Alternatives to Apache Guacamole

A self-hosted remote desktop gateway that gives browser access to machines over VNC, RDP and SSH. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Apache Guacamole.

  • Termix

    Self-hosted console for SSH sessions, remote desktops and file transfer.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Termix is also a self-hosted browser console offering SSH, remote desktop and file transfer from one tab, but it is a young project with no license named.

  • MeshCentral

    A self-hosted remote monitoring and management server with web-based remote desktop, terminal and file transfer for every machine you run an agent on.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    MeshCentral is a self-hosted Apache-2.0 server with browser remote desktop, terminal and file management, but it relies on agents installed on each machine instead of standard VNC or RDP.

  • KasmVNC

    Access a Linux desktop through a web browser.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    KasmVNC gives browser access to a Linux desktop under GPL-2.0, but it covers only that one case rather than gatewaying VNC, RDP and SSH to many machines.

  • Chrome Remote Desktop

    Google's free remote desktop service for reaching and controlling your computers from a web browser.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Chrome Remote Desktop also works from a web browser but is a free hosted Google service, so there is no server to maintain and connections run through Google.

  • noVNC

    An open-source VNC client that runs in a web browser using HTML5 WebSockets and Canvas.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    noVNC provides browser access to VNC desktops only, with no RDP or SSH, and is a client library you can embed rather than a full gateway.

  • Warpgate

    Centralize access to internal services through a bastion host.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWeb

    Warpgate is an Apache-licensed self-hosted bastion host with access controls and recorded sessions, focused on centralizing access to internal services rather than rendering desktops.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Apache Guacamole as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Devolutions Gateway

    Relay remote-access connections through a dedicated gateway.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Apache Guacamole is a self-hosted gateway that serves VNC, RDP and SSH sessions directly in a web browser, so users need no client software, though releases are infrequent.

  • Nexterm

    A self-hosted server management tool for SSH, VNC and RDP connections in the browser.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Apache Guacamole is an Apache-2.0 self-hosted gateway giving browser access over VNC, RDP and SSH, with a longer history but infrequent releases.

  • Pomerium

    An identity-aware reverse proxy that gives secure access to internal applications without a VPN.

    FreemiumOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    Apache Guacamole is an Apache-licensed self-hosted gateway giving browser access over VNC, RDP and SSH, focused on remote desktops rather than identity-aware web application access.

  • Remote Desktop Connection Manager

    A Sysinternals tool for organising and opening many Windows Remote Desktop connections from one window.

    FreeProprietaryWindows

    Apache Guacamole is a self-hosted Apache-2.0 gateway giving browser access to RDP, VNC and SSH machines without a client install.

  • Selkies

    Open-source WebRTC platform for streaming a Linux desktop to a web browser with low latency.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    Apache Guacamole is a self-hosted Apache-licensed gateway that reaches machines over VNC, RDP and SSH from a browser, instead of streaming a Linux desktop over WebRTC with hardware acceleration.

  • TSplus

    Remote access software for publishing Windows desktops and applications to users through a web portal.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsWeb

    Apache Guacamole is a free Apache-licensed self-hosted gateway giving browser access over RDP, VNC and SSH, but it does not publish individual Windows applications itself.

  • Windows App

    Microsoft's remote desktop client for connecting to Windows PCs, Remote Desktop Services and cloud desktops.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    Apache Guacamole gives browser-based RDP, VNC and SSH access through a self-hosted Apache-2.0 gateway, which you must set up and maintain yourself.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.