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

Pick DWService if

• Fits if you need to reach a home or office computer from a browser for free
• Works for admins who want a shell and files on Linux, Windows or Mac boxes

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you need more than 6 Mbps, since every paid tier only raises that cap
• Watch out: subscriptions are in pounds sterling and exclude tax
• Watch out: the vendor says subscriptions are donations and buy no say in the project
• Skip it if you can't install an agent on the target computer, as that is the only way in

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

DWService

• The free plan caps bandwidth at 6 Mbps; every paid tier raises only the bandwidth cap and adds a name or logo on the subscription page.
• Subscription prices are listed in pounds sterling and exclude tax.
• The vendor says subscriptions are optional contributions that support the project and give no control over its development.
• The agent must be installed on each computer you want to reach; the home page lists Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

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.

DWService

Screen control

Shows the remote screen in the browser with cursor and keyboard control; the session can be shared with other users, optionally without mouse and keyboard use.

Files and folders

Browse, upload and download files on the remote system, and share folders with others with permissions from read-only to full access.

Shell and text editor

Open a terminal session on the remote computer, and view or edit text files and watch a log file update live.

Resource monitoring

See memory, processors, disks, processes and services, and start or stop services or end processes.

Open-source agent

The vendor publishes the agent's source code, uses TLS on port 443, and offers TOTP two-factor authentication on accounts.

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.

DWService

• Free$0

  All applications included, with a 6 Mbps maximum bandwidth.

• Entry (monthly)£3

  per month, plus tax

  8 Mbps maximum bandwidth and your name on the subscription page.

• Entry (annual)£30

  per year, plus tax

  Same as Entry monthly: 8 Mbps and your name on the subscription page.

• Lite£5

  per month, plus tax

  10 Mbps maximum bandwidth; yearly price is £50.

• Basic£10

  per month, plus tax

  14 Mbps maximum bandwidth; yearly price is £100.

• Premium£100

  per month, plus tax

  50 Mbps maximum bandwidth, plus your logo and backlink on the subscription page.

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.

DWService

• Annual discount

  Annual billing: about two months free

  Annual prices are ten times the monthly ones (Entry £30 a year against £3 a month), a saving of two months, computed from the page.

RustDesk

No public discounts listed.