Our verdict: TigerVNC is a solid choice when you need a fast VNC viewer for Linux servers and workstations. It supports encrypted connections and works with most VNC servers. On Windows it is mainly a viewer; the separate Windows server package exists but is not the focus of the project.
About TigerVNC
TigerVNC is a high-performance VNC implementation that grew out of TightVNC and is now used by many Linux distributions as their standard VNC server. On Windows, most people install the TigerVNC viewer to connect to Linux, macOS or Windows machines that run a VNC server.
The viewer supports encrypted connections with TLS, and the Tight and ZRLE encodings that keep screen updates fast on slower links. The project publishes its Windows installers on SourceForge and its source code on GitHub under the GPL v2. Besides the viewer installer, there is a standalone viewer executable and a separate installer for the Windows server.
What it does well
- Fast viewer. Efficient encodings keep the remote screen responsive, even over slower connections.
- TLS encryption. Supports encrypted VeNCrypt connections, with or without certificates.
- Works with Linux servers. Pairs with TigerVNC's own Xvnc server used by many Linux distributions.
- Standalone viewer. A single executable version runs without installation.
- Cross-platform. Viewers for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus a Java viewer.
Who it is for
Good fit
Developers and admins who connect from Windows to Linux servers or workstations over VNC.
Look elsewhere
Users who want one-click remote support for friends or family behind routers.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast and lightweight viewer
- TLS-encrypted connections
- Open source with no paid edition
- Standalone viewer needs no installation
Cons
- Mostly a viewer on Windows; the server side is mainly for Linux
- Downloads are hosted on SourceForge, which shows ads on its pages
- No address book or built-in way through routers
How to install TigerVNC
Open the newest version folder on the official SourceForge page and download tigervnc64-<version>.exe, the 64-bit viewer installer; vncviewer64 is the version without installation. Start TigerVNC Viewer, enter the server address and display, such as host:1, and check the security options under Options if the server supports TLS.
Questions about TigerVNC
Is TigerVNC free?
Yes. TigerVNC is open source under the GPL v2 and has no paid edition.
Can I share my Windows desktop with TigerVNC?
A separate TigerVNC server installer for Windows exists, but the project focuses on the viewer for Windows and the server for Linux.
Why does the download come from SourceForge?
The TigerVNC team publishes its official binaries on SourceForge and links there from each GitHub release.
