I use a Mac as my primary computer when I'm out and about. When I'm at home, though, I have a Windows PC that I use most of the time since I'm big on VR gaming. Now that I use both machines in parallel, I have important files and folders stored on both of them locally. Additionally, some software and programs only run on Windows PCs, and I may have to access them when I'm not at home. In such instances, I use a remote desktop app to access my PC via my Mac. This is an effective way to access all my files as well as certain apps without switching to a Windows laptop.

Owing to this, I've tried multiple remote desktop apps and clients over the past few years, with the aim of finding the best and most reliable one. From something as basic as Chrome Remote Desktop to sophisticated and well-known options like TeamViewer and AnyDesk, I've tried them all. My requirements are pretty basic. The software should be free, it shouldn't lag, and it should run consistently without any errors or issues. For the longest time, I couldn't find a solution that adhered to all the clauses, until one fine day, I encountered RustDesk. The app has been a mainstay on my devices since then, not only because it's fast and free, but also because I can self-host it and ensure my data is safe. Here's why you, too, should consider switching to it.

Lightweight and snappy UI

It just works

Most remote desktop apps have clunky UIs that feel rather slow. In comparison, RustDesk is the exact opposite. The app launches in no time and is ready to go as soon as you launch it. No ads, no upselling, or any other unnecessary information on the screen. Open the app, enter the Client ID and password, and hit Connect. The entire process takes only a few seconds, especially if you've already been using the app for a while.

Even once you connect to the remote computer, the connection is stable and doesn't lag. When using TeamViewer or AnyDesk, I used to experience several frame drops and stutters from time to time. Thankfully, none of that is present on RustDesk. I'm not sure if it's due to the optimization of the app or because I self-host the server, so the resources at my end are only dedicated to handling my requests.

Keeps privacy at the top

Open-source with self-hosting privileges

Speaking of self-hosting, RustDesk is one of the only remote desktop programs that lets you do so. If you're concerned about privacy, and you deal with sensitive matters on your PC, it's best to self-host since it ensures data sovereignty and gives you full control of your information. You can rest assured that your data is not leaving your self-hosted servers -- something that's not possible on apps where your data is uploaded to the client's remote server.

It's not just about security, though. Self-hosting also ensures better performance since all the deployment is happening on-premise. It also reduces the dependencies on external servers, so if there's an outage or downtime elsewhere, you won't be affected. RustDesk makes it easy to self-host the app even if you're a beginner. You just have to install Docker on your computer and compose the downloaded file. Apart from individuals, businesses that deal with a lot of data and for whom privacy and security are of the utmost importance can make the best use of self-hosting RustDesk locally.

It's not perfect, though

It has its flaws

RustDesk is a cross-platform program, so it's available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS -- pretty much all major operating systems. However, the smartphone apps aren't as polished as some of the competitors, so you may find the functionality to be limited. Another quirk that users who often migrate from one computer to another will find annoying is that all your saved sessions disappear when you switch to a new PC. This happens even if you log in with the same credentials, and is surely a bummer for those who use the software regularly.

It may sound like I'm nitpicking, especially since the app is free to use. But these are valid problems that enterprise users may face, and it's worth noting that the commercial version isn't free of cost. So, if a business is shelling out money, it's natural to expect some basic features that competitors provide.

RustDesk performs where it matters

Reliability is key, and it delivers on that front

Before switching to RustDesk, I used Chrome Remote Desktop extensively since it's free and easy to use. However, I've faced instances where my remote PC would randomly go offline even if everything was running fine. I would also face weird scaling issues, pixelation, lags, etc., that made the experience quite frustrating after a point. I haven't faced any of that with RustDesk, and that overshadows all the downsides for me. While your requirements and expectations may be different from mine, you should certainly give RustDesk a shot to see if it caters to your needs.