Top Five Microsoft RDS Replacements and Alternatives in 2024

Microsoft® Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a component of Windows® that allows a user to initiate and control an interactive session on a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. To run an interactive session, RDS utilizes Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Microsoft’s open source, proprietary network communications protocol.

RDS allows any computer running RDS to be accessed by any remote client machine that supports RDP to manage and deliver Windows-based applications and desktops to multiple end users, i.e., a one-to-many connection.

Why would an organization want to replace RDS? There’s a long-standing list of issues that challenge organizations using RDS to deliver Windows applications to in-office and remote users. The most problematic issues on that list include:

• High bandwidth consumption that slows application performance;
• Poor application performance due to high resource utilization;
• Inability for the user to print;
• Inability to allow users to reset their passwords; and
• Security issues—RDP’s open source protocol makes it a prime target for hackers, who have found and exploited its multiple security weaknesses.

It’s easy to see why an organization would strongly consider replacing RDS. But with what? Our picks for the top five RDS replacements are below.

RDS Replacement One: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Many organizations that once used RDS to deliver a set of applications to employees have moved to Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). VDI technology hosts desktop environments (preconfigured images of an operating system—typically Windows—and applications) on a centralized server and deploys them to end users on request. With VDI, a hypervisor segments servers into virtual machines (VMs) that in turn host these virtual desktops. All processing is done on the host server.

The virtual desktop image is delivered over a network to an endpoint device, which allows the user to interact with the operating system and its applications as if they were running locally. The endpoint can be a traditional PC, thin client device, or a mobile device. VDI implementations are built and managed by an organization’s IT department and are housed in a data center owned by the organization. Until recently, most organizations with VDI deployments utilized on-premises licenses to enable VDI.

VMware® and Citrix® are the market leaders in the VDI space. Citrix offered several alternatives for companies looking for VDI. VMware customers with VDI deployments powered them using VMware data center virtualization technology like VMware ESXi™ or VMware Horizon® from VMware’s End User Computing division. However, in recent years, the VDI market has undergone a seismic shift.

A handful of VDI products are available for organizations that want to keep the VDI model, for example, V2 Cloud, a cloud-based VDI product; “traditional” VDI solutions like VirtualBox and Kasm Workspaces; or one of the newer VDI solutions from Nutanix or NVIDIA.

Pros:

• Centralizes desktop environments for enhanced control and security.
• Offers high customizability for application and desktop configurations.
• Can operate on a range of endpoint devices, including PCs, thin clients, and mobile devices.
• Allows organizations to maintain on-premises control of data, which can improve security.

Cons:

• Requires significant upfront investment in hardware, software, and IT expertise.
• Managing VDI infrastructure can be complex and costly, especially for smaller organizations.
• Recent instability in the market, with major VDI providers like VMware and Citrix experiencing changes in licensing, pricing, and ownership.

RDS Replacement Number Two: Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

Basically, Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is VDI implemented in the cloud and delivered as a service. Organizations can swap the technology, time, personnel, and real estate related to maintaining VDI on-premises for virtual desktops hosted, managed, secured, and delivered to employees’ devices by one of many providers.

The DaaS market is very crowded. The first to market with DaaS were cloud providers like AWS®, which offers Amazon® Workspaces; Microsoft®, with Azure® Virtual Desktop; and Google, with Google Workspot. Oracle, which introduced Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) in 2016, well after the three primary cloud providers, rolled out OCI Secure Desktops in 2023.

Both Citrix and VMware rolled out DaaS versions of their technology in recent years; additionally, VMware offers VMware Cloud, which runs on AWS, and Citrix partners with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

DaaS has considerably fewer up-front costs than VDI and more predictable costs over time, but in the long term costs more than VDI and doesn’t offer as many customization options. Additionally, DaaS customers can’t retain the same control over their sensitive data that they can with a VDI implementation. However, with the current upheaval in the VDI market, DaaS offers a plethora of vendors and choices that can provide a haven for organizations that need to supply workers with a desktop while waiting to see where the VDI market ends up.

Pros:

• Lower upfront costs compared to VDI, making it more affordable for many organizations.
• Predictable monthly expenses with managed services, reducing the need for dedicated IT resources.
• Scalability is easier, as organizations can add or remove users without extensive infrastructure changes.

Cons:

• Higher total cost of ownership (TCO) over time compared to on-premises VDI.
• Limited customization options, often constrained by what the DaaS provider offers.
• Less control over sensitive data, as it’s hosted on third-party servers, which may concern organizations with strict security requirements.

