RustDesk Review: Free, Self-Hostable Remote Desktop

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How we compared

Compared on published specs. For this review, we did not install a RustDesk server or run timed sessions; we deliberately did not add one to our production web server. Everything below comes from RustDesk’s official pricing page and self-hosting documentation, checked on October 31, 2026. We point out where you will need to test things yourself.

RustDesk review: what is RustDesk?

RustDesk is an open-source remote desktop application, written in Rust, that lets you control another computer, transfer files and provide remote support. Its big difference from AnyDesk or TeamViewer is that you can run the connection servers yourself: an ID/rendezvous server (called hbbs) that helps devices find each other, and a relay server (hbbr) that carries traffic when a direct connection is not possible.

By default, RustDesk tries to connect the two devices directly (a technique called hole punching). It only sends traffic through the relay when that fails. With your own server, both roles run on infrastructure you control.

RustDesk pricing

Official list prices checked Oct 31, 2026, before tax. Sources: rustdesk.com.

A Customized Pro plan starts from the Basic price of $23.88 a month and adds $1.20 a month per extra user, $0.12 per extra managed device and $24 per extra concurrent connection. All Pro plans are billed annually. Unusually, RustDesk says Pro licenses do not auto-renew; you get a reminder 14 days before expiry. That is friendlier than the automatic renewals at AnyDesk and TeamViewer.

The Pro web client has its own minimum: RustDesk’s pricing page says it needs a plan where (users x 10) + devices is at least 400.

Free vs Server Pro: what you get

From RustDesk’s pricing page and documentation, checked October 31, 2026.

What self-hosting RustDesk requires

RustDesk is not software as a service: even the paid edition runs on your hardware. According to its documentation, you need:

• A server with a public IP address or a reachable host name. A small Linux VPS is the usual choice; see best VPS hosting and the VPS sizing calculator.
• Docker (the recommended install uses Docker Compose) or the provided packages.
• Open ports: TCP 21114 to 21119 and UDP 21116. The documented minimum is TCP 21115 to 21117 plus UDP 21116. There is also a mode that tunnels over port 443 using WebSockets, for networks that block other ports.
• The server’s public key configured in your clients, so they only connect to your server.
• Updates and backups, which are your responsibility.

How a self-hosted setup works

RustDesk’s documentation describes a short path for a basic self-hosted server. In outline:

1. Prepare a server with a public IP address, preferably a small dedicated VPS or a separate machine in your network.
2. Install the server with the Docker Compose file from the documentation, which starts the ID server (hbbs) and the relay (hbbr).
3. Open the firewall ports listed above, or set up the WebSocket mode over port 443 if your network is restrictive.
4. Copy the server’s public key, which is generated on first start.
5. Configure each client with your server address and key, so connections go through your server and not RustDesk’s public servers.
6. Plan updates and backups for the server, like any other service you run.

For Server Pro, you add a license key and get a web console for users, devices, groups and logs. These are the documented steps, not a log of our own install; how long they take depends on your experience with Linux, Docker and firewalls.

What it really costs to run

RustDesk’s own price can be zero, but a self-hosted server still costs money. A small VPS is usually enough for a personal or small-team relay. For example, Hostinger’s smallest KVM plan (1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) was $6.49 a month on a 24-month term and renews at $11.99 when we checked. Add that to RustDesk Pro if you want the paid edition:

Our arithmetic from official prices on October 31, 2026. Server needs vary with the number of relayed sessions, because the relay carries the screen traffic when a direct connection fails. You may already have a server you can use.

Even with a server included, RustDesk Pro Basic for ten users costs less per month than AnyDesk Standard ($39.92 billed annually). Bandwidth is the main thing to watch: if many sessions fall back to the relay, the server’s traffic allowance matters more than its CPU.

Pros and cons

RustDesk vs the alternatives

Official pricing pages, checked October 31, 2026.

For a full ranking, read best remote desktop software, and for the two best-known commercial tools, AnyDesk vs TeamViewer.

Who should use RustDesk?

• Homelab and technical users who want to reach their own machines without a third-party account.
• Small IT teams and MSPs that want branded clients, SSO and device groups at a fraction of commercial licensing costs, and have someone to run the server.
• Organizations with data-residency rules that need connection data on their own infrastructure.

It is a poor fit if nobody on your team is comfortable running a Linux server, or if you need guaranteed vendor support for the free edition. In that case, a hosted tool such as Splashtop or AnyDesk is simpler. Browse more options in the remote access hub.

See RustDesk pricingOfficial site

Frequently asked questions

Is RustDesk really free?

Yes. The RustDesk client and the open-source server are free to use, including self-hosting. The paid Server Pro edition adds a web console, user management, SSO and LDAP, from $11.88 a month billed annually.

Is RustDesk safe?

RustDesk is open source, so its code can be inspected, and self-hosting means connection data passes through servers you control. Your security still depends on how you run the server: keep it updated, open only the required ports and configure clients with your server’s key.

What ports does RustDesk need?

RustDesk’s documentation lists TCP 21114 to 21119 and UDP 21116, with TCP 21115 to 21117 and UDP 21116 as the minimum. A WebSocket mode over port 443 is available for restrictive networks.

Does RustDesk Server Pro auto-renew?

No. According to RustDesk’s pricing page, Pro licenses are billed annually and do not renew automatically; you get a reminder 14 days before the license expires.

Can I use RustDesk without my own server?

The client can connect through RustDesk’s public servers, but the main reason to choose RustDesk is self-hosting. For a hosted experience with vendor support, a tool such as Splashtop or AnyDesk is usually easier.

Sources

1. RustDesk pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
2. RustDesk self-hosting documentation (checked Oct 31, 2026)
3. RustDesk source code on GitHub
4. Splashtop pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
5. AnyDesk pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)

FindNChoose Editorial Team

We run our own WordPress sites on shared hosting and on a VPS, and use AI coding tools every day. We publish what we measured, list every price with the date we checked it and label anything we have not tested ourselves. About us · Editorial policy

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