TeamViewer vs RustDesk
Both are free remote desktop tools. Here is how they actually differ.
TeamViewer and RustDesk at a glance
| Feature | TeamViewer | RustDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | TeamViewer SE | RustDesk |
| Licence | Free tier | Open Source |
| Cost | Free tier | Free |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
TeamViewer: what it's good at
TeamViewer connects to remote machines through firewalls and NAT with no network configuration, supporting remote control, file transfer and meetings. Free for personal, non-commercial use.
- Works through firewalls and NAT
- Cross-platform remote control
- File transfer and remote printing
- Free for personal use
RustDesk: what it's good at
RustDesk is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk that works out of the box but can also be pointed at your own relay server, keeping remote sessions entirely within infrastructure you control.
- Fully open source
- Self-hostable relay server
- No account required to start
- Cross-platform
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 Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, RustDesk publishes its source code and TeamViewer 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We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either.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 TeamViewer better than RustDesk?
Neither is universally better. TeamViewer the best-known remote support and access tool, while RustDesk open-source remote desktop you can fully self-host. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
TeamViewer is free tier and RustDesk 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.