I've spent a great deal of time researching.
I can't find a free open source option to remote control a Linux desktop. Importantly: I need a solution without port forwarding.

The only option I'm now thinking of is AnyDesk - only after searching and searching.

I need to use for both personal and business purpose. So not looking to cheat and use a free version that is for personal use.

Teamviewer: too expensive.
Bomgar: for millionaires.

ALL other options, for which there are many, need port forwarding.

Have I missed anything?

Thanks.

What do you mean by port forwarding? Do you mean you want to connect to your machine that's behind a router from the Internet?

Do you want to share the whole desktop or only an application? What's the quality of the connection you intend to use it from?

What about just setting up a VPN and forget about the port forwarding?

most solutions like tigervnc (and countless others) require you to log into your router settings and forward a port. this is so that you can access through the IP address. this is a pain and hard for non techies. so OK, i can do this as a one off. but then if the IP changes - as can happen with ISPs, then you have to reconfigure the router again. this is an amazing pain.

understand the problem?
let me know.

am i the only one who is scratching their heads about this?

thanks.

While maybe slightly moderately difficult for the non techie it only needs to be accomplished once.

You can assign a fixed IP address to your computer by using configuring the DHCP server in the router to use an IP reservation.

You can use a free dynamic IP service like noip.com that will automatically resolve your dynamic IP address as provided by your ISP to a URL that you create like myhome.ddns.net

The desired port is then forwarded in the router to the LAN IP address of your computer.

From what little I know Teamviewer and maybe others try to create a direct connection between the server and client. If not then it uses its servers to create a tunnel. Typically a tunnel at least as far as I know is how you connect your cell phone application to your IoT device on your network from anywhere.

Have you looked at GoToMyPC or LogMeIn?

@michaelk
if just the one off ok.
i looked at noip - free for 1 ip i think.
i will end up needing 10 and that figure will grow.
pricing is $29.95 for each domain for the first 5 domains. or am i reading the wrong pricing?

GoToMyPC and LogMeIn cost big bucks.
there are 2 others i found that look reputable. i'll go for one of those.

but so so surprised there is no free version.

ALSO.... i found a few solutions for PC. they were completely free. they looked so dodgy - like a website from 20 years ago. i downloaded exe and checked on virustotal website. got picked up by 10 or more virus checkers for being spam/virus. didn't bother checking if they had a linux version.

so... would love a free solution - that is reputable and used by many many people.

oh well. everything can't be free i suppose.

Noip.com has 3 for free and 25 hostnames for 24.95/yr.

@michaelk thanks for pointing this out.
i think i must have been looking at the wrong page. i did actually see that page before.
$24.95, i can live with.

so... i have a solution and am happier.

but still... i find myself moaning why there isn't a credible alternative for linux similar to teamviewer.