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.
Not the right match-up?
Apache Guacamole
Clientless remote desktop gateway in your browser
VS
RustDesk Server
Self-hosted relay and ID server for RustDesk
| Feature | Apache Guacamole | RustDesk Server |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 3,942 | ★ 10,209 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | TeamViewer, Citrix | TeamViewer |
Why pick each one
Choose Apache Guacamole if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
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
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.