At a glance
| GuidedView | RustDesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Seeing a customer's iPhone, Android or computer screen during a phone call | Technical teams that want open source remote control on their own server |
| What the customer installs | Free GuidedView app on iPhone or Android; nothing on a computer | The RustDesk client on computers (installed or as a temporary executable); the RustDesk app on Android |
| iPhone screen | View, with the free app | No, the iPhone app cannot share its screen |
| Android screen | View, with the free app | View and control, on Android 6 or later |
| Computer screen | View, in the browser, no download | View and control, with the RustDesk client |
| Remote control | No, view-only by design | Yes, on computers and Android |
| Session recording | No, live only | Yes, automatic recording can be turned on |
| Works alongside a normal phone call | Yes, built for it | Yes, the customer reads out an ID and password |
| Customer account needed | No | No for the shared device; controllers sign in on the public server |
| Starting price (as of November 2026) | $29.99/month | Free open source; Server Pro from $11.88/month billed annually |
What is RustDesk?
RustDesk is an open source remote desktop app that connects two devices by ID and password. The person being helped runs the RustDesk client, either installed or as a temporary executable, and reads its ID and one-time password to the helper, who can then view and control the device. Connections go through RustDesk's public server, which RustDesk says is provided for demonstration and testing only, or through a server the business hosts itself, which is how RustDesk is designed to be used. Self-hosting is free with the open source edition, and a paid RustDesk Server Pro license adds team management for self-hosted setups. RustDesk can control computers and Android devices, supports permanent passwords for unattended access, and can automatically record sessions. Its iPhone app can control other devices but cannot share the iPhone's own screen. RustDesk suits technical teams that want low-cost remote control on infrastructure they run themselves.
Can RustDesk share an iPhone or Android screen?
Not an iPhone. RustDesk's documentation says iOS does not yet support screen sharing, and its client page lists iOS as a platform that cannot be controlled remotely. The iPhone app works as a controller for other devices only.
Android is supported. Screen sharing needs Android 6 or later, and the customer grants two permissions in the app: Screen Capture, which starts sharing, and Input Control, which lets the helper operate the phone. Input Control is a special permission the customer turns on manually in Android settings, and RustDesk requests both permissions again each time it starts. On availability, RustDesk's FAQ says the app is no longer in the Google Play Store, and RustDesk's GitHub page links to F-Droid and to downloads on GitHub Releases.
GuidedView uses a free app on iPhone and on Android and is view-only on every device. The customer opens your text or email invitation, confirms they are on a call with you, and approves the system screen-sharing prompt. On iPhone, Apple's own recording indicator appears while they share. For more on what is possible with an iPhone, read our guide on whether you can remotely control an iPhone.
What does running RustDesk involve?
RustDesk's paid plans are licenses for software you host, not a hosted subscription. Its pricing page says the pricing is for a self-hosting solution, not SaaS, so your team runs and maintains the server. The benefit is that connection data stays on infrastructure you control. The cost is that someone on your team has to own that server.
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| GuidedView | $29.99/month, billed monthly | Hosted for you; one plan per account with every feature |
| RustDesk open source | Free | Self-hosted server, community support |
| RustDesk Server Pro Individual | $11.88/month, billed annually | 1 login user, 20 managed devices, unlimited concurrent connections |
| RustDesk Server Pro Basic | $23.88/month, billed annually | 10 login users, 100 managed devices |
RustDesk only offers annual payment plans and does not auto-renew. Its self-hosted web client needs a larger license than the Individual and Basic plans provide. If you use RustDesk's public server instead of your own, RustDesk says it is for demonstration and testing only, and the person controlling the session must sign in with an existing account such as Google or GitHub. GuidedView is hosted, and every session travels over an encrypted connection; see security.
Which is easier for a customer on the phone?
With RustDesk, the customer installs or runs the client, finds its ID and one-time password on screen, and reads both out to you. On Android they also get the app from outside the Play Store and switch on the Screen Capture and Input Control permissions.
With GuidedView, you send a text or email while you are on the call. The customer taps the link, confirms they are on a call with you, chooses Share and approves their device's screen-sharing prompt. They can pause before typing passwords or codes, and only they can resume. Each link works once and expires, and there is no ID or password to read aloud. See the full flow.
Which should you choose?
Choose RustDesk if
- You want open source software you can inspect and host yourself.
- You need full control of computers and Android devices.
- You want unattended access with permanent passwords on managed devices.
- You want automatic session recording.
- You have the skills and time to run your own server.
Choose GuidedView if
- You need to see customers' iPhone screens as well as Android phones and computers.
- You want a hosted service with no server to run or maintain.
- You want customers to start from a text or email link instead of reading out an ID.
- You want view-only, live-only sessions with a Pause button the customer controls.
RustDesk is a capable, low-cost choice for teams that want to own their remote control stack. GuidedView suits teams that would rather not run servers and mainly need to see what a customer sees during a call, including on an iPhone.
Can you run RustDesk and GuidedView side by side?
Yes. A technical team can keep RustDesk for the computers and Android devices it manages and add GuidedView for calls where the customer is on an iPhone, which RustDesk cannot view, or where talking someone through a download and permissions would take longer than the fix. GuidedView needs no SDK, no server and no IT deployment. Create an account and send an invitation on your next call.
Questions
Is RustDesk free?
The open source edition is free, and you can self-host it at no cost with community support. RustDesk Server Pro, which adds team management for self-hosted setups, starts at $11.88 a month billed annually for one login user and 20 managed devices, as of November 2026. GuidedView is $29.99 a month per account and is hosted for you.
Can RustDesk see an iPhone screen?
No. RustDesk's documentation says iOS does not yet support screen sharing, and the iPhone app cannot be controlled remotely, although it can be used to control other devices. GuidedView can show an iPhone screen through its free app, which uses Apple's screen broadcast, so Apple's recording indicator appears while sharing.
Is RustDesk on Google Play?
Not as of November 2026. RustDesk's FAQ says the app is no longer in the Google Play Store, and RustDesk's GitHub page links to F-Droid and to downloads on GitHub Releases for getting the app. GuidedView customers on Android share through the free GuidedView app for Android.
Does GuidedView need a server?
No. GuidedView is a hosted service with no SDK, no code on your website and no IT deployment. You sign up, subscribe and send a link. That is the main practical difference from RustDesk Server Pro, which is a license for software your team hosts and maintains on its own server.
Does the customer need an account?
Not with either product. The RustDesk device being shared needs no account, although on RustDesk's public server the person controlling the session must sign in with an existing account such as Google or GitHub. GuidedView customers never sign up; only the agent who sends invitations has an account.
Does RustDesk record sessions?
Yes. RustDesk's client settings can automatically record incoming and outgoing sessions. GuidedView does not record or store screen video: sessions are live only, and the customer can pause before private steps such as passwords, codes or payment details.
Sources
Third-party details were checked against these pages as of November 2, 2026. Products change, so confirm current pricing and features with each vendor.