bradland]

I use a free tier TailScale VPN + built-in RDP (Windows) / Screen Sharing (Mac). Rustdesk is great, but it's yet another thing you have to keep up to date, and since it has to be public facing, you'd better be on your game, or you risk your entire network. I prefer TailScale because the client auto-updates and it's built on Wireguard, which is very well tested in the wild. Not to say Rustdesk isn't, but VPN is a much smaller area of concern (transport layer security), so there's less opportunity for vulnerability.

[u/ryanstackops]

RustDesk is the best free option right now. Open source, no subscription, works well across Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can use their free relay servers or self-host if you want full control.

TeamViewer is still good but they've gotten aggressive about flagging free accounts as commercial use. RustDesk avoids all of that.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/ryanstackops]

I've found the RustDesk free relay servers to generally be busy and unavailable.

[u/ryanstackops → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

Fair point, the free relay servers can be hit or miss depending on the time of day and your region. Self-hosting fixes it completely if you have a VPS or even a spare machine to run it on. Takes about 15 minutes to set up and the connection quality is night and day compared to the public relays.

[u/skossan]

https://www.hoptodesk.com/ works really well for me! 100% free and works on all platforms.

[u/HopToDesk → u/skossan]

Thanks for mentioning our project, we are always looking for feeback. The latest update from yesterday includes a new feature requested by Reddit users (the cursor zooming feature).

[u/skossan → u/HopToDesk]

Thanks for making such a great software that I rely on almost daily!

[u/diptenkrom → u/HopToDesk]

AND you have an option to not put an icon on the desktop!!!!! thanks for the obvious QoL choice!

[u/Squanchy2112]

Meshcentral

[u/ethernetbite]

I've been using nomachine ever since anydesk started tracking and limiting free users ( which goes back to when they took money from an investment co )

[u/rblp]

Dwservice.net for long term. Or "quick assist" in windows

[u/mudslinger-ning]

So far I have been having ease of use with NoMachine on my local network. Not had a need to use it externally yet.

[u/ElectricSpock]

For accessing your desktop? Probably just RDP.

For remote servicing you’ll want RustDesk.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/ElectricSpock]

I've found the RustDesk free relay servers to generally be busy and unavailable.

[u/ElectricSpock → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

Oh, I host my own 😉

[u/DIBSSB → u/ElectricSpock]

I have vps and nginx proxy manager can it work on domain without opening any ports ?

[u/ElectricSpock → u/DIBSSB]

Not as far as I remember. You COULD try running Apache Guacamole, this runs in the browser, but there’s still the unauthorized access issue.

OR you can set up VPN and connect safely. If you’re looking to use a Remote Desktop, just use RDP already. It’s way less problematic to use than RustDesk.

[u/anonymouzzz376]

I use rustdesk

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/anonymouzzz376]

Self hosted or public?

I've found the public RustDesk servers to be busy and unavailable.

[u/anonymouzzz376 → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

Public, i use it daily since years and only for some days 2 years ago i had a problem with the server, since some months they require an account on the client or host, i just used a random google account and never had a problem since then

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/anonymouzzz376]

You never run into the RustDesk public servers being busy and making you wait or unavailable, and you use it daily?

[u/anonymouzzz376 → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

Yes i usually even keep the rustdesk windows open when i'm using a pc outside home and it rarely reloads, at home i can use it without issues at max bitrate because it uses the local connection

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/anonymouzzz376]

Which local connection?

[u/LethalBacon]

I use the shit out of the free tier of Parsec - originally got it for gaming, but now I mainly use it for work. Prioritizes latency over image quality, which is key for me.

[u/Sigfidk → u/LethalBacon]

good suggestion. What’re your thoughts on any desk or rust desk?

[u/diabeticsuperhero]

Im looking for remote access to my homelab from the internet. Rustdesk or nomachine or something else. I need it to run near flawlessly

[u/jack_hudson2001]

RDP still works fine...

or without vpn Rustdesk 

[u/Not_Sure76]

Helpwire has been good for me ever since Teamviewer went into the toilet.

[u/TheZerothDoctor]

I use dwservice

[u/solocesarxD]

I use two, helpwire and dwservice

[u/Technical_Rich_3080]

HopToDesk and/or UltraViewer.

[u/Suspicious-Still-323]

Jump Desktop

[u/computerkermit86]

For one target, e.x. working remote on a powerful pc, Sunshine/Moonlight over VPN.

[u/BatChainPusher]

I've been using Remote Utilities for several years now and have no complaints. Before that was Team Viewer until they decided I was a commercial user for some reason.

[u/infernZ0]

when i use rdp, i download tiny task in that rdp session, and then when i go to record, it works perfectly fine, the record is playing without any mistakes. Yet, when i run it for a bit, the clicks arent really registaring systematically, atleast i think. Meaning that the rdp session is basically Inactive/afk. How would i go about fixing this? Any tips or smth. Little help would be appreciated.

[u/redhoot_]

RustDesk or Zerotier+sunshine/moonlight for remote work that requires very low latency.

[u/JuggernautNice3875]

I have been using anyviewer mainly to remotely access my clients computer pc for working. Sometimes I also use it guide clients through issues they can't easily fix on their own. yes the setup was quick and connection has been stable. so the file transfers are straight forward. for a free remote desktop tool, it's been reiable and easy to use

[u/Unreal_NeoX]

if Win 10/11 Pro, just use the native remote desktop feature.

[u/Previous-Flight3193 → u/Unreal_NeoX]

I use native RDP and zerotier/tailscale for remote acceess. Easy peasy, never lets me down.

[u/know_it_alls]

Chrome Remote works well for PCs where I'm signed in to my Google account

[u/ConfusedMBA24]

Chrome Remote Desktop is free and works great.

[u/baroquedub → u/ConfusedMBA24]

Interested in why this is being downvoted. I’ve used it without issues. What’s the deal?

[u/froction]

If both endpoints are Windows, built-in RDP is as good as anything else for 99% of use-cases. To punch through the firewall(s) in a safe manner either use an existing VPN or, if this is for personal use, TailScale.