SHSelfHostIndex

OpenConnect Server 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.

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OP OpenConnect Server SSL VPN server compatible with AnyConnect clients VS RU RustDesk Open-source remote desktop alternative to TeamViewer
FeatureOpenConnect ServerRustDesk
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseGPL-2.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageCRust
Setup difficultyHardEasy
Min. RAM128 MB256 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, dockerdocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 600★ 119,867
First released20132021
ReplacesCisco AnyConnectTeamViewer, AnyDesk

Why pick each one

Choose OpenConnect Server if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in C
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
OpenConnect Server details

Choose RustDesk if…

  • Easy self-hosted server
  • Works everywhere
RustDesk details

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenConnect Server or RustDesk better?

RustDesk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenConnect Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are OpenConnect Server and RustDesk free and open-source?

Yes. OpenConnect Server is licensed under GPL-2.0 and RustDesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run OpenConnect Server and RustDesk with Docker?

OpenConnect Server: yes. RustDesk: yes.

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