Remmina — Linux's free remote-desktop hub: RDP, VNC, SSH and more behind one connection manager, copyleft and community-run.
What it is
Remmina is a free, copyleft remote desktop client for Linux. Protocol plugins put RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE and X2Go behind one window, with a connection manager, SSH tunneling and multi-monitor support.
Editor's review
Long-form introduction by the BetterPicker editors · checked against the official site · Oct 26, 2026
Remmina is the remote access tool Linux users hand each other. Veronica Explains, whose walkthrough has 151,000 views, calls it one of her favorite tools of the trade and uses it daily for client machines and development boxes alike. The project is genuinely community-run: free as in gratis, copyleft, translated into 67 languages, packaged in more than 50 distributions, and funded through Liberapay and OpenCollective donations rather than licenses. Development is active - v1.4.43 shipped in February 2026 and the GitLab repository shows commits this week. Installation is a store tap on most desktops via Flathub or Snap, and the protocol list reads like a support tech's toolkit: RDP for Windows boxes, VNC and SPICE for virtualization, SSH for terminals and tunnels, X2Go for lean remote sessions.
What it does well
One window for every protocol: connection profiles keep hosts, credentials and resolution settings organized in groups, and switching from an RDP session to an SSH terminal is a double-click, not a new application. Tabbed sessions mean several machines at once without window chaos.
SSH tunneling built into the profile: Veronica's review singles the feature out as amazing - point the connection at a jump host and reach machines on far networks without manual port forwarding gymnastics. For anyone supporting family or clients over the internet, this one checkbox replaces a page of instructions.
Free and copyleft, for real: no accounts, no seat math, no feature paywalls, no telemetry nagging; donations and distro packagers keep it alive, and the plugin architecture keeps it extensible. If a new protocol matters, someone can write a plugin for it - that is the point of the design.
Who it's for
Linux desktop users who administer anything else: home labs, family PCs, customer servers, mixed Windows and Linux fleets. Support techs who live in connection managers and want their tooling to match their operating system rather than fight it, plus developers hopping between VMs and bare metal.
Where it falls short
It is a Linux client, full stop: there is no Windows or macOS build, so it cannot be your cross-platform standard the way commercial clients are, and mixed teams need a second tool.
Desktop environment variance: Veronica records on GNOME and warns that Plasma, Elementary and tiling window managers can behave differently around the interface and its defaults, so the polish level depends somewhat on where you run it.
Network plumbing stays manual: reaching a machine behind NAT still means setting up port forwarding or a VPN yourself; Remmina tunnels what you give it but does not invent the path for you. There is no mobile companion either, so a phone or tablet cannot be the remote side of the session.
Specs at a glance
Facts from the official site · not editorial opinion
| Latest version | v1.4.43 (2026-02-20), active GitLab development; GitHub mirror FreeRDP/Remmina |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, copyleft GPL; funded by donations (Liberapay/OpenCollective) |
| Platforms | Linux (Flathub, Snap, distro packages); connects to Windows, macOS and Linux targets |
| Open source | Yes - GPL, community maintained, 67 languages |
| Core capability | RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE, X2Go and HTTP(S) plugins with a shared connection manager and SSH tunneling |
| Integrations | Keyring storage, multi-monitor and kiosk mode, plugin architecture for new protocols |
| Best for | Linux users managing mixed remote fleets from one free client |
Frequently asked questions
▸Is Remmina free?
Yes - it is free and copyleft software, with no accounts or paid tiers. The project is funded by donations and distribution packagers.
▸Does Remmina work on Windows or Mac?
No. Remmina is a Linux application, available through Flathub, Snap and most distribution repositories. Remote targets can be Windows, macOS or Linux.
▸Which protocols does it support?
RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE, X2Go and HTTP(S) through its plugin system, all reachable from the same connection manager.
▸How do I install it?
On most desktops, install from Flathub or the Snap Store, or use your distribution's package. The project site links guides per distribution.
Video reviews
5 review videos aggregated · praise and criticism included alike · click through to the original video
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