Top pick · highest health
Puter
Web-based operating system designed to be feature-rich, exceptionally fast, and highly extensible.
★ 44k 1062 commits / 90d ⟳ today AGPL-3.0 Docker
Category
Open source remote access
Remote desktop and SSH servers and web interfaces for remote management of computer systems. This page ranks 15 open-source remote access projects by a health score recomputed every night from repository data; nothing else affects the order. Puter leads at 99/100 with 1,062 commits in the last 90 days and 44k stars, followed by Pangolin (97) and Termix (97). 11 of the 15 score 70 or above, 12 publish a Docker image, and the median health is 89. Apache-2.0 is the most common licence, carried by 7 of them. Between them they stand in for Life360, TeamViewer, NordVPN and Tailscale.
updated Oct 2026 15 tools ★ 118k stars 12 with Docker median 89
Best for…
Ranked by health
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Pangolin
Identity-aware tunneled reverse proxy with dashboard UI, access control, and WireGuard-based tunnels (alternative to Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale).
★ 23k 1058 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday AGPL-3.0 Docker
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Termix
Clientless web-based server management platform with SSH terminal, tunneling, and file editing capabilities.
★ 16k 82 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
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Firezone
Secure remote access gateway that supports the WireGuard protocol. It offers a Web GUI, 1-line install script, multi-factor auth (MFA), and SSO.
★ 9.1k 1270 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
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Warpgate
Fully transparent SSH, HTTPS, Kubernetes, MySQL and Postgres bastion/PAM that doesn't need additional client-side software.
★ 8.2k 400 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday Apache-2.0 Docker
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ShellHub
Modern SSH server for remotely accessing linux devices via command line (using any SSH client) or web-based user interface (alternative to sshd).
★ 2.2k 1463 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
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HomeButler
Installs and manages a curated catalog of applications via Docker Compose, maps containers and exposed ports, verifies backups restore, and reports what changed since the last run with CLI, JSON, web and MCP interfaces.
★ 313 237 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday MIT Docker
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FMD Server
A server to communicate with the FMD (Find My Device) Android app, to locate and control your devices.
★ 223 128 commits / 90d ⟳ today GPL-3.0 Docker
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Engity's Bifröst
Highly customizable SSH server with several ways to authorize a user and options where and how to execute a user's session.
★ 86 138 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
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MeshCentral
Run your own web server to remotely manage and control computers on a local network or anywhere on the internet.
★ 7.5k 104 commits / 90d ⟳ 6 days ago Apache-2.0
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Cardea
SSH bastion server with access control, session recording, and optional TPM-backed key protection.
★ 36 19 commits / 90d ⟳ 16 days ago EUPL-1.2 Docker
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Onloc
Track and share your location in real time. Control and lock stolen or lost phones.
★ 11 17 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday AGPL-3.0 Docker
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Sshwifty
Sshwifty is a SSH and Telnet connector made for the Web.
★ 3.1k 7 commits / 90d ⟳ 18 days ago AGPL-3.0 Docker
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Guacamole
Clientless remote desktop gateway supporting standard protocols like VNC and RDP.
★ 4k 45 commits / 90d ⟳ 13 days ago Apache-2.0
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SparkView
Browser-based remote access solution. No VPN client; just deploy the software in the DMZ. Access VMs, desktops, servers, and apps anytime, anywhere, without complex and costly client rollouts or user management.
★ 0 0 commits / 90d ⟳ unknown ⊘ Proprietary
| # | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puter Docker | 44k | 1062 | AGPL-3.0 | today | |
| 2 | Pangolin Docker | 23k | 1058 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 3 | Termix Docker | 16k | 82 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 4 | Firezone Docker | 9.1k | 1270 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 5 | Warpgate Docker | 8.2k | 400 | Apache-2.0 | yesterday | |
| 6 | ShellHub Docker | 2.2k | 1463 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 7 | HomeButler Docker | 313 | 237 | MIT | yesterday | |
| 8 | FMD Server Docker | 223 | 128 | GPL-3.0 | today | |
| 9 | Engity's Bifröst Docker | 86 | 138 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 10 | MeshCentral | 7.5k | 104 | Apache-2.0 | 6 days ago | |
| 11 | Cardea Docker | 36 | 19 | EUPL-1.2 | 16 days ago | |
| 12 | Onloc Docker | 11 | 17 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 13 | Sshwifty Docker | 3.1k | 7 | AGPL-3.0 | 18 days ago | |
| 14 | Guacamole | 4k | 45 | Apache-2.0 | 13 days ago | |
| 15 | SparkView | 0 | 0 | ⊘ Proprietary | unknown |
How the remote access tools compare
Puter edges Pangolin 99 to 97, and most of the difference is stars: 44k stars against 23k stars.
The most recent release is Termix v26.10.6, published yesterday. Guacamole publishes no tagged releases, which costs up to 25 of the 100 points. None of the measured options scores under 40. By stack, Go (5), Java (2) and Nodejs (2) are the most common. Termix, Firezone, Warpgate and 5 more are permissively licensed; Puter, Pangolin, FMD Server and 3 more are copyleft. SparkView is source-available rather than open source, which limits commercial reuse. SparkView is not hosted on a forge Repoly can read, so it has no measured score yet.
Remote Access: common questions
What is the best open source remote access tool?
By Repoly's GitHub health score, Puter at 99/100 (1,062 commits in 90 days, 26.10.1 from 5 days ago). Pangolin is next at 97; Puter's lead comes mostly from stars. The score measures maintenance, not features, so shortlist the top few and try them.
Which remote access tools are the most actively developed?
ShellHub (1,463 commits in 90 days), Firezone (1,270 commits in 90 days) and Puter (1,062 commits in 90 days). Commit activity is 35 of the 100 health points, the largest single term.
Which remote access tools can I run in Docker?
12 of 15 publish a Docker image or Compose file, led by Puter, Pangolin, Termix, Firezone, Warpgate and 7 more.
Which remote access tools have a permissive licence?
8 of 15: Termix (Apache-2.0), Firezone (Apache-2.0), Warpgate (Apache-2.0), ShellHub (Apache-2.0), HomeButler (MIT) and 3 more. 6 are copyleft.
Which paid products can open source remote access tools replace?
Life360 (FMD Server ranks highest here), TeamViewer (ShellHub ranks highest here), NordVPN (Firezone ranks highest here) and Tailscale (Pangolin ranks highest here).
