Best self-hosted Remote Access software in 2026

Remote desktop and SSH servers and web interfaces for remote management of computer systems.

We track 15 open-source, self-hosted Remote Access apps. 14 of them had commits in the last 90 days, 12 can run with Docker, and the most common licenses are Apache-2.0 (7), AGPL-3.0 (4), MIT (1). The most-used languages are Go, Nodejs, Java. Below are the top picks by GitHub stars, followed by every app ranked by stars weighted by maintenance health.

Alternatives to TailscaleAlternatives to ngrokAlternatives to TeamViewerAlternatives to Cloudflare TunnelAlternatives to AnyDeskAlternatives to Chrome Remote DesktopAlternatives to Splashtop

Top 5 by GitHub stars

#AppStarsHealthLast activityLicenseLanguageDocker
1Puter44.2kActive2026-11-10AGPL-3.0Nodejs, Docker✓
2Pangolin23.5kActive2026-11-09AGPL-3.0Docker✓
3Termix15.9kActive2026-11-10Apache-2.0Docker✓
4Firezone9.2kActive2026-11-10Apache-2.0Elixir, Docker✓
5Warpgate8.2kActive2026-11-04Apache-2.0Rust, Docker✓
  1. Puter — Web-based operating system designed to be feature-rich, exceptionally fast, and highly extensible.
  2. Pangolin — Identity-aware tunneled reverse proxy with dashboard UI, access control, and WireGuard-based tunnels (alternative to Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale).
  3. Termix — Clientless web-based server management platform with SSH terminal, tunneling, and file editing capabilities.
  4. Firezone — Secure remote access gateway that supports the WireGuard protocol. It offers a Web GUI, 1-line install script, multi-factor auth (MFA), and SSO.
  5. Warpgate — Fully transparent SSH, HTTPS, Kubernetes, MySQL and Postgres bastion/PAM that doesn't need additional client-side software.

Head-to-head comparisons

Pangolin vs PuterPuter vs TermixFirezone vs PuterPangolin vs TermixFirezone vs PangolinFirezone vs Termix

All 15 self-hosted Remote Access apps

Ranked by GitHub stars weighted by maintenance health.

Puter

Web-based operating system designed to be feature-rich, exceptionally fast, and highly extensible.

Active ★ 44.2k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

Pangolin

Identity-aware tunneled reverse proxy with dashboard UI, access control, and WireGuard-based tunnels (alternative to Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale).

Active ★ 23.5k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

Termix

Clientless web-based server management platform with SSH terminal, tunneling, and file editing capabilities.

Active ★ 15.9k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

Firezone

Secure remote access gateway that supports the WireGuard protocol. It offers a Web GUI, 1-line install script, multi-factor auth (MFA), and SSO.

Active ★ 9.2k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

Warpgate

Fully transparent SSH, HTTPS, Kubernetes, MySQL and Postgres bastion/PAM that doesn't need additional client-side software.

Active ★ 8.2k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

MeshCentral

Run your own web server to remotely manage and control computers on a local network or anywhere on the internet.

Active ★ 7.6k Apache-2.0 ~$5/mo

Guacamole

Clientless remote desktop gateway supporting standard protocols like VNC and RDP.

Active ★ 4k Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

Sshwifty

SSH and Telnet connector made for the Web.

Active ★ 3.1k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$3.5/mo

ShellHub

Modern SSH server for remotely accessing linux devices via command line (using any SSH client) or web-based user interface (alternative to sshd).

Active ★ 2.2k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

HomeButler

Installs and manages a curated catalog of applications via Docker Compose, maps containers and exposed ports, verifies backups restore, and reports what changed since the last run with CLI, JSON, web and MCP interfaces.

Active ★ 319 MIT 🐳 Docker~$3.5/mo

FMD Server

Server to communicate with the FMD (Find My Device) Android app, to locate and control your devices.

Active ★ 224 GPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$3.5/mo

Engity's Bifröst

Highly customizable SSH server with several ways to authorize a user and options where and how to execute a user's session.

Active ★ 87 Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$3.5/mo

Cardea

SSH bastion server with access control, session recording, and optional TPM-backed key protection.

Active ★ 37 EUPL-1.2 🐳 Docker~$3.5/mo

Onloc

Track and share your location in real time. Control and lock stolen or lost phones.

Active ★ 11 AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$5/mo

SparkView

Browser-based remote access solution. No VPN client; just deploy the software in the DMZ. Access VMs, desktops, servers, and apps anytime, anywhere, without complex and costly client rollouts or user management.

Unknown ⊘ Proprietary ~$10/mo

Frequently asked questions

What is the best self-hosted Remote Access software in 2026?

By GitHub stars, the most popular self-hosted Remote Access apps are Puter (44,171 stars), Pangolin (23,517 stars), Termix (15,911 stars). Popularity is only one signal: also check maintenance health, license and whether it fits your setup.

How many self-hosted Remote Access apps are actively maintained?

14 of the 15 apps listed had commits in the last 90 days; for 1 we have no repository activity data.

Which self-hosted Remote Access apps can I run with Docker?

12 of the 15 apps can run with Docker.

Which licenses do self-hosted Remote Access apps use?

The most common licenses in this category are Apache-2.0 (7 apps), AGPL-3.0 (4 apps), MIT (1 apps).

How much does it cost to self-host Remote Access software?

The software itself is free to download. Based on our rough hardware estimates, the cheapest suitable VPS plan starts at about $3.5/month (median $5/month across apps in this category). Several light apps can share one server.

Figures from GitHub and Docker Hub as of 2026-11-15; hosting costs are rough estimates.