5 open-source remote desktop tools prove that nobody should use TeamViewer anymore

Let’s be honest—there’s no reason to keep using TeamViewer for remote access anymore. Once the go-to choice for many, it’s now showing its age as newer open-source alternatives have caught up quickly. These modern tools offer better performance, more flexibility, and greater customization. Plus, you won’t have to worry about expensive subscriptions or strict licensing agreements.
While TeamViewer is user-friendly for people who aren’t very tech-savvy, it has become a favorite among scammers too.
For those who are more tech-savvy, it makes sense to look toward open and transparent options that are easy to set up and give you more control over your data. Let me explain why open-source remote desktop tools are more than enough, so you can stop relying on TeamViewer.

RustDesk

Best self-hosted remote desktop tool for daily use

Rust Desk has quickly become a community favorite and for good reason. It’s a go-to option for quick, fuss-free support and troubleshooting. It’s an appropriate TeamViewer alternative that's open source and straightforward. The default RustDesk client is a native, lightweight, and spiffy client, while browser-based access is limited to third-party web wrappers. Install the client and get started without any tedious sign-ups. After that, you need the displayed ID and One-Time Password to have complete control over your data and infrastructure (if you self-host).

Indeed, you can self-host RustDesk’s remote desktop server to control your own relay instead of using its public relay server. You can make the most of unattended and persistent access when offering support or when checking your own machine remotely. Built-in file-transfer and basic chat capabilities make it appear to be a collaborative tool. RustDesk shines without any bloat or “commercial use detected” naggings.

RustDesk

Remotely

Suitable for script-based automation and integrations

Remotely can be your top choice in your toolbox if you manage multiple servers or a growing home lab. Unlike a typical remote desktop app, it offers you full control and management of your infrastructure. With Remotely, you can configure tasks using scripts, execute commands, and automate workflows directly from its web UI. It’s like a centralized control panel to keep track of your machines, minus the licensing headaches. And since you can self-host it, you fully control your scripts, automation, and data.

Remotely shines with its flexibility to integrate community plugins and scripts. However, it requires extra effort, but the payoff is huge if you like tinkering and tweaking your setup. You can set up monitoring dashboards, trigger API calls, and create automations using webhooks. This tool is a worthy choice for remote automation, container management, and orchestrating deployments via remote desktop.

Remotely

MeshCentral

Managing several devices with enterprise-grade features

If you are managing a large fleet of machines for a company, school/college, or multiple home labs, MeshCentral is an alternative to TeamViewer. You can deploy it on your own server and gain complete control with enterprise-grade tools, including access control lists, two-factor authentication, detailed logging, remote shells, and secure file transfers. You don’t need to add any third-party apps or cloud.

MeshCentral shines in its scalability. In fact, you can even set up admins in IT teams to help you support numerous machines using scripts, remote KVM, and even firmware updates or operating system deployments. That means it requires considerable effort to set up and maintain, unlike other “set and forget” options. Built for serious users, its user interface might seem highly technical, but that’s a small price to pay for full control.

MeshCentral

Apache Guacamole

Centralized, clientless gateway for a variety of environments

Imagine not having to install any clients and just self-hosting a remote desktop access gateway? Apache Guacamole offers exactly that. It’s a self-hosted gateway that you can deploy on your server and connect to your systems through a browser. No other client installation needed. It supports the Remote Desktop Protocol, VNC, and SSH, making it suitable for mixed environments. For better security, you can add an authentication layer on top using SSO or multi-factor authentication to provide controlled, secure access. Of course, configuring it all from shell access to file transfers will require you to roll up your sleeves.

When juggling various machines with multiple operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, Apache Guacamole can be a good stepping stone. Its clientless approach serves as a reliable bridge, letting you scale your home lab to an enterprise-grade environment while maintaining flexibility to tinker with any installations.

Apache Guacamole

DWService

Use your browser for ad-hoc remote access

Don’t want to install a native client? Try DWService. It’s an entirely web-based remote desktop access solution and is quite suitable for quick, one-off support sessions. You’ll need to install DWService’s agent on the remote machine, and you’re good to go. The remote sessions are encrypted by default. And after connecting, you can browse the remote computer, transfer files, or even open a shell from the web dashboard.

That said, it has a caveat. While the client-side agent is open source and easily inspectable, there’s no way to audit the server-side code. That means you can’t audit or peek into the backend, so keep that in mind if transparency is paramount to you. Its fast, no-fuss file transfer capability makes it a convenient remote access tool with minimal setup.

DWService

It's time to give open-source tools a try, especially those that you can self-host. These open-source remote desktop solutions have evolved significantly, providing quick, safe, and fully controllable access to your data. Whether you need basic remote support or advanced features for managing several systems, these tools might be the perfect fit for your team's needs and can help you move on from the issues you've had with TeamViewer.