Free, open-source alternatives to ngrok
Expose a local server to the internet. 2 apps you can run yourself instead of ngrok, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
sishBest match
HTTP(S)/WS(S)/TCP tunnels to localhost using only SSH (serveo/ngrok alternative).
Pangolin
Identity-aware tunneled reverse proxy with dashboard UI, access control, and WireGuard-based tunnels (alternative to Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale).
Side by side
Why replace ngrok?
ngrok works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to ngrok?
sish is the closest open-source replacement for ngrok in our list. Pangolin are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to ngrok?
Yes. All 2 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.