Steven LafortuneRemote Desktop Manager (RDM) Free is not a trimmed-down copy of RDM. It is the same application as the paid edition, free forever for individual use, including at work. You get the same connection engine, the same credential vault, and the same clients on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. What the free edition leaves out is the layer built for teams: shared vaults, role-based access control, and a central audit trail.
If you tried RDM Free a few years ago, or have only heard about it, here is what it includes today, where your data lives, and what changes the day you start working with others.
One app, not a lite version
There is no separate lite installer to hunt for. The Download Center offers a single RDM download, described as free for solo use, with a 14-day trial of the team features. The edition you run depends on how you use RDM, not on what you installed. On Linux, the release notes even record the moment RDM and RDM Free were merged into one executable, back in 2022.
That matters for two reasons. First, the features you rely on as a solo user are the same ones teams use every day. Second, upgrading later means connecting to a shared workspace, not reinstalling or migrating. More on that below.
What RDM Free includes
The official edition comparison marks most features as available in both Free (Solo) and Team. Here is what that covers in practice.
Connections. Launch RDP, SSH, VNC, ARD, Telnet, FTP, web, and PowerShell sessions from one place, with support for more than 150 protocols. Credentials are injected at launch, so sessions open with a single click. Integrated VPN management (Microsoft, Cisco, SonicWall, and IPsec) and more than 60 add-ons are part of the free edition too.
Credentials. Store passwords and other sensitive information in an encrypted vault, generate strong passwords, and let entries inherit credentials from a parent folder, so one change updates every session that uses it. You can also store documents and keep a private user vault.
Security. Protect access with multifactor authentication (Duo, YubiKey, or any TOTP app), and use version tracking to view the change history and roll back an unwanted edit or deletion.
Automation and consoles. Macros, custom variables, and PowerShell let you create or modify entries and open connections from a script. Integrated consoles cover Hyper-V, VMware, Active Directory, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon EC2.
A fast start. Import sessions from RDCMan, KeePass, Dameware, a CSV file, or Active Directory instead of rebuilding your list by hand. The free edition also includes offline mode, and a portable version you can run without installing anything.
In short, everything that makes RDM useful to one person at a keyboard is in the free edition. Here is how it lines up with RDM Team:
| Feature | RDM Free | RDM Team |
|---|---|---|
| Connections with credential injection (150+ protocols) | Included | Included |
| Encrypted vault, password generator, user vault | Included | Included |
| Multifactor authentication, version tracking, offline mode | Included | Included |
| Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android clients | Included | Included |
| Imports from RDCMan, KeePass, CSV, and Active Directory | Included | Included |
| Activity log | Local machine user only | Included |
| Shared vaults and multi-user collaboration | Not included | Included |
| Role-based access control | Not included | Included |
| Audit trail, password usage audit, failed login report | Not included | Included |
| Real-time connection status and connection warning | Not included | Included |
| Integration with existing password managers, double encryption | Not included | Included |
| Support | Forum, documentation, Academy | Adds priority support |
Where your data lives
With RDM Free, you choose where your data is stored: locally on your device, or in a Devolutions Cloud workspace if you want to reach your sessions from any workstation. The first time you launch RDM, you pick your workspace right inside the app, and you can switch storage types later. In every case, your data is encrypted.
Two practical notes. Cloud sync and backup are not turned on by default, so if you keep a local data source, back it up like any other important file. And offline mode lets you manage and launch sessions without an Internet connection, which helps in restricted or disconnected environments.
Who RDM Free is for
RDM Free is built for one person. Devolutions allows commercial use, as long as it stays individual use. In practice, it fits:
- freelancers and consultants who manage several client environments on their own
- solo sysadmins and helpdesk technicians who do not share credentials with colleagues
- students and home lab builders who want to work the way they will on the job
If you are the only person using the tool and you do not need to share sessions or credentials, RDM Free is a good fit, even in a professional environment. Support comes from the Devolutions Forum, the documentation, and the Devolutions Academy.
When you work with a team: RDM Team
The moment a second person needs the same connections, the free edition reaches its limit, by design. That is where RDM Team comes in. Since it is the same application, the upgrade is short: nothing to reinstall and nothing to migrate. You keep your app and your data, and connect RDM to a shared vault hosted in Devolutions Cloud or Devolutions Server.
Your team then gains:
- Shared vaults for connections and credentials, instead of passwords sent over chat
- Role-based access control, so each person sees only the entries they need
- An audit trail of logins, password usage, and failed login attempts, plus real-time status of who is connected and an optional warning when someone is already connected
- Integration with existing password managers such as 1Password, Dashlane, KeePass, and LastPass, plus double encryption of the database
- Priority support from Devolutions specialists
RDM is part of the Remote desktop management & IT operations package, listed at US$400 per user per year on the pricing page. Teams of up to five users can also look at the Starter Pack, which offers the Devolutions PAM package, RDM included, at 50% off. And you can test the team features with the 14-day trial before you decide.
Start free, grow when you are ready
Start with RDM Free from the Download Center and set up your connections in minutes. When colleagues join you, compare the editions, see pricing, or book a live demo to see RDM Team in action.