RPort vs RustDesk Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | RPort | RustDesk Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 0 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21 | ★ 10,449 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | TeamViewer, ngrok | TeamViewer |
What are RPort and RustDesk Server?
RPort
RPort is an open-source remote management solution that lets you access and control servers and desktops behind firewalls. It provides tunnels, scripting, and a web UI.
- Remote access behind firewalls
- On-demand tunnels
- Script execution at scale
- Web management UI
RustDesk Server
RustDesk Server provides the rendezvous and relay components needed to run RustDesk remote desktop fully on your own infrastructure. It keeps all connections under your control.
- Rendezvous and relay servers
- Single binary or Docker
- Full data ownership
- Pairs with RustDesk clients
RPort vs RustDesk Server: key differences
RPort is written in Go, while RustDesk Server is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for RPort versus AGPL-3.0 for RustDesk Server. RustDesk Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for RPort. RustDesk Server has the considerably larger community, at 10,449 GitHub stars versus 21.
Why pick each one
Choose RPort if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose RustDesk Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.4k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is RPort or RustDesk Server better?
RustDesk Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider RPort if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are RPort and RustDesk Server free and open-source?
Yes. RPort is licensed under GPL-3.0 and RustDesk Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run RPort and RustDesk Server with Docker?
RPort: yes. RustDesk Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, RPort or RustDesk Server?
RustDesk Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for RPort. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.