rdesktop vs ThinLinc
rdesktop
rdesktop.org
ThinLinc
cendio.comSide by side
| Figure | rdesktop | ThinLinc |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $5.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 13 |
| Spec score · Remote desktop software | 7.1 (#127) | 9.2 (#6) |
| Installation | The project documents a GNU-style source build using configure, make, and make install. | The server is installed from a downloaded bundle with install-server and configured through tl-setup, including master or agent cluster roles. |
| Security | The project says reported security vulnerabilities have not been reviewed and advises using rdesktop with caution and at the user's own risk. | ThinLinc routes traffic through SSH tunnels and TLS, and sends encrypted pixels to clients. |
| Supported platforms | Unix-like systems with X Window System; macOS compatibility | Windows,macOS,Linux,web browsers |
Plans
ThinLinc
- FreeFree
- Standard$122 a year
- Premium$168 a year
- Community licenseFree
- FreeFree
- ThinLinc Standard (500+ users)$66 a year
- ThinLinc Premium (500+ users)$91 a year
- ThinLinc Standard (11–49 users)$103 a year
- ThinLinc Standard (1–10 users)$122 a year
- ThinLinc Premium (11–49 users)$142 a year
In their own words
ThinLinc
ThinLinc centrally hosts Linux applications and desktops in a data center or cloud, then makes them available for remote access from Windows, macOS, Linux, or a web browser. Its server feature list includes high availability, fail-over, clustering, load balancing, multiple sessions per user, and single-application publishing. Authentication options include passwords, one-time passwords, public keys, smart cards, and Kerberos tickets. Traffic passes through SSH tunnels and TLS, with encrypted pixels sent to clients. ThinLinc includes TigerVNC, noVNC, OpenSSH, CUPS, and PulseAudio. The maker describes the software as suitable for demanding EDA and CAD workloads, including access from different locations. The server allows three concurrent graphical sessions by default; a separate free license file raises this to ten concurrent users. ThinLinc offers free time-limited evaluation licenses. Its free plan is listed at free, for 10 concurrent users. Standard is $122 a year per user and Premium is $168 a year per user; both are billed in advance for 12 months and cover 1–10 users.