AnyDesk Alternative Without Time Limit: 3 Free Tools (2026)
AnyDesk alternative without a session time limit: RustDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop and TigerVNC compared on terms, price, platforms and self-hosting.
•3 min read•Remote Access & File Transfer
Verdict:RustDesk is the closest swap: its pricing page lists a free open-source plan with no session limits, and you can host your own relay. Chrome Remote Desktop and TigerVNC fit narrower jobs.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RustDesk | Free, open source ($0 plan); Individual $11.88/month billed annually | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Self-hosted server | A like-for-like AnyDesk swap with no session limit listed and an option to host your own relay | Docs only |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | No fee mentioned on Google's help page | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Reaching your own computer from a browser without installing a separate viewer | Docs only |
| TigerVNC | Free, open source (GPL-2.0) | Linux, Windows, macOS | Plain VNC between machines you control, with no cloud account or relay | Docs only |
Independent comparison. Paid placements are labelled separately; editorial links earn no affiliate commissions. Learn more.
Good fit if
- Your AnyDesk sessions end after about an hour and you want a tool that documents no such cut-off
- You want a free, open-source tool you can self-host
- You do personal or family remote support
Not ideal if
- Your sessions end because AnyDesk flagged your use as commercial; a swap only helps if the new tool's terms allow your use
- You need a vendor-supported product with a service agreement
- You need reporting and fleet management out of the box
Short answer: switch to RustDesk if you want a free, open-source AnyDesk replacement whose pricing page lists no session limits. Use Chrome Remote Desktop to reach your own computer from a browser, and TigerVNC for plain VNC between machines you control. First check why your session ended, because a swap does not help if AnyDesk ended it over commercial use.
Is the AnyDesk time limit real?
The sources are not consistent. A HelpWire post (updated July 2026), written by a competitor, says AnyDesk does not enforce a fixed session time limit but that users report disconnects, most often at 60 minutes and sometimes at 15. It ties some drops to security software and to the "Allow direct connections" setting. A DeskIn post (updated March 2026), also from a competitor, states a one-hour limit with no source.
What is documented is the licence. According to AnyDesk's pricing page, the free version is for personal use only, and professional use needs a paid licence, starting at $28.90 per month billed yearly for the Solo plan. If your sessions end because AnyDesk treats your use as professional, a better answer is a tool whose terms cover your use.
What matters for this problem: no documented session cut-off, terms that match your use, price, platform support, and whether you can host the connection yourself.
RustDesk
RustDesk is an open-source remote desktop app released under AGPL-3.0. Its GitHub page lists Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS, and says you can use the project's rendezvous and relay server or host your own.
According to RustDesk's pricing page, the free plan is "open source and free" at $0 per month, and the page states no limits on sessions or time. The Individual plan is $11.88 per month billed annually and adds 20 managed devices and unlimited concurrent connections.
Skip it if you need a vendor that signs a service agreement.
Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop lets you reach files and apps on another computer. According to Google's help page, you can set up Mac, Windows or Linux computers for access, the Linux host needs a 64-bit Debian package, and you connect from Chrome on the web or from a mobile app.
The page mentions no fees. The only timed rule it states is for sharing: a one-time access code is used for support sessions, and shared sessions ask you to confirm every 30 minutes that you want to keep sharing.
It fits you if the job is reaching your own machine. It suits ad hoc support less, because the helper needs Chrome and the 30-minute confirmation applies. It is not open source.
TigerVNC
TigerVNC is a VNC client and server, per its site. Downloads include Linux binaries, Windows installers and a macOS universal binary. The GitHub page is the source for its GPL-2.0 license.
Its homepage describes no account system or cloud relay, so plan to connect machines directly. That avoids any vendor session policy, but you would handle network access and security yourself, for example through a VPN. Choose it for fixed machines on a private network, not for helping a relative whose router you cannot configure.
Comparison
| Tool | Session limit listed | License | Platforms | Price on official page | Self-host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RustDesk | None on pricing page | AGPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | $0 free plan; Individual $11.88/month annual | Yes, relay |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | 30-minute confirmation for shared support sessions only | Not stated | Windows, macOS, Linux hosts; web and mobile clients | No fee mentioned | No |
| TigerVNC | None stated | GPL-2.0 | Linux, Windows, macOS | Free | Yes, direct connection |
How to choose
If you help family or friends and want AnyDesk's ID-and-connect flow, pick RustDesk. If you mainly reach your own home or office computer, Chrome Remote Desktop needs no separate app. If your machines share a network and you are comfortable with VNC, TigerVNC avoids any account.
For more options, see the free remote desktop software roundup, the open-source remote desktop guide and TeamViewer alternatives.
Limits of this review
No tool was installed or run, and no accounts were created. AnyDesk's own pages would not open on 2026-10-26, so whether a fixed session limit exists is not confirmed from AnyDesk. No Reddit thread could be opened for this query. UltraViewer and other tools named in searches were left out for lack of an official page.
FAQ
Does AnyDesk have a time limit?
Sources disagree. One competitor's blog says AnyDesk enforces no fixed session limit but that users report drops, most often after 60 minutes. Another competitor states a one-hour limit without a source. AnyDesk's pricing page says free use is for personal use only, so drops can also follow commercial-use flags. Confirm with AnyDesk.
What is a free AnyDesk alternative without a session limit?
RustDesk is the nearest. Its pricing page lists a free open-source plan at $0 and states no limits on sessions or time. Chrome Remote Desktop's help page mentions no fees, and TigerVNC is free VNC software. Check each tool's terms for your kind of use.
Is there an open-source AnyDesk alternative?
RustDesk is released under AGPL-3.0 according to its GitHub page, and you can use the project's relay or host your own. TigerVNC is also open source under GPL-2.0, but its homepage describes no ID-based connection or relay, so it suits machines you can reach directly.
Is there an AnyDesk alternative for Linux?
RustDesk lists Linux among its platforms on GitHub. Chrome Remote Desktop supports Linux hosts through a 64-bit Debian package, per Google's help page. TigerVNC offers Linux binaries on its homepage, so it is a third option for a Linux machine you can reach directly.
Is there an AnyDesk alternative for Android or iPhone?
RustDesk lists Android and iOS on its GitHub page. Chrome Remote Desktop has a mobile app for controlling a computer, per Google's help page. TigerVNC's homepage lists Linux, Windows and macOS downloads and no mobile app, so it is not a fit if you need to connect from a phone or tablet.
Can I use these for work?
AnyDesk's free version is personal use only. RustDesk's pricing page lists a free plan and states no restriction on its use, and its paid plan starts at $11.88 per month billed annually. Read each license before business use; this is not legal advice.
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Kevin Fan
Kevin Fan is a SaaS founder. He runs Free Instead Of, which tracks free and open-source alternatives to paid software and checks each price and free-plan limit against the vendor's own pages.
Methodology
Information comes from the vendor pages for RustDesk (pricing and GitHub), Google's Chrome Remote Desktop help page and TigerVNC's site, read on 2026-10-26, plus two competitor blog posts (HelpWire and DeskIn) read for what they claim about AnyDesk. AnyDesk's price and personal-use terms come from the pricing page as recorded on 2026-10-25.