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‍RDS Replacement Number Three: Application Virtualization

Application virtualization separates application installation from the client computer accessing the application. For organizations that use VDI or DaaS to deliver desktops to employees, application virtualization is used to make an application available to specific users within an organization, or to enable a user to run an application on an operating system that’s different than the user’s machine’s operating system. Like VDI, application virtualization can be used to deliver standard corporate applications to employees from an on-premises corporate data center or a corporate cloud data center.

Application virtualization challenges include graphics-heavy applications, which can get bogged down during rendering, and printing, which can be problematic. Additionally, virtualized applications require a steady and reliable server connection to deliver a good user experience.

There are many vendors that offer application virtualization products. However, long-established application virtualization products like Microsoft App-V and Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) utilize Microsoft RDS, which takes them out of the running for organizations that want to replace RDS. Omnissa (formerly VMware’s EUC division) offers Workspace ONE, which pushes virtualized Windows applications to user devices, but only if that device is running Windows 10, which limits its usefulness for organizations that need to accommodate as many customer devices as possible.

Pros:

• Delivers applications to users without needing to provide an entire desktop, which can reduce bandwidth and resource usage.
• Supports applications on operating systems different from the user’s device OS, improving flexibility.
• Often simpler and less costly to set up compared to full desktop virtualization options.

Cons:

• Performance issues may arise with graphics-intensive applications.
• Printing and peripheral support can be challenging, which can reduce user satisfaction.
• Requires a reliable and steady server connection to maintain a good user experience.

‍RDS Replacement Number Four: Remote Desktop Software

Remote Desktop Software is a catchall phrase for software that allows a user to use a PC or other computing device to connect to and run applications installed on another PC via a web browser. Some of these applications were originally built to be used by helpdesk personnel to access users’ desktops to observe and diagnose support issues and were repurposed over time for end user remote access, while others were built from scratch as remote desktop solutions.

One of the earliest examples of this type of software is GoToMyPC, which was acquired by Citrix in 2004 and spun off in 2017. Other examples include LogMeIn and Splashtop.

Unlike the other solutions described in this post that deliver centralized solutions to many users, this class of software works primarily on a one-to-one basis and thus is not practical for providing an application or desktop to many users.

Pros:

• Allows direct access to another PC’s applications, often using a web browser, which can simplify setup.
• Typically easy to deploy and useful for helpdesk or IT support functions.
• Many solutions available at lower price points compared to VDI or DaaS.

Cons:

• Primarily one-to-one access, which limits scalability for larger teams.
• Not practical for delivering a centralized application or desktop environment to a broad audience.
• Basic feature sets may lack the robust security and administrative controls found in more advanced solutions.

RDS Replacement Number Five: Application Publishing

Published applications are virtual software programs that look and act like local applications but are actually running on a server. IT administrators can set up published application access on the user’s device so that the user accesses and launches a published application the same way that they would a local application. In many cases, the user can’t tell the difference between a published application and an application installed on the end user’s device.

Ironically, the most ubiquitous application publishing solution is RDS—and RDS is used for most commercially available application publishing solutions. Omnissa Horizon Apps leverages Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) servers and RDS to deliver published applications. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops will not function without RDS licenses.

Pros:

• Applications look and behave like local software but run on a central server, providing seamless user experience.
• Often simpler and quicker to deploy compared to full desktops, reducing setup costs.
• Allows users to access applications from various device types without full VDI/DaaS setup.

Cons:

• Almost all options are heavily dependent on Microsoft RDS, which many organizations are trying to move away from. Keep reading for an RDS free solution!
• No support for entire desktop which could limit ability to be used for employee centric solutions (vs. client centric solutions like an ISV)
• Citrix's announced end-of-life plans and dependency on RDS may cause additional instability for organizations using this option.

But…there is one RDS alternative for application publishing that does not use RDS—GO-Global.

GO-Global® provides multi-user access to Windows applications from any location, device, and operating system (not just devices running Windows 10). GO-Global fully replaces RDS functionality, including multi-session kernel, Remote Desktop clients, display driver, protocol, internet gateway and management tools, eliminating Windows and user licensing costs.

Unlike RDS, GO-Global provides a great customer experience, including fast logins and minimal latency, even over low-bandwidth connections, allows customers to reset their own password, and significantly reduces printing issues. Despite its low cost, GO-Global delivers enterprise-level scalability but is easy to install, configure, and use, with considerably less technology overhead required for implementation, contributing further to an organization’s bottom line.

If you’re looking for an alternative to RDS to publish Windows applications easily, quickly, and inexpensively, consider GO-Global.

To learn more about GO-Global’s application publishing solution, request a demo here or download a free 30-day trial.