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Last checked October 29, 2026

Free alternatives to TeamViewer

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TeamViewer lets you control a computer from far away. The free plan is for personal use only. TeamViewer's own help page says home office is commercial use, even if you only check work email. When TeamViewer suspects commercial use, it can limit the session. This page does not explain how to clear that flag. The tools below are free for work use if you run them yourself.

IndividualsSmall teamsPrice checked

What you pay for TeamViewer

TeamViewer says personal use is free. Work use, including home office, needs a license.

TeamViewer's help page, last modified May 11, 2026, says the free version is for helping family and friends, or for your own devices that are not used for work. It says commercial use includes support for customers, home office, incoming connections in a business setting, server administration, and some nonprofit work when someone is paid. This page does not list a 2026 price change. We did not confirm a new list price on TeamViewer's pricing page.

TeamViewer website·Price page

For individuals and small teams. Its price on file: TeamViewer says personal use is free. Work use, including home office, needs a license. It is in the Remote desktop group.

How to switch

The closest free app on the checklist is RustDesk. Cost and details. Move from TeamViewer to RustDesk.

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Free for work use

These scores are from the checklist on this page. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. We check each app against public docs and price pages.

RustDesk is #1 (97). MeshCentral is #2 (90). Apache Guacamole is #3 (55).

RustDesk

#1 · Closest

8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

You only get part of: a log of who connected.

MeshCentral

#2

8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

You only get part of: phone apps and a code on the screen another person can use.

Apache Guacamole

#3

8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

What you give up: phone apps and a code on the screen another person can use. You only get part of: reach a computer that is not on your network, unattended access, and windows, Mac, and Linux, and 1 more.

Where they differ

  • Reach a computer that is not on your network

    Worth 10 points. RustDesk does all of it. Two computers meet with an ID. Your relay or the public one does the introduction. MeshCentral does all of it. Agents reach the server you run, including from other networks. Apache Guacamole does part of it. The browser reaches Guacamole. Guacamole reaches a host that already allows RDP, VNC, or SSH.

  • Unattended access

    Worth 8 points. RustDesk does all of it. A computer can stay available with a password. MeshCentral does all of it. An installed agent is the normal setup. Apache Guacamole does part of it. If the desktop protocol is already running, a saved connection can reopen it.

  • Windows, Mac, and Linux

    Worth 6 points. RustDesk does all of it. Windows, Mac, and Linux clients. MeshCentral does all of it. Agents for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Apache Guacamole does part of it. It works wherever RDP, VNC, or SSH works. It is not a native agent for each OS.

  • Phone apps

    Worth 4 points. RustDesk does all of it. Android and iOS clients. MeshCentral does part of it. You can open the web console from a phone. It is not a polished remote-control app for phones. Apache Guacamole does none of it. The client is the browser.

  • A code on the screen another person can use

    Worth 8 points. RustDesk does all of it. The other person types the ID on the screen. MeshCentral does part of it. You approve a device on your server. There is no one-time partner ID on a public cloud. Apache Guacamole does none of it. No partner ID. You need a route to the desktop protocol.

  • A log of who connected

    Worth 4 points. RustDesk does part of it. You can log the server you run. It is not a full company audit product. MeshCentral does all of it. Device lists, users, and session history live on your server. Apache Guacamole does part of it. Users and connection history live on the gateway you run.

RustDesk, MeshCentral, and Apache Guacamole do all of these: free for work use and a relay server you run.

How close is it?

How this works

A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. #1 is the closest free app that did not pay us. An ad, when one is sold, is marked and sits after #1. Paying does not change the score. Open source means you can use, change, and share the code. Run it yourself means the app can live on a computer you control.

  1. #1 · ClosestOpen sourceNotes on the review

    RustDesk

    Remote desktop with your own ID server if you want one.

    8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: a log of who connected.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: AGPL-3.0

    WindowsMacLinuxAndroidiOSRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsHow to switchWebsite
  2. #2Open sourceNotes on the review

    MeshCentral

    A remote-control server your computers call home to.

    8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: phone apps and a code on the screen another person can use.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: Apache-2.0

    WindowsMacLinuxWebRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsWebsite
  3. #3Open sourceNotes on the review

    Apache Guacamole

    A browser gateway for RDP, VNC, and SSH.

