githuganswered from live GitHub & Hugging Face data
Can I use RustDesk commercially? What is its license and any limitations?
RustDesk is a flexible option for commercial use, but proceed with caution depending on how you intend to deploy it. Its licensing under the AGPL-3.0 necessitates specific conditions for commercial applications, particularly around distribution.
License Overview
- RustDesk Main Application: Licensed under AGPL-3.0. This license permits you to use, modify, and distribute the software, but if you use it in a product, your modifications must also be shared under the same license terms. Commercial use is allowed, but the requirement to disclose your source code under AGPL can be a limitation if you plan to keep your software proprietary.
- RustDesk Server: Also licensed under AGPL-3.0, following the same stipulations for commercial use.
- Documentation: Uses an MIT license, which is very permissive and allows for virtually unrestricted use including commercial applications.
Maintenance and Health
RustDesk: Actively maintained, with the last push just a day ago, indicating ongoing development (last push on 2026-06-26). Contains 117,000+ stars on GitHub, signaling substantial community interest and contributions. Open issues total 122.
RustDesk Server: Also actively maintained with a last push from 2026-06-04, making it relatively fresh (stars: 9,989 and open issues: 172).
Documentation: Actively maintained with the last update on 2026-06-23. This speaks to a healthy support structure for users (stars: 732, open issues: 109).
Summary of Decisions
- Commercial Use: Allowed under AGPL-3.0 with the requirement to disclose source code of modifications.
- Ideal for: Developers or organizations willing to comply with AGPL’s stipulations, especially those looking for a self-hosted remote desktop solution.
- Considerations: If you require a proprietary setup, you may want to explore alternatives or consider purchasing support options for proprietary licensing.
Recommendation
Choose RustDesk if you are comfortable with AGPL requirements and plan to contribute back any changes. If you need a proprietary solution, look elsewhere. For further detail, check out the GitHub Repository.