Alternatives to xrdp
Open-source RDP server that gives standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical login to Linux machines. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
xrdp
Open-source RDP server that gives standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical login to Linux machines.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as xrdp.
GNOME Remote Desktop
A remote desktop server for GNOME that lets you connect to your Linux machine over RDP or VNC.
GNOME Remote Desktop serves RDP and VNC from a GPL-licensed server built into GNOME, but only works on Linux systems running the GNOME desktop.
X2Go
Open-source remote desktop system for reaching Linux desktops and applications from Windows, macOS and Linux clients.
X2Go is open source and serves Linux desktops or single applications over slow links, but needs its own client instead of the built-in Windows Remote Desktop client.
ThinLinc
Linux remote desktop server for hosting desktops and applications centrally, with a free usage tier.
ThinLinc is a proprietary Linux desktop server with native and web clients and a free tier, aimed at organisations hosting desktops for many users.
TigerVNC
A fast, cross-platform VNC client and server built for real work, including 3D and video over the wire.
TigerVNC provides a GPL-2.0 VNC server with TLS encryption, using VNC viewers instead of RDP clients and lacking audio and drive redirection.
NoMachine
High-performance remote desktop with audio, video and file transfer.
NoMachine is closed-source paid software with its own clients across desktop and mobile, offering smooth video, audio, printing and file transfer.
TurboVNC
A VNC server and viewer tuned for image-heavy work, so 3D applications and video stay usable over a network.
TurboVNC is a GPL-2.0 VNC server and viewer tuned for 3D workloads with VirtualGL, requiring a VNC client and SSH tunnels or TLS for encryption.
Also worth comparing
These listings name xrdp as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Krfb
A KDE desktop sharing server that lets another person view or control your session through VNC.
xrdp is an open-source RDP server giving standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical Linux login, rather than sharing your existing session over VNC.
wayvnc
A VNC server that shares a running wlroots-based Wayland session such as Sway.
xrdp is an RDP server giving standard Remote Desktop clients a graphical Linux login, depending on the xorgxrdp module rather than sharing a wlroots session.
Xpra
Open-source tool for persistent remote applications on X11 and screen sharing on Linux, macOS and Windows.
xrdp is an open-source Linux RDP server usable from the standard Windows Remote Desktop client, providing full graphical logins rather than individual remote windows.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Windows App
Microsoft's remote desktop client for connecting to Windows PCs, Remote Desktop Services and cloud desktops.
FreeRDP
A free implementation of Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol, and the engine inside most Linux RDP clients.
Remmina
The standard Linux remote desktop client, with plugins for RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE and X2Go behind one connection list.
Apache Guacamole
A self-hosted remote desktop gateway that gives browser access to machines over VNC, RDP and SSH.
KRDC
KDE's remote desktop client for viewing and controlling other computers over VNC and RDP.