    8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    What you give up: phone apps and a code on the screen another person can use. You only get part of: reach a computer that is not on your network, unattended access, and windows, Mac, and Linux, and 1 more.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: Apache-2.0

    WebLinuxRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsWebsite

Feature by feature

Full means it does the whole job. Partial means it does some of it. Missing means it does not. Not checked counts as zero. The number under each feature is how much it counts. A bigger number moves the score more.

Scroll sideways to see every app.

Feature comparison. Full, partial, missing, or not checked.
FeatureRustDesk#1 · 978 of 8 checked featuresMeshCentral#2 · 908 of 8 checked featuresApache Guacamole#3 · 558 of 8 checked features
Free for work useCounts for 10FullThe license does not split personal use from work use.FullNo personal-use-only rule in the license.FullApache-2.0 has no personal-use limit.
Reach a computer that is not on your networkCounts for 10FullTwo computers meet with an ID. Your relay or the public one does the introduction.FullAgents reach the server you run, including from other networks.PartialThe browser reaches Guacamole. Guacamole reaches a host that already allows RDP, VNC, or SSH.
Unattended accessCounts for 8FullA computer can stay available with a password.FullAn installed agent is the normal setup.PartialIf the desktop protocol is already running, a saved connection can reopen it.
A relay server you runCounts for 8Fullhbbs and hbbr are the ID and relay services you can run.FullThe server you run is the relay.FullYou host the gateway.
Windows, Mac, and LinuxCounts for 6FullWindows, Mac, and Linux clients.FullAgents for Windows, Mac, and Linux.PartialIt works wherever RDP, VNC, or SSH works. It is not a native agent for each OS.
Phone appsCounts for 4FullAndroid and iOS clients.PartialYou can open the web console from a phone. It is not a polished remote-control app for phones.MissingThe client is the browser.
A code on the screen another person can useCounts for 8FullThe other person types the ID on the screen.PartialYou approve a device on your server. There is no one-time partner ID on a public cloud.MissingNo partner ID. You need a route to the desktop protocol.
A log of who connectedCounts for 4PartialYou can log the server you run. It is not a full company audit product.FullDevice lists, users, and session history live on your server.PartialUsers and connection history live on the gateway you run.

What it costs

RustDesk

Free plan
The app is free for personal and work use. You can run the relay yourself.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
Setup: medium. The OSS server is two small services, hbbs and hbbr. The project says a basic cloud server is enough for the relay.

MeshCentral

Free plan
The server is free for work use. You host it.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
Setup: medium. Node.js on a computer you control. Agents on each PC call back to that server. Open the HTTPS port, not a public ID network.

Apache Guacamole

Free plan
The software is free. You run the gateway and you already need a desktop protocol on the far computer.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
Hard. Two parts, guacamole-server and guacamole-client, plus a database. Put it on a network that can already reach the desktops.

Did you switch?

If you left TeamViewer, tell us if it worked and how long it took. Notes stay private until we approve them. Nothing is shown until at least five are approved.

How did it go?

Closest pair

Move from TeamViewer to RustDesk

Install RustDesk on the two computers, connect with the ID on the screen, and run your own relay if the public one is not enough.

Read how to switch

Related alternatives

Remote desktop alternatives

Switch guides

Free apps in this group

Questions

Is TeamViewer free for work?
No. TeamViewer says the free plan is personal use. Home office counts as commercial use, even for a quick check of work email. A suspected commercial session can be limited. Buy a license if you need TeamViewer for work. The open-source tools on this page do not have that personal-use rule.
What do I open on the firewall for RustDesk?
If you run your own relay, follow the ports in RustDesk's server docs for hbbs and hbbr. A basic cloud server is what those docs describe. You can also use RustDesk's public servers and skip the relay. MeshCentral is different: each computer calls your server, so you open the HTTPS port on that server.
Which tool is for a browser, not an installed remote-desktop app?
Apache Guacamole. People sign in through a browser and reach a computer that already allows RDP, VNC, or SSH. It will not connect two home PCs that have no route between them.