What is Xpra used for?

Xpra is known as screen for X: it runs graphical Linux applications on a remote host and lets you detach and reattach without losing state. It is a good fit for running Linux GUI applications from a remote server and keeping long-running graphical sessions alive.

Yes. Xpra is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at Xpra-org/xpra and is written mainly in Python.

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

Can I self-host Xpra?

Yes. Xpra can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is Xpra an alternative to?

Xpra is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk. Other open-source alternatives to TeamViewer include FreeRDP, TigerVNC and Remmina.

Is Xpra actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Xpra was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v6.5.4, published on 27 September 2026. The project has 3k stars on GitHub.

Xpra: open-source alternative to TeamViewer, AnyDesk

About Xpra

Xpra is an open-source tool, nicknamed screen for X, that lets you run X11 programs on a remote machine while displaying them on your local one. In its seamless mode, individual application windows appear alongside your local windows. You can disconnect, then reconnect later from the same or a different computer, and the applications keep running with their state intact.

Beyond single applications, Xpra can attach to existing desktop sessions and start remote desktops, and it can share screens on X11, macOS and Windows. It forwards audio input and output, printers, the clipboard, system trays, notifications and webcams so remote programs blend into the local desktop. It can also open documents and URLs remotely, show high bit depth content and respect the display DPI.

Clients exist for many platforms, and the server includes a built-in HTML5 client that works in a browser. Xpra adapts to different network conditions and protocols. Signed packages are offered for Windows, macOS and Linux, with LTS and beta builds as well. It is written in Python and licensed under GPL-2.0 or later.

Key features

Seamless remote windows for X11 applications
Disconnect and reattach without losing state
Built-in HTML5 browser client
Audio, clipboard, printer and webcam forwarding
Remote desktop and shadow sessions
Signed packages for Windows, macOS and Linux

Good fit for

→Running Linux GUI applications from a remote server
→Keeping long-running graphical sessions alive

Built with: Python
Tags: remote-desktop; x11; remote-app; screen-sharing; html5; python; linux; network-access

Xpra: questions and answers

What is Xpra used for?: Xpra is known as screen for X: it runs graphical Linux applications on a remote host and lets you detach and reattach without losing state. It is a good fit for running Linux GUI applications from a remote server and keeping long-running graphical sessions alive.
Is Xpra open source?: Yes. Xpra is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at Xpra-org/xpra and is written mainly in Python.
Is Xpra free?: Yes. Xpra is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host Xpra?: Yes. Xpra can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is Xpra an alternative to?: Xpra is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk. Other open-source alternatives to TeamViewer include FreeRDP, TigerVNC and Remmina.
Is Xpra actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Xpra was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v6.5.4, published on 27 September 2026. The project has 3k stars on GitHub.