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vs RustDesk
Secure remote desktop software solution, self-hosted
Looking for self hosted remote desktop or a RustDesk alternative? RustDesk is open-source software; Secure Desk is a commercial self-hosted product that runs on an open-source stack you operate. Shipping Access endpoints are Windows only; the operator console is browser-only. End-to-end encryption is required.
Free Starter: self-hosted remote support on a relay you run — 1 operator, 1 concurrent session, 3 enrolled Windows devices. Same end-to-end encryption as paid tiers.
Hub prices: Starter $0 · Team $249/yr · Business $499/yr.
Honest comparison
- RustDesk is open-source software; Secure Desk is a commercial self-hosted product that runs on an open-source stack you operate.
- RustDesk targets multiple client operating systems. Secure Desk ships Windows endpoints only with a browser console — not a multi-OS Access client suite.
- Desk requires E2E (
requireE2e), a 6-digit SAS, ECDH, and AES-256-GCM. The relay forwards ciphertext only. Endpoints dial out; the relay still needs 80/443. - Free Starter: self-hosted remote support on a relay you run — 1 operator, 1 concurrent session, 3 enrolled Windows devices. Same end-to-end encryption as paid tiers. Not unlimited free, and not a drop-in for every RustDesk use case without the Windows-only caveat.
Guardrails (product truth)
- Windows endpoints only; browser console. No macOS/Linux Access as shipping; not “works on any OS.”
- Not a remote Explorer. Sign-in/lock yes; UAC/CAD no.
- E2E required (
requireE2e); 6-digit SAS; ECDH; AES-256-GCM; relay forwards ciphertext only. - Endpoints dial out — no inbound on machines you reach; the relay still needs 80/443.
- Quality presets top out at 15 / 12 / 8 fps, not 60.
- Access is the console session pipe — not RDP/RDS; Control gate (attended defaults off).
- You run a self-hosted relay on infrastructure you control. No hosted multi-tenant Desk cloud.
- Web VDI = same pipe on your relay — not AVD, Citrix, or Omnissa.
- AI = reach agent desktops only; Desk does not run agents.
Who hosts the relay
Secure Desk runs on an open-source stack on a Linux relay you host (you bring the OS and services). Both ends dial out over WSS. There is no vendor cloud in the path — and no hosted multi-tenant Desk cloud either.
Who can see the stream
The two endpoints run an ECDH exchange and derive AES-256-GCM keys. A 6-digit SAS catches a man-in-the-middle. The relay you run only forwards ciphertext. The relay cannot watch.
Self-hosted remote desktop vs open-source multi-OS tools
Choose RustDesk when you need open-source software licensing and multi-OS clients. Choose Secure Desk when you want a commercial free Starter, Windows endpoints, a browser console, required E2E/SAS, and Hub pricing you can plan against (Starter $0 · Team $249/yr · Business $499/yr). Built with open-source components on infrastructure you control.
Self-hosted remote support · vs Apache Guacamole · vs MeshCentral · How it works · Get started · Download · Get a free license.