Kasm Workspaces vs Xpra
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
Xpra
Screen for X, persistent remote applications
| Feature | Kasm Workspaces | Xpra |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | Proprietary | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,210 | ★ 2,923 |
| First released | 2020 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Citrix, Amazon WorkSpaces | NX, Citrix |
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
Choose Xpra if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (2.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Kasm Workspaces or Xpra better?
Neither is universally better. Xpra has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Kasm Workspaces and Xpra free and open-source?
Yes. Kasm Workspaces is licensed under Proprietary and Xpra under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kasm Workspaces and Xpra with Docker?
Kasm Workspaces: yes. Xpra: check the project docs for container support.