Best self-hosted remote access
[Remote desktop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_desktop_software) and [SSH](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell) servers and web interfaces for remote management of computer systems.
We track 15 self-hosted remote access projects. The median health score in this category is 73, against 7 projects rated healthy or better and none currently flagged as at risk. The table below is ordered by health score, not popularity — the most starred project in a category is frequently not the best maintained one.
| # | Project | Health | Activity | Stars | Built with | Last release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firezone Secure remote access gateway that supports the WireGuard protocol. It offers a Web GUI, 1-line install script, multi-fac | Thriving · 93 | 9.1k | Elixir, Docker | 24 Sept 2026 | |
| 2 | Puter Web-based operating system designed to be feature-rich, exceptionally fast, and highly extensible. | Thriving · 92 | 44k | Nodejs, Docker | 20 Sept 2026 | |
| 3 | Pangolin Identity-aware tunneled reverse proxy with dashboard UI, access control, and WireGuard-based tunnels (alternative to Clo | Thriving · 90 | 23k | Docker | 16 Sept 2026 | |
| 4 | Warpgate Fully transparent SSH, HTTPS, Kubernetes, MySQL and Postgres bastion/PAM that doesn't need additional client-side softwa | Thriving · 86 | 8k | Rust, Docker | 23 Sept 2026 | |
| 5 | MeshCentral Run your own web server to remotely manage and control computers on a local network or anywhere on the internet. | Healthy · 79 | 7.3k | Nodejs | 24 Sept 2026 | |
| 6 | ShellHub Modern SSH server for remotely accessing linux devices via command line (using any SSH client) or web-based user interfa | Healthy · 79 | 2.1k | Docker | 6 Jul 2026 | |
| 7 | Termix Clientless web-based server management platform with SSH terminal, tunneling, and file editing capabilities. | Healthy · 73 | 15k | Docker | 24 Jul 2026 | |
| 8 | Engity's Bifröst Highly customizable SSH server with several ways to authorize a user and options where and how to execute a user's sessi | Steady · 56 | 85 | Go, Docker | 4 Sept 2026 | |
| 9 | Guacamole Clientless remote desktop gateway supporting standard protocols like VNC and RDP. | Steady · 52 | 4k | Java, C | — | |
| 10 | HomeButler Installs and manages a curated catalog of applications via Docker Compose, maps containers and exposed ports, verifies b | Steady · 52 | 292 | Docker, Go | 27 Sept 2026 | |
| 11 | Cardea SSH bastion server with access control, session recording, and optional TPM-backed key protection. | Slowing · 47 | 36 | Go, Docker | 2 Sept 2026 | |
| 12 | Sshwifty Sshwifty is a SSH and Telnet connector made for the Web. | Slowing · 45 | 3.1k | Go, Docker | 3 Sept 2026 | |
| 13 | Onloc Track and share your location in real time. Control and lock stolen or lost phones. | Slowing · 45 | 11 | Docker | 7 Aug 2026 | |
| 14 | FMD Server A server to communicate with the FMD (Find My Device) Android app, to locate and control your devices. | Unrated | — | Docker, Go | 18 Sept 2026 | |
| 15 | SparkView Browser-based remote access solution. No VPN client; just deploy the software in the DMZ. Access VMs, desktops, servers, | Unrated | — | Java | — |
Which one should you run?
If you want the safest bet on longevity, Firezone is the best-maintained project in this category right now at 93/100. Puter is the closest runner-up (92/100) — see the side-by-side comparison.
A health score measures whether a project is alive and shipping. It does not measure whether it has the feature you need. Use it to rule options out, then compare on features.