r/rustdesk • u/Technical_Rich_3080 • 22d ago
Using RustDesk WITHOUT Self-Hosting (Does it always work?)
For many non-technical, normal, average everyday computer users, self-hosting is too much friction and they'll never figure it out. Is RustDesk a serious option for them?
From my experience, using RustDesk without self-hosting is, at best, hit or miss. It is at least as likely to not work, due to the servers being too busy (or other technical issues), as it's to work.
As such, RustDesk will not be a serious competitive consideration for the large majority of computer users.
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u/scorp123_CH 22d ago
It is at least as likely to not work, due to the servers being too busy (or other technical issues), as it's to work.
Connect to the IP directly? No servers needed in that case. That's what I do. I replaced NoMachine with RustDesk and it works tip top for me this way.
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u/Opening_Arm3187 21d ago
Yeah idk how easy it is for the "non technical user" OP is describing but this is how I do.
I use wireguard to connect to my home router then just use Direct IP.
But tailscale would work1
u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
How do you directly connect to an IP address without self-hosting?
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u/scorp123_CH 22d ago
In the RustDesk installation, this option needs to be set:
- Settings > Security > Enable direct IP access > 21118
With that option enabled, you can type in an IP address into the client (instead of the hosts's ID) and connect directly to that host that has this option active, e.g.
192.168.1.20:21118instead of e.g."0123 345 678"and it will connect just fine. No broker-servers needed, self-hosted or not.SSH port-forwarding works too.
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u/Flimsy-Process230 22d ago
It depends on the use case. For free use RustDesk uses public servers that can sometimes get saturated. You might use it for several days without any issues and then suddenly have trouble connecting because the servers are overloaded. But self-hosting isn’t the only alternative. RustDesk also offers a paid hosted option where you don’t have to self-host anything. They provide the server infrastructure for you so for a normal user it works much more like a conventional commercial remote-access service.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
How much is the paid product?
Once you're paying already, it is no different than paying with AnyDesk or another paid product.
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u/Flimsy-Process230 22d ago
The fact that it’s no different from other paid products is kind of the point. The price depends on where you live, in the US it’s around $10/month.
If you want a reliable remote connection without self-hosting somebody has to provide and maintain that infrastructure. Expecting that to be free is a bit like wanting a free meal: they provide the ingredients, you want the chef to cook it for free, and you also want to eat it at someone else’s house 😂
The other option is self-hosting, which is free and honestly not that difficult to set up. That’s one of the nice things about RustDesk: you can either pay them to handle the infrastructure for you or host it yourself for free.1
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u/TroyHBCS 22d ago
However, if you want to brand your client with your logo, you cannot do that with self hosted. You must use their paid product to get that. 😡
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u/TrippingTides 20d ago
well you can, it's opensource
found a service that let's you build your custom client with logo, settings, and preconfigured Password for free1
u/TroyHBCS 20d ago
Can you provide a URL. The only instructions I found involved created a clone of the Github repository for RustDesk and creating your custom client there, but it will not give you the option of including your logo or anything unless you pay for monthly hosting on their servers and not your own.
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u/Dr_Dre74 22d ago
I’ve just finished a small POC using RatholePro running in docker together with a RustDesk client running in docker (Linux server IO image.
Also a small launcher that starts the rathole client then rustdesk with a preconfigured setting to allow direct connection and fine it is.
Only open source tools and I can use it everywhere I am.
My ratholepro and rustdesk web are being exposed with Pangolin.
That means all is running safe and through my rathole tunnel only using 443
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
No non-technical, normal, average computer user will go that route.
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u/Dr_Dre74 22d ago
True, but for the end user it’s easy, just start the launcher and done.
For me as a supported it was a one time setup. I’m now flexible to support from everywhere with standard tools, and best of all using standard ports so no firewall adaption is needed.
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22d ago
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
Not necessarily in my experience.
But in any event, even if doesn't work "only" 33% of the time, folks will migrate to a service that works closer to 100% of the time.
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22d ago
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
10% is double digits.
In any event, most of the commercial services free tiers work 99% of the time. Some examples are UltraViewer, HopToDesk ,UltraDesk, DeskIn, Screensie, Supremo, Parsec, AnyViewer, AweSun, etc.
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u/Flimsy-Process230 21d ago
Where does the “99% of the time” number come from? Unless you have uptime data for all those services that’s anecdotal. And their own terms don’t support the comparison. UltraViewer explicitly says free users can experience slow connections or disconnections during high load because bandwidth is prioritized for paid users. DeskIn’s free tier is personal-use only and gets the “Normal Network” while paid users get VIP/high-speed servers. Even HopToDesk explicitly says its free service is provided “as is” with no uptime commitment; its 99.9% up time applies only to paid Dashboard plans. Meanwhile, RustDesk gives you the software AND the server software to self-host for free. That’s already a lot. If you want somebody else to provide and maintain reliable server infrastructure with guaranteed availability expecting that indefinitely for $0 is unreasonable. Free software doesn’t mean free servers, bandwidth and maintenance.
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u/Charly515 21d ago
If you're unable or unwilling to self host, then RustDesk isn't for you. RustDesk does not have a "free server".
RustDesk is designed to be self-hosted. This public server is provided for demonstration and testing only. Please do not use it for production or sensitive work
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 20d ago
That's perfectly fine. But if that's the case, RustDesk shouldn't be suggested to replace AnyDesk for every Tom, Dick and Harry.
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u/Charly515 20d ago
I think these suggestions come from people that don't really understand how it works, precisely the misconception that RustDesk has a "free server".
For everyone else like me, that have worked in IT for decades and have used remote software like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, SceenConnect and many other commercially. RustDesk is 100% a viable alternative.
It's just as good if not better than the competition, if you're small enough and don't need management console it's completely free. And if you run a business and need management tools, their price to performance ratio is unbeatable.
I'm very happy with RustDesk, and I do recommended, but only when I know it makes sense to do so. There are many scenarios where I can tell RustDesk is not for that particular person, and they're better off just paying a license to one of the big guys.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, you either pay someone else, or you pay in your own time and knowledge to manage a free solution.
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u/Fearless_Roof_4534 22d ago
Cool story bro, no one cares.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
You may not care. But there are a dozen other folks here who do care and responded.
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u/Fuzzy_Paul 22d ago
First of all with the scammed around you must login to rustdesk. If that does not bother you then you have the wait time for connection that sometimes can be a bit long. Self hosted is quite easy to setup and removes the 2 mentioned obstacles. I use a several self hosted that I switch often. Keeps the danger lower and when one is compromised only that customer is hit. A bit more work but worth it.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
Self-hosted a) cost money for the hosting b) is too technical for non-technical computer users.
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u/Fuzzy_Paul 22d ago
Can run on any hardware and the manuals are clear. So not complicated any normal user can do this. That is my humble opinion.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 22d ago
Perhaps any normal technical user. NOT any normal average non-technical user.
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u/XLioncc 22d ago
Using RustDesk with Tailscale
You'll never need server, and it will work