What are the best open source alternatives to TeamViewer?

The top open source alternatives to TeamViewer include RustDesk and Defguard. These tools offer similar functionality while being free and open source.

Why choose an open source alternative to TeamViewer?

Open source alternatives provide transparency, community support, no vendor lock-in, and often cost savings. You can customize the software to your needs and have full control over your data.

Are these TeamViewer alternatives really free?

Yes, all listed alternatives are open source and free to use. You may need to pay for hosting if you self-host, but the software itself is free.

2 Best Open Source TeamViewer Alternatives in 2026

Cross-platform remote desktop software that runs on your own servers, giving you full data control as a direct alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk.

RustDesk is a remote desktop tool built for teams and individuals who don't want their remote access traffic passing through someone else's infrastructure. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, and it's designed as a direct replacement for tools like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, and Splashtop.

The core appeal is self-hosting. Instead of relying on a SaaS provider's servers, you run the relay and signaling infrastructure yourself. Your data stays on your own machines, which matters for regulatory compliance, security-conscious IT teams, and organizations in industries where data residency isn't optional.

Key capabilities include:

File transfer, clipboard sync, and international keyboard support built into the client
Web client you can host on your own domain for browser-based access without installing anything
Custom branding so you can ship a white-labeled client with your own name, icon, and logo
Over 90 configuration options for granular control over behavior and policies
User-level ACL, device groups, and user groups for access management in the Pro version
50+ language support across the client

Deployment runs through Docker, and the setup is intentionally straightforward. The self-hosted server handles routing without exposing your sessions to third-party infrastructure.

RustDesk has 30 million+ client downloads and is actively used by IT support teams, sysadmins, and remote workers. With 113K+ GitHub stars, it's one of the most widely adopted projects in its category. The community spans 50,000+ members across forums and chat, and the codebase is maintained actively with regular releases.

For IT teams already running tools like JumpServer for privileged access management, RustDesk fits naturally alongside as the remote desktop layer they actually control.

defguard is a comprehensive remote access solution that brings true zero-trust security to WireGuard VPN. The platform stands out with its mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for every VPN connection, ensuring maximum security.

Key features include:

Built-in OpenID Connect SSO with identity provider synchronization
Remote self-service onboarding and management
High availability with active-active gateways
YubiKey hardware key management
Beautiful and functional UI for both admins and users
IPv6 support
Flexible deployment options (packages, docker, Kubernetes, Terraform)

The solution has been thoroughly audited by ISEC security researchers and is trusted by companies like Prusa Research, Hostinger, and others. Being open-source and on-premise, defguard helps protect sensitive data while providing enterprise-grade features without vendor lock-in.