Headscale-Admin 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?
Headscale-Admin
Web UI for managing self-hosted Headscale networks
VS
RustDesk
Open-source remote desktop alternative to TeamViewer
| Feature | Headscale-Admin | RustDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Svelte | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,104 | ★ 119,867 |
| First released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Tailscale Admin Console | TeamViewer, AnyDesk |
Why pick each one
Choose Headscale-Admin if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Headscale-Admin or RustDesk better?
Neither is universally better. RustDesk has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Headscale-Admin and RustDesk free and open-source?
Yes. Headscale-Admin is licensed under GPL-3.0 and RustDesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Headscale-Admin and RustDesk with Docker?
Headscale-Admin: yes. RustDesk: yes.