Using a VPN offers numerous benefits, including increased security and online privacy. While commercial VPN services like ProtonVPN are a common choice, a self-hosted solution can ensure total control over configuration and data traffic management. It also allows you to avoid any restrictions imposed by commercial VPN providers, such as blocking certain ports or reducing bandwidth. A self-hosted VPN is also a more reliable solution for business infrastructure or needs secure remote access to internal resources.
Why Choose a VPN/Proxy Self-Hosted?
Self-hosted solutions have several advantages over commercial VPN services:
- dedicated IP address: Useful to ensure secure access to its services and prevent blocking shared IP addresses.
- Log control: Business provider no-logging policies may not be reliable. With a self-hosted VPN, you have full control over recorded data.
- Increased safety: Possibility to configure access lists (IP whitelists) to protect your web applications.
- Versatility: The VPN server can also be used for other purposes, such as hosting a private cloud.
Below, an analysis of five self-hosted VPN solutions available.
1. OpenConnect VPN
OpenConnect is an open-source implementation of the Cisco AnyConnect protocol, mainly used in business and academic fields.
Features:
- Light and fast.
- Compatible with Linux and BSD.
- Clients available for Linux, macOS, Windows, OpenWRT, Android and iOS.
- Supports password and certificate authentication.
- Resistant to deep packet inspection (DPI), thanks to the use of HTTPS protocol.
Ideal for: who needs a fast and resistant VPN to national firewalls.
2. OpenVPN
OpenVPN is one of the most widely used open-source VPN solutions, known for its flexibility and security.
Features:
- Compatible with Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS.
- Supports SSL/TLS, TCP/UDP tunnel, NAT and bridging ethernet.
- Scalable up to thousands of users.
- Configurable with pre-shared keys or SSL/TLS certificates.
Ideal for: users looking for a secure and highly configurable VPN solution.
3. WireGuard
WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol designed to be fast and secure, with a simplified structure compared to OpenVPN and IPSec.
Features:
- High performance, higher than OpenVPN.
- Multiplatform support (Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, OpenWRT).
- Authentication by public key exchange (similar to SSH).
- Maintaining stable connection between Wi-Fi and mobile networks.
Ideal for: who wants the fastest VPN available.
4. SoftEtherVPN
SoftEther VPN is a multi-protocol VPN software developed by Tsukuba University in Japan.
Features:
- Supports multiple VPN protocols (OpenVPN, L2TP, IPSec, SSTP, SoftEther owner).
- Compatible with Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD and Solaris servers.
- Includes an HTML5 administration console.
- Supports VPN over ICMP and VPN over DNS to bypass restrictive firewalls.
Ideal for: users who want a flexible solution with support for multiple VPN protocols.
5. ♪
V2Ray is not really a VPN, but an advanced proxy based on the Socks5 protocol, designed to evade Internet censorship.
Features:
- Light and fast.
- Supports Linux, BSD, macOS and Windows.
- It can operate on TCP port 443 with TLS encryption, simulating HTTPS traffic.
- Includes a routing system to filter traffic according to your needs.
Ideal for: users who need a solution to evade firewalls and geographical restrictions.
VPN combinations on a Single Server
You can combine multiple VPN protocols on one server. Some recommended configurations:
- OpenConnect VPN + OpenVPN + WireGuard + V2Ray
- SoftEther VPN + WireGuard + V2Ray
OpenConnect and SoftEther both use TCP port 443, so they cannot coexist on a single server. However, SoftEther includes an OpenVPN implementation, making a separate installation of OpenVPN useless.
