Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

STunnel VS ProtonVPN

Compare STunnel VS ProtonVPN and see what are their differences

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STunnel logo STunnel

Stunnel is a proxy designed to add TLS encryption functionality to existing clients and servers without any changes in the programs' code.

ProtonVPN logo ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.
  • STunnel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24
  • ProtonVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

STunnel features and specs

  • Security
    STunnel provides encryption for data that might otherwise be sent over an unencrypted network through its use of SSL/TLS protocols, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of data in transit.
  • Versatility
    STunnel can be used with virtually any network protocol that does not inherently support TLS, allowing it to secure a wide range of applications without requiring code changes.
  • Open Source and Free
    As open-source software, STunnel is available for free, allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute the software with access to the source code.
  • Cross-Platform
    STunnel is available for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing a consistent experience across different environments.
  • Minimal Configuration
    For many use cases, STunnel can be configured with a simple configuration file, which minimizes complexity and reduces the effort required to implement it.

Possible disadvantages of STunnel

  • Latency Overhead
    Because STunnel adds an encryption layer, there might be additional latency in data transmission as a result of the encrypting and decrypting process.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Though it can be easy for basic setups, more complex configurations can become challenging, requiring good knowledge of SSL/TLS protocols and certificate management.
  • Certificate Management
    The need to manage SSL/TLS certificates can add complexity, requiring understanding of certificate creation, distribution, and renewal processes.
  • Limited Functionality
    STunnel is specifically designed for adding TLS to network connections, which means it does not provide features like detailed access controls, logging, or advanced firewall capabilities.
  • Lack of Built-in Auth Protocols
    STunnel itself does not provide built-in authentication mechanisms beyond client and server certificate verification, necessitating additional solutions if more sophisticated authentication is required.

ProtonVPN features and specs

  • Privacy and Security
    ProtonVPN offers strong encryption protocols (AES-256), a no-logs policy, and is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws.
  • Open Source
    The ProtonVPN apps are open source and have been independently audited, which adds to their transparency and trustworthiness.
  • High-Speed Servers
    ProtonVPN provides high-speed servers and supports P2P file sharing, making it suitable for activities like streaming and torrenting.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    It supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux.
  • Free Tier Available
    ProtonVPN offers a free version that has no data limits, although it does come with some restrictions compared to the paid plans.
  • Secure Core
    The Secure Core architecture routes traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries, offering an additional layer of security.

Possible disadvantages of ProtonVPN

  • Price
    ProtonVPN's paid plans are generally more expensive compared to other VPN services with similar features.
  • Limited Free Tier
    The free tier has limited access to servers and slower speeds, which may not be suitable for all users.
  • Streaming Limitations
    Although it supports streaming, some users have reported limitations and inconsistencies when trying to access certain geoblocked content.
  • Device Connection Limit
    The basic plan allows only up to two simultaneous device connections, which might be limiting for some users.
  • No 24/7 Customer Support
    ProtonVPN lacks 24/7 live chat customer support, which could be a drawback for users needing immediate assistance.

STunnel videos

Make a VPN Server with a Raspberry Pi, OpenVPN and Stunnel

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Use TorGuard's Stealth VPN (Openconnect vs OpenVPN Stunnel)
  • Review - Blue Iris - Stunnel

ProtonVPN videos

ProtonVPN Review 2019 - HONEST REVIEW!

More videos:

  • Review - ProtonVPN Review 2020 - WATCH BEFORE YOU BUY
  • Review - ProtonVPN Review 2020 - here is the TRUTH

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to STunnel and ProtonVPN)
Security & Privacy
3 3%
97% 97
VPN
2 2%
98% 98
Cloud VPN
3 3%
97% 97
Security
2 2%
98% 98

User comments

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Reviews

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

STunnel Reviews

We have no reviews of STunnel yet.
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ProtonVPN Reviews

Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
The risks associated with picking a free VPN usually outweigh the pros, but in the case of ProtonVPN that’s a trusted service, you might just get away without paying a single dime for spoofing your location. There are obvious downsides with going for a completely free service – only 3 server locations and no access to geo-restricted Netflix content. However, the moment you...
The Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2022
What’s unique about ProtonVPN is its VPN Accelerator solution combined with a 10 Gbps server network to increase VPN speeds by over 400 percent. It also uses multiple OpenVPN processes for every server and re-engineered OpenVPN for optimum distribution of load.
Source: www.alphr.com
Best NordVPN Alternatives
ProtonVPN hails from a long line of privacy-centric products like ProtonMail. Moreover, CERN scientists are responsible for the company behind this VPN. Thus, it has a reputation to uphold, that of a privacy-centric VPN. Furthermore, the providers also offer a free ProtonVPN version by subsidizing the premium user base. As expected, the company hails from Switzerland and...
Source: vpnwired.com
10 Best NordVPN Alternatives – Safe & Fast VPNs in 2022
ProtonVPN is one of the reliable alternatives of NordVPN when it comes to well-optimized servers. The VPN service has both free and premium plans, but users can’t select servers in the free plan. In total, ProtonVPN has 526 servers in 42 countries, and it’s always known for its ping time and faster speed.
Source: techviral.net
The 10 Best Open Source VPN Apps
If you frequently watch YouTube, you must have at least heard of this VPN application. Not only is ProtonVPN available on all Windows, macOS, and Linux-based systems, but you’ll also find its mobile apps on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. A little background on this app: ProtonVPN has been developed by a team of scientists from MIT and CERN, so you know it’s...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ProtonVPN seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 310 times since March 2021. 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.

STunnel mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of STunnel yet. Tracking of STunnel recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ProtonVPN mentions (310)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing STunnel and ProtonVPN, you can also consider the following products

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.

Windscribe - 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.

AES Crypt - AES Crypt is an advanced file encryption utility that integrates with the Windows shell or runs from the Linux command prompt to provide a simple, yet powerful, tool for encrypting files using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

V2Ray - A platform for building proxies to bypass network restrictions.

NordVPN - NordVPN offers VPN technology that encrypts data twice.