Aspia vs Apache Guacamole
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Apache Guacamole
Clientless remote desktop gateway in your browser
| Feature | Aspia | Apache Guacamole |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 67 · Good | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,926 | ★ 3,990 |
| First released | 2016 | 2016 |
| Replaces | TeamViewer, AnyDesk | TeamViewer, Citrix |
What are Aspia and Apache Guacamole?
Aspia
Aspia is a free, open-source remote desktop and file-transfer application supporting desktop management, view-only sessions and a self-hostable relay and router. It works across Windows and Linux.
- Remote desktop and file transfer
- Self-hostable relay/router
- End-to-end encryption
- Cross-platform
Apache Guacamole
Apache Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway that supports RDP, VNC, and SSH entirely through a web browser. No plugins or client software are required.
- Browser-based remote desktop
- RDP, VNC, and SSH support
- No client software
- Session recording
Aspia vs Apache Guacamole: key differences
Aspia is written in C++, while Apache Guacamole is built with C. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Aspia versus Apache-2.0 for Apache Guacamole. Aspia is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Apache Guacamole. Apache Guacamole has the considerably larger community, at 3,990 GitHub stars versus 1,926. Apache Guacamole lists first-class Docker deployment; Aspia does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Aspia if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Apache Guacamole if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
Frequently asked questions
Is Aspia or Apache Guacamole better?
Neither is universally better. Apache Guacamole has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Aspia and Apache Guacamole free and open-source?
Yes. Aspia is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Apache Guacamole under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Aspia and Apache Guacamole with Docker?
Aspia: check the project docs for container support. Apache Guacamole: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Aspia or Apache Guacamole?
Aspia has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Apache Guacamole. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.