Alternatives to ThinLinc

Linux remote desktop server for hosting desktops and applications centrally, with a free usage tier. 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 ThinLinc.

  • X2Go

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    X2Go is open source and publishes Linux desktops or single applications to Windows, macOS and Linux clients over slow links, but it has no web client.

  • 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 that lets standard Remote Desktop clients log in to Linux machines, replacing ThinLinc's own clients with Microsoft's built-in client.

  • Kasm Workspaces

    Container streaming platform that delivers desktops, applications and isolated browsers to a web browser.

    FreemiumProprietaryWebSelf-hosted

    Kasm Workspaces streams desktops and applications from containers to a browser, adding isolated browsing, but needs a server with container support and remains closed source.

  • Amazon DCV

    A remote display protocol and server for streaming graphics-intensive desktops and applications to client devices.

    FreeProprietarySelf-hosted

    Amazon DCV streams graphics-intensive desktops from EC2 or your data center with bandwidth-adaptive streaming, is free on EC2, and is oriented toward AWS workloads.

  • Selkies

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    Selkies is open source and streams a Linux desktop to a browser over WebRTC with hardware acceleration, but it is browser-only and expects container familiarity.

  • KasmVNC

    Access a Linux desktop through a web browser.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    KasmVNC is a free GPL-2.0 option for reaching a Linux desktop in a browser, without ThinLinc's native clients or multi-user administration documentation.

  • TigerVNC

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    TigerVNC is a free GPL-2.0 VNC server and viewer with TLS encryption, but it lacks a web client and the central multi-user management ThinLinc provides.

  • TurboVNC

    A VNC server and viewer tuned for image-heavy work, so 3D applications and video stay usable over a network.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    TurboVNC is a free GPL-2.0 VNC server and viewer tuned for 3D and image-heavy work, but has no built-in encryption by default and targets workstation use.

Also worth comparing

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

  • TSplus

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

    PaidProprietaryWindowsWeb

    ThinLinc hosts desktops and applications centrally with native and web clients and a free tier, but its server side runs on Linux instead of Windows.

  • Xpra

    Open-source tool for persistent remote applications on X11 and screen sharing on Linux, macOS and Windows.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    ThinLinc hosts Linux desktops and applications centrally with native and web clients, but it is proprietary and aimed at organisations with many users.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.