ElementvsRustDesk Server
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Element | RustDesk Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 74/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #4 of 22 in Remote Desktop |
| GitHub stars | 13 623 | 10 630 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 | +174 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 2 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 | 1.1.16 · 20 Jul 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | Rust |
Which one should you pick?
Element scores 76/100 against 74/100 for RustDesk Server, so it is the safer default.
Element ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 2 for RustDesk Server.
If you want the quickest setup, RustDesk Server is easier to run; Element needs more configuration.
Element details →RustDesk Server details →
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