Comparison of remote desktop software

This page is a comparison of remote desktop software available for various platforms.

Remote desktop software

Software	Protocol	Creator	First public release date	Latest stable version year	License	Free for personal use	Free for commercial use
2X Software	RDP	2X Software	2006	2014, 12.0.0^[1]	Proprietary	Yes^[2]	Yes^[2]
AetherPal	Proprietary	AetherPal Inc.	?	3.0	Proprietary	No	No
Anyplace Control	Proprietary	Anyplace Control Software	2002	5.4.0.0	Proprietary	No	No
AnywhereTS	RDP, ICA	Qzone	?	2009, 3.4	BSD	Yes	Yes
AppliDis	RDP	Systancia	?	2013, 4 SP3	Proprietary	No	No
Apple Remote Desktop	RFB(VNC)	Apple	2002	2015, 3.8^[3]	Proprietary	No	No
Apple Screen Sharing (iChat)	Proprietary, RFB(VNC)	Apple	2007	2014, 1.6	Proprietary	Yes	Yes
BeAnywhere Support Express	Proprietary	BeAnywhere	1996	5.95	Proprietary	Yes^[4]	Yes^[4]
Bomgar	Proprietary	Bomgar	2003	13.1	Proprietary	No	No
Cendio ThinLinc	RFB(VNC)	Cendio AB	2003	2014, 4.3.0	Proprietary	Yes^[5]	Yes^[5]
Chicken of the VNC	RFB(VNC)	?	?	2/2011, 2.1.1	GPL	Yes	Yes
Chrome Remote Desktop	Chromoting	Google	2011	2014	BSD	Yes	Yes
Citrix XenApp/Presentation Server/MetaFrame/WinFrame	RDP, ICA	Citrix Systems	1995	2014, 7.5	Proprietary	No	No
EchoVNC	RFB(VNC)	?	?	2012, 2.40a	Proprietary	Yes	Yes
Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect	RDP, Telnet, Ericom Blaze, PCoIP	Ericom Software	2004	5.80	Proprietary	No	No
Ericom Blaze	RDP	Ericom Software	2009	2.50	Proprietary	No	No
Fog Creek Copilot	RFB(VNC)	?	2005	2014^[6]	Proprietary	No	No
FreeRDP	RDP	?	2009	2013	Apache	Yes	Yes
GO-Global	Proprietary	GraphOn	?	?	Proprietary	No	No
GoToMyPC	Proprietary	Citrix Online	2000	2013	Proprietary	No	No
HOB HOBLink JWT	RDP	HOB GmbH & Co. KG	1999	2014, V.3.3	Proprietary	No	No
HOB HOB MacGate	RDP	HOB GmbH & Co. KG	2012	2014, V.1.4	Proprietary	No	No
I'm InTouch	Proprietary	Communique	2000	8.3	Proprietary	No	No
iTALC	RFB(VNC)	?	2005	7/2014, 2.0.2	GPL	Yes	Yes
IBM Director Remote Control	Proprietary	IBM	?	?	Proprietary	No	No
KDE	RFB(VNC), RDP	Tim Jansen, Urs Wolfer, a.o.	2010	7/2014, 4.13.95^[7]	GPL	Yes	Yes
LiteManager	Proprietary	LiteManagerTeam	2009	2/2014, 4.5	Proprietary	Yes^[8]	Yes^[8]
LogMeIn	Proprietary	LogMeIn, Inc.	?	?	Proprietary	No	No
Mac HelpMate	RFB(VNC)	?	?	2009	Proprietary	No	No
Mikogo	Proprietary	BeamYourScreen GmbH	?	2013	Freeware^[9]	Yes	No
NetSupport Manager	Proprietary	NetSupport Software	1989	2013	Proprietary	No	No
Netviewer	Proprietary	Netviewer AG	?	?	Proprietary	No	No
NoMachine NX	NX	Luxembourg	2003	7/2014, 4.2.27	Proprietary	Yes	No
OpenText Exceed onDemand	Proprietary	Hummingbird	1999	8.1	Proprietary	No	No
