FreeRDP as a Linux alternative to RustDesk
Updated
Our verdict
FreeRDP can replace RustDesk for users who only need RDP connectivity and basic file access via drive redirection. It works well on Linux desktops and supports the same core remote‑desktop protocol that RustDesk uses under the hood. However, RustDesk’s built‑in end‑to‑end encryption, self‑hosted relay servers, and cross‑platform client for mobile devices are not part of FreeRDP. Therefore, FreeRDP is suitable for Linux‑only environments where RDP is sufficient, but it lacks the full feature set of RustDesk for mixed‑platform or secure‑by‑default use cases.
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 3.32.2
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for remote control
- Both are open source and can be self‑hosted
- Both support file transfer via drive redirection
- Both run on Linux and can be installed from major distributions
What is different
- FreeRDP lacks RustDesk’s end‑to‑end encryption and relay server; you must set up your own RDP server or use a VPN
- RustDesk provides a mobile client and a cross‑platform desktop client; FreeRDP is a command‑line/GUI tool for Linux only
- RustDesk’s UI is designed for remote‑desktop sessions, while FreeRDP is a lower‑level library that is typically used through Remmina or other front‑ends
- FreeRDP does not bundle a self‑hosted server; you need a Windows or Linux RDP server
- RustDesk automatically handles NAT traversal and firewall bypass via its relay, FreeRDP relies on the underlying RDP server configuration
Opening your RustDesk files
RustDesk uses a proprietary .rdp‑like configuration file that is not directly readable by FreeRDP. You would need to manually create a standard .rdp file or use the FreeRDP command line to specify the server address, port, and credentials. There is no automatic export/import between the two applications.
Switching from RustDesk to FreeRDP, step by step
- 1. Install FreeRDP on your Linux machine (e.g., sudo apt install freerdp2-x11).
- 2. Obtain the RDP server address, port, and credentials that RustDesk was using.
- 3. Open a terminal and run: rdpcli /v:SERVER /u:USER /p:PASSWORD (or use a GUI front‑end like Remmina).
- 4. If you need file transfer, enable drive redirection with /drive:share,localpath.
- 5. Verify that you can connect and that the session is stable. If not, check firewall/NAT settings or consider a VPN.
Key features of FreeRDP
- Supports RDP 5.0 through 8.0 standards
- Multi-monitor support with independent scaling
- Audio and video redirection
- Clipboard synchronization between local and remote
- Drive redirection for file access
- Keyboard layout mapping
- Session reliability and network optimization
- Integration with common Linux GUIs like Remmina
How to install FreeRDP on Linux
sudo apt install freerdp3sudo apt install freerdp3sudo dnf install freerdpsudo pacman -S freerdpsudo zypper install freerdpFrequently asked questions
Does FreeRDP support file transfer?
Yes, it supports drive redirection, which lets you mount a local folder on the remote session. Clipboard sync also works for small files.
Can I use FreeRDP with a RustDesk server?
Only if the RustDesk server exposes a standard RDP endpoint; otherwise you must use a regular RDP server.
Is FreeRDP secure?
Security depends on the RDP server and network configuration. FreeRDP itself supports TLS and encryption, but you need to enable it on the server side.
3 other alternatives to RustDesk
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