Software Alternatives & Startups

Psiphon VS SoftEther

Compare Psiphon VS SoftEther and see what are their differences

Psiphon

Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

Rating
0 reviews
SoftEther

SoftEther VPN ("SoftEther" means "Software Ethernet") is one of the world's most powerful and easy-to-use multi-protocol VPN software. It runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD and Solaris.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Psiphon seems to be a lot more popular than SoftEther. While we know about 28 links to Psiphon, we've tracked only 2 mentions of SoftEther.

social mentions
28 vs 2
VPN popularity
86% vs 14%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 169

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Psiphon
SoftEther
Website psiphon.ca softether.org
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Psiphon 6 features
SoftEther 5 features
  • Open Source
    Psiphon is an open-source tool, allowing security experts and users to examine the code for vulnerabilities or backdoors.
  • Easy to Use
    Psiphon offers a user-friendly interface which makes it accessible for people who are not tech-savvy.
  • Multiple Platform Support
    It is available for Windows, Android, and iOS, which makes it versatile and usable across different devices.
  • Effective Censorship Circumvention
    Psiphon is effective at bypassing various forms of internet censorship, making it popular in regions with heavy internet restrictions.
  • Free Version Available
    Psiphon offers a free version with basic features, making it accessible to users without financial means.
  • Automatic Protocol Selection
    Psiphon automatically selects the best available protocol to ensure users can bypass censorship effectively.

Possible disadvantages

  • Speed Limitations
    The free version has limited speed, which may not be suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming or gaming.
  • Data Usage Logging
    Psiphon logs some data usage information on their servers. While not personal data, this could still be a concern for privacy-focused users.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version contains ads, which may interrupt the user experience or turn off potential users.
  • Not a Full VPN
    Psiphon is primarily a circumvention tool rather than a full-fledged VPN, lacking some security features found in dedicated VPN services.
  • Limited Server Locations
    Psiphon has fewer server locations compared to leading VPNs, which may affect connection speeds and access to geographically restricted content.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    SoftEther VPN is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD, and Solaris, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • Multi-Protocol Support
    It supports multiple VPN protocols such as SSL-VPN, L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN, and Microsoft SSTP, offering users various options for connectivity depending on their needs and configurations.
  • High Performance
    Optimized for fast network throughput, SoftEther VPN can handle high-speed internet connections efficiently, which is ideal for transferring large volumes of data.
  • Free and Open Source
    As a free and open-source software, SoftEther VPN allows users to access and modify the source code, fostering customization and transparency.
  • Strong Security Features
    It provides robust security features including AES encryption and RSA certificate authentication, ensuring secure data transmission over the network.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    Although powerful, SoftEther VPN may have a steep learning curve for users who are not familiar with network configurations, potentially causing difficulty in initial setup.
  • Limited Native Client Support
    While SoftEther VPN supports a range of protocols, it lacks native clients across all platforms, which may require third-party software for full functionality.
  • Dependency on System Resources
    Running SoftEther VPN, especially on detailed configurations, may require significant system resources, which could impact performance on lower-end devices.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, support primarily comes from community forums, which might result in slower response times for troubleshooting critical issues.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Psiphon
SoftEther

Overall verdict

  • Psiphon is generally considered a reliable tool for accessing blocked websites and protecting user privacy, particularly in regions with severe internet censorship. It is praised for its ease of use, cross-platform availability, and its commitment to transparency through open-source development.

Why this product is good

  • Psiphon is a widely used open-source circumvention tool designed to provide internet freedom by bypassing censorship and content filtering. It utilizes a combination of secure communication and obfuscation technologies to ensure users can access restricted content while maintaining privacy and anonymity.

Recommended for

  • Users in countries with stringent internet censorship
  • Individuals seeking to bypass website restrictions
  • People looking for a simple and effective privacy tool
  • Users who do not require high-speed performance for streaming or heavy data transfer

No analysis of SoftEther yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Psiphon 2 videos + Add
SoftEther 2 videos + Add

Psiphon 3 Review!

More videos

  • - UNLIMITED INTERNET NEW SET UP PSIPHON PRO VPN WORKING TO ALL NETWORK

SoftEther VPN short review and testing (2018) FREE!

More videos

  • - SoftEther VPN Server Review and Tutorial

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Psiphon
SoftEther
86% 86%
VPN
14% 14%
74% 74%
26% 26%
89% 89%
11% 11%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Psiphon and SoftEther. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Psiphon no reviews yet
SoftEther no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Psiphon 28 mentions
SoftEther 2 mentions
  • Ask HN: The government of my country blocked VPN access. What should I use?
    I would recommend Psiphon [1,2] most (all?) of their code is open source and their main goal is to get around censorship blocks. They do have some crypto side projects but the main product is very solid. [1] https://psiphon.ca/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Fortiguard workaround?
    These should be able bypass FortiGuard. Speeds will be slow though. 1. Psiphon. 2. Your Freedom VPN. 3. Puffin Browser. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Mullvad is completely blocked in Russia
    Psiphon should work and it is free but they have limits on speed. Source: about 3 years ago

View more

  • Best VPN hardware device for small size team?
    You can try softether.org, you just need to set it up on a computer in the office that is always running. Source: about 3 years ago
  • I need help.
    I recommend SoftEther. simple, fast and doesn't take much space, the download site is softether.org Ghost clients are the clients that have amazing bypasses for huge servers such as mineplex and hypixel, most free ghost clients are... Source: over 4 years ago

Alternatives to Psiphon and SoftEther

When comparing Psiphon and SoftEther, you can also consider the following products.