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software/Sun VDI	AIP	?	?	?	Proprietary	?	?
Proxy Networks	Proprietary	Funk Software Inc.	1993	2/4/15,8.10.2	Proprietary	No	No
QVD	NX and HTTP	Qindel	2001	5/2014, 1.8.2	GPL	Yes	Yes
rdesktop	RDP	Matthew Chapman	2001	2013	GPL	Yes	Yes
RealVNC Open	RFB(VNC)	RealVNC	2002	2012, 4.1.3^[10]	GPL	Yes	Yes
RealVNC	RFB(VNC)	RealVNC	2002	5.2.0	Proprietary	Yes^[11]	No
Radmin (Remote Administrator)	Proprietary	Famatech Corp.	1999	3.5	Proprietary	No	No
Remote Desktop Manager	RDP, ICA, RFB(VNC)	Devolutions Inc.	2006	9.2	Proprietary	Yes	Yes
Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services	RDP	Microsoft	1998	RDP 8.0	Proprietary	Yes	Yes^[12]
Remote Graphics Software	Proprietary	Hewlett-Packard	2003	2014, 7.0.1	Proprietary	Yes^[13]	Yes^[14]
Remote Utilities	Proprietary	Usoris Systems	2004	2014	Proprietary	Yes	Yes^[15]
RHUB TurboMeeting	Proprietary	RHUB Inc.	2005	4.4.1	Proprietary	No	No
ScreenConnect	Proprietary	Elsinore Technologies	2008	2015, 5.1	Proprietary	No	No
SSH with X forwarding	X11	?	?	?	BSD	Yes	Yes
Splashtop Remote	Proprietary	Splashtop Inc	2010	1.5	Proprietary	Yes	No
Sun Ray/SRSS	ALP	?	?	?	Proprietary	?	?
Symantec pcAnywhere	Proprietary	Symantec Corporation	198x	12.6.65	Proprietary	No	No
TeamViewer	Proprietary	TeamViewer GmbH	2005	Win: 10.0.40798;^[16] MacOS: 10.0.41404;^[16] Linux: 10.0.37742;^[16] Android: 10.0.2712; iOS: 10.0.35558;^[17] Windows Phone: 10.0.1.0^[18] Blackberry: 10.0.2546^[19]	Proprietary	Yes	No
Teradici	PCoIP	Teradici Corp.	2007	2.0.4	Proprietary	No	No
Techinline	RDP	Techinline Ltd.	2006	1.6.3	Proprietary	No	No
Thinc	Thinc	Columbia university	?	2008	GPL	Yes	Yes
TigerVNC	RFB(VNC)	Red Hat, Cendio AB, The VirtualGL Project	2009	2015, 1.3.4	GPL	Yes	Yes
TightVNC	RFB(VNC)	Constantin Kaplinsky	2001	2013, 2.7.10	GPL	Yes	Yes
Timbuktu	Proprietary	?	?	?	Proprietary	?	?
TurboVNC	RFB(VNC)	The VirtualGL Project	2004	2013, 1.2	GPL	Yes	Yes
Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop	RDP	Ulteo	2009	2014, 4.0.1	GPL	Yes	Yes
UltraVNC	RFB(VNC)	?	2005	2014, 1.2.0.5	GPL	Yes	Yes
Vinagre	RFB(VNC), SPICE, RDP, SSH	The GNOME Project	2007	2013, 3.10^[20]	GPL	Yes	Yes
WebEx	Proprietary	?	?	?	Proprietary	?	?
XDMCP	X11	Keith Packard	1989	1.1	MIT	Yes	Yes
xpra	Bencode-based	Nathaniel Smith	2008	5/2014, 13^[21]	GPL	Yes	Yes
X11vnc	RFB(VNC)	Karl Runge	2001	2011, 0.9.13^[22]	GPL	Yes	Yes
X2Go	NX	Oleksandr Shneyder and Heinz-M. Graesing^[23]	2006^[23]	Client: 4.0.3.2; Server: 4.0.1.19	GPL	Yes	Yes
x2vnc	X11	?	1998	2006	BSD	Yes	Yes
x2x	X11	?	1996	2003	BSD	Yes	Yes
Software	Protocol	Creator	First public release date	Latest stable version	License	Free for personal use	Free for commercial use

