ThinLinc

ThinLinc is remote access software for centrally hosted Linux desktops and applications. It suits organizations running demanding Linux workloads for distributed users. Its strongest case is Linux-focused delivery with server-side resilience features; the main trade-off is that its free tier is capped and mobile apps are absent.

Overview

ThinLinc places Linux applications and desktops in a data center or cloud so users can access them remotely. That approach is a sensible fit for organizations that want to centralize compute-intensive EDA or CAD workloads rather than put them on each user’s device. Cendio says its customers are mainly in industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.

Traffic passes through SSH tunnels and TLS, and clients receive encrypted pixels. The server feature set includes high availability, fail-over, clustering, load balancing, multiple sessions per user, and single-application publishing. Those capabilities favor managed multi-user environments; ThinLinc is less compelling for a person who simply wants to control a single computer remotely.

Key features

• Remote Linux delivery: Users can reach centrally hosted Linux desktops and applications from different locations, including demanding EDA and CAD workloads.
• Resilience and session management: Clustering, load balancing, high availability, and fail-over suit deployments where service continuity matters. Multiple sessions per user and single-application publishing give administrators options beyond providing every user a full desktop.
• Authentication choices: Password, one-time password, public key, smart card, and Kerberos ticket authentication let organizations use different access methods.
• Open-source components: ThinLinc includes TigerVNC, noVNC, OpenSSH, CUPS, and PulseAudio, covering parts of its remote display, browser access, security, printing, and audio stack.
• Security reporting: Cendio says it acknowledges vulnerability reports within two working days to discuss recovery planning and potential publication.

Pricing

ThinLinc is freemium, with a free plan and two annual per-user subscriptions. The free plan costs nothing and allows 10 concurrent users under a separate free license file. The server supports three concurrent graphical sessions by default, so reaching the ten-user allowance requires that license file. Free users receive community support.

Standard costs $122 a year, billed every 12 months per user and paid in advance. It is limited to 1–10 users, making it the lower-cost paid option for a small deployment. Premium costs $168 a year on the same per-user, 12-month advance-payment basis and also covers 1–10 users. The stated plan facts do not distinguish their feature sets, so buyers should not assume Premium adds a particular capability.

Free time-limited evaluation licenses and technical pre-sales support are available. Email support requires a support agreement, while free users rely on the community; that makes the free plan easier to justify for evaluation or community-supported use than for an organization needing direct email assistance.

Platforms

ThinLinc supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers, with client downloads for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Mac client runs natively on Intel chips and works on Apple chips through Rosetta. There are no mobile apps, so users who need a dedicated phone or tablet client should look elsewhere.

Who it's for

ThinLinc is best suited to organizations centralizing Linux desktops or applications for remote users, particularly where EDA or CAD workloads, multiple sessions, or deployment resilience matter. Its customer base in industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors aligns with those managed environments. It is a weaker choice for mobile-first access, or for teams that need email support without a support agreement.

Pros and cons

• Pro — Strong Linux workload fit: Central hosting targets demanding EDA and CAD use without requiring those workloads to run locally.
• Pro — Broad server controls: High availability, fail-over, clustering, load balancing, and several authentication methods suit managed deployments.
• Pro — Usable free allowance: The free license can cover up to ten concurrent users, useful for small-scale evaluation or community-supported use.
• Con — Narrow free-session default: The server defaults to three concurrent graphical sessions, and the ten-user allowance depends on a separate license file.
• Con — Support boundary: Free users get community support; email support requires a support agreement.
• Con — No mobile apps: Access is limited to desktop clients and browsers rather than native mobile clients.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison, browse Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software or Remote desktop software.

• QVD is another freemium option with a free plan, trial, and Android and iOS platform support, making it worth considering when mobile access matters.
• Hive Fabric offers a free community edition with a perpetual license for a single physical host and unlimited VMs; it may suit buyers prioritizing that deployment structure.
• Ravada VDI is free to use and self-hosted, with Linux-based server administration and KVM support currently stated; consider it when those are the central requirements.
• Hydra has a free community edition with limited tenants and host pools, and a Windows 365 plan priced at $1 a month; it is an option for those comparing Windows-oriented deployments.
• Citrix Workspace is a paid alternative with Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows platforms.
• Kasm Workspaces has a free Community plan capped at five concurrent sessions and excludes commercial use; it fits non-commercial evaluation better than ThinLinc’s ten-user free allowance.
• Leostream Platform is paid and offers a free trial, with a managed-user subscription requiring a one-year commitment and a minimum of 25 users; it better matches larger teams meeting that minimum.
• Amazon WorkSpaces is a paid alternative with a free plan and trial, and a Windows single-session user fee of $4.19 a month plus provisioned instance-hour charges; consider it when that pricing structure and Windows option suit the deployment.

Verdict

Choose ThinLinc if your organization needs remote access to centrally hosted Linux desktops or applications and values its resilience and authentication options. Its ten-user free license offers a practical starting point, while Standard and Premium provide paid annual subscriptions for small deployments. Look elsewhere if native mobile access or email support without a support agreement is essential.