Shadowsocks AlternativesTop VPN Services and other similar apps like Shadowsocks

Shadowsocks is described as 'A fast tunnel proxy that helps you bypass firewalls' and is a very popular VPN service in the security & privacy category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Shadowsocks for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone and Linux apps. The best Shadowsocks alternative is Tor, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Shadowsocks are Proton VPN, Mullvad, OpenVPN Connect and WireGuard.

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Shadowsocks alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Tor icon

    Tor

     1808 likes
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    Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security.

    61 Tor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Tor screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Tor as an Alternative to Shadowsocks
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Shadowsocks is a system wide proxy whilst tor's onions are only used in the browser

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Shadowsocks Icon
    Tor icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Tor is a great Shadowsocks alternative.

    • Tor is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • Tor is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • Tor is Free and Open SourceShadowsocks is also Free and Open Source
    • Tor is Security-focused and Privacy focusedShadowsocks is not according to our users
  2. Proton VPN icon

    Proton VPN

     479 likes
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    Proton VPN provides Swiss-based online security with a high-speed network, free version, and advanced features like VPN Accelerator, AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and support for platforms including PCs and smartphones, enabling content access globally.

    232 Proton VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Flatpak
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Proton VPN screenshot 1
     

    • Proton VPN is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • Proton VPN is Freemium and Open SourceShadowsocks is Free and Open Source
    • Proton VPN is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightShadowsocks is not according to our users
  4. Mullvad icon

    Mullvad

     255 likes
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    Mullvad is a VPN service that helps keep your online activity, identity, and location private.

    223 Mullvad alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • WireGuard
    • Tor
    • OpenWrt
    • Tomato
    • pfSense
    • DD-WRT
    Mullvad screenshot 1
     

    • Mullvad is the most popular Web-based alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • Mullvad is the most popular commercial alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • Mullvad is Paid and Open SourceShadowsocks is Free and Open Source
    • Mullvad is Privacy focused and LightweightShadowsocks is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Avast SecureLine VPN icon
    Avast SecureLine VPN

    You shouldn’t have to worry about employers, advertisers, governments, or your own ISP snooping on what you do online. So don’t. Just flick a switch, and your online activities are hidden away.

    https://www.avast.com
    Learn More
  6. OpenVPN Connect icon

    OpenVPN Connect

     762 likes
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    OpenVPN Connect provides flexible VPN solutions to secure your data communications, whether it's for Internet privacy, remote access for employees, securing IoT, or for networking Cloud data centers.

    55 OpenVPN Connect alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 1
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 2
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 3
     
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    • Most users think OpenVPN Connect is a great Shadowsocks alternative.

    • OpenVPN Connect is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Shadowsocks.

    • OpenVPN Connect is Freemium and Open SourceShadowsocks is Free and Open Source
    • OpenVPN Connect is Security-focused, Privacy focused and LightweightShadowsocks is not according to our users
  7. WireGuard icon

    WireGuard

     256 likes
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    Implements modern cryptographic standards, maintains a small codebase for security auditing, ensures fast cross-platform VPN performance, supports embedded and enterprise environments, offers easy deployment, IPv4/IPv6, secure key exchange, and mobile app support.

    55 WireGuard alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenWrt
    • Termux
    WireGuard screenshot 1
     
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  8. Tor VPN icon

    Tor VPN

     49 likes
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    A VPN that grants network-level privacy on mobile by routing app traffic through Tor, assigns each app a separate circuit for improved separation, bypasses app-level censorship, features per-app routing, security via Rust-based implementation, and awaits early adopter feedback.

    55 Tor VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Tor VPN screenshot 1
    Tor VPN screenshot 2
    Tor VPN screenshot 3
     
  10. Windscribe icon

    Windscribe

     170 likes
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    Windscribe is a desktop application and browser extension that work together to block ads and trackers, restore access to blocked content and help you safeguard your privacy online.

    217 Windscribe alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    Windscribe screenshot 1
    Windscribe screenshot 2
    Windscribe screenshot 3
     
  11. I2P icon

    I2P

     230 likes
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    The I2P network provides strong privacy protections for communication over the Internet. Many activities that would risk your privacy on the public Internet can be conducted anonymously inside I2P.

    46 I2P alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    I2P screenshot 1
     
  12. Psiphon icon

    Psiphon

     250 likes
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    Enjoy unfiltered Internet access globally using Psiphon's open-source VPN. It offers AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, WireGuard support, and more, all without requiring user registration. Perfect for communities in censored regions and those seeking privacy-focused alternatives.

    192 Psiphon alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Psiphon screenshot 1
    Psiphon screenshot 2
    Psiphon screenshot 3
     
  13. Hyphanet icon

    Hyphanet

     182 likes
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    Hyphanet (former Freenet) is free software which lets you anonymously share files, browse and publish "freesites".

    52 Hyphanet alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Hyphanet screenshot 1
     
  14. Obscura VPN icon

    Obscura VPN

     17 likes
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    Privacy-focused VPN without IP or traffic logs, ensuring user anonymity with random logins; supports Bitcoin payments, uses end-to-end encryption through WireGuard; excels in bypassing internet filters and maintaining user anonymity with two-party protocol involving exit servers operated by Mullvad.

    70 Obscura VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    Obscura VPN screenshot 1
     
  15. RiseupVPN icon

    RiseupVPN

     40 likes
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    Riseup offers Personal VPN service for censorship circumvention, location anonymization and traffic encryption. To make this possible, it sends all your internet traffic through an encrypted connection to riseup.net, where it then goes out onto the public internet.

    116 RiseupVPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • Snapcraft
    Main
    Preferences
    About
     
12 of 187 Shadowsocks alternatives