Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Packetriot VS CloudShell

Compare Packetriot VS CloudShell and see what are their differences

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Packetriot logo Packetriot

Serve Apps, Connect Software, Access Devices.

CloudShell logo CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.
  • Packetriot Home Page
    Home Page //
    2024-05-16
  • Packetriot Tunnel Summary Page
    Tunnel Summary Page //
    2024-05-16
  • Packetriot Custom Domain Setup Page
    Custom Domain Setup Page //
    2024-05-16
  • Packetriot Subdomain Reservation Page
    Subdomain Reservation Page //
    2024-05-16

Host web and TCP applications on the Internet from any network or device. Access databases, custom web apps, SSH, media servers and more. Connect to IP video cameras, automation sensors, point of sale systems, a Raspberry Pi, or other devices without a VPN or managing firewalls. Alternative to ngrok.

  • CloudShell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Packetriot

$ Details
freemium $5.0 / Monthly (5 Tunnels, 5 TCP Ports / Tunnels, 1TB of Bandwidth)
Platforms
Windows Linux Mac OSX Cross Platform OpenBSD Docker FreeBSD
Release Date
2019 February
Startup details
Country
United States

CloudShell

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Packetriot features and specs

  • HTTP(s) Tunnels
    Secure TLS tunnels that reverse proxy traffic from our network to your applications running locally.
  • Custom Domains
    Packetriot allows users to set up tunnels with custom domains, providing a personalized and professional touch to their services.
  • IP Filtering
    Block or allow IP addresses to limit access to your applications.
  • Authentication
    The Packetriot client supports Open ID Connect, password portals and 2FA.
  • Security
    HTTPS on by default. TLS reverse tunnels secure all traffic between client and edge server. Docker Scout A+ rating.
  • Ease of Use
    Packetriot provides a web UI for managing tunnels, comprehensive documentation, tutorials and containers for simple install.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    The service supports various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Raspberry Pi, making it versatile and accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Automatic Certificate Management
    Packetriot manages SSL certificates automatically, simplifying the process and enhancing security.
  • Floating Domain Names
    Packetriot provides reserved subdomains that can be dynamically assigned to tunnels and make it simple to maintain persistent endpoints beyond hostnames assigned to tunnels.

CloudShell features and specs

  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudShell

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.

Analysis of Packetriot

Overall verdict

  • Packetriot is generally considered a good solution for individuals and businesses looking to simplify the process of securely exposing local services to the internet. Its reliability, simplicity, and feature set make it a suitable choice for many users.

Why this product is good

  • Packetriot is known for its user-friendly approach to creating secure tunnels to local servers from public endpoints. It is particularly appreciated for its ease of use, comprehensive features, and the ability to support various networking protocols. The platform allows developers and businesses to expose local servers to the internet securely, making it useful for testing, webhooks, and remote access solutions.

Recommended for

    Packetriot is recommended for developers, small businesses, and IT professionals who need to test applications remotely, provide access to local development environments, or create secure tunnels for data transmission. It's also suitable for anyone looking for an easy-to-use alternative to traditional VPNs for exposing services online.

Analysis of CloudShell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

Packetriot videos

Turn Your PC into Your New Home Server: Host Websites with XAMPP on the Internet! - Using Packetriot

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Setup and host Minecraft Server | Packetriot | No port forwarding | Easy tutorial
  • Tutorial - Packetriot Port Opening and Usage 2023
  • Tutorial - Access localhost HTTP/TCP Services from Internet using Packetriot [Hindi]
  • Tutorial - How to host a website from your own computer! (no hosting services)
  • Review - Introduction to packetriot
  • Review - Expose Gitea to Internet from a private network using Packetriot

CloudShell videos

No CloudShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Packetriot and CloudShell)
Localhost Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Tunnel
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Packetriot and CloudShell

