Virtual private networks (VPNs) are widely used to safeguard your browsing activity and location, allowing you to bypass geo-blocking and censorship. However, they have vulnerabilities such as potential data leaks from outdated servers, data retention policies, VPN IP address blockages, and slower speeds. While they remain effective for many purposes, you might consider alternatives to VPNs when you can’t access a specific site or app.
Table of Contents
- 1. Onion Routing (Tor)
- 2. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- 3. Privileged Access Management (PAM)
- 4. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
- 5. SSH Tunneling
- 6. Garlic Routing (I2P)
- 7. Smart DNS Solutions
- 8. Privacy-focused Browsers
1. Onion Routing (Tor)
A VPN provides security with advanced encryption, but it happens only once per server. Instead of single-time encryption, try onion routing with the Tor Project, a popular alternative to VPNs. Tor encrypts your data multiple times and sends it through different volunteer-run servers.
These servers don’t know where the data came from, as each layer of encryption is peeled away like an “onion.” The weak points are Tor’s entry nodes, which ISPs can see, but everything beyond that is safer and more anonymous.
Tor is a great alternative to VPNs, especially for accessing the dark web. It can also be used to visit regular websites. If you want to avoid surveillance, tracking, and censorship, Tor offers better traceless browsing than VPNs. However, if you’re looking to play games or stream movies, a VPN is better, as Tor tends to be slower.
Related: if you’re experiencing slow bandwidth due to ISP restrictions on Tor, try these methods to bypass the throttling.
2. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions are common in schools, companies, and other organizational networks. Their main goal is to prevent data leaks by protecting user identities rather than IP addresses. They serve as a strong alternative to VPNs by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to resources.
I use Zoho Vault, which offers a free lifetime account for one user. It secures my passwords with AES 256-bit encryption for accounts like Google, Microsoft, bank accounts, and more. I love that it gives me free access to all IAM features, like inactivity timeout and multi-factor authentication. With its mobile apps and extensions, my passwords are safe and hidden on every browser and device.
Microsoft’s Entra ID and Google’s IAM solutions are other reliable options for identity protection, but they currently don’t offer free trials. There are many premium IAM solutions, such as IdentityForce, which we reviewed earlier. From my past experience working in Sophos, a network security company, I highly recommend ScaleFusion for its amazing features.
3. Privileged Access Management (PAM)
While IAM solutions are great for casual Internet users, they don’t cover the security needs of those with higher access levels, like network administrators, CEOs, or website owners who control user access for everyone. These accounts are prime targets for data thieves and hackers. For instance, the NPD data leak in 2024 exposed millions of personal records.
Hackers often use confidence tricks and social engineering attacks to reach users who control everyone’s access. Even if you think no one outside your organization knows your privileged users, the best way to protect them is by using Privileged Access Management (PAM). It’s like IAM but for administrators and superusers.
I’ve found ManageEngine’s PAM360 to be a great PAM solution. It has a centralized password vault, like other IAMs. But it also offers extra features like role-based password ownership and sharing, automated password resets for privileged accounts that expire to prevent leaks, and the monitoring and recording of user sessions. You can access a free trial on the website.
Important: if the VPN provider doesn’t have a strict no-logs policy, like ExpressVPN’s data wipe on server reboot, your data is at risk of leaking.
4. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Most cyberattacks come through the Internet, but you can use Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) as a VPN alternative to reduce the attack surface. Instead of using the regular Internet, ZTNA relies on a private network of apps that’s off-limits to both internal employees and outside users. During access attempts, everyone must independently verify their authentication, hence the term “zero trust.” The more sensitive the information, the stricter the authentication.
As an example, NordVPN offers a ZTNA solution called NordLayer. It works by allowing only authorized users to connect through the NordLayer app using two-factor authentication, biometrics, and other zero trust protocols. As a network admin, I can seal off all offices globally from intrusions. NordLayer also integrates with NordVPN’s multiple VPN servers for extra security. Ideally, managing a zero trust system shouldn’t even require a network admin.
Also read: ZTNA is commonly used in healthcare organizations to meet regulations like HIPAA. But casual Internet users can also try it with apps like ZeroNet.
5. SSH Tunneling
While a VPN secures your entire network, sometimes you only need to secure a single application or port, or run a remote application securely. In these cases, you can use an SSH tunneling (Secure Shell) application to forward information from that specific application or port. The primary goal of using SSH tunneling is to protect your remote machine’s identity, as you may not want it exposed to the Internet.
If you’re new to SSH tunneling, it can seem technically complex. You’ll need to be familiar with command-line tools, in most cases. On Windows, Linux, and Mac, you can also use applications built for this purpose. You’ll mainly need the local and remote host, port numbers, usernames, and passwords. One useful application is Rebex Buru SFTP server, which is free for non-commercial use.
6. Garlic Routing (I2P)
Like Tor’s onion routing, garlic routing is another decentralized method for accessing remote servers, primarily used by a niche group within the Invisible Internet Project (I2P), which was originally part of Freenet. Unlike Tor, which encrypts a single stream of data multiple times across various servers, garlic routing bundles multiple data streams together, each with its own encryption layers, similar to a garlic clove.
There is no central host as in the case of Tor. Instead, an I2P router console connects you to various sites on the network. You can find various I2P links (called “eepsites”) on this decentralized network for further access.
Although its websites are somewhat becoming outdated, the I2P network is still used by privacy conscious individuals, or those who want to circumvent censorship and surveillance. For many years, I have been using I2P to store private files in an anonymous mailbox which can only be opened from this network.
7. Smart DNS Solutions
Every time you access a website, your device sends DNS requests, which can expose your IP address through browsing activity. While VPNs aim to prevent DNS leaks, many, especially free ones, fall short. A smart DNS solution is an effective, yet lesser-known alternative to VPN to bypass geo-blocking restrictions on streaming sites like Netflix, and can sometimes succeed where VPNs fail.
In one of these smart DNS solutions, SmartDNS by KeepSolid, simply toggle it on to update your DNS to a U.S. location. This allows you to access unlimited content like streaming and TV shows, regardless of your IP address. It’s available as a free trial.
One major advantage of smart DNS solutions is their speed, which relies only on your current ISP configuration. This happens because only your DNS requests are changed, and the data traffic doesn’t bounce across multiple servers, leading to consistency and speed.
8. Privacy-focused Browsers
This is a simple, no-frills solution we’ve saved for last. Instead of dealing with complex software and configurations, or paying for a VPN service, you can download a privacy-focused browser. They often come packed with privacy-centric features that can sometimes offer better true anonymity than VPNs. Some of the best options include Brave, Epic, Vivaldi, and Opera, each offering unique privacy features.
For example, Brave browser has a feature called Fingerprint Randomization, which stops websites from identifying and tracking your browsing activity. Even many advanced VPNs struggle with this, as their encryption isn’t always sufficient. Meanwhile, Epic browser uses encrypted proxies that offer a VPN-like experience and even work on some streaming sites. As you’re getting these benefits for free, it makes these the best and most viable alternatives to VPN.
You can also use normal anonymous proxies as an alternative to VPN but their security is generally weaker. However, if you don’t want to leave behind a trace, and do some quick anonymous surfing, some of these proxies can be used on occasions.
Image Credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer
Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
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