Splashtop vs Apache Guacamole

Splashtop9.1Visit Apache Guacamole8.7Visit

Higher score Splashtop #3 in Remote Desktop Access Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Splashtop

vs

Apache Guacamole #7 in Remote Desktop Access Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Try Apache Guacamole

• Splashtop fits best

  Budget-conscious teams needing broad remote access

• Apache Guacamole fits best

  Technical teams preferring free, self-hosted browser access

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Side by side

Feature	Splashtop 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Apache Guacamole 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.7
Ranking	#3 in Remote Desktop Access Software	#7 in Remote Desktop Access Software
Best for	Budget-conscious teams needing broad remote access	Technical teams preferring free, self-hosted browser access
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$72/user/yr	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs	Community, Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA	SSO/SAML, 2FA
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Splashtop 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 unattended access and attended remote support Offers file transfer, session recording, and multi-monitor access Works across web, desktop, and mobile platforms	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	Paid business subscriptions are billed annually Advanced security and administration features require higher-tier plans Remote Access and Remote Support use separate plan structures	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	Splashtop provides remote desktop access and remote support software for individuals, teams, IT departments, help desks, managed service providers, and educational institutions. Its products cover both unattended access to computers and… 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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Splashtop — where it wins

  • Supports unattended access and attended remote support
  • Offers file transfer, session recording, and multi-monitor access
  • Works across web, desktop, and mobile platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid business subscriptions are billed annually
  • Advanced security and administration features require higher-tier plans
  • Remote Access and Remote Support use separate plan structures

• 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

• Splashtop9.1/10 · Free plan

  A flexible remote access suite with free home use and paid plans from $6 per user monthly.

  Visit SplashtopFull verdict →
• Apache Guacamole8.7/10 · Free plan

  Free, open-source browser access for teams prepared to host and administer the gateway.

  Try Apache GuacamoleFull verdict →