RustDesk vs ToDesk (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 ToDesk if

• Fits if you want free remote control for your own computers across systems
• Works for people who can read Chinese and pay in yuan

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to read an English site and pay in dollars, as none was found
• Not for you if you want it for work, since the free Personal version is for personal use only
• Tight if you need speed, as free is capped at 4 Mbps and 30 FPS
• Watch out: extra channels, multi-person control and screen wall are sold as separate add-ons
• Watch out: Android control works only on Android 8.0 and later, and SMS and calls are blocked during it

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.

ToDesk

• The website, checkout and plan names are in Chinese and priced in yuan; no English or US-dollar pricing page was found.
• The free Personal version is for personal use only and caps bandwidth at 4 Mbps.
• Extra simultaneous channels, multi-person control, screen wall and AI audit are sold as separate add-ons.
• Remote control of Android devices is limited to Android 8.0 and later, and SMS and phone calls are blocked during it.

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.

ToDesk

Remote control across systems

The download page lists Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and HarmonyOS clients, and paid versions can connect from a web page.

Tiered video quality

Frame rate and resolution rise by version, from 1080p at 30 FPS on the free version to 8K or 360 FPS on Performance, if both ends support it.

File transfer

Transfers between systems run on file servers that get faster on each paid version, from a standard server on the free version.

Privacy screen and virtual screens

A privacy screen hides the remote display during a session. Paid versions add virtual screens and, on Performance, a mode that switches off the remote screen.

Team and enterprise editions

Separate Team and Enterprise editions add member and device management, connection logs, audit and multiple people controlling one device.

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.

ToDesk

• Personal (个人版)¥0

  Free, personal use only. Up to 1080p at 30 FPS, 4 Mbps bandwidth, 100 devices in the list and 3 groups.

• Pro (专业版)¥158

  per year (¥24 per month on auto-renew, ¥40 for one month)

  Up to 2K at 60 FPS, 20 Mbps, 150 devices, 1 virtual screen, remote camera and terminal, and web connection.

• Gaming (游戏版)¥298

  per year (¥42 per month on auto-renew, ¥68 for one month)

  Up to 4K or 240 FPS, 40 Mbps, 200 devices, 2 virtual screens, and game mouse, keyboard and gamepad mapping.

• Design (设计版)¥298

  per year (¥42 per month on auto-renew, ¥68 for one month)

  Same limits as Gaming, with true color mode, drawing tablet mapping and multi-screen to multi-screen control.

• Performance (性能版)¥638

  per year (¥95 per month on auto-renew, ¥148 for one month)

  Up to 8K or 360 FPS, 60 Mbps, 300 devices, 3 virtual screens, HDR and a strong privacy mode.