SoftEther VPN
An open-source multi-protocol VPN server and client for remote access and site-to-site networking.
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About SoftEther VPN
SoftEther VPN is a VPN server and client that covers remote access to a LAN, LAN-to-LAN bridges, ad-hoc VPNs and linking cloud machines with local networks. It includes dynamic DNS and NAT traversal, and it can pass through firewalls using SSL-VPN.
The project positions it as a replacement for OpenVPN and hardware VPN appliances, and it supports clients on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. It began at the University of Tsukuba, and the source moved to the Apache license in 2019.
Strengths
- Multi-protocol server covering many VPN setups
- SSL-VPN that passes through restrictive firewalls
- Built-in dynamic DNS and NAT traversal
Limitations
- Configuration has many options and a learning curve
- Documentation site looks dated
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source under the Apache license.
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Developer
- SoftEther VPN Project
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted
- How it runs
- Downloadable app, Self-hosted
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- Administrators setting up their own remote-access or site-to-site VPN
- Categories
- VPN, Network tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to SoftEther VPN
Compare allSoftware that can replace SoftEther VPN for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
OpenVPN Community
The VPN protocol and client that has been the default for two decades, and still runs on everything.
OpenVPN Community is a single-protocol GPL-2.0 VPN supported by nearly every router and provider, with mobile clients, but server configuration is complex.
Pritunl
A self-hosted VPN server for OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPsec, managed through a web interface.
Pritunl manages OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPsec servers through a web interface and adds multi-cloud site-to-site links, instead of SoftEther's own SSL-VPN.
strongSwan
An open-source IPsec VPN implementation using the IKEv2 and IKEv1 key exchange protocols.
strongSwan focuses on standards-based IPsec with a thorough IKEv2 implementation and Android support, configured through files and the command line.
OpenVPN Access Server
A self-hosted business VPN server with a web admin interface, free for two simultaneous connections.
OpenVPN Access Server adds a web admin panel and LDAP, RADIUS and SAML authentication, but is proprietary, Linux only and free for two connections.
ocserv
An open-source Linux SSL VPN server compatible with OpenConnect and AnyConnect clients.
ocserv is a Linux-only SSL VPN server for OpenConnect and AnyConnect clients, with Radius, OpenID Connect and Kerberos authentication.
Libreswan
A free IPsec and IKE VPN implementation for Linux, FreeBSD and macOS.
Libreswan provides standards-based IPsec with IKEv1 and IKEv2 on Linux, FreeBSD and macOS, with no graphical interface and no Windows support.
WireGuard
A small, fast VPN protocol and set of official clients that connect two machines by exchanging public keys.
WireGuard replaces the multi-protocol server with a small, auditable protocol using public-key exchange, but peers need tunnel addresses configured by hand or another tool.
WireGuard Easy
A Docker image that runs a WireGuard VPN server with a web interface for managing clients.
WireGuard Easy runs a WireGuard server with a web interface in one Docker container on Linux, simpler but without multi-protocol or site-to-site features.
SoftEther VPN as an alternative
Listings that name SoftEther VPN as an alternative.
Algo VPN
Ansible scripts that stand up a personal WireGuard and IPsec VPN.
SoftEther VPN is a multi-protocol server and client with SSL-VPN, dynamic DNS and NAT traversal, but its many options bring a learning curve instead of fixed defaults.
AmneziaVPN
Sets up your own VPN server on a machine you rent, then connects to it, with obfuscated protocols for networks that block ordinary VPNs.
SoftEther VPN is a multi-protocol server with SSL-VPN that gets through restrictive firewalls, but you configure it yourself and its many options carry a learning curve.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
OpenConnect
An open-source command-line client for Cisco AnyConnect, GlobalProtect, Fortinet and other SSL VPNs.
OpenVPN Connect
The official OpenVPN client app for connecting to OpenVPN servers from desktop and mobile devices.
VyOS
An open-source network operating system that combines routing, firewall and VPN functions in one platform.
IPFire
A hardened Linux-based firewall distribution with VPN support, network segmentation and a web management console.
OPNsense
An open-source firewall and routing platform based on FreeBSD that you install on your own hardware.
defguard
A self-hosted WireGuard VPN platform with built-in identity management and multi-factor authentication per connection.
