Apache Guacamole vs Conduit

Apache Guacamole8.6Visit Conduit8.2Visit

Higher score Apache Guacamole #4 in Remote Connection Manager Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Try Apache Guacamole

vs

Conduit #6 in Remote Connection Manager Software 8.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Conduit

• Apache Guacamole fits best

  Organizations needing browser-based self-hosted access

• Conduit fits best

  Teams wanting affordable modern connection management

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Side by side

Feature	Apache Guacamole 8.6/10 Visit ↗	Conduit 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.6	8.2
Ranking	#4 in Remote Connection Manager Software	#6 in Remote Connection Manager Software
Best for	Organizations needing browser-based self-hosted access	Teams wanting affordable modern connection management
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$10/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Desktop, Mobile, Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Compliance	SSO/SAML, 2FA	GDPR, 2FA
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apache Guacamole 1/4 · Conduit 3/4
Team connection sharing	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Credential vault	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Session recording	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Mobile apps	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Supported protocols	Not checked yet	SSH, RDP, VNC, Web
Desktop platforms	Not checked yet	macOS, Windows, Linux
Stored connections	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Plugin-free browser access from desktops, phones, and tablets Supports VNC, RDP, SSH, Telnet, and Kubernetes connections Includes file transfer, recording, SSO, MFA, and an integration API	Unlimited connections are available on Free and Pro. Supports SSH, RDP, VNC, and embedded web sessions. Native MCP server connects with compatible AI agents.
Cons	Requires self-hosting instead of a vendor-hosted remote-access service Protocol coverage is narrower than tools supporting more connection types Administrators must manage the web application and its connected systems	Protocol coverage is limited to SSH, RDP, VNC, and web sessions. The Free plan limits MCP tool calls to 50 per day. Shared vaults and six-month backups start on the Team plan.
Our verdict	Apache Guacamole is a free, open-source remote desktop gateway for organizations that want centralized access through a web browser. It connects users to computers and environments through VNC, RDP, SSH, Telnet, and Kubernetes protocols,… Read the review →	Conduit is a cross-platform remote connection manager for developers, DevOps and SRE teams, system administrators, and IT professionals. It brings SSH terminals, RDP desktops, VNC sessions, and embedded web sessions into a tabbed… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apache Guacamole — where it wins

  • Plugin-free browser access from desktops, phones, and tablets
  • Supports VNC, RDP, SSH, Telnet, and Kubernetes connections
  • Includes file transfer, recording, SSO, MFA, and an integration API

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosting instead of a vendor-hosted remote-access service
  • Protocol coverage is narrower than tools supporting more connection types
  • Administrators must manage the web application and its connected systems

• Conduit — where it wins

  • Unlimited connections are available on Free and Pro.
  • Supports SSH, RDP, VNC, and embedded web sessions.
  • Native MCP server connects with compatible AI agents.

  Where it doesn't

  • Protocol coverage is limited to SSH, RDP, VNC, and web sessions.
  • The Free plan limits MCP tool calls to 50 per day.
  • Shared vaults and six-month backups start on the Team plan.

• Apache Guacamole8.6/10 · Free plan

  Free, open-source remote access for organizations prepared to self-host.

  Try Apache GuacamoleFull verdict →
• Conduit8.2/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A cross-platform connection manager with a useful free plan and AI-agent support.

  Visit ConduitFull verdict →