130
Why does every VPN need to rewrite their own client? (programming.dev)
submitted 1 month ago by onlinepersona@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev
29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've been testing VPN services and somehow every one with a client has written their own. Proton, Windscribe, IVPN, Mullvad, AirVPN, NordVPN, and the list goes on.

Don't these services all do the same thing? Connect to a server to get a list of servers, then use WireGuard or OpenVPN to make a connection, and have some fancy stuff like split tunneling or a killswitch. It should just take configuration by adding profiles per service and it should be possible to use the same client.

What am I missing?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 month ago

Followup question: Is there an overview of which VPNs can be used with third party (FOSS) clients and which not? I don't currently use a VPN except a corporate VPN, but may change that in the future.

this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2026
130 points (97.8% liked)

Programming

28551 readers
318 users here now

Welcome to the main community in programming.dev! Feel free to post anything relating to programming here!

Cross posting is strongly encouraged in the instance. If you feel your post or another person's post makes sense in another community cross post into it.

Hope you enjoy the instance!

Rules

Rules

  • Follow the programming.dev instance rules
  • Keep content related to programming in some way
  • If you're posting long videos try to add in some form of tldr for those who don't want to watch videos

Wormhole

Follow the wormhole through a path of communities !webdev@programming.dev

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
snowe@programming.dev
Ategon@programming.dev
UlrikHD@programming.dev
bugsmith@programming.dev
Spyro@programming.dev