The public servers are a shared resource
Free relay through community servers can be slow or busy. The recommended fix is self-hosting — which turns a remote desktop app into a server admin hobby.
Where RustDesk asks more of you than it admits
Self-hosting is a real job
A machine that's always on, ports opened, keys managed, updates applied, uptime worried about. You become the infrastructure team.
Smooth video isn't the priority
RustDesk is built for support and administration. High-framerate screen video for gaming or creative work isn't what it's tuned for.
How Axiom handles it
01
Install on the PC you want to reach
Short ID, password, done — the flow RustDesk users already know.
02
Connect from any browser
No client app needed on the connecting side. The web app is a full remote desktop.
03
We run the servers
Managed relay infrastructure with no shared-server lottery and no VPS to maintain. It's our uptime problem, not yours.
Axiom
Axiom vs. RustDesk — the honest trade
Managed instead of self-hosted
RustDesk's superpower is total control if you host everything. Axiom's is that you host nothing. Choose by which you'd rather own.
Built for smooth video, not just control
Axiom's pipeline is designed for steady 60fps screen video — enough for gaming and creative work, not only clicking through settings on a remote PC.
Browser-first access
Reach your machines from devices where you can't install anything. The connecting side needs a web browser, full stop.
Reliability as the product
The relay, the routing, and the uptime are the thing you're paying for. No community-server roulette.
RustDesk is a strong open-source project, and if self-hosting and source access are requirements, it's the right tool. This page describes design differences, not benchmark claims.
Honest answers
Questions people actually ask
Is Axiom open source like RustDesk?
No. RustDesk's open-source, self-hostable model is genuinely valuable for people who need it. Axiom trades that for a managed service: we run the infrastructure, keep it fast, and support it. Different tool for a different owner.
Can I self-host Axiom's relay?
Not currently — managed infrastructure is the product. If your requirement is 'no third-party servers ever', RustDesk self-hosted is honestly the better fit.
Can I use Axiom today?
Axiom is in early access. Join the waitlist and tell us what you want to connect from and to — we invite small groups of testers every week, starting with people whose setup we can support well.
How much will Axiom cost?
Personal use will stay generous and there will be a free tier. Early testers get launch discounts. Final pricing is not locked yet, and we will not surprise the waitlist with it.
