Side by side from the documentation
Sipeed's NanoKVM is a family. Its GitHub page lists the Cube Lite (a barebones kit), Cube Full (case, accessories and a pre-flashed card), a PCIe-bracket version, and a higher-end NanoKVM-Pro. This comparison uses the standard NanoKVM (Cube and PCIe) column unless noted, because that is the low-cost model people weigh against Comet Pro. [6][5]
| Item | Comet Pro (GL-RM10) | NanoKVM (Cube / PCIe) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 (USD) on GL.iNet's product page, checked 30 Oct 2026; no compare-at sale price shown [4] | No device price on Sipeed's wiki or GitHub; purchase links go to AliExpress, Taobao and a pre-sale page [5][6] |
| Video | 4K at 30 fps HD-out passthrough; 30 to 60 ms feed with H.264 hardware encoding (vendor figures) [4] | 1080p at 60 fps; MJPEG and H.264 [5][6] |
| Local monitor out | HD OUT port for an external monitor [2] | No HDMI loop-out [6] |
| Network | Gigabit LAN or dual-band Wi-Fi 6, with failover [2][4] | 100M Ethernet; PoE and Wi-Fi 6 optional [6] |
| Virtual media | ISO mounting, read-write file sharing drive, USB drive replacement [1] | Emulated USB ISO; storage on 32G microSD [5][6] |
| Power control | Optional ATX board, Fingerbot, Wake-on-LAN [1] | ATX control on Full; none on Lite; Wake-on-LAN [5][6] |
| Remote access | Optional GL.iNet cloud, GLKVM app, Tailscale, ZeroTier, NetBird [2][3] | Tailscale listed for Lite and Full [5] |
| Sign-in security | Two-factor authentication; custom TLS certificate; 4-digit touchscreen lock [1][4] | Default admin/admin; Sipeed says to change it [7] |
| Software licence | Not stated as open source on the pages we read | GPL-3.0 [6] |
Video and day-to-day control
GL.iNet's product page lists 4K at 30 fps for Comet Pro's HD-out passthrough and describes a low-latency feed of 30 to 60 ms with H.264 hardware encoding. It also lists a quad-core CPU, 1GB DDR3L memory, 32GB eMMC storage, a 2.22-inch touchscreen, gigabit LAN and dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with failover between Wi-Fi and Ethernet. [4]
The console guide shows how much is adjustable: WebRTC or Direct transfer (Direct is lowest latency and lossless but has no audio), quality from Auto to Lossless, a Lowest Latency or Smooth Display mode on firmware 1.9.0 and later, two-way audio, and a virtual camera on firmware 1.10.0 and later. [1]
Sipeed lists 1080p at 60 fps for the standard NanoKVM with MJPEG and H.264; its introduction page marks H.264 as work in progress on Lite and Full, while the GitHub table lists both codecs. The NanoKVM-Pro steps up to 4K at 30 fps or 2K at 60 fps, gigabit Ethernet and HDMI loop-out. If your target machine runs a 4K desktop and you want to see it at native resolution, the standard NanoKVM is the wrong model. [5][6]
Network matters for both. The standard NanoKVM has 100M Ethernet; Comet Pro has gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi 6. For remote control over the internet, your upload speed at the target site usually limits picture quality before either port does. [6][4]
Virtual media and power control
Both can reinstall an operating system remotely. GL.iNet's console guide describes Image Mounting, which mounts an ISO as a read-only virtual CD/DVD available during BIOS/UEFI startup, plus File Sharing, a read-write USB drive you can upload to from your computer or a URL. Sipeed says NanoKVM simulates a USB flash drive to mount installation images. [1][5]
Power control is where the cheap options diverge. Comet Pro's console offers three methods, each needing something extra: the GL-ATXPC ATX board (short press to power on, long press to force shutdown, restart), the GL-FGB-01 Fingerbot that physically presses a button, or Wake-on-LAN for devices on the same LAN. GL.iNet's KVM FAQ describes the ATX board as an optional accessory sold separately, so check whether the bundle you buy includes one. [1][3]
Sipeed's introduction lists the NanoKVM Full with an ATX power control interface in USB-C form, and the Lite with none, user-configurable. If you need to hard-reset a frozen PC, budget for the Full kit or Comet Pro's ATX board. [5]
Remote access: cloud, Tailscale or self-hosted
GL.iNet says Comet Pro's cloud service is optional and that remote access needs no open ports or public IP. Its Standard cloud plan is free with one active pathway per device; the paid Advanced plan adds a screen wall, device sharing with up to five users and multiple concurrent pathways. GL.iNet's plan page does not list a price. [3][8]
For people who do not want a vendor cloud, GL.iNet documents Tailscale on the KVM: enable it in Apps Center, bind it to your tailnet, and open the KVM's Tailscale address in a browser, with the GLKVM app and cloud not required. GL.iNet also publishes GLKVM Cloud on GitHub as a self-deployed platform that runs in Docker on a server with at least 1 CPU core, 1 GB of memory and 40 GB of storage, and supports KVM firmware 1.5.0 and later. GL.iNet's product page suggests starting with a 2-core, 2GB RAM cloud server for self-hosting. [9][10][4]
