Calyx VPN vs Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
Calyx VPN
With CalyxVPN, you can safely encrypt all your network traffic and route it through the Calyx Institute. • Anonymous VPN: No user accounts and no logging. • Anonymous IP Address: When the VPN connection is active, all the servers on the internet will see you as originating from an anonymous IP hosted by Calyx. • Free: This is a free service provided by the Calyx Institute. • Open Source: Both the client and server are 100% free and open source software. • No IPv6 Leaks: CalyxVPN will not leak IPv6 traffic (requires root). • No DNS Leaks: CalyxVPN is configured on both the client and the server to prevent any leaking of DNS. All DNS requests are anonymously handled by Calyx when the VPN is on. • Circumvention: When "Use Bridges" option is enabled, all your traffic is hidden as normal web traffic, in order to circumvent some censorship systems that block VPN traffic. As with all VPNs, CalyxVPN only adds security to your data as it flows over the network. It cannot protect the content of your data that is stored or that you give to a website. It also does not prevent advertising and tracking in your apps or web browser (except when this tracking is based on your IP address).
Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Say hello to a safer, transparent, and secure Android. VPN: Connects to multiple WireGuard VPNs of your choice. Safe: Reveals network activity of installed apps and lets you disable, uninstall, or firewall them. Secure: First line of defense against spyware, ransomware, and malware that steal personal information and takeover accounts. Protects from DNS manipulation typically employed to censor websites, social media, and messaging apps. Fast: DNS Servers deployed to 300+ locations world-wide to ensure your internet is as fast and highly available as it can be. Open: Open source and free of any trackers. ***Features*** Firewall: Prevent apps from connecting to the Internet. Block spyware, malware, ransomware and more. A firewall blocks any app connecting to the Internet over WiFi or Mobile data. Since most forms of surveillance require the data to be sent the network to a server, firewalling them effectively mitigates the threat (File Managers, Alarm Clock, Calculator are few such examples of apps that do not require any Internet access to function). The firewall feature uses Accessibility Service to detect and firewall background applications. Monitoring: Keep tabs on incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. If enabled, the connectivity logs are collected and analyzed. Automated reports flag previously unknown or suspicious connections, and reveal the extent of attempt to steal data by spyware networks. In our tests, around 60% of the traffic is flagged and reported as being initiated by known spyware. Logs generated are made available in near-real time to the user for their own analysis. WireGuard: Secure outgoing Internet traffic. The app uses fast, modern, light-weight, and secure WireGuard protocol to encrypt outgoing connections to any compatible VPN provider of your choice. Anti-censorship: The app encrypts your internet connection to Domain Name System (DNS) server run by Rethