RustDesk as a TeamViewer alternative: all the benefits
Updated 7/20/2026
TeamViewer is popular, but it has two big problems: licenses are expensive and keep rising, and free users are often blocked with a "commercial use suspected" message, even when it is not the case. RustDesk solves both: it is open-source and you run it on your own server.
RustDesk advantages over TeamViewer
- No per-user licenses: you pay for the server once, no matter how many devices or technicians you connect.
- No "commercial use" blocks: there is no algorithm that interrupts your sessions or forces you into a subscription.
- The data stays with you: the relay and rendezvous server is yours, so sessions do not pass through a third party's infrastructure.
- End-to-end encryption and open, auditable source code.
- Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and a web client.
- Unlimited connections and the option to brand the client as your own.
- Low latency: if you host the server close to your users, the speed is excellent.
Who it is for
Ideal for IT companies, support teams, MSPs or anyone who provides remote assistance and is tired of TeamViewer's costs and restrictions.
How to start
Install RustDesk Server with one click from the app catalog. After it starts, the server address and the public key for clients appear in the access file on the server. Configure the clients once and you are done. See also the full comparison RustDesk vs TeamViewer vs AnyDesk.
Put this guide into practice on your own VPS
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