SHSelfHostIndex

Apache Guacamole Lite vs RustDesk

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 Open-source remote desktop alternative to TeamViewer
FeatureApache Guacamole LiteRustDesk
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageJavaScriptRust
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM256 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, sourcedocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 331★ 119,867
First released20162021
ReplacesTeamViewer, CitrixTeamViewer, AnyDesk

Why pick each one

Choose Apache Guacamole Lite if…

  • Lightweight alternative
  • Easy to integrate
Apache Guacamole Lite details

Choose RustDesk if…

  • Easy self-hosted server
  • Works everywhere
RustDesk details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Guacamole Lite or RustDesk better?

RustDesk 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 free and open-source?

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

Can I run Apache Guacamole Lite and RustDesk with Docker?

Apache Guacamole Lite: yes. RustDesk: yes.

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