What Is Remmina Remote Desktop Client?

Remmina is a free, open-source remote desktop client for Linux and other Unix-like systems. It lets you connect to a remote machine's screen and share files over several protocols — RDP, SSH, SPICE, VNC, X2Go, and HTTP/HTTPS — from a single application. If you need to reach a Windows PC, a Linux server, or a virtual machine desktop and you want a libre tool that runs natively on your own Linux desktop, Remmina is built for exactly that.

What Remmina actually does

The project describes itself as "remote access screen and file sharing to your desktop," aimed at people who "work from home or access files remotely." In practice that means:

• Remote screen access — you see and control another machine's desktop as if you were sitting in front of it.
• File sharing — you can move files between your local machine and the remote one during a session.
• Multiple protocols in one client — instead of installing a separate app per protocol, Remmina handles them through plugins.

Supported protocols

Remmina's remote access protocol plugins cover the common enterprise and lab use cases:

Because these are plugins, the exact set available to you depends on what your distribution packages and what you install.

Features beyond basic connection

The site highlights three capabilities worth knowing before you commit:

• Plugins — protocol support is modular, so the client can be extended.
• Kiosk mode — locks the client into a single session, useful for thin clients or locked-down workstations.
• Multi-monitor — you can spread a remote desktop across several local displays.

Licensing: free in both senses

Remmina states it is "not only free as in gratis and Open Source, but also copyleft." That distinction matters:

• Gratis — you pay nothing to use it.
• Open source — you can read the code.
• Copyleft — you can "use, see, change, and share with all," and derivative works must keep the same freedoms.

If your organization requires software it can inspect, modify, and redistribute, this is a relevant property. If you only need a working client, it mainly means no license fees and no vendor lock-in.

Availability and language support

According to the project, Remmina is available in 67 languages and on 50+ distributions. The site also links to YouTube installation guides for your Linux distribution, which is the practical starting point if you are unsure which package to install. The presence of installation guides per distribution suggests the intended path is your distro's package manager rather than a manual build.

Who should consider it

Remmina fits you if:

• You run Linux and need to reach Windows, Linux, or VM desktops.
• You want one client for RDP, VNC, SSH, SPICE, and X2Go instead of several.
• You prefer copyleft, community-funded software ("lovingly made, funded, and translated by the likes of you").

It is less obviously the right choice if you are on Windows or macOS as your local machine, or if you need a protocol outside the plugin list above — the site does not claim support beyond those protocols.

Getting started

1. Check the installation guides for your Linux distribution (linked from the site).
2. Install Remmina through your distribution's package manager.
3. Add the protocol plugin you need if it is not bundled.
4. Create a connection profile with the remote host, protocol, and credentials.
5. Connect, and use the session window for screen access and file transfer.

The site does not publish pricing, account requirements, or a hosted service — it presents Remmina as software you install and run yourself.