PyRDP 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?
PyRDP
RDP monitoring, interception and connection library
VS
RustDesk
Open-source remote desktop alternative to TeamViewer
| Feature | PyRDP | RustDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,774 | ★ 119,867 |
| First released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Microsoft RDP Gateway | TeamViewer, AnyDesk |
Why pick each one
Choose PyRDP if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is PyRDP or RustDesk better?
RustDesk is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider PyRDP if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are PyRDP and RustDesk free and open-source?
Yes. PyRDP is licensed under GPL-3.0 and RustDesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PyRDP and RustDesk with Docker?
PyRDP: yes. RustDesk: yes.