Operating system support

Software	Server: Microsoft Windows	Client: Microsoft Windows	Server: Mac OS X	Client: Mac OS X	Server: Linux	Client: Linux	Server: FreeBSD	Client: FreeBSD	Server: OS/2 eComStation	Client: OS/2 eComStation	Client: Java	Client: Android	Client: iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad)	Client: Blackberry	Server: Windows Mobile	Client: Windows Mobile
2X Software	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
AetherPal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
AppliDis	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Apple Remote Desktop	No	No	Yes	Yes		No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
BeAnywhere Support Express	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Bomgar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cendio ThinLinc	Yes^[24]	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes^[25]	Yes^[26]	No	No	No
Citrix XenApp	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
EchoVNC	?	Yes	?	No	?	Yes	?	No	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Ericom Blaze	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Fog Creek Copilot	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	No	?	?	No	No	No	No	?	No
FreeRDP	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
GO-Global	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	Yes
GoToMyPC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
FreeNX	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
HOB HOBLink JWT	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	No
HOB HOB MacGate	No	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	No	No	No	?	No
I'm InTouch	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
iTALC	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
IBM Director Remote Control	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
KRDC	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
LogMeIn Pro	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes^[1]
Mac HelpMate	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	No	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
Mikogo	?	Yes	?	Yes^[27]	?	No	?	No	?	?	No	Yes ^[28]	No	No	?	No
Netsupport Manager	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	Yes
Netviewer	?	Yes	?	No	?	No	?	No	?	?	No	Yes ^[29]	?	No	?	No
NoMachine NX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Expected	Expected	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Expected
Open Text Exceed onDemand	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software/Sun VDI	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
Proxy Networks	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
QVD	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
rdesktop	Yes^[30]	Yes[31]	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
RealVNC Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	No
RealVNC Personal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	No
RealVNC Enterprise	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	No
Radmin	Yes	Yes^[32]	?	No	?	Yes^[33]	?	No	?	?	No	No	No	No	?	No
Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services	Yes	Yes	No	Yes^[34]	Yes^[35]	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	No	?	Yes^[36]
Remote Graphics Software (RGS)	Yes^[37]	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	?	Yes
Remote Utilities	Yes	Yes	?	No	?	Yes^[33]	?	No	?	?	No	Yes^[38]	Yes^[38]	No	?	No
RHUB TurboMeeting	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
ScreenConnect	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
SSH with X forwarding	?	Yes^[39]	?	Yes^[39]	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	No	Yes^[40]	Yes	No	?	No
Splashtop Remote	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sun Ray/SRSS	?	Yes	?	No	?	Yes	?	No	?	?	Yes	No	No	No	?	No
Sub7	?	No	?	No	?	No	?	No	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
Symantec pcAnywhere	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	Yes
TeamViewer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	No	?	?	Yes	Yes^[41]^[42]	Yes^[43]	Yes	?	No
Techinline	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
TightVNC	Yes	Yes	No	Yes^[44]	Yes^[45]	Yes^[45]	Yes^[45]	Yes^[45]	No	No	Yes	Yes	?	No	?	No
TigerVNC	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes ^[46]	Yes ^[46]	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Timbuktu	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	No	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
TurboVNC	No	Yes	No	Yes^[47]	Yes	Yes	Yes^[46]	Yes^[46]	No	No	Yes^[48]	No	No	No	No	No
Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
UltraVNC	Yes	Yes^[49]	?	No	?	No	?	No	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
WebEx	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	?	?	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	No
WebTrain	?	Yes	?	No	?	No	?	No	?	?	N/A	?	?	No	?	No
XDMCP	?	No	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
xpra	Yes^[50]	Yes^[51]	No^[51]^[52]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	No	No	No	No	?	No
X11vnc	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No
X2Go	No	Yes^[53]	No	Yes^[53]	Yes^[54]	Yes^[53]	No	Yes^[53]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
x2vnc	?	Yes^[55]	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
x2x	?	Yes^[55]	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	?	No	?	No
Software	Server: Microsoft Windows	Client: Microsoft Windows	Server: Mac OS X	Client: Mac OS X	Server: Linux	Client: Linux	Server: FreeBSD	Client: FreeBSD	Server: OS/2 eComStation	Client: OS/2 eComStation	Client: Java	Client: Android	Client: iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad)	Client: Blackberry	Server: Windows Mobile	Client: Windows Mobile