Packetriot Reviews

Localtonet | Best Ngrok Alternatives
Packetriot is another ngrok alternative that enables users to securely expose local web services and applications to the internet. It offers features such as custom domains, SSL/TLS encryption, and support for HTTP/2. Packetriot supports various platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, and ARM-based devices like Raspberry Pi
Source: localtonet.com
7 Ngrok Alternatives & Competitors for App Tunneling, Free & Paid
Opt for Packetriot if you prefer paying per tunnel rather than per user (cheaper for large teams).
Source: onboardbase.com

CloudShell Reviews

We have no reviews of CloudShell yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

CloudShell might be a bit more popular than Packetriot. We know about 13 links to it since March 2021 and only 11 links to Packetriot. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Packetriot mentions (11)

  • Ask HN: Those making $500/month on side projects in 2025 โ€“ Show and tell
    I run Packetriot: https://packetriot.com, which is an alternative to ngrok. It's been in operation for 6-ish years and reached $500/month in year two. It doesn't replace my salary (yet) but that's what I'm working toward. Thankful to have thousands of users and some big companies using our services or self-hosting our server. This is a fun space to work in but there's lot of small competitors and opensource... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • List of ngrok/Cloudflare Tunnel alternatives and other tunneling software and services. Focus on self-hosting.
    Packetriot - Comprehensive alternative to ngrok. HTTP Inspector, Let's Encrypt integration, doesn't require root and Linux repos for apt, yum and dnf. Enterprise licenses and self-hosted option. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Tunnelmole, an ngrok alternative (open source)
    I built a similar service as well called Packetriot: https://packetriot.com Building these types of tunneling systems are great projects. You learn a lot and can master skills in many different areas. Packetriot has been operating for five years and the first few years was all spent on performance and stability of the core networking services. As the software and network matured, I spent more time on the... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • glad to see IRC is still alive and kicking... but downloading files via xdcc pops up the prompt to accept the file, which automatically sends the file, but it is unable to connect to the irc user (connection timed out) (my firewall is off)
    Some forums suggest this as an alternative. Looks like there's a free tier to play with. This may be much simpler than running your own VPS (although learning how to do this gives you a hell of a lot of power in terms of doing other things you might want to do). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Open port on KVD21 for Disk Station?
    I use https://packetriot.com/ to set up tunnels to the ports I want to be opened. Pretty cheap and doesn't require a full-fledged VPN. You do however need to have a client program running. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

CloudShell mentions (13)

  • GCP Fundamentals: Cloud Shell API
    The Google Cloud Shell API empowers organizations to automate cloud operations, accelerate software delivery, and improve efficiency. By providing a programmatic interface for managing Cloud Shell environments, the API unlocks new possibilities for developers, SREs, and data teams. Explore the official documentation and try the hands-on lab to experience the benefits of the Cloud Shell API firsthand. ... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue this command to enable the API: gcloud services enable youtube.googleapis.com Confirm all the APIs you've enabled with this command:... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud command-line tool [CLI]) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue the following command to enable all three APIs: gcloud services enable geocoding-backend.googleapis.com... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Getting started with the Google Cloud CLI interactive shell for serverless developers
    While you might find that using the Google Cloud online console or Cloud Shell environment meets your occasional needs, for maximum developer efficiency you will want to install the Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) on your own system where you already have your favorite editor or IDE and git set up. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Cloud desktops aren't as good as you'd think
    Here is the product https://cloud.google.com/shell It has a quick start guide and docs. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Packetriot and CloudShell, you can also consider the following products

ngrok - ngrok enables secure introspectable tunnels to localhost webhook development tool and debugging tool.

GitHub Codespaces - GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

sish - An open source serveo/ngrok alternative. HTTP(S)/WS(S)/TCP Tunnels to localhost using only SSH.

CodeTasty - CodeTasty is a programming platform for developers in the cloud.

Pagekite - Bring your localhost servers on-line.

Glitch - Glitch is the friendly community where everyone builds the web. Simple, powerful interface for creating web apps.