Apache Guacamole vs Kasm Workspaces

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? Compare Apache Guacamole with Compare Kasm Workspaces with

Apache Guacamole Clientless remote desktop gateway in your browser VS

Kasm Workspaces Containerized desktop and browser streaming platform

Feature	Apache Guacamole	Kasm Workspaces
Deploy effort	Under-an-hour setup	Under-an-hour setup
Health score	86 · Excellent	74 · Good
Category	Remote Access & VPN	Remote Access & VPN
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Language	C	Shell
Setup difficulty	Medium	Medium
Min. RAM	1,024 MB	4,096 MB
Deployment	docker, bare-metal	docker
GitHub stars	★ 3,991	★ 1,228
First released	2016	2020
Replaces	TeamViewer, Citrix	Citrix, Amazon WorkSpaces

What are Apache Guacamole and Kasm Workspaces?

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

Kasm Workspaces

Kasm Workspaces delivers containerized desktops and apps streamed to a browser, enabling secure remote work and disposable browsing. The Community Edition is free to self-host.

Streamed containerized desktops
Disposable browser isolation
Browser-based access
Multi-user workspaces

Apache Guacamole vs Kasm Workspaces: key differences

Apache Guacamole is written in C, while Kasm Workspaces is built with Shell. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Apache Guacamole versus Proprietary for Kasm Workspaces. Apache Guacamole is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Kasm Workspaces. Apache Guacamole is the more established project (first released 2016), while Kasm Workspaces arrived in 2020. Apache Guacamole has the considerably larger community, at 3,991 GitHub stars versus 1,228.

Why pick each one

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

Apache Guacamole details

Choose Kasm Workspaces if…

Released under the Proprietary license
First-class Docker support for quick deployment
Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
Written in Shell

Kasm Workspaces details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Guacamole or Kasm Workspaces 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 Apache Guacamole and Kasm Workspaces free and open-source?

Yes. Apache Guacamole is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Kasm Workspaces under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache Guacamole and Kasm Workspaces with Docker?

Apache Guacamole: yes. Kasm Workspaces: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Apache Guacamole or Kasm Workspaces?

Apache Guacamole has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Kasm Workspaces. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.