Features

Software	Client/server/listening	Built-in encryption	File transfer	Audio support	Multiple sessions	Seamless window	Remote assistance	Access permission request	NAT passthrough	IPv6 support	Maximum simultaneous connections	Video	3D	Drag and drop file transfer	Multiple passwords for remote access
2X Software	Client & server	SSL, TLS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Concurrent user	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
AetherPal	Client & server	SSL, TLS	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Anyplace Control	Client & server	RC4, RSA	Yes	Expected	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
AnywhereTS	Client only	SSL, TLS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
AppliDis	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	No	No
Apple Remote Desktop	Client & server	AES-128	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Apple Screen Sharing (iChat)	Client & server	AES-256	No	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
BeAnywhere Support Express	Client & server	SSL, TLS, AES	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Unlimited	No	No	?	?
Bomgar	Client, server, & listening	SSL, AES-256	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Cendio ThinLinc	Client & server	SSH	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes^[56]	Unlimited	Yes	VirtualGL	?	?
Chicken of the VNC	Client only	No	No	No	No	No	?	?	?	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Chrome Remote Desktop	Client & server	SSL, TLS	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	?	?	?
Citrix XenApp	Client & server	SSL, TLS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	?	?
Crossloop	Client & server	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
EchoVNC	Client & server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1,000+ per server	Yes	Yes	?	?
Ericom Blaze	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	NA	No	Yes	200+ per server	Yes	Yes	?	?
Fog Creek Copilot	Client & server	SSL	Yes	No	No	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
FreeRDP	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	?	?
GO-Global	Client & server	SSL, DES-56, DES-168, AES-256	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
GoToMyPC	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
FreeNX	Client & server	AES	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
HOB HOBLink JWT	Client only	SSL, TLS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
HOB HOB MacGate	Server only	SSL, TLS	No	No	No	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
I'm InTouch	Web Client & Win server	SSL, AES-256	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
iTALC	Client & server	SSH	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	No	Unlimited	Yes	No	No	Token-Based
IBM Director Remote Control	Client & server	AES, Triple DES, DES	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
KRDC	Client only	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
LogMeIn	Pro only	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Mac HelpMate	Client & Server	AES-128	No	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Mikogo	Client & server^[57]	AES-256	Yes	No	Yes^[58]	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
NetSupport Manager	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	?	?
Netviewer	Client & Server	AES-128	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes^[59]	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
NoMachine NX	Client & server	SSL, SSH	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	VirtualGL	Yes	Yes
Open Text Exceed onDemand	Client & server	SSL, SSH	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Oracle Secure Global Desktop Software/Sun VDI	Client & server	SSL, TLS (AES-256)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Proxy Networks	Client, server, & gateway	SSL, AES-256	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, client	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
QVD Free	Client&Server	SSL	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Expected	No	Yes	No
rdesktop	Client only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes^[60]	?	?	?	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
RealVNC Free	Client, server, & listening	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes, using listening mode	No	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
RealVNC Personal	Client, server, & listening	AES-128	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes, using listening mode	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
RealVNC Enterprise	Client, server, & listening	AES-256	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes, using listening mode	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
Radmin	Client & server	AES-256	Yes	Yes^[61]	Yes	Yes	Yes^[62]	Yes^[63]	No	?	?	?	?	?	?
Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes^[64]	Yes^[65]	Yes^[66]	Yes^[67]	Yes	Yes	Single connection	Yes	Yes	?	?
Remote Graphics Software	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	No	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	?	?
Remote Utilities	Client, server, & listening	AES-256	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	Yes^[68]	?
RHUB TurboMeeting	Client, server, & listening	SSL	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	Unlimited	Yes	No	?	?
ScreenConnect	Client & server	AES-256	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Yes	?
SSH with X forwarding	Client & server	Yes	No	No	Yes^[69]	Yes	?	?	Yes, client	Yes^[70]	Unlimited	Yes	Yes, server side^[71]	No	No
Splashtop Remote	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	Yes	?	?
Sun Ray/SRSS	Client, server, & hardware	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Sub7	Client & server	No	No	No	No	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Symantec pcAnywhere	Client & server	AES-256	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	No	?	?	?	?	?
TeamViewer	Client & server	AES-256	Yes	Yes^[72]	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes, client & server	Yes	2	Yes	?	Yes	?
Techinline	Client & server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	1 or unlimited	?	?	?	?
TightVNC	Client, server, & listening	SSH (Unix client only)	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes, using Listening mode	?	Unlimited	?	?	No	?
TigerVNC	Client, server, & listening	SSL, TLS	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes, using Listening mode	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	?	?	?
Timbuktu	Client & server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
TurboVNC	Client, server, & listening	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes, using Listening mode	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	VirtualGL	?	?
Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Unlimited	Yes	No	No	No
UltraVNC	Client & server	With plugin	Yes	No	Yes	Partial^[73]	?	?	?	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
WebEx	Client & server	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	?	?	?
WebTrain	Client & server	SSL, TLS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
XDMCP	Client & server	No	No	No	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
xpra	Client & server	SSH	No	Yes^[74]	Yes	Yes^[75]	No	No	No	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
X11vnc	Server only	SSL	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
X2Go	Client & server	SSH	Yes	Yes^[76]	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
x2vnc	Client only	No	No	No	Yes	N/A	?	?	?	?	Unlimited	?	?	?	?
x2x	Client only	Yes^[77]	No	No	Yes	N/A	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Software	Client/server/listening	Built-in encryption	File transfer	Audio support	Multiple sessions	Seamless window	Remote assistance	Access permission request	NAT passthrough	IPv6 support	Maximum simultaneous connections	Video	3D	Drag and drop file transfer	Multiple passwords for remote access

