Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Remote Desktop Access Software

AnyDesk vs Apache Guacamole

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score AnyDesk #2 in Remote Desktop Access Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit AnyDesk
Apache Guacamole #7 in Remote Desktop Access Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Try Apache Guacamole

AnyDesk leads on 0 checks, Apache Guacamole on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAnyDesk · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth

AnyDesk scores higher on our rubric for remote desktop access software: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

AnyDesk is the better fit for teams needing flexible deployment and broad device coverage. Apache Guacamole is the better fit for technical teams preferring free, self-hosted browser access.

  • AnyDesk fits best

    Teams needing flexible deployment and broad device coverage

  • Apache Guacamole fits best

    Technical teams preferring free, self-hosted browser access

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature AnyDesk 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Apache Guacamole 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in Remote Desktop Access Software #7 in Remote Desktop Access Software
Best for Teams needing flexible deployment and broad device coverage Technical teams preferring free, self-hosted browser access
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web Web
Support Tickets, Live chat, Phone, Docs Community, Docs
Compliance ISO 27001, GDPR, 2FA SSO/SAML, 2FA
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AnyDesk 1/3 · Apache Guacamole 1/3
Unattended access Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mobile device access Not checked yet Not checked yet
Session recording ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported operating systems Not checked yet Not checked yet
Concurrent sessions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment options Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports attended and unattended access across desktop, mobile, and web.
  • Centralizes user and device management, with file transfer and session recording.
  • Ultimate offers cloud or on-premises hosting, single sign-on, and integrations.
  • Access VNC, RDP, SSH, Telnet, and Kubernetes from a browser
  • Includes file transfer, session recording, SSO, and MFA
  • API supports embedding or integrating remote access into applications
Cons
  • Commercial use requires a paid license; free use is for private use only.
  • Solo is limited to one licensed user and three registered devices.
  • Ultimate's customization and dedicated support may exceed smaller teams' needs.
  • Requires self-hosting rather than providing a vendor-hosted service
  • Teams handle gateway deployment and ongoing administration
  • Support is through community resources and documentation
Our verdict

AnyDesk provides remote access and support for individuals, IT teams, and organizations. It supports attended interactive sessions as well as unattended access for remote work, maintenance, and technical support. Its clients span Windows,…

Read the review →

Apache Guacamole is a free, open-source remote desktop gateway for teams that want browser-based access to remote computers without installing client software or browser plugins on the accessing device. It runs as a self-hosted web…

Read the review →
  1. AnyDeskRemote Desktop Access Software 9.2Free plan
  2. Apache GuacamoleRemote Desktop Access Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • AnyDesk — where it wins

    • Supports attended and unattended access across desktop, mobile, and web.
    • Centralizes user and device management, with file transfer and session recording.
    • Ultimate offers cloud or on-premises hosting, single sign-on, and integrations.

    Where it doesn't

    • Commercial use requires a paid license; free use is for private use only.
    • Solo is limited to one licensed user and three registered devices.
    • Ultimate's customization and dedicated support may exceed smaller teams' needs.

  • Apache Guacamole — where it wins

    • Access VNC, RDP, SSH, Telnet, and Kubernetes from a browser
    • Includes file transfer, session recording, SSO, and MFA
    • API supports embedding or integrating remote access into applications

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosting rather than providing a vendor-hosted service
    • Teams handle gateway deployment and ongoing administration
    • Support is through community resources and documentation

More comparisons

All remote desktop access software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update