Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeRDP VS X2Go

Compare FreeRDP VS X2Go and see what are their differences

FreeRDP logo FreeRDP

FreeRDP is a free remote desktop protocol client.

X2Go logo X2Go

Get X2Go. Installing X2Go (client/server). Download X2Go Client (Windows installer (XP and Later), OS X 10. 9 and higher DMG, OS X 10. 10 and higher DMG or macOS 10.
  • FreeRDP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03
  • X2Go Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09

FreeRDP features and specs

  • Open Source
    FreeRDP is open source, meaning it is freely available to anyone and benefits from community contributions for improvements and updates.
  • Cross-Platform
    Supports multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing for versatile use across different systems.
  • Compatibility
    Compatible with the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), making it a viable alternative to proprietary RDP solutions.
  • Extensible
    Modular architecture allows developers to extend and customize the software for specific needs.
  • Active Development
    Continually updated with new features, enhancements, and bug fixes due to active community involvement.

Possible disadvantages of FreeRDP

  • Complex Configuration
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and open-source software.
  • Limited Official Support
    While the community is active, official support options are limited compared to proprietary solutions.
  • Documentation Quality
    Documentation may not always be up-to-date or comprehensive, posing a learning curve for new users.
  • Performance Variability
    Performance can vary depending on network conditions and system configurations, which may require optimization.
  • Security Concerns
    Being open source, vulnerabilities can be discovered and exploited unless the software is regularly updated.

X2Go features and specs

  • Performance
    X2Go offers a high level of performance, providing efficient remote desktop and application access with minimal lag, which is ideal for multimedia or graphical tasks.
  • Security
    X2Go uses SSH for secure communication, ensuring that data transmitted between the client and server is encrypted and protected from eavesdropping.
  • Multi-platform support
    X2Go supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions, making it versatile and accessible for users on different platforms.
  • Session management
    X2Go enables users to suspend and resume sessions, allowing them to pick up where they left off without losing their work, which is particularly useful for long-running tasks.
  • Open-source
    As an open-source project, X2Go is free to use and benefits from community-driven development, which can lead to rapid improvements and bug fixes.

Possible disadvantages of X2Go

  • Complexity of setup
    The initial setup of X2Go can be complex and challenging, especially for users who are not familiar with configuring servers and clients.
  • Limited support and documentation
    While X2Go has a dedicated community, its documentation can be lacking in detail, and official support channels might not be as robust as commercial alternatives.
  • Compatibility issues
    There can be compatibility issues with certain desktop environments or applications, which might require additional configuration or result in reduced functionality.
  • Dependence on network quality
    The performance and usability of X2Go are significantly affected by network quality; poor internet connections can result in a suboptimal user experience.
  • Heavy resource usage on the server
    Running X2Go can lead to high resource usage on the server side, which may require more robust hardware to ensure smooth performance, especially with multiple concurrent users.

Analysis of X2Go

Overall verdict

  • Yes, X2Go (sourceforge.net) is generally regarded as a good option for remote desktop access due to its robustness, security features, and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • X2Go is considered a good remote desktop solution because it provides a fast and secure way to access desktops and applications over the network. It is open-source, supports all major operating systems, and uses efficient network protocols to minimize latency and bandwidth usage. It also offers features such as session suspension, file sharing, and sound support.

Recommended for

  • Users who need remote desktop access to Linux systems
  • IT professionals looking for a secure and efficient remote desktop solution
  • Educational institutions requiring remote access for students and staff
  • Businesses needing to provide remote access to workers

FreeRDP videos

Difference between Rdesktop and Freerdp

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to get Free RDP in 2020 | Remote desktop protocol free | RDP cr@king | what is RDP | #freeRDP

X2Go videos

X2GO: Linux Remote Desktop & Terminal Server System With Support For Published Applications

More videos:

  • Review - X2Go Desktops Running on a 4GB Raspberry pi 4: XFCE, MATE, LXDE, KDE-Plasma

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeRDP and X2Go)
Remote Desktop
25 25%
75% 75
Remote PC Access
30 30%
70% 70
Remote Control
44 44%
56% 56
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using FreeRDP and X2Go. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FreeRDP and X2Go

FreeRDP Reviews

We have no reviews of FreeRDP yet.
Be the first one to post

X2Go Reviews

  1. Tyler Fawkes
    ยท Author at Individual ยท
    I chose X2go over Nomachine

    We use X2go as access our home office work machine while traveling. The home office desktop (X2go server) is used primarily for word processing, spreadsheets and creating presentations. The X2go server is running on 3rd generation Intel i-5 processor with onboard Intel graphics and 12 Gb DDR4 RAM. The OS is Linux Mint Mate' 20.04. Nomachine works on most desktops, however X2go seems to prefer the XFCE and Mate' environments. My experience with X2go is slightly faster and more stable on the Linux Mint Mate' flavor than Ubuntu's 20.04 Mate'. It also looks much better. Remote access is accomplished using X2go client over SSH (ECDSA-256) with minimal compression through a ZeroTier network. Nomachine free version doesn't allow SSH connections. Nomachine also uses 128 bit encryption and is prettier and faster as first installed. However, X2go has more granular connection options. After multiple trial and error adjustments X2go is MUCH smoother and comparable to sitting at the physical desktop over ATT 4g-LTE hotspot connections. Youtube videos streamed remotely are a little jerky but watchable so I don't recommend gaming remotely over 4g. Additionally X2go allows for using 'published applications' making it possible to get work done over all but the slowest connections. X2go also allows multiple users to connect to the server and work in their individual environments simultaneously. Similar to a terminal server, although heavier on resources. My wife and I occasionally do this through hotel or cafe' WiFi. Nomachine free allows only one user connection at a time per machine. Nomachine is easier to set up for a novice and has Android & IOS apps. Not something we have a need for or want.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: NoMachine Everybody
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Secure|Fast|Multiple simultaneous users|Published applications performance
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Requires ssh server installation & configuration.|Requires users to navigate a daunting number of options to find optimal performance.|Wiki isn't novice friendly and often has sections out of date. support is minimal through user forum.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeRDP and X2Go, you can also consider the following products

Remmina - Remmina is a remote desktop client written in GTK+, aiming to be useful for system administrators and travellers, who need to work with lots of remote computers in front of either large monitors or tiny netbooks.

Chrome Remote Desktop - The easy way to remotely connect with your home or work computer, or share your screen with others.

Xrdp - An open source remote desktop protocol (rdp) server

TeamViewer - TeamViewer lets you establish a connection to any PC or server within just a few seconds.

mRemoteNG - mRemoteNG is a fork of mRemote, an open source, tabbed, multi-protocol, remote connections manager.

rdesktop - rdesktop is a free and open source remote desktop protocol client designed to make the users able to manage their PCs in a new way.