SHSelfHostIndex

Apache Guacamole Lite vs RustDesk Server

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AP Apache Guacamole Lite Clientless remote desktop gateway library VS RU RustDesk Server Self-hosted relay and ID server for RustDesk
FeatureApache Guacamole LiteRustDesk Server
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageJavaScriptRust
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM256 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, sourcedocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 331★ 10,209
First released20162021
ReplacesTeamViewer, CitrixTeamViewer

Why pick each one

Choose Apache Guacamole Lite if…

  • Lightweight alternative
  • Easy to integrate
Apache Guacamole Lite details

Choose RustDesk Server if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Mature project with 10.2k GitHub stars
RustDesk Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Guacamole Lite or RustDesk Server better?

RustDesk Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Apache Guacamole Lite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Apache Guacamole Lite and RustDesk Server free and open-source?

Yes. Apache Guacamole Lite is licensed under MIT and RustDesk Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache Guacamole Lite and RustDesk Server with Docker?

Apache Guacamole Lite: yes. RustDesk Server: yes.

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