The Most Affordable Alternative to Citrix in 2026 for Secure Remote Access

Citrix has long been considered a top-tier solution for remote access and virtualization. Its powerful platform is trusted by large enterprises, but that reputation comes with high costs and technical complexity. For many organizations, especially small and mid-sized businesses, Citrix is simply overkill. While it remains one of the foremost providers, this hunt for an affordable alternative has been a recurring question for many businesses.

They need the ability to securely access desktops and applications remotely without the expense or overhead of an enterprise-grade platform. Here, TSplus steps in as a lightweight, cost-effective alternative which makes remote access simple, secure and scalable. For over a decade, TSplus Remote Access has been leading the way as the most affordable alternative to Citrix. Read on to understand why.

Why are Businesses Looking for Citrix Alternatives?

With remote work having become a norm, business owners, managers and employees are re-inventing how they work and interact. Citrix remains a powerful option for large-scale enterprises, but many organizations no longer find it practical. While Citrix cites flexibility, security, speed, ease of use among their selling points, the price tag is high. Additionally, setup can be time-consuming and training is necessary. This is a notable hurdle, especially for small and medium size businesses who do not need all the included features and may not automatically have a dedicated admin or support team.

Here we look deeper into the three main reasons for IT teams to increasingly search for Citrix alternatives:

• High Licensing and Infrastructure Costs
• Complexity and Maintenance Overhead
• Scalability Challenges for SMEs

High Licensing and Infrastructure Costs

Licensing Citrix can cost thousands of dollars annually per user when factoring in the required servers, add-ons and ongoing support. These expenses quickly exceed the budgets of small and medium-sized businesses. For companies needing secure access to desktops and applications, this pricing model is unsustainable.

Complexity and Maintenance Overheads

Deploying and maintaining Citrix environments often requires specialized expertise. Even seasoned IT teams may struggle with the constant patching, configuration and troubleshooting Citrix demands. For businesses without dedicated virtualization experts, this complexity becomes a barrier rather than a solution.

Scalability Challenges for SMEs

Citrix was built with large enterprises in mind. For SMEs, scaling Citrix means investing in more licences, additional infrastructure and higher maintenance costs. This makes it difficult for smaller businesses to adapt quickly to growth or to support hybrid work models effectively.

Why is TSplus such a cost-effective alternative to Citrix?

That is where TSplus comes in, with its no-hassle solution to get your business working remotely in a few clicks for a fraction of the price charged by Citrix for Xendesktop or Xenapp or by other brands. TSplus Remote Access was created to bridge the gap between enterprise-class remote access and the needs of everyday businesses. It is designed for simplicity, affordability and security: qualities SMEs value most.

• Simplified Remote Access Setup
• Secure and Reliable Performance
• Flexible Licensing Options

Simplified Remote Access Setup

Affordability, simplicity of design and ease of use are the hallmarks of TSplus Remote Access, all the while focusing on features businesses need, not breaking the bank.

• Installation and configuration of TSplus can be completed in minutes.
• There is no need for extensive infrastructure or complex architecture.
• A single server can be transformed into a secure remote access hub, allowing businesses to get started quickly and without specialised expertise.

Secure and Reliable Performance

Security is at the core of TSplus values and software. Connections are encrypted with SSL and administrators can enable optional Two-Factor Authentication for stronger protection. With the Advanced Security add-on, businesses gain powerful tools such as access control by IP, working hours restrictions and real-time intrusion prevention.

Flexible Licensing Options

Organizations can choose licensing that matches their user base and scale up affordably as they grow.

Subscriptions and Lifetime Licenses

Unlike Citrix, which locks businesses into costly subscriptions, TSplus offers perpetual licenses with one-time fees. With a starting price of £90 per head, you can grant remote access to 3 users for life. Permanent licenses and subscriptions being available means companies can mix and match to suit their business model and structure and make their remote network evolve with them.

