Shadowsocks AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Anonymizing Networks

The best Anonymizing Network alternative to Shadowsocks is Tor, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Shadowsocks and 17 are Anonymizing Networks so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Anonymizing Network alternatives to Shadowsocks are I2P, Hyphanet, Snowflake Tor and GNUnet.

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Shadowsocks alternatives are mainly VPN Services but may also be VPN Clients or Anonymizing Networks.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Shadowsocks.
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A fast tunnel proxy that helps you bypass firewalls.

More about Shadowsocks
Shadowsocks alternatives page was last updated Oct 28, 2023
  1. Tor icon
     1756 likes

    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.

    63 Tor alternatives
    Tor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Online Anonymity
    2.  Bypass Censorship
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Debian package compatible
    5.  No Logs
    6.  Portable
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Torrenting
    9.  Graphical User Interface
    10.  Support for FTP
    11.  Decentralized
    12.  Anonymous Proxy
    Tor iconShadowsocks Icon

    Tor VS Shadowsocks

    Is Tor a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
    • 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, Privacy focused and DecentralizedShadowsocks is not according to our users
  2. I2P icon
     216 likes

    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.

    49 I2P alternatives
    I2P screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Anonymous Email
    3.  Online Anonymity
    4.  Built-In Proxy
    5.  No Logs
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Anonymous Proxy
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No registration required
    12.  P2P Network
    I2P iconShadowsocks Icon

    I2P VS Shadowsocks

    Is I2P a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  3. Hyphanet icon
     169 likes

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

    53 Hyphanet alternatives
    Hyphanet screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Hyphanet Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Fully anonymous
    5.  Java based
    6.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing
    7.  Peer-To-Peer
    8.  Virtual filesystem
    Hyphanet iconShadowsocks Icon

    Hyphanet VS Shadowsocks

    Is Hyphanet a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  4. Snowflake Tor icon
     50 likes

    Snowflake is a system to defeat internet censorship. People who are censored can use Snowflake to access the internet. Their connection goes through Snowflake proxies, which are run by volunteers.

    218 Snowflake Tor alternatives
    Snowflake Tor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Bypass Censorship
    2.  Tor
    3.  No Censorship
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  No Logs
    Snowflake Tor iconShadowsocks Icon

    Snowflake Tor VS Shadowsocks

    Is Snowflake Tor a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  5. GNUnet icon
     80 likes

    GNUnet is a framework for secure peer-to-peer networking that does not use any centralized or otherwise trusted services. A first service implemented on top of the networking layer allows anonymous censorship-resistant file-sharing.

    58 GNUnet alternatives
    Besides command line tools, GNUnet provides a graphical user interface: gnunet-gtk. Here are some screenshots of gnunet-gtk and its features and ports.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing
    3.  Decentralised Name System
    4.  Modularity
    5.  Overlay network
    6.  Peer-To-Peer
    7.  Mesh network
    8.  Distributed
    GNUnet iconShadowsocks Icon

    GNUnet VS Shadowsocks

    Is GNUnet a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  6. Outline VPN icon
     23 likes

    Journalists need safe access to information to research issues, communicate with sources, and report the news. Outline lets news organizations easily provide their network safer access to the open internet.

    183 Outline VPN alternatives
    Outline VPN screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Homebrew

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Encrypted VPN
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  OpenVPN
    7.  Portable
    8.  No Logs
    9.  AES-256 Encryption
    10.  Shadowsocks
    11.  AES Encryption
    Outline VPN iconShadowsocks Icon

    Outline VPN VS Shadowsocks

    Is Outline VPN a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  7. i2pd (I2P Daemon) icon
     20 likes

    I2P (Invisible Internet Protocol) is a universal anonymous network layer. All communications over I2P are anonymous and end-to-end encrypted, participants don't reveal their real IP addresses.

    78 i2pd (I2P Daemon) alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Raspberry Pi
    • C++
    • I2P
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Anonymous Proxy
    5.  No Logs
    6.  No registration required
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Internal torrent network
    i2pd (I2P Daemon) iconShadowsocks Icon

    i2pd (I2P Daemon) VS Shadowsocks

    Is i2pd (I2P Daemon) a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  8. Nym icon
     5 likes

    Nym provides strong network-level privacy against sophisticated end-to-end attackers, and anonymous transactions using blinded, re-randomizable, decentralized credentials.

    59 Nym alternatives
    Nym screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Arch Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  Decentralized
    4.  Shadowsocks
    5.  No Logs
    6.  WireGuard
    7.  No registration required
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Anonymous Proxy
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  WEB3
    Nym iconShadowsocks Icon

    Nym VS Shadowsocks

    Is Nym a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  9. Freegate icon
     79 likes

    Freegate is an anti-censorship software for secure and fast Internet access. It was developed and maintained by Dynamic Internet Technology Inc. (DIT), a pioneer in censorship-circumvention operation.

    177 Freegate alternatives
    Freegate screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Wine

    Freegate Features

    1.  Anonymous Proxy
    2.  Anticensorship
    3.  Bypass Firewall
    4.  Online Anonymity
    5.  Bypass Censorship
    Warning

    The installer is detected as malicious by some antiviruses: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/20017fd064a42e743ecb6f6fd5b8b60efc21e7f3979b07fcd23a811514f23111

    Freegate iconShadowsocks Icon

    Freegate VS Shadowsocks

    Is Freegate a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  10. Hide.me icon
     19 likes

    The most advanced and fastest privacy protection available. Try it for free! Trusted by more than 5 million users worldwide.

    197 Hide.me alternatives
    Hide.me screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No Logs
    3.  WireGuard
    4.  VPN Kill Switch
    5.  AES-256 Encryption
    6.  OpenVPN
    7.  Split Tunneling
    8.  Block Trackers
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Built-in Firewall
    Hide.me iconShadowsocks Icon

    Hide.me VS Shadowsocks

    Is Hide.me a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  11. Holy Unblocker icon
     2 likes

    Holy Unblocker is a secure web proxy service with support for many sites. Bypass filters and freely enjoy a safer private browsing experience or unblock websites on devices such as Chromebooks and at places like school or work without downloading anything.

    15 Holy Unblocker alternatives
    Holy Unblocker screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Anonymous Proxy
    2.  Built-in VPN
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Logs
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Decentralized
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Block Trackers
    11.  Bypass Censorship
    12.  Web-Based
    Holy Unblocker iconShadowsocks Icon

    Holy Unblocker VS Shadowsocks

    Is Holy Unblocker a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
  12. iTop VPN icon
     4 likes

    iTop VPN is a fast and free VPN to help break Geo-restrictions, protect browsing privacy, and access unlimited video games, music, social media, and streaming with blazing-fast speed.

    180 iTop VPN alternatives
    iTop VPN screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Logs
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  No registration required
    4.  AES-256 Encryption
    5.  Bypass Firewall
    6.  Bypass Censorship
    iTop VPN iconShadowsocks Icon

    iTop VPN VS Shadowsocks

    Is iTop VPN a good alternative to Shadowsocks?
     
12 of 17 Shadowsocks alternatives