We get this question constantly: "Do I need a VPN to use remote desktop?" Or the reverse: "Can I just use a VPN instead of remote desktop?"
The short answer is no to both. They solve completely different problems. But the confusion is understandable — both involve "accessing something remotely," and marketing from both industries doesn't help clarify things.
Let's untangle it.
The TL;DR
VPN gives you access to a network. Remote Desktop gives you access to a computer. They're different tools for different jobs.
What a VPN Actually Does
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote network. Once connected, your device behaves as if it's on that network.
Think of it this way: a VPN is like having a really long Ethernet cable that stretches from your laptop at the coffee shop to your office router. You can access printers, file servers, internal web apps — anything on that network.
What a VPN gives you:
- Access to internal network resources (file servers, intranet sites, databases)
- Encrypted traffic between you and the VPN server
- An IP address from the remote network (useful for geo-restrictions)
- Protection on public WiFi (your traffic is encrypted in transit)
What a VPN does NOT give you:
- A screen from another computer
- The ability to run apps installed on a remote machine
- Access to a computer's GPU, files on its desktop, or its installed software
A VPN lets you reach a computer on a remote network — but you still need software on that computer to actually do anything. You can access a shared folder over VPN, but you can't open Photoshop on a remote machine through a VPN alone.
What Remote Desktop Actually Does
Remote desktop gives you the full screen, keyboard, and mouse of another computer. You see exactly what's on the remote monitor. You can run any app, open any file, use any hardware (GPU, connected drives, etc.) — as if you were sitting in front of it.
What remote desktop gives you:
- Full visual access to a remote computer's screen
- Keyboard and mouse control as if you were there
- Access to every app installed on that machine
- Use of the remote machine's hardware (GPU for rendering, local storage, etc.)
What remote desktop does NOT give you:
- Access to other devices on the remote network (unless combined with VPN)
- An IP address from the remote network
- General encrypted browsing (it only encrypts the remote desktop stream)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| VPN | Remote Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it gives you | Network access | Full computer access |
| You see | Your own screen | The remote computer's screen |
| Apps run on | Your local device | The remote machine |
| Requires on remote | VPN server/gateway | Remote desktop host software |
| Bandwidth usage | Low (just your traffic) | Higher (streaming video) |
| Latency sensitivity | Low | High (you feel every ms) |
| Best for | Accessing files & internal services | Using software on another computer |
When Do You Need Which?
"I need to access files on my office network from home"
→ Use a VPNA VPN will let you access shared drives, NAS devices, and internal servers as if you were in the office. No need for remote desktop unless the files require specific software to open.
"I need to use Xcode / Photoshop / After Effects on my work computer"
→ Use Remote DesktopThese apps need the host machine's CPU, GPU, and local environment. A VPN won't help — you need to see and control the actual desktop. Remote desktop streams the screen to you with full interactivity.
"I want to access my company's internal tools (Jira, wiki, databases)"
→ Use a VPNInternal web apps and services are accessible via VPN. You run your browser locally and connect to internal URLs through the VPN tunnel. Faster and simpler than remote desktop for this use case.
"I want to game on my PC from my iPad on the couch"
→ Use Remote DesktopYou need the PC's GPU to render the game and stream it to your iPad. A VPN does absolutely nothing here. You need a low-latency remote desktop app optimized for gaming.
"I need to access my work computer AND internal network resources"
→ Use both (maybe)Some people use VPN to get onto the corporate network, then use RDP or another remote desktop tool to access their specific work machine. This is common in enterprise environments.
However, modern remote desktop apps with P2P connections (like Remio) can reach your work computer without a VPN — the connection is made directly, encrypted end-to-end. You only need a VPN if you also need access to other network resources.
"Do I Need a VPN for Remote Desktop?"
This is the most common version of this question, so let's address it directly: it depends on your remote desktop app.
Old-school apps (RDP, VNC): Often yes
Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) was designed for local networks. To use it over the internet, you either need to expose port 3389 (a terrible idea security-wise) or use a VPN to first get onto the remote network. Most IT admins rightfully require VPN for RDP access.
VNC is in the same boat. It wasn't designed for internet use, and running it exposed is a security risk.
Modern apps (Remio, Parsec, AnyDesk): No
Modern remote desktop apps handle connectivity themselves. They use NAT traversal (techniques like STUN/TURN/ICE) to establish connections through firewalls without exposing any ports. No VPN needed.
Remio specifically uses WebRTC with P2P connections. Here's what that means for security:
- End-to-end encryption (DTLS-SRTP) — Your stream is encrypted directly between your devices. Not even Remio's servers can see it.
- No exposed ports — Nothing listening on the internet. The connection is brokered through our signaling server, but data flows directly between your devices.
- No account required — No centralized database of credentials to breach. Just a 6-digit PIN that changes every session.
In many ways, Remio's P2P encryption is stronger than a typical corporate VPN. VPN traffic is decrypted at the VPN server — your IT department can inspect it. With Remio's P2P, not even we can see your data.
When to Use Both Together
There are legitimate reasons to combine VPN + remote desktop:
- Corporate policy requires it — Many organizations mandate VPN for any remote access, regardless of the tool's built-in security.
- You need network access AND desktop access — VPN for the intranet, remote desktop for your specific workstation.
- Your remote desktop tool uses RDP/VNC — These protocols need VPN for secure internet access.
But if you're using a modern remote desktop app with built-in encryption and NAT traversal, adding a VPN is usually unnecessary and will often increase latency (because your traffic now routes through the VPN server instead of going directly P2P).
The Bottom Line
Stop thinking of VPN and remote desktop as alternatives. They're complementary tools:
- Need to access a network? → VPN
- Need to use a computer? → Remote Desktop
- Need both? → Use both, but check if your remote desktop app already handles secure connectivity
If you're using Remio, you don't need a VPN for secure remote desktop access. Your connection is P2P encrypted by default, requires no port forwarding, and doesn't expose anything to the internet. Try it free — just install on both devices and connect with a PIN.
Last updated: February 2026.