TeamViewer alternatives: 8 open-source picks
TeamViewer costs $24.90/mo — $298.80 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by RustDesk, OpenCode and OpenHands. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Remote desktop that works out of the box, with an optional relay server you can self-host.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Terminal-native open-source coding agent with a polished TUI and 75+ model providers
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Autonomous AI software engineer that writes code, runs commands, and browses the web in a sandbox
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Autonomous coding agent in VS Code that plans, edits files, and runs terminal commands with your own API keys
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Block's extensible local AI agent (CLI + desktop) that automates engineering tasks via MCP extensions
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Painless self-hosted Git with issues, PRs, packages, and CI in one lightweight binary.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Terminal pair-programmer that edits your git repo with auto-commits using GPT, Claude, or local LLMs
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Community-governed git forge (Gitea fork) — the 2026 default for self-hosted code hosting; runs Codeberg.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: RustDesk · OpenCode · OpenHands · Cline · Goose · Gitea
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a TeamViewer alternative
Easiest to get running
RustDesk — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
OpenCode, with 192,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving TeamViewer
- Connections that just work through carrier grade NAT, corporate firewalls, and proxies without you operating relay infrastructure
- Native clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus mobile device support
- The support workflow: a one-click download and a session code a non-technical person can read to you over the phone
- Unattended access extras: wake on LAN, reboot and reconnect, multi-monitor switching, file transfer, session recording, printing
- Commercial licensing, audit logs, and the corporate compliance story that makes IT allow it at all
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
TeamViewer alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RustDesk | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 85,000 | 2026-08 |
| OpenCode | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 192,000 | 2026-08 |
| OpenHands | MIT | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 83,000 | 2026-08 |
| Cline | Apache-2.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 65,000 | 2026-08 |
| Goose | Apache-2.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 52,000 | 2026-08 |
| Gitea | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 50,000 | 2026-08 |
| Aider | Apache-2.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 48,000 | 2026-08 |
| Forgejo | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 14,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for TeamViewer
Because remote access is only worth anything when it connects on the first try from a network you have never seen, to a machine you cannot physically touch, running an OS version you did not choose. TeamViewer sells that reliability plus the legal cover to use it at work. Personal self-hosted remote desktop is genuinely pleasant right up until you are in an airport and your TURN server is the thing that died. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $298.80 a year.
questions about switching from TeamViewer
Is there an open-source alternative to TeamViewer?
Yes: RustDesk, OpenCode, OpenHands and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace TeamViewer?
Our verdict is YES. OpenCode (192k stars), RustDesk (85k stars), OpenHands (83k stars) are mature open-source replacements for TeamViewer — self-host in one command and stop paying $24.9/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/teamviewer.
What is the easiest open-source TeamViewer alternative to set up?
RustDesk — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source TeamViewer alternative?
By GitHub stars, OpenCode (192,000). RustDesk is next with 85,000.
