What is KasmVNC used for?

KasmVNC is a web-based VNC server and client that gives remote access to a Linux desktop or application from any modern browser. It is a good fit for remote Linux desktop through a browser, and streaming containerized desktops and apps.

Is KasmVNC open source?

Yes. KasmVNC is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at kasmtech/KasmVNC and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. KasmVNC is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host KasmVNC?

Yes. KasmVNC can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is KasmVNC an alternative to?

KasmVNC is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Splashtop and Chrome Remote Desktop. Other open-source alternatives to TeamViewer include TigerVNC, Remmina and Apache Guacamole.

Is KasmVNC actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to KasmVNC was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.5.0, published on 29 July 2026. The project has 5.3k stars on GitHub.

KasmVNC: open-source alternative to TeamViewer, AnyDesk

About KasmVNC

KasmVNC provides remote, web-based access to a desktop or an individual application. Despite the VNC name, it departs from the RFB specification used by variants such as TigerVNC, RealVNC and TurboVNC so it can support modern technologies and improve security.

Users connect from any modern browser, and legacy VNC viewer applications are not supported. Configuration uses YAML at both the server level and the user level, with the server file located at /etc/kasmvnc/kasmvnc.yaml, and the project documents optional systemd auto-start on boot. Installation packages exist for Debian, Ubuntu, Kali and Oracle 8.

KasmVNC is developed by Kasm Technologies, the company behind the Kasm Workspaces containerized streaming platform. Kasm has also open-sourced Workspace Docker images with full desktops and apps, which can be used standalone or inside Kasm Workspaces. KasmVNC is written in C++ and licensed under GPL-2.0, and its README advises using the documentation for your specific release.

Key features

Browser-based remote desktop access
No separate VNC viewer needed
YAML server and user configuration
Departs from RFB for added security
Packages for Debian, Ubuntu and Kali
Optional systemd auto-start

Good fit for

→Remote Linux desktop through a browser
→Streaming containerized desktops and apps

Built with: C++
Tags: vnc; remote-desktop; web-based; linux; kasm; containers; browser; self-hosted

KasmVNC: questions and answers

What is KasmVNC used for?: KasmVNC is a web-based VNC server and client that gives remote access to a Linux desktop or application from any modern browser. It is a good fit for remote Linux desktop through a browser, and streaming containerized desktops and apps.
Is KasmVNC open source?: Yes. KasmVNC is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at kasmtech/KasmVNC and is written mainly in C++.
Is KasmVNC free?: Yes. KasmVNC is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host KasmVNC?: Yes. KasmVNC can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is KasmVNC an alternative to?: KasmVNC is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Splashtop and Chrome Remote Desktop. Other open-source alternatives to TeamViewer include TigerVNC, Remmina and Apache Guacamole.
Is KasmVNC actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to KasmVNC was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.5.0, published on 29 July 2026. The project has 5.3k stars on GitHub.