Kasm Workspaces 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?
Kasm Workspaces
Containerized desktop and browser streaming platform
VS
RustDesk
Open-source remote desktop alternative to TeamViewer
| Feature | Kasm Workspaces | RustDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | Proprietary | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,210 | ★ 119,867 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Citrix, Amazon WorkSpaces | TeamViewer, AnyDesk |
Why pick each one
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
Frequently asked questions
Is Kasm Workspaces or RustDesk better?
RustDesk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Kasm Workspaces if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kasm Workspaces and RustDesk free and open-source?
Yes. Kasm Workspaces is licensed under Proprietary and RustDesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kasm Workspaces and RustDesk with Docker?
Kasm Workspaces: yes. RustDesk: yes.