Architecture
WinDesk: pure P2P — only signaling runs over our Swiss server, screen data never touches it (no media relay by design). AnyDesk: P2P-first with a TURN media fallback via German servers.
Swiss company · GDPR-compliant
Direct comparison
WinDesk vs. AnyDesk
Direct feature-by-feature comparison. As of September 2026 — data from the vendors' public product pages.
Switch offer
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Switching from AnyDesk?
Try WinDesk on the free plan — no account, no card, two hours of session time a month. Pro costs CHF 29.90 per month plus 8.1% VAT and is billed from the first month.
Data location + CLOUD Act
WinDesk: Swiss limited-liability company without US parent, no CLOUD Act. AnyDesk: DE-incorporated, likewise not subject to the US CLOUD Act, but EU mutual legal assistance applies.
Hardware tokens
WinDesk: host sign-in bound to the security chip (TPM 2.0 / Secure Enclave) where available. AnyDesk: limited hardware binding.
Multi-session tabs
WinDesk: native — multiple hosts open at once in tabs, tear out + dock back. AnyDesk: partially.
Pi support
WinDesk: arm64 builds for Pi 4/5 as an equal platform. AnyDesk: official packages for armhf and arm64.
Self-hosting
AnyDesk: Custom Client with own server infrastructure. WinDesk: currently SaaS-only — if self-hosting is mandatory, AnyDesk has the edge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important difference between WinDesk and AnyDesk?
Data location and architecture. WinDesk is a Swiss GmbH with no US parent and a Swiss signaling relay; screen data travels peer-to-peer only. AnyDesk is German and not subject to the US CLOUD Act, but EU mutual legal assistance applies to requests for information in criminal proceedings.
Is WinDesk cheaper than AnyDesk?
For a single user, AnyDesk Solo comes in below WinDesk Light (CHF 19.90/month) — on annual billing. Beyond 3 hosts or in a team setup the balance tips in WinDesk's favour, thanks to its linear Pro scaling.
Which platforms do both support?
WinDesk: Windows 10/11, macOS Apple Silicon (signed and notarised), Linux .deb/.rpm, Raspberry Pi 4/5 (arm64). AnyDesk: Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iOS and Raspberry Pi. The difference is in scope: on WinDesk the Pi is host and client with the same feature set as on x64.
Do both bind their tokens to hardware?
WinDesk binds the host’s sign-in to the security chip where available (TPM on Windows and Linux, Secure Enclave on Mac), and every pairing to a hardware fingerprint of the host. AnyDesk's hardware binding is more limited.
Does WinDesk offer self-hosting like AnyDesk?
Not yet. AnyDesk offers a custom client with your own server infrastructure; WinDesk 0.5.x is SaaS only. Self-hosting is on the roadmap.
Considering the switch?
Migration guide with 5 steps, to work through yourself.