RustDesk

RustDesk is an open-source remote desktop application built as a self-hosted alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk. It works in both directions: control a remote machine or let someone access yours. Connections traverse NAT through a relay server, either RustDesk’s public infrastructure or your own relay server.

Self-hosting matters when all remote desktop traffic needs to route through infrastructure you control: regulated industries, corporate security requirements, or anywhere a third-party relay is unacceptable. The server runs as a two-container Docker setup (one for rendezvous, one for relay) and the open-source version is free with no seat or connection limits.

The paid Server Pro edition adds a web management console, address book, audit logging, access control, 2FA, and centralised device settings. Worth the cost if you manage more than a handful of machines and need a proper dashboard. Without Pro, the open-source server still handles all core remote access.

Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and as a self-hosted web client. With 115,000 GitHub stars, RustDesk is one of the most starred open-source projects globally.

One thing worth flagging: RustDesk is widely abused in tech support scams, and the project displays its own scam warning on the website. If you deploy it for a business, training staff to recognise social engineering is as important as the technical setup.