TeamViewer vs Remmina
Both are free remote desktop tools. Here is how they actually differ.
TeamViewer and Remmina at a glance
| Feature | TeamViewer | Remmina |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | TeamViewer SE | Remmina project |
| Licence | Free tier | Open Source |
| Cost | Free tier | Free |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | Yes | No |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
TeamViewer: what it's good at
TeamViewer connects to remote machines through firewalls and NAT with no network configuration, supporting remote control, file transfer and meetings. Free for personal, non-commercial use.
- Works through firewalls and NAT
- Cross-platform remote control
- File transfer and remote printing
- Free for personal use
Remmina: what it's good at
Remmina connects to remote machines over RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE from a single application, with saved connection profiles. It is the default remote desktop client on most Linux distributions.
- RDP, VNC, SSH and SPICE in one client
- Saved connection profiles
- Tabbed multi-session interface
- Free and open source
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 Linux. Only TeamViewer supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, Remmina publishes its source code and TeamViewer 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We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either.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 TeamViewer better than Remmina?
Neither is universally better. TeamViewer the best-known remote support and access tool, while Remmina the standard multi-protocol remote desktop client for Linux. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
TeamViewer is free tier and Remmina is open source. 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.