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TigerVNC vs TightVNC (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, TigerVNC and TightVNC share a 2.6 GPA, both have a free plan, and TigerVNC has no paid plan to buy, against $1 a month when paid by the year for each person for TightVNC.

Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

TigerVNC grades higher on platforms. TightVNC grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

TigerVNC

Free open-source VNC client and server for Linux, Windows and macOS

Free
Full detailstigervnc.org

TightVNC

Free VNC remote desktop for Windows, with paid Pro encryption

Free plan · from $12/yr
Full detailstightvnc.com

Which one is for you

Pick TigerVNC if

  • Fits if you run Linux and want a free VNC server and viewer
  • Works for admins whose distribution already packages it

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you want paid support, as only mailing lists and a wiki are offered
  • Not for you if you want phone apps, as none are listed
  • Watch out: the man pages cover the Unix programs and are only mostly relevant to Windows
  • Too light for one-click remote help, as setup is manual

Pick TightVNC if

  • Fits if you want to control Windows machines on your own network for free
  • Works for people who want a small VNC server and viewer with open-source roots

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as the downloads are Windows only
  • Not for you if you need encrypted sessions on the free version, because encryption is Pro only
  • Pricey if you need Pro on both ends, as checkout starts with two licenses at $12 each a year
  • Watch out: a Corporate license allows one interactive Pro session per computer, so it does not suit terminal servers
  • Watch out: Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate

How we grade them

2.6GPATigerVNCGood2.6GPATightVNCGood
Value for money
AFree and open source with no paid plans, well under 60% of the cheaper quarter.
AFree outright, so it sits well under 60% of the $4.17 the cheaper quarter of remote access tools starts at. Pro encryption is $12 a user a year.
Free plan and trial
AFree outright, with no plan, no cap and no account to open.
AThe base version is free for personal and commercial use and its features do not expire. The catch is that sessions are not encrypted without Pro.
Features
CIt does VNC viewing and serving fully, which is a smaller job than a full remote-access suite. No relay or phone apps.
CRemote view and control, plus TLS 1.3 with Pro and a viewer SDK. The listing shows no encryption in the free version, which is a gap for a tool you point at the internet.
Ease of use
DSetting up servers and authentication takes command-line work. No store rating on record.
CNo store rating on record. You install a server, set a password and sort out how to reach the machine, which is more than a click-and-go app.
Platforms and integrations
CLinux, Windows and macOS programs for computers, with no phone apps.
DThe download page lists Windows installers only. No Mac, Linux or phone version, and no integrations.
Best fora free VNC viewer and server on Linuxfree VNC remote control of Windows PCs

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: TigerVNC and TightVNC. How we grade

Price against what you get

TigerVNC has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. TightVNC starts at $1 a month when paid by the year for each person and scores 1.7.

They score the same, and TigerVNC starts $1 a month lower. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, none scores higher than TigerVNC for less, and 8 score higher than TightVNC for less.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessTigerVNCTightVNC

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
The full chart of remote desktop apps, and the best at every price

Where they differ

    In commonFree planWindowsOpen sourceRemote desktop

    At a glance

    TigerVNCTightVNC
    PricingFreeFree plan
    Starts atFree$12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year
    Free planNoneTightVNC 4 base version is free for personal and commercial use, with features that do not expire. Connections are not encrypted without Pro.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    macOS
    Windows
    Linux
    Made byThe TigerVNC projectPE Konstantin Kaplinskii
    Price read fromtigervnc.orgtightvnc.com
    CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 12, 2026

    Worth knowing

    TigerVNC

    • Support is through mailing lists and a wiki; no paid support is offered on the site.
    • No iOS or Android apps are listed on the project's pages.
    • The man pages describe the Unix programs, and the site says they are only mostly relevant to the Windows ones.

    TightVNC

    • TightVNC 4 is remote desktop software for Windows; the download page lists Windows installers only.
    • Without Pro, sessions are not encrypted, and Pro needs a license at each end of the connection.
    • Pro is billed once a year and needs internet access to activate.
    • A Corporate license allows only one interactive Pro session per computer at a time, so it does not fit a terminal server.

    Key features

    TigerVNC

    VNC viewer and servers
    Documented programs include vncviewer, Xvnc, x0vncserver and the newer w0vncserver, plus vncconfig, vncpasswd and vncsession.
    Performance for graphics
    The project says it targets the performance needed to run 3D and video applications remotely.
    Authentication and TLS
    Extensions for advanced authentication methods and TLS encryption are provided.
    Shared look across platforms
    Common code and a similar look and feel are kept across the platforms it supports.
    Distribution packages
    Binaries come from GitHub releases, and the software ships in distributions such as Fedora, openSUSE, FreeBSD, Arch Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

    TightVNC

    Remote view and control
    See the remote screen and use its keyboard and mouse, opening files and launching applications almost as if sitting at it.
    TLS 1.3 encryption with Pro
    Pro encrypts the whole session. Both the Viewer and the Server need a Pro license for a connection to be encrypted.
    Free base version that does not expire
    The free features stay available if a Pro subscription ends; only the Pro features switch off.
    Open-source TightVNC 2
    TightVNC 2 is available under the GNU GPL, with maintenance and security updates, and commercial source-code licenses are sold.
    Viewer SDK and source licenses
    Developers can license the source code or a Viewer SDK with libraries for .NET and other platforms.
    MightyViewer companion
    A separate paid viewer from the same authors monitors several VNC desktops on one screen and offers a 30-day trial.

    Plans

    TigerVNC

    • TigerVNC$0

      Free, open-source software; releases are published on GitHub.

    TightVNC

    • Free$0

      TightVNC 4 base features for personal and commercial use, with no time limit. No session encryption.

    • Pro User License$12

      per user account on one computer / year, billed annually

      Adds TLS 1.3 encryption and email support. Encryption needs Pro at both ends, so checkout starts with two licenses.

    • Pro Corporate License$18

      per computer / year, billed annually

      Covers all user accounts on one computer, with one interactive Pro session at a time. Not suited to terminal servers.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, TigerVNC or TightVNC?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, TigerVNC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $1 a month when paid by the year for each person for TightVNC. TigerVNC is free, and TightVNC starts at $12 per year per user license (Pro); $1 / month, billed once a year.

    Which has a free plan, TigerVNC or TightVNC?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both TigerVNC and TightVNC have a free plan.

    Which platforms do TigerVNC and TightVNC run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only TigerVNC lists macOS and Linux 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.
    How we review and grade