Scalable Product Suite

User count can scale up with your business and features can be added via software upgrades and add-ons. Growing a business is difficult at the best of times. The team at TSplus believes that a remote access infrastructure should not be a limiting factor. For your infrastructure to easily grow with your business, our model dramatically reduces long-term expenses while still giving access to upgrades and support as needed.

What Are the Key Features of TSplus Compared to Citrix Key Features?

Both platforms allow remote access and application publishing, but TSplus provides these essentials in an accessible and cost-effective package.

• Remote Desktop and Application Publishing
• Security Enhancements
• Multi-User and Load Balancing Capabilities

Remote Desktop and Application Publishing

TSplus enables both full desktop access and application publishing. Employees can work with the exact tools they need from any device with an internet connection. This makes it easy to maintain productivity whether teams are in the office, at home, or on the road.

Security Enhancements

From SSL encryption to endpoint protection TSplus ensures that remote sessions remain secure. Optional Two-Factor Authentication adds a layer of defence, while centralised policies allow administrators to enforce compliance across the organisation. With the addition of TSplus Advanced Security, application publishing and remote access infrastructures are secure and safe, guarded from every side.

Multi-User and Load Balancing Capabilities

TSplus supports multiple users connecting simultaneously without degradation in performance. Its load balancing features ensure that even growing organizations with heavy traffic can rely on stable, consistent access. By implementing Server Monitoring as well, businesses can rapidly optimize their infrastructure for best performance and increased security. Here is a simple tool for keeping close control over all aspects of your network.

How Do Citrix and TSplus Differ on Pricing?

The difference in cost is one of the strongest reasons businesses switch to TSplus.

Citrix Complexity vs TSplus Flexibility

Complexity which comes at a cost

Citrix’s pricing often exceeds thousands of dollars per year once licensing, support and infrastructure are included. In addition, many Citrix features are locked behind higher-tier plans or require add-on purchases, which further drives up the total cost of ownership.

While this model may be justified for global enterprises with complex virtualization needs, it is unattainable for SMEs or anyone looking for leaner IT solutions.

Flexibility which promotes affordability

By contrast, with TSplus perpetual licences , businesses pay once and continue using the software indefinitely, without the burden of recurring subscriptions. Recommended support and version upgrades are available at a low annual fee, giving organizations flexibility to choose the level of ongoing investment which suits them.

This transparent and predictable pricing model allows IT budgets to stretch further while still delivering enterprise-grade capabilities. For many companies, this balance of affordability and functionality makes TSplus the clear financial winner in the long run.

Comparison Table

Citrix vs. TSplus: Pricing, Licensing & Core Remote Access Features

Criteria	Citrix	TSplus
Pricing Model	High-cost subscription-based licensing, often billed per user or per device
Upfront Cost	High initial investment due to licensing, infrastructure, and setup requirements	Low upfront cost, little setup time and training required Lower long term subscription costs
Long-Term Cost Control	Ongoing recurring fees that increase with users and add-ons	One-time license purchase with optional low-cost annual support and upgrades Or monthly/yearly subscription with support and upgrades included
Licensing Flexibility	Limited flexibility, important features often tied to higher-tier plans	Highly versatile licensing: choose feature level based on business needs
Remote Desktop Access	Full remote desktop virtualization with complex configuration	Secure and reliable remote desktop access with fast deployment
Application Publishing	Available but often requires advanced configuration and additional components	Simple application publishing, easy to configure and manage
Multi-User Access & Scalability	Designed for large enterprise environments	Multi-device, any OS, concurrent users and scalable for small to growing and large teams
Deployment Complexity	Requires significant IT expertise and infrastructure	Lightweight setup that can be deployed in minutes

Interpreting the Pricing and Feature Differences

This comparison further highlights the fundamental difference in philosophy between Citrix and TSplus.

According to their official pricing and licensing documentation, most Citrix deployments require multiple components and ongoing subscriptions. These being high and costly, the total cost of ownership over time significantly increases. By contrast, TSplus is built to minimise infrastructure dependencies while maintaining enterprise-grade remote access capabilities.

