Apache Guacamole 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.

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Apache Guacamole Clientless remote desktop gateway in your browser VS RU RustDesk Server Self-hosted relay and ID server for RustDesk

Feature	Apache Guacamole	RustDesk Server
Deploy effort	Under-an-hour setup	Under-an-hour setup
Health score	86 · Excellent	91 · Excellent
Category	Remote Access & VPN	Remote Access & VPN
License	Apache-2.0	AGPL-3.0
Language	C	Rust
Setup difficulty	Medium	Easy
Min. RAM	1,024 MB	128 MB
Deployment	docker, bare-metal	docker, binary
GitHub stars	★ 3,991	★ 10,449
First released	2016	2021
Replaces	TeamViewer, Citrix	TeamViewer

What are Apache Guacamole and RustDesk Server?

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

RustDesk Server

RustDesk Server provides the rendezvous and relay components needed to run RustDesk remote desktop fully on your own infrastructure. It keeps all connections under your control.

Rendezvous and relay servers
Single binary or Docker
Full data ownership
Pairs with RustDesk clients

Apache Guacamole vs RustDesk Server: key differences

Apache Guacamole is written in C, while RustDesk Server is built with Rust. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Apache Guacamole versus AGPL-3.0 for RustDesk Server. RustDesk Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Apache Guacamole. Apache Guacamole is the more established project (first released 2016), while RustDesk Server arrived in 2021. RustDesk Server has the considerably larger community, at 10,449 GitHub stars versus 3,991.

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 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 10.4k GitHub stars

RustDesk Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Guacamole 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 if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

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

Yes. Apache Guacamole is licensed under Apache-2.0 and RustDesk Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache Guacamole and RustDesk Server with Docker?

Apache Guacamole: yes. RustDesk Server: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Apache Guacamole or RustDesk Server?

RustDesk Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Apache Guacamole. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.