TeamViewer vs RustDesk
RustDesk is a free, self-hostable alternative to TeamViewer, but TeamViewer offers a wider managed platform with vendor-run service and quote-based pricing.
Pick TeamViewer if…
You want a vendor-run platform that adds endpoint management, automation and compliance claims on top of remote control, and are fine requesting a quote. Also pick it if you do not want to run a server.
Pick RustDesk if…
You want a free open-source client you can self-host, or fixed published prices if you need Pro features like SSO and audit logs. Good for people comfortable with Docker.
Price
- Freemium
- Freemium
- Open source
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | Remote support and device management platform, with a free version for personal use only. | Open-source remote desktop app you can self-host, with paid Pro server plans for teams. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | — | $11.88 USD/month, billed annually (Individual Pro plan); open-source version is $0 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Works on | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Try TeamViewer (opens the TeamViewer website in a new tab) | Try RustDesk (opens the RustDesk website in a new tab) |
TeamViewer is a commercial platform for remote support, endpoint management and automation. Its pricing page groups licences as single user, team and enterprise, bills annually with auto-renewal, and shows no prices in text; you request a quote. The only free version it mentions, on the download page, is for personal use only.
RustDesk is an open-source remote desktop app under AGPL-3.0, described on GitHub as a self-hosted alternative to TeamViewer. Its pricing page lists a free open-source tier with community support, and Pro server plans at $11.88/month (20 managed devices), $23.88/month (100 managed devices), and a customised plan with per-user and per-device add-ons. All plans are billed annually.
Both cover Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS clients. TeamViewer adds ChromeOS and Raspberry Pi on its download page and lists extras like an AI assistant, AR workflows and integrations with ServiceNow, Jira and Intune. RustDesk offers a web client you can host yourself and lets you brand the client.
The main trade-off is who runs the service. With TeamViewer the vendor does; with RustDesk you can use its public servers or host your own, which gives control over your data but means you set up and maintain it.
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Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money