TSplus versatility allows businesses to control costs over time while still benefiting from essential remote desktop access, application publishing and multi-user support. For organisations seeking predictability, simplicity and long-term return on investment, TSplus provides a more accessible and sustainable alternative.

Some Real-World Use Cases of TSplus

Businesses across a broad variety of industries adopt TSplus for its flexibility and affordability.

• Healthcare organizations use it to grant secure access to patient management systems without overhauling their IT infrastructure.
• Educational institutions rely on it to deliver remote learning tools to students and staff at minimal cost.
• Manufacturing firms deploy TSplus to connect distributed teams to central ERP and inventory applications.
• Consultancies and IT service providers use it to manage client systems remotely, reducing the need for on-site visits.

These examples highlight how TSplus delivers practical value to organisations who refuse to justify Citrix’s cost or complexity.

When TSplus is the Right Choice!

TSplus is not only an alternative but the right choice for many businesses and setups .

• For Small and Medium Businesses
• For Remote Work and Hybrid Teams
• For IT Departments Seeking Simplicity
• For Out of the Ordinary and Bespoke Infrastructures
• For Support on Rocky Roads

For Small and Medium Businesses

SMEs benefit from the lower costs, straightforward setup and reduced need for dedicated IT staff.

For Remote Work and Hybrid Teams

As remote work becomes permanent in many industries, TSplus allows businesses to support employees across locations securely and affordably.

For IT Departments Seeking Simplicity

IT teams appreciate how TSplus reduces their workload. Instead of spending countless hours maintaining complex systems, administrators can set up and manage remote access efficiently.

For Out of the Ordinary and Bespoke Infrastructures

Management and IT teams, alike, appreciate the collaborative experience of consolidating their remote infrastructure with TSplus. Clients and partners value both necessary advice, support and contribution from our Support team and others who may become involved, from sales to development.

For Support on Rocky Roads

Not so far different from bespoke setups, it is good to know you can get immediate help if something unpredictable is happening. Through our ticketing system and phone lines, you receive expert support and can be sure to find the right solution in your situation.

For Robust Cyber-protection

Designed with TSplus Remote Access environments in mind, TSplus Advanced Security brings all the tools a business needs to keep their RDP connections secure.

• From the first time it runs, Advanced Security affords your machines protection from a host of known hacker IPs and malicious addresses and starts learning your infrastructure and how you use it. This enables our software to better recognise and stop any out of the ordinary activity and quarantine any affected areas.
• Admins can monitor and manage traffic based on location or IP address, limit connections to specific countries or times of day, and rest easy knowing that Advanced Security’s intelligent Ransomware Protection is keeping an eye on things.

An Invitation to Try the Best Alternative to Citrix

Whatever your hardware set-up, your operating system, your business’ needs, whatever the devices you and your team will be using to access your set-up from any place on the globe, this simple and efficient alternative to Citrix is set to ease your budget How about a 15-day free trial?

In the words of TSplus founder, Dominique Benoit :

The learning curve is as fast as installation, and can be summed up as "Click, click, click, reboot, and you're done! No more long training sessions, tedious set-ups and complicated configurations. Interface elements like toolbars and windows can be modified to your colours and branding. It is also extremely easy to give different users and groups access to specific tools and applications according to your criteria.

Conclusion

Citrix remains a powerful enterprise solution, but for organisations that prioritise simplicity, cost-effectiveness and security, TSplus stands out as the best alternative. Scalable and efficient, it is most importantly easy to use for everyone involved: licence owners, administrators or end-users.

Whether setting up a new Remote Access network or migrating from a Citrix or MS RDS environment, TSplus Remote Access offers a low-risk entry into the world of Remote Desktop and Application Delivery.

Test ease of set up and use as well as intuitive low tech-know-how handling for all the basics: empower your businesses whatever its size, deliver Remote Desktop access and application publishing without complexity or high costs.

There is nothing like a rapid download and an installation in a few clicks when it comes to secure, reliable, future-ready remote access.