mRemoteNG vs Windows App (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, mRemoteNG grades higher than Windows App: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
mRemoteNG grades higher on value for money and the free plan. Windows App grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
mRemoteNG
Free tabbed connection manager for RDP, VNC and SSH on Windows
Windows App
Microsoft's free client for remote Windows PCs and cloud desktops
Which one is for you
Pick mRemoteNG if
- Fits if you juggle many RDP and SSH sessions on one Windows PC
- Works for admins who want a free manager with portable installs
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as it's Windows only
- Not for you if you want a vendor to call, as support is community and GitHub
- Watch out: the Stable release is dated April 12, 2019, and the newer builds are Preview and Nightly
- Too light on its own: the computers you reach need their own RDP, VNC or SSH servers
Pick Windows App if
- Fits if your employer gives you an Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 machine
- Works for people who reach their own Windows PC from a Mac or a phone
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to reach a Mac or Linux computer, as it connects to Windows only
- Not for you if you only have a personal Microsoft account, because cloud connections need a work or school one
- Too light for Remote Desktop Services on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app
- Watch out: the web client does not do remote PC connections
- Watch out: the cloud desktops are billed separately by Microsoft
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAmRemoteNGGood | 2.4GPAWindows AppFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under GPL v2 with no paid plans, against a $2.50 cheaper-quarter start for remote access tools. | CThe app is free, but the desktops it is built for are billed by Microsoft as Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box. Against a category that charges $4.17 to $28 a month, that leaves it at the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole program is free, as an MSI installer or a portable ZIP. | CThe download is free and a remote PC can be added without signing in. For Microsoft's cloud connections you need a work or school account from an administrator, and a personal Microsoft account does not work. |
| Features | CTabbed connections, many protocols, plugin projects and PuTTYNG for SSH and Telnet. It's a connection manager, so the machines you reach still need their own servers. | CIt opens Windows desktops and apps, with display options, device redirection and Teams optimizations. Remote Desktop Services is not supported from Windows App on Windows or from the web client, and the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You install it and add each connection by hand. | CNo store rating on record. Getting connected means accounts, an administrator and a connection to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only: the site lists no macOS, Linux or mobile versions. | AWindows, Mac, iPhone, Android and a web client, plus Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Dev Box and Teams. Meta Quest support is a preview. |
| Best for | a tabbed manager for many remote connections on Windows | reaching Windows PCs and Microsoft cloud desktops |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: mRemoteNG and Windows App. How we grade
Price against what you get
mRemoteNG has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Windows App has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Windows App scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, none scores higher than mRemoteNG for less, and none scores higher than Windows App for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- mRemoteNG is open source, according to its own site.
- Windows App also covers file sharing.
At a glance
| mRemoteNG | Windows App | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GNU GPL v2, with no paid plans. | The app is a free download from the Microsoft Store. Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 and Dev Box are separate Microsoft services with their own pricing. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | mRemoteNG project | Microsoft Corporation |
| Price read from | mremoteng.org | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
mRemoteNG
- It is a Windows application; the site lists no macOS, Linux or mobile versions.
- It is a connection manager, so the computers you reach still need their own RDP, VNC, SSH or other servers running.
- The Stable release on the downloads page is dated April 12, 2019, while a Nightly build is dated September 15, 2026.
- It is maintained by volunteers, with support through the community and GitHub rather than a paid plan.
Windows App
- Signing in takes a Microsoft work or school account from an administrator; a personal Microsoft account does not work.
- Remote Desktop Services connections are not supported from Windows App on Windows, where Microsoft says to keep using the Remote Desktop app, or from the web browser client.
- Remote PC connections are not available from the web browser client, and the Meta Quest support is listed as a preview.
- It connects to Windows devices and apps; the pages describe no way to reach a Mac or Linux computer with it.
Key features
mRemoteNG
- Tabbed connections
- View all of your remote connections in one window, each in its own tab.
- Many protocols
- The project's GitHub page lists RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, HTTP/HTTPS, rlogin, raw socket connections, PowerShell remoting and AnyDesk.
- Release channels
- The downloads page offers Stable, Preview and Nightly builds, with installer and portable packages.
- PuTTYNG for SSH and Telnet
- SSH and Telnet connections use a PuTTY build adapted and signed for mRemoteNG, which is released separately.
- Plugin projects
- The repository includes plugin contract and plugin projects, such as AWS and SSH transfer.
- Open source
- Source code is on GitHub under GPL-2.0 and the project accepts contributions.
Windows App
- One app for several Microsoft services
- Connect to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services and remote PCs from a single customizable home screen.
- Connect to a remote PC without signing in
- On the platforms that support remote PC connections, the app can be used without signing in to a Microsoft account.
- Display options
- Multiple monitor support, custom display resolutions, and dynamic resolution and scaling.
- Device redirection
- Webcams, audio, storage devices and printers can be redirected between the local device and the remote session.
- Teams optimizations
- Microsoft says the app includes optimizations for Microsoft Teams inside remote sessions.
- Multiple accounts
- Sign in with several accounts and switch between them.
Plans
mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG$0
Free open-source download as an MSI installer or portable ZIP. No paid plans.
Windows App
Windows App$0
Free client app. Sign-in with a work or school account is needed only for Microsoft's cloud and Remote Desktop Services connections.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, mRemoteNG or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both mRemoteNG and Windows App are free to use.
Which has a free plan, mRemoteNG or Windows App?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both mRemoteNG and Windows App have a free plan.
Which platforms do mRemoteNG and Windows App run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Windows App lists a web app and macOS, iOS and Android apps. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.