SHSelfHostIndex

Kasm Workspaces vs X2Go

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 X2 X2Go Remote desktop access over SSH with NX technology
FeatureKasm WorkspacesX2Go
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseProprietaryGPL-2.0
LanguageShellC
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM4,096 MB256 MB
Deploymentdockerbare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 1,228★ 200
First released20202007
ReplacesCitrix, Amazon WorkSpacesCitrix, VNC

What are Kasm Workspaces and X2Go?

Kasm Workspaces

Kasm Workspaces delivers containerized desktops and apps streamed to a browser, enabling secure remote work and disposable browsing. The Community Edition is free to self-host.

  • Streamed containerized desktops
  • Disposable browser isolation
  • Browser-based access
  • Multi-user workspaces

X2Go

X2Go is an open-source remote desktop solution that lets users access graphical Linux sessions over SSH using the NX protocol. It works well over low-bandwidth links and supports session suspend and resume.

  • NX-based remote desktop
  • Session suspend and resume
  • SSH transport
  • Low-bandwidth friendly

Kasm Workspaces vs X2Go: key differences

Kasm Workspaces is written in Shell, while X2Go is built with C. Licensing differs — Proprietary for Kasm Workspaces versus GPL-2.0 for X2Go. X2Go is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Kasm Workspaces. X2Go is the more established project (first released 2007), while Kasm Workspaces arrived in 2020. Kasm Workspaces has the considerably larger community, at 1,228 GitHub stars versus 200. Kasm Workspaces lists first-class Docker deployment; X2Go does not.

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
Kasm Workspaces details

Choose X2Go if…

  • Efficient over slow links
  • Secure by SSH

Watch out for

  • Linux server focused
  • Setup can be fiddly
X2Go details

Frequently asked questions

Is Kasm Workspaces or X2Go better?

Neither is universally better. Kasm Workspaces has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Kasm Workspaces and X2Go free and open-source?

Yes. Kasm Workspaces is licensed under Proprietary and X2Go under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Kasm Workspaces and X2Go with Docker?

Kasm Workspaces: yes. X2Go: check the project docs for container support.

Which is lighter on resources, Kasm Workspaces or X2Go?

X2Go has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Kasm Workspaces. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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