JumpServer vs Moonlight
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?
JumpServer
Open-source bastion host and PAM platform
VS
Moonlight
Open-source game streaming client for low-latency desktops
| Feature | JumpServer | Moonlight |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 31,230 | ★ 18,184 |
| First released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Replaces | CyberArk, Teleport | Parsec, Steam Remote Play |
Why pick each one
Choose JumpServer if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 31.2k GitHub stars
Choose Moonlight if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 18.2k GitHub stars
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is JumpServer or Moonlight better?
Neither is universally better. JumpServer has the larger community, while Moonlight is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are JumpServer and Moonlight free and open-source?
Yes. JumpServer is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Moonlight under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run JumpServer and Moonlight with Docker?
JumpServer: yes. Moonlight: check the project docs for container support.