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

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

Pick Sunshine if

• Fits if you want free game streaming from your own PC using Moonlight
• Works for people comfortable with setting up ports and encoders themselves

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need a client, as Sunshine is a host only and needs Moonlight
• Not for you if you want support sessions or unattended admin, since it targets game streaming
• Watch out: the README says its hardware requirement tables are unfinished and should not drive purchases
• Watch out: gamepad support is partial on FreeBSD, and macOS needs a separately licensed Virtual HID Broker

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.

Sunshine

• It is a host only; you also need a Moonlight client on the device you play on.
• The README warns that its hardware requirement tables are a work in progress and should not drive purchases.
• Gamepad support is partial on FreeBSD, and macOS needs a separately licensed Virtual HID Broker for emulated pads.
• It targets game streaming, not support sessions or unattended administration of other people's computers.

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.

Sunshine

Hardware encoding

Streams with AMD, Intel or NVIDIA hardware encoding for low latency, with software encoding available on all supported systems.

Works with Moonlight clients

Sunshine is the host half of the pair; you install a Moonlight client on a laptop, phone, TV or handheld and pair it.

Browser-based management

A web interface lets you choose applications, adjust streaming settings and pair devices, from the host or from a mobile device.

Gamepad emulation

The README lists emulation of generic, DualShock, DualSense, Switch Pro and Xbox controllers, with limits on FreeBSD and macOS.

Several host systems

The site lists Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD hosts, each with its own supported capture and encoding methods.

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.

Sunshine

• Sunshine$0

  Free and open source, run on your own hardware. The site has a Donate link for voluntary support.