Terminology

In the table above, the following terminology is intended to be used to describe some important features:

Listening mode: where a server connects to a viewer. The server site does not have to configure its firewall/NAT to allow access on port 5900 (or 5800); the onus is on the viewer, which is useful if the server site has no computer expertise, while the viewer user would be expected to be more knowledgeable.
Audio Support: the remote control software transfers audio signals across the network and plays the audio through the speakers attached to the local computer. For example, music playback software normally sends audio signals to the locally attached speakers, via some sound controller hardware. If the remote control software package supports audio transfer, the playback software can run on the remote computer, while the music can be heard from the local computer, as though the software were running locally.
Built-in Encryption: the software has at least one method of encrypting the data between the local and remote computers, and the encryption mechanism is built into the remote control software.
File Transfer: the software allows the user to transfer files between the local and remote computers, from within the client software's user interface.
Seamless Window: the software allows an application to be run on the server, and just the application window to be shown on the clients desktop. Normally the remote user interface chrome is also removed, giving the impression that the application is running on the client machines.
Remote Assistance: remote and local users are able to view the same screen at the same time, so remote user can assist a local user.
Access Permission Request: local user should approve a remote access session start.
NAT Passthrough: the ability to connect to the server behind a NAT without configuring the router's port forwarding rules. It offers an advantage when you can't reconfigure the router/firewall (for example in case it is on the Internet service provider's side), but is a serious security risk (unless the traffic is end-to-end encrypted), because all the traffic will pass through some proxy server which in most cases is owned by the remote access application's developers.

