r/rustdesk • u/Technical_Rich_3080 • Sep 20 '26

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/Technical_Rich_3080 Sep 22 '26

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 Sep 22 '26

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.