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ThinLinc
ThinLinc · Linköping, Sweden · founded 1992
What it is
ThinLinc centrally hosts Linux applications and desktops in a data center or cloud, allowing remote access from Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers. It is made by ThinLinc, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Linköping, Sweden. The product is described for demanding EDA and CAD workloads and access from different locations. Traffic travels through SSH tunnels and TLS, with encrypted pixels sent to clients. Server features include high availability, fail-over, clustering, load balancing, multiple sessions per user, and single-application publishing. Authentication can use passwords, one-time passwords, public keys, smart cards, or Kerberos tickets. Client downloads are offered for Windows, Mac, and Linux; the Mac client runs natively on Intel and through Rosetta on Apple chips. The free plan supports 10 concurrent users. Standard costs $122/user/yr and Premium costs $168/user/yr, each for 1–10 users and billed in advance. No mobile apps are listed.
For and against
For
- Linux desktop and application hosting
- Windows, macOS, Linux, and browser access
- SSH and TLS traffic protection
- Clustering, fail-over, and load balancing
- Free plan for 10 concurrent users
Against
- No mobile apps are listed
- Free users receive community support
- Email support requires a support agreement
- Paid subscriptions are billed annually in advance
The verdict
ThinLinc combines centralized Linux access with enterprise server features and several authentication methods. Review the concurrent-user limit, annual pricing, and support terms before selecting a plan.
Who it suits
It suits organizations needing centrally hosted Linux desktops or applications on desktop systems and browsers. The listed use cases point to industrial, educational, healthcare, EDA, and CAD environments.
Plans and prices
Community license
Up to 10 concurrent users · No official support
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Standard (500+ users)
500+ concurrent users · Standard subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Premium (500+ users)
500+ concurrent users · Premium subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Standard (11–49 users)
11–49 concurrent users · Standard subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Standard (1–10 users)
1–10 concurrent users · Standard subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Premium (11–49 users)
11–49 concurrent users · Premium subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
ThinLinc Premium (1–10 users)
1–10 concurrent users · Premium subscription
Read 15 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
Free
10 concurrent users · community support · full featured software · upgrades
Read 7 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
Standard
1 to unlimited users · support tickets answered within two business days · upgrades
Read 7 Oct 2026 · cendio.com
On the record
- Administration
- ThinLinc provides web-based administration and command-line administration tools.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- The feature list includes password, one-time password, public key, smart card, and Kerberos ticket authentication.cendio.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Authentication integrations
- ThinLinc uses normal Linux system authentication and can integrate with eDirectory, Active Directory and NIS.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Client device support
- Native clients support Windows, macOS and Linux, while browser access supports modern browsers and mobile devices.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Client platforms
- Client downloads are offered for Windows, Mac, and Linux, while the feature list also includes browser access.cendio.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Company adoption
- Cendio says more than 500 organizations use ThinLinc and more than 120,000 end users access Linux desktops through it each day.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company and audience
- Cendio says it was founded in 1992 and that its customers are mainly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.cendio.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists headquarters in Linköping, Sweden and a company size of 11–50 employees.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company history
- Cendio says it was founded in 1992 by students from Linköping University and changed its legal name to Cendio AB in 2003.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the maker’s legal name as Cendio Aktiebolag, also known as Cendio AB.crunchbase.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment model
- The server converts a regular Linux distribution into a centralized remote-desktop system and can run standalone or in a cluster.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer and IT controls
- The tlclient command supports server, username, configuration-file and other command-line controls, while tlctl manages cluster sessions, load and licenses.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Cendio publishes a versioned Administrator’s Guide covering installation, clients, command-line tools, clustering, configuration and troubleshooting.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Free usage
- The server includes three community licences by default and can be raised to ten concurrent users with a separate community licence file.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Graphics acceleration
- The server lists VirtualGL integration for server-side OpenGL acceleration.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- High availability
- The server supports failover, clustering and load balancing for Linux deployments.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The server is installed from a downloaded bundle with install-server and configured through tl-setup, including master or agent cluster roles.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- ThinLinc is proprietary software licensed per concurrent user; its EULA separately identifies third-party open-source components and their own licences.cendio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
