Alternatives to Krfb

A KDE desktop sharing server that lets another person view or control your session through VNC. 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 Krfb.

  • GNOME Remote Desktop

    A remote desktop server for GNOME that lets you connect to your Linux machine over RDP or VNC.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    GNOME Remote Desktop shares a GNOME session to RDP or VNC clients, trading the KDE Plasma fit for the GNOME desktop.

  • wayvnc

    A VNC server that shares a running wlroots-based Wayland session such as Sway.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    wayvnc shares a running wlroots Wayland session such as Sway to any VNC client, configured from the command line and not supporting KDE.

  • TigerVNC

    A fast, cross-platform VNC client and server built for real work, including 3D and video over the wire.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    TigerVNC provides a VNC server and viewer for Windows, macOS and Linux with TLS encryption, rather than being tied to the KDE desktop.

  • xrdp

    Open-source RDP server that gives standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical login to Linux machines.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    xrdp is an open-source RDP server giving standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical Linux login, rather than sharing your existing session over VNC.

  • TightVNC

    Lightweight VNC server and viewer for local network remote control.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    TightVNC is a lightweight GPL-2.0 VNC server and viewer for Windows and Linux on a local network, with weak authentication needing an SSH tunnel.

  • KasmVNC

    Access a Linux desktop through a web browser.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    KasmVNC gives access to a Linux desktop through a web browser, but does not support traditional VNC viewer clients.

  • X2Go

    Open-source remote desktop system for reaching Linux desktops and applications from Windows, macOS and Linux clients.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    X2Go reaches Linux desktops from Windows, macOS and Linux clients over slow links with its own protocol instead of VNC.

  • RustDesk

    An open-source remote desktop tool you can point at your own relay server instead of somebody else’s cloud.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidSelf-hosted

    RustDesk is an AGPL-3.0 cross-platform remote desktop with its own client and optional self-hosted relay, rather than a standard VNC server.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.