Chrome Remote Desktop vs Remmina

Chrome Remote Desktop: what it's good at

Chrome Remote Desktop provides straightforward remote access with nothing to configure beyond signing into a Google account. It is completely free with no commercial-use restrictions, which sets it apart from most competitors.

• Completely free, including commercial use
• Works through the browser
• No firewall configuration needed
• Cross-platform including mobile

Remmina: what it's good at

Remmina connects to remote machines over RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE from a single application, with saved connection profiles. It is the default remote desktop client on most Linux distributions.

• RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE in one client
• Saved connection profiles
• Tabbed multi-session interface
• Free and open source

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Linux. Only Chrome Remote Desktop supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, Remmina publishes its source code and Chrome Remote Desktop does not.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chrome Remote Desktop better than Remmina?

Neither is universally better. Chrome Remote Desktop free remote access through your browser and Google account, while Remmina the standard multi-protocol remote desktop client for Linux. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

Chrome Remote Desktop is free and Remmina is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.