RustDesk vs Chrome Remote Desktop

RustDesk: what it's good at

RustDesk is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk that works out of the box but can also be pointed at your own relay server, keeping remote sessions entirely within infrastructure you control.

• Fully open source
• Self-hostable relay server
• No account required to start
• Cross-platform

Chrome Remote Desktop: what it's good at

Chrome Remote Desktop provides straightforward remote access with nothing to configure beyond signing into a Google account. It is completely free with no commercial-use restrictions, which sets it apart from most competitors.

• Completely free, including commercial use
• Works through the browser
• No firewall configuration needed
• Cross-platform including mobile

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, RustDesk publishes its source code and Chrome Remote Desktop does not.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is RustDesk better than Chrome Remote Desktop?

Neither is universally better. RustDesk open-source remote desktop you can fully self-host, while Chrome Remote Desktop free remote access through your browser and Google account. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

RustDesk is open source and Chrome Remote Desktop is free. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.