{
 "schemaVersion": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-30",
 "dataLicense": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
 "notice": "Data from Open Source Everything (https://opensourceeverything.org), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0: use it freely, credit the site, link to the page, and share changes under the same license. Listings were drafted with AI assistance and are managed by the r/TrueOpenSource moderators; check a project's own page before relying on a fact.",
 "id": "privacy-vpn",
 "name": "VPN for privacy",
 "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/privacy-vpn/",
 "category": "web",
 "categoryName": "Browsers, privacy & security",
 "job": "Hiding your internet traffic, appearing to connect from another place and getting around internet blocks",
 "closedApps": [
  "NordVPN",
  "ExpressVPN",
  "Surfshark",
  "CyberGhost"
 ],
 "coverage": "partial",
 "alternatives": [
  {
   "id": "mullvad-vpn",
   "name": "Mullvad VPN",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/mullvad-vpn/",
   "summary": "Mullvad's VPN app hides your internet traffic from your network and shows a different location to websites. The app's code is open and has been independently audited, but the paid VPN service and its servers are run by Mullvad and are not open source.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "mac",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 7705,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/mullvad/mullvadvpn-app",
   "website": "https://mullvad.net/en/vpn",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "mullvad-vpn",
   "rank": 1,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "App is open; the paid service and servers are not",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Easy setup",
   "score": 44.7
  },
  {
   "id": "proton-vpn",
   "name": "Proton VPN",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/proton-vpn/",
   "summary": "Proton VPN hides your internet traffic and your location from websites. Its apps for phones and computers are open source and independently audited. The VPN service itself has a free plan and paid plans, and its servers are Proton's, not open source.",
   "kind": "app",
   "setup": "easy",
   "setupWhy": "Install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "mac",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios"
   ],
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 4213,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/ProtonVPN/android-app",
   "website": "https://protonvpn.com",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "proton-vpn",
   "rank": 2,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "Apps are open; the service and servers are not",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Easy setup",
   "score": 40.9
  },
  {
   "id": "outline-vpn",
   "name": "Outline VPN",
   "page": "https://opensourceeverything.org/p/outline-vpn/",
   "summary": "Outline lets you set up your own private VPN on a server you rent, then share access with friends and family through a simple app. You control the server, but you only get the one location where you rented it.",
   "kind": "self_hosted",
   "setup": "advanced",
   "setupWhy": "You run it on your own server (a computer you set up and keep running), or from the command line.",
   "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "mac",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios",
    "server"
   ],
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "licenseClass": "open",
   "licenseNeedsCheck": false,
   "stars": 6257,
   "forks": null,
   "status": "active",
   "verified": false,
   "latestRelease": null,
   "code": "https://github.com/Jigsaw-Code/outline-server",
   "website": "https://getoutline.org",
   "download": null,
   "release": null,
   "family": null,
   "familyChildren": [],
   "howToHelp": null,
   "project": "outline-vpn",
   "rank": 3,
   "fit": "partial",
   "note": "You rent and run your own server, so you get one location",
   "why": "Does part of the job · Advanced setup",
   "score": 31.4
  }
 ],
 "source": "https://opensourceeverything.org/g/privacy-vpn/",
 "group": "VPN for privacy",
 "replaces": [
  "NordVPN",
  "ExpressVPN",
  "Surfshark",
  "CyberGhost"
 ]
}