ConnectWise Control vs RustDesk

Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business (2026). Last verified June 20, 2026.

The short answer

ConnectWise Control ranks higher on Top 11 (#3 vs #11) for IT teams and remote workers needing secure remote desktop and support access. A highly powerful and customizable tool favored by MSPs, with a steeper learning curve.

At a glance

ConnectWise ControlRustDesk
Top 11 rank#3 / The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business (2026)#11 / The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business (2026)
Score (out of 9.4)8.87.2
Best forBest for MSPs and customizationBest open-source, self-hosted option
Pricing$$ ($348 to $660/yr)Free (self-hosted)
HQTampa, USASingapore, Singapore
Founded19822021

ConnectWise Control

A highly powerful and customizable tool favored by MSPs, with a steeper learning curve.

www.connectwise.com/platform/unified-monitoring-and-management/control

See full entry in The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business (2026)

RustDesk

An open-source, self-hostable solution for teams wanting maximum data privacy and control.

rustdesk.com

See full entry in The 11 Best Remote Desktop Software for Business (2026)

Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.