Sipeed's introduction lists Tailscale for the NanoKVM Lite and Full. In practice that means NanoKVM owners bring their own remote path, which suits people who already run Tailscale or a home VPN. [5]
Published security records
Both devices have had a published vulnerability in 2026. NVD lists CVE-2026-5959, an improper authentication flaw in the factory reset handler of GL.iNet GL-RM1, GL-RM10, GL-RM10RC and GL-RM1PE firmware 1.8.1, rated high complexity and fixed in 1.8.2. It lists CVE-2026-32296 for Sipeed NanoKVM before 2.3.1, where the Wi-Fi configuration endpoint lacks proper security checks and an unauthenticated attacker on the network can change the saved Wi-Fi network or exhaust memory; the fix is 2.3.1. [11][12]
Process differs. Sipeed's GitHub security page says no security policy is set up and there are no published advisories. Sipeed's quick start says the default login is admin/admin and recommends changing the password, and notes SSH is disabled by default from version 1.4.0. Comet Pro asks you to set an admin password on first access and offers two-factor authentication. [13][7][2][1]
- Update firmware on day one: Comet Pro to 1.8.2 or later, NanoKVM to 2.3.1 or later. [11][12]
- Change the NanoKVM admin/admin login immediately. [7]
- Do not expose either web interface directly to the internet; use the vendor's documented Tailscale route or cloud. [5][9]
- Turn on two-factor authentication on Comet Pro. [1]
Who should pick which
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No Ethernet near the computer | Comet Pro | Wi-Fi is built in; NanoKVM Wi-Fi is optional on specific models [2][6] |
| Want a local monitor on the same PC | Comet Pro | HD OUT pass-through [2] |
| Want open-source firmware you can audit | NanoKVM | GPL-3.0 licence [6] |
| Need to force power off a frozen PC cheaply | NanoKVM Full | ATX interface included in the kit [5] |
| Want a vendor app and cloud with sharing | Comet Pro | GLKVM app, Standard and Advanced cloud plans [3][8] |
| Only need occasional BIOS access on one home server | Either; cheapest that fits | Both mount ISOs and reach BIOS [1][5] |
Questions before you decide
Can both devices mount an ISO to reinstall an operating system?
Yes. GL.iNet's console guide says Comet Pro's Image Mounting presents an ISO as a read-only virtual CD/DVD that is available during BIOS/UEFI startup. Sipeed's NanoKVM documentation says it simulates a USB flash drive to mount installation images, and its GitHub table lists emulated USB ISO for all models.
Which one can power a dead computer on?
Neither does it alone. GL.iNet offers an ATX board (GL-ATXPC), a Fingerbot button presser and Wake-on-LAN for Comet Pro. Sipeed's NanoKVM Full includes a USB-C ATX power control interface, while the Lite version lists none, user-configurable.
Do I need a cloud account for remote access?
No for both. GL.iNet says Comet Pro's cloud service is optional and documents Tailscale, ZeroTier and NetBird, and GL.iNet publishes a self-hostable GLKVM Cloud. Sipeed's NanoKVM introduction lists Tailscale support on the Lite and Full models.
Have security issues been published for either?
Yes, for both. NVD lists CVE-2026-5959 for GL.iNet GL-RM10 firmware 1.8.1, fixed in 1.8.2, and CVE-2026-32296 for Sipeed NanoKVM before 2.3.1, fixed in 2.3.1. Sipeed's NanoKVM GitHub security page shows no security policy and no published advisories.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- GL.iNet KVM Docs: GL-RM10 console guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet KVM Docs: GL-RM10 quick setup guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet KVM Docs: Quick FAQs about GL.iNet KVM Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet: Comet Pro (GL-RM10) product page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Sipeed Wiki: NanoKVM introduction Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Sipeed NanoKVM on GitHub (README) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Sipeed Wiki: NanoKVM quick start Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet KVM Docs: Which KVM Cloud service plan is right for you Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet KVM Docs: Remote access via Tailscale Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet GLKVM Cloud on GitHub Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NIST NVD API: CVE-2026-5959 (GL.iNet GL-RM10 1.8.1) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NIST NVD API: CVE-2026-32296 (Sipeed NanoKVM before 2.3.1) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Sipeed NanoKVM GitHub security overview Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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