Notes

↑ "2X RDP Client for Windows Changelog". 2X Software.
↑ 2.0 2.1 Free use limited to 3 concurrent users
↑ Apple Remote Desktop on the Mac App Store
↑ 4.0 4.1 Free use limited to 1 concurrent user & 5 sessions per day
↑ 5.0 5.1 Free use limited to 10 concurrent users
↑ http://fogcreekstatus.typepad.com
↑ Since 2010 KRDC has been integrated with the KDE desktop manager.
↑ 8.0 8.1 Free use limited to 30 monitored users
↑ Free for personal use, not free software (See: Gratis versus Libre)
↑ https://www.realvnc.com/download/open/
↑ "Free Version"
↑ Admin-mode is available for servers & workstations without additional licensing, in TS-mode a separate license is required.
↑ Receiver is a free download www.hp.com/go/rgs. Sender is free on HP Z Workstations.
↑ Receiver is a free download at www.hp.com/go/rgs. Sender is free on HP Z Workstations.
↑ Limited to 10 Managed Devices
↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "TeamViewer Downloads". TeamViewer GmbH.
↑ "iTunes Preview TeamViewer: Remote Control". Apple Inc.
↑ "TeamViewer". Microsoft.
↑ "TeamViewer". Blackberry.
↑ "Vinagre releases". Retrieved 2013-10-27.
↑ xpra source code archive
↑ x11vnc download site
↑ 23.0 23.1 "about:start". Retrieved 2015-03-08.
↑ Requires a separate Windows Server with Remote Desktop Services
↑ HTML5 Client with Android support
↑ HTML5 Client with iOS support
↑ Some features are Windows-only
↑ Available to view a remote desktop from your Android device (See:Mobile Download)
↑ "Netviewer Meet Mobile Netviewer AG)". play.google.com. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
↑ run XDMCP under Cygwin on Win32 host to service rdesktop clients
↑ "rdesktop 1.6 windows port". 40in.2g0.ru. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
↑ Since version 3.2 (released 2008-04-25) supports MS Windows Vista (SP1), XP, 200X (32 and 64-bit editions).
↑ 33.0 33.1 Runs under Wine.
↑ There exists an "official" client for MacOS, as well as several independent implementations. See for example the "CoRD" entry above, an alternative open source RDP client for Mac, http://cord.sourceforge.net/
↑ XDPxrdp: An open source remote desktop protocol(rdp) server, http://xrdp.sourceforge.net/
↑ Windows Mobile Remote Desktop is an optional part of WM 6.1 (See: Mobile Views Blog and PdaPhoneHome)
↑ Hewlett Packard. Data sheet: HP Remote Graphics Software version 7. <http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA0-8844ENW.pdf> page 3 (2014)
↑ 38.0 38.1 http://www.remoteutilities.com/download/mobile.php
↑ 39.0 39.1 To use Windows or Mac OS X as a client, an X server needs to be installed and running. Windows or Mac OS X can be used as a server, if they have an SSH server running; but only X11 applications (not native GUI applications) can display their GUI on the client; such apps probably have to be run within Cygwin for Windows. only for X apps
↑ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.darkside.XServer&hl=en
↑ "TeamViewer client app for mobile devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android)". Teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
↑ "TeamViewer server on Samsung Galaxy ROM installed Android 2.3.3 (not 4.2 aka JellyBean despite claims of 2.3.3 upwards)". Teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
↑ "TeamViewer app for mobile devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android)". Teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
↑ as X application, 1.3.x version only "MacPorts tightvnc Portfile". Retrieved 2009-06-18.
↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 1.3.x version only "Download TightVNC (Previous Versions)". Retrieved 2013-08-24.
↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 Requires installation from source
↑ Bundled Java application that uses libjpeg-turbo native library for accelerated JPEG decompression. Refer to the User's Guide for TurboVNC
↑ Can use libjpeg-turbo through JNI to accelerate JPEG decompression. Refer to the User's Guide for TurboVNC
↑ UltraVNC v1.0.4 RC4 (BETA) claims "Greatly improved Vista support" as of October 1, 2007 (See UltraVnc Vista Support.)
↑ requires Cygwin and installation from source
↑ 51.0 51.1 Apple Mac OS X support is not currently in the mainline repository, but is available in the source snapshots.
↑ only X11 applications could be exported, not native Mac OS X applications. Requires source code modifications as the default source turns off the feature.
↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 http://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:installation:x2goclient
↑ http://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:installation:x2goserver
↑ 55.0 55.1 Third-party software required; Microsoft Windows does not include support for the X Window System.
↑ Only when host names are used
↑ Connections are centrally negotiated via Mikogo server
↑ Up to ten participants
↑ 8 simultaneously
↑ With the addition of SeamlessRDP
↑ By default settings for audio transfer is not turned on but it can be easily done with built-in Voice Chat options.See how to set up Radmin for sound transmission
↑ Assistance mode only. User is always able to view your activities.
↑ Depending on parameters. Requests can be turned off on server side.
↑ Remote Desktop Services are single user only. Local screen is locked when remote user connects and local user can not view remote user's activities. Remote user is disconnected when local user logs in. Terminal Services use multiple independent desktops. Local user views its own desktop and can not view remote users' activities. Local user is not notified when remote user connects.
↑ Provided the server is running Windows 2008 or later.
↑ Assistance mode uses a separate client named MSRA (Microsoft Remote Assistance). Remote user must approve your access in assistance mode.
↑ Access approval is always requested in assistance mode and never in remote access mode.
↑ http://www.remoteutilities.com/product/features/drag-n-drop.php
↑ No sessions at all, just individual windows. However you can use Xnest if you want.
↑ OpenSSH supports IPv6 and IPv6 forwarding, see it's manual page
↑ http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=138064
↑ Teamviewer Support says they do not support remote audio but do have audio/video conference
↑ UltraVNC allows a single Window to be shown, however it is still doing full screen polling and not capturing the application details. This can cause other windows to overlap and popup windows to "disappear".
↑ Via PulseAudio which is very network intensive
↑ Only for X sessions
↑ Via PulseAudio, see "doc:newtox2go". Retrieved 2015-03-08.
↑ Can be used over SSH session

Comparison of remote desktop software

Remote desktop software

Operating system support

Features

Terminology

See also

Notes