Best Connect-rs Alternatives in 2026
The top Connect-rs alternatives are Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager, RustConn and BURSU Connection Manager: 15 remote connection manager software our editors would look at instead of Connect-rs, in our ranking order.
Connect-rs: An offline-first Linux manager with broad protocol support and a free tier. Where it falls short: current downloads are limited to linux.
Switching from Connect-rs? For most remote connection manager software buyers the best Connect-rs alternative is Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager, built for iT teams needing broad, governed connection management. On a budget, Conduit starts at $10/mo.
Why People Look for a Connect-rs Alternative
- Current downloads are limited to Linux
- No team sharing for collaborative connection management
- Unlimited saved connections are reserved for the Pro plan
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallDevolutions Remote Desktop Manager9.4
IT teams needing broad, governed connection management
Visit Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager - Lowest priceConduit8.2
Paid plans from $10/mo
Visit Conduit - Best free optionDevolutions Remote Desktop Manager9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager
All 15 Connect-rs Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forIT teams needing broad, governed connection management
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.9
A broad connection manager for governed IT access across desktop and mobile platforms.
- Mobile apps
- Session recording
- Team connection sharing
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Devolutions -
Best forTechnical teams wanting a free open-source manager
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.9
A broad, free desktop connection manager for technical teams that need protocol and credential flexibility.
- Session recording
- Team connection sharing
- Credential vault
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit RustConn -
BURSU Connection ManagerVerified
Best forCross-platform users wanting a capable free manager
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.9
A capable free manager for mixed protocols, embedded sessions, and mobile access.
- Mobile apps
- Session recording
- Team connection sharing
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit BURSUsofts -
Best forOrganizations needing browser-based self-hosted access
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.9
Free, open-source remote access for organizations prepared to self-host.
- Session recording
8.6/10★★★★☆Try Apache Guacamole -
Best forTeams wanting free self-hosted remote access
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.9
A broad, free self-hosted remote access hub for technical teams.
- Mobile apps
- Session recording
- Team connection sharing
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Nexterm -
Best forTeams wanting affordable modern connection management
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.9
A cross-platform connection manager with a useful free plan and AI-agent support.
- Mobile apps
- Team connection sharing
- Credential vault
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Conduit -
Best forEnterprise teams needing controlled remote access
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.9
A controlled remote access gateway for teams managing varied infrastructure and internal applications.
- Session recording
- Team connection sharing
- Credential vault
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Keeper -
Best forIndividuals wanting broad free desktop connectivity
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.9
A broad, free connection manager for individuals across desktop and mobile.
- Mobile apps
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit electerm -
Best forPower users needing a broad desktop toolkit
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.9
A broad desktop toolkit for technical users managing varied remote systems.
- Credential vault
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit uniTerm -
Best forWindows administrators managing VNC-heavy environments
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.9
A Windows-focused manager for VNC-heavy teams that also need RDP, SSH, Hyper-V and discovery tools.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit SmartCode -
Best forWindows teams wanting one-time licensed management
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.9
A capable Windows connection manager with perpetual licensing and useful team controls.
- Team connection sharing
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Royal TS -
Best forWindows users needing a polished terminal hub
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 6.9
A capable Windows terminal hub with broad protocol support and a focused desktop scope.
- Team connection sharing
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit MobaXterm -
Best forDesktop users needing VPN-aware remote sessions
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.5 vs 6.9
A broad, open-source desktop toolkit for VPN-aware remote access and file work.
- Credential vault
7.5/10★★★★☆Try Remote Commander -
Best forWindows users wanting a focused free manager
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.4 vs 6.9
A focused free Windows manager for multi-protocol remote sessions.
- Team connection sharing
- Credential vault
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit 1Remote -
Best forSmall teams wanting a lightweight open-source manager
- Better than Connect-rs:
- Editor score 7.3 vs 6.9
A free, open-source desktop manager for teams handling varied remote connections.
- Team connection sharing
- Credential vault
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit MremoteGO
Connect-rs Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Connect-rs?
Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager: #1 in our Remote Connection Manager Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad connection manager for governed IT access across desktop and mobile platforms.
Is there a free alternative to Connect-rs?
Yes. Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager, RustConn, BURSU Connection Manager, Apache Guacamole and Nexterm have a free plan or a free tier (13 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Connect-rs?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Conduit starts lowest, at $10/mo.
Why do people look for Connect-rs alternatives?
Current downloads are limited to Linux; No team sharing for collaborative connection management; Unlimited saved connections are reserved for the Pro plan.
How do I switch from Connect-rs?
Export your data from Connect-rs (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Connect-rs.
How to Switch from Connect-rs
- Export your data from Connect-rs (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Connect-rs.
Connect-rs vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported protocols | Desktop platforms | Team connection sharing | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Connect-rs | Yes | $39/user/yr | SSH, RDP, VNC, Telnet, SFTP, Local | Linux | 6.9 | |
| 1 | Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager | Yes | $30/user/mo | RDP, SSH, VNC, ARD, FTP, FTPS, SFTP, Telnet, Citrix, VMware, Hyper-V, TeamViewer, VPN and 150+ protocols | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | RustConn | Yes | Free | SSH, RDP, VNC, SPICE, MOSH, SFTP, Telnet, Serial, Kubernetes, Web, Zero Trust | Linux, macOS, Windows via WSL2/WSLg | Yes | 9.0 |
| 3 | BURSU Connection Manager | Yes | Free | SSH, WinRM, RDP, VNC, AppleRD, Telnet, Serial, Web, FTP, FTPS, SFTP | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | 8.8 |
| 4 | Apache Guacamole | Yes | Free | 8.6 | |||
| 5 | Nexterm | Yes | Free | SSH, VNC, RDP, Telnet | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | 8.4 |
| 6 | Conduit | Yes | $10/mo | SSH, RDP, VNC, Web | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | 8.2 |
| 7 | Keeper Connection Manager | No | RDP, SSH, HTTP/HTTPS, VNC, Telnet, Kubernetes, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server | Windows, Linux | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 8 | electerm | Yes | Free | SSH, Telnet, VNC, RDP, SPICE, Serial, FTP, HTTP/HTTPS | Windows, macOS, Linux | 8.0 | |
| 9 | uniTerm | Free | SSH, Telnet, Mosh, Serial, Raw TCP, Local, WSL, SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, SMB, WebDAV, S3, Zmodem, RDP, VNC, SPICE, X11, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, rqlite, Redis, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Kubernetes, Docker, Podman, nerdctl, WSLC | Windows, macOS, Linux | 7.9 | ||
| 10 | SmartCode VNC Manager | No | $58.99/user/yr | 7.8 | |||
| 11 | Royal TS | Yes | €49/user one-time | SSH, Telnet, RS232, Raw, Rlogin, RDP, VNC, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, SCP | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 12 | MobaXterm | Yes | SSH, SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, Telnet, Rlogin, RSH, RDP, VNC, XDMCP, Mosh, Serial | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 13 | Remote Commander | Free | SSH, SFTP, RDP, VNC, OpenVPN, WireGuard | Windows, macOS, Linux | 7.5 | ||
| 14 | 1Remote | Yes | Free | RDP, SSH, VNC, Telnet, FTP, SFTP, RemoteApp, NoMachine and other applications | Windows | Yes | 7.4 |
| 15 | MremoteGO | Yes | Free | SSH, RDP, VNC, HTTP/HTTPS, Telnet | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes | 7.3 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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