AnyViewer vs RustDesk (2026): which should you pick?

Pick AnyViewer if

• Fits if you need unattended access to a few of your own computers for free
• Works for one person who wants phone-to-PC control

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you need more than 2 simultaneous sessions or files over 100 MB on the free plan
• Skip it if you use Linux, as no Linux client is listed
• Watch out: privacy mode, high-speed file transfer and mobile device remote control need a paid plan
• Watch out: prices are for yearly billing, and Professional's 3- and 6-year terms renew at the yearly rate

Pick RustDesk if

• Fits if you want a free remote desktop app you can use for work too
• Works for companies whose rules say remote access data must stay on their own servers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to support people on iPhones or iPads, which can't be controlled or share their screen
• Not for you if you want a hosted service with accounts and a console, as paid plans mean running your own server
• Tight if you need help fast, since the free version has community support only
• Pricey if you want the web client, which needs a plan where users x 10 plus devices is at least 400
• Watch out: paid plans are yearly only, there's no nonprofit or education discount, and trials are by request

AnyViewer

• The free plan allows only 2 simultaneous sessions and 100 MB per file.
• Privacy mode, high-speed file transfer and mobile device remote control need a paid plan.
• The download pages list Windows, macOS, iOS and Android; no Linux client is listed.
• Prices shown are for yearly billing; Professional's 3- and 6-year terms renew at the yearly rate.

RustDesk

• Paid plans are licences for a server you run yourself, not a hosted service, and are sold only with annual payment; they do not auto-renew.
• The iOS app can only control other devices; an iPhone or iPad cannot be controlled or share its screen.
• The web client in Server Pro needs a plan where users x 10 plus devices is at least 400.
• There is no nonprofit or education discount, and trial licences are by request to RustDesk.

AnyViewer

Unattended remote access

Connect to a signed-in device with one click, or reach other devices using a security code.

File transfer

Move files between computers; the free plan caps files at 100 MB and 500 KB/s, paid plans at 1 TB and 10 MB/s.

Privacy mode

Blacks out the remote device's screen and disables its keyboard during a session. Not included on the free plan.

Screen wall

Shows several remote screens in one view; free and Professional add 2 devices, Enterprise up to 24.

Remote support tools

Control several computers at once, chat in a session, and open reboot, CMD and Task Manager from the session.

Business deployment

Enterprise adds MSI mass deployment through Group Policy, computer groups and custom roles.

RustDesk

Works without setup

Install the client and connect through RustDesk's public rendezvous and relay servers, with no configuration needed.

Self-hosted server

Run the open-source server or Server Pro on your own machine with Docker in a few commands, so connection data stays on your infrastructure.

Web console and access control

Server Pro adds an admin website for users, devices, address books, permissions, centralized settings and an audit log, plus distributed relay servers.

Custom branded client

From the Basic plan, generate a client with your own name, icon and logo, preset with your server and more than 90 configurable options.

Single sign-on and LDAP

Basic and above sign users in through OIDC single sign-on or LDAP, with two-factor authentication on every Pro plan.

Web client

Start remote sessions from a browser tab; on Server Pro you host the web client on your own domain, on plans large enough to include it.

AnyViewer

• Free$0

  1 user, 3 login devices, 10 devices in the connected list, 2 sessions at once, 100 MB file limit.

• Professional$3.58

  per month, billed at $42.96 yearly, for 1 user

  10 login devices, 100 saved devices, unlimited simultaneous sessions, 1 TB file limit and privacy mode.

• Enterprise$16.58

  per month, billed at $199.00 yearly, for up to 30 users

  100 login devices, 500 saved devices, MSI mass deployment, device groups and custom role permissions.

RustDesk

• Free$0

  Open-source client and server that you host yourself, or use with RustDesk's public relay servers. Community support only.

• Individual$11.88

  per month, billed annually

  Server Pro you host yourself: 1 login user, 20 managed devices, unlimited concurrent connections, web console, 2FA, address book and audit log.

• Basic$23.88

  per month, billed annually

  10 login users and 100 managed devices, plus OIDC single sign-on, LDAP, cross-group access and the custom client generator.

• Customized$23.88

  per month, billed annually, plus $1.20 per extra user

  Basic with more users and devices: each extra user adds $1.20 a month and each extra managed device $0.12.

• Customized V2$23.88

  per month, billed annually, plus $24 per extra connection

  Like Customized, but priced by concurrent connections: $24 a month for each extra one, with devices over the limit kept working.

AnyViewer

• Annual discount

  Professional: $103 for the first 3 years

  A 3-year Professional term is billed at $103.00 for the first 3 years instead of $128.88, then renews yearly at $42.96.

• Annual discount

  Professional: $167.54 for the first 6 years

  A 6-year Professional term is billed at $167.54 for the first 6 years instead of $257.76, then renews yearly at $42.96.

• Annual discount

  Enterprise: $358 for the first 3 years

  A 3-year Enterprise term is billed at $358.00 for the first 3 years instead of $597.00; a 6-year term is $537.30 instead of $1,194.00.

RustDesk

No public discounts listed.