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

Pick Moonlight if

• Fits if you want to play games from your PC on another screen in the house
• Works for people who can set up a host such as Sunshine

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a plug-and-play remote support tool, as you must set up a host and network yourself
• Not for you if the PC has no compatible host, since Moonlight is only a client
• Watch out: console and TV ports are community or homebrew builds, not official apps
• Tight if you want to stream over the internet, which needs port forwarding or a virtual network

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

Moonlight

• It is only a client: you need a compatible host such as Sunshine or GeForce Experience on the PC.
• Console and TV ports are community or homebrew builds, not official apps.
• Streaming over the Internet needs your own network setup, such as port forwarding or a virtual network.

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.

Moonlight

High-quality streaming

The site lists streaming at up to 4K with HDR support and up to 120 FPS on the PC client, with an option to disable V-Sync for lower latency.

Many client devices

Clients are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Link, Raspberry Pi 4, iOS, Apple TV, Android, Fire OS and ChromeOS, plus community ports for consoles and TVs.

Full desktop access

Anything visible on the host PC can be streamed, including the whole Windows desktop, not only games.

Your own host

Sunshine, an open-source host built for Moonlight, is the recommended host; GeForce Experience and an Internet Hosting Tool are also listed.

Remote hosting options

The site says a home server can be reached through port forwarding, IPv6 or software-defined networks such as ZeroTier and Tailscale.

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.

Moonlight

• Free$0

  Community project; the site says it has no paid versions, subscriptions, ads or bundled services.

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.