Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Guacamole VS X2Go

Compare Guacamole VS X2Go and see what are their differences

Guacamole logo Guacamole

Access your computers from anywhere. Because the Guacamole client is an HTML5 web application, use of your computers is not tied to any one device or location. As long as you have access to a web browser, you have access to your machines.

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.
  • Guacamole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • X2Go Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09

Guacamole features and specs

  • Clientless
    Guacamole is clientless, meaning users don't need to install any specialized software on their local machines; access is purely web-based via an HTML5 browser.
  • Multi-Protocol Support
    Supports multiple protocols including RDP, VNC and SSH, providing flexibility to connect to various types of remote machines.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project under the Apache License, it allows for customization, transparency, and community-driven support.
  • Security
    By using a central gateway for remote access, Guacamole reduces the direct exposure of remote machines to the internet, enhancing security.
  • Scalability
    Can be scaled to handle large numbers of simultaneous connections, making it suitable for both small installations and large enterprise environments.
  • Cross-Platform
    As long as you have a modern web browser, you can access Guacamole from any operating system including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Guacamole

  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming, requiring familiarity with server environments and networking.
  • Performance Overhead
    Additional latency and potential performance overhead can occur due to the intermediary nature of the Guacamole server.
  • Limited Native Features
    While it supports multiple protocols, it may not offer all the native features available in dedicated client software for those protocols.
  • Third-Party Dependencies
    Relies on third-party libraries and software components, which might require additional monitoring and updates.
  • Resource Consumption
    Running a Guacamole server requires substantial system resources, especially for larger-scale deployments.
  • Community Support
    While being open-source is an advantage, support can be limited to community forums and documentation, which might not suffice for critical enterprise needs.

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

Guacamole videos

access EVERYTHING from your web browser!! (Linux and Windows Desktop, SSH) // Guacamole Install

More videos:

  • Review - Chipotle Guacamole Vs. Homemade Chipotle Guacamole

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 Guacamole and X2Go)
Remote Desktop
65 65%
35% 35
Remote PC Access
67 67%
33% 33
Remote Control
59 59%
41% 41
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Guacamole Reviews

We have no reviews of Guacamole yet.
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X2Go Reviews

  1. Tyler Fawkes
    · Author at Individual ·
    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.

    🏁 Competitors: NoMachine Everybody
    👍 Pros:    Secure|Fast|Multiple simultaneous users|Published applications performance
    👎 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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Guacamole seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 138 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Guacamole mentions (138)

View more

X2Go mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of X2Go yet. Tracking of X2Go recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

AnyDesk - AnyDesk is the world's most comfortable remote desktop application. Access all your programs, documents and files from anywhere, without having to entrust your data to a cloud service.

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

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.

Rustdesk - Discover RustDesk, The best open source remote desktop software. It is an alternative of TeamViewer and AnyDesk. You have full control of your data, no concern of security.