The Best Private Tunnel Alternatives for Enhanced Online Security
Private Tunnel, developed by the OpenVPN team, is a well-regarded solution for securing access, protecting identity, and preventing cyber threats. Trusted by enterprise businesses for mission-critical applications, it offers robust VPN capabilities. However, users often seek Private Tunnel alternatives for a variety of reasons, including specific feature needs, platform compatibility, pricing models, or a desire for open-source solutions. This guide explores some of the top applications similar to Private Tunnel, helping you find the perfect fit for your online privacy and security needs across Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and Linux.
Top Private Tunnel Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a free, open-source, or feature-rich paid service, there are numerous excellent VPN and privacy tools available. Below, we've compiled a list of the best alternatives to Private Tunnel, each offering unique strengths for different user requirements.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a highly secure and encrypted virtual private network (VPN) brought to you by the team behind ProtonMail. It's an excellent Private Tunnel alternative, offering strong anonymity, encrypted VPN, and privacy-focused features. Available on Freemium, Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and F-Droid, it emphasizes no-logs policies and secure browsing, making it ideal for users prioritizing their freedom of expression and online privacy.
Tor
Tor is free portable and open-source software that helps defend against network surveillance and traffic analysis, providing a strong Private Tunnel alternative for extreme anonymity. It's available on Free, Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. Key features include anonymity, a built-in VPN, the ability to bypass censorship, and a strong focus on security, making it perfect for users needing to surf anonymously and protect confidential activities.
Tor Browser
Tor Browser protects your communications by routing them through a distributed network, preventing tracking and unblocking restricted sites. As a free and open-source Private Tunnel alternative, it's available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and OpenBSD. It offers anonymity, privacy-focused browsing, security & privacy features, anti-censorship, built-in VPN, and the ability to surf anonymously, all without needing to install additional software.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is a full-featured open-source SSL VPN solution, making it a direct and powerful Private Tunnel alternative. It supports a wide range of configurations, including remote access and site-to-site VPNs. Available on Free, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Self-Hosted, and Cloudron, it's known for its security focus, anonymity, encrypted VPN, and privacy-focused features, providing a cost-effective and lightweight alternative for both SMEs and enterprises.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN, also mentioned earlier, is a highly secure and encrypted virtual private network (VPN) from the ProtonMail team. It stands out as an excellent Private Tunnel alternative due to its strong emphasis on anonymity, encrypted VPN, and privacy-focused features. As a Freemium and open-source option available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and F-Droid, it provides a robust solution for users in over 150 countries to reclaim their online privacy and freedom of expression, with a strict no-logs policy.
Psiphon
Psiphon is dedicated to an open and accessible internet, providing a solid Private Tunnel alternative for bypassing censorship. As a Freemium and open-source solution, it's available on Windows, Android, and iPhone. Key features include anticensorship capabilities and the ability to hide your IP, allowing users to provide free and unfiltered internet access to the world by running their own servers or connecting to the existing network.
WireGuard
WireGuard is an extremely simple, fast, and modern VPN that utilizes state-of-the-art cryptography. It serves as a high-performance, free, and open-source Private Tunnel alternative, aiming to be faster and leaner than IPSec and OpenVPN. Available on Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, and BSD, its primary features are encrypted VPN and robust VPN functionality, making it suitable for a wide range of devices from embedded interfaces to supercomputers.
Windscribe
Windscribe protects all computer activity from prying eyes and is a powerful Freemium Private Tunnel alternative. It's available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. Features include hiding your IP, ad blocking, bypassing censorship, DNS leak blockage, and a stealth mode to bypass government firewalls, making it an excellent choice for unlocking the internet.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear is a user-friendly app that encrypts and tunnels your internet connection, serving as a straightforward Private Tunnel alternative. Available on Freemium, Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, and as a Software as a Service (SaaS), it allows users to access geo-restricted content and bypass blocked websites easily. Its key features include bypassing censorship and providing VPN functionality.
ZenMate
ZenMate is an easy-to-use browser plugin and VPN solution, making it a convenient Commercial Private Tunnel alternative. It encrypts all browser traffic and routes it through its cloud for a secure and private browsing experience. Available on Mac, Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad, Vivaldi Browser, Chrome, Maxthon, Yandex.Browser, Opera, Chromium, and Firefox, it offers geo-switching, encrypted connection, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to hide your IP for enhanced security and privacy.
Mullvad
Mullvad is an ethical, no-logs VPN provider that offers robust privacy and security features, making it a compelling Commercial and open-source Private Tunnel alternative. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, Chrome OS, Android Tablet, iPad, WireGuard, Qubes OS, OpenWrt, Tomato, IPFire, pfSense, OpenVPN, and DD-WRT, it accepts no personal information for account creation. Key features include WireGuard and OpenVPN support, AES256 encryption, anonymity, Bitcoin payment options, and a strong focus on privacy and security with no logs kept.
Choosing the right Private Tunnel alternative depends on your specific needs, whether that's ironclad anonymity, robust encryption, multi-platform support, or simply a cost-effective solution. Explore these options to find the best VPN service that aligns with your online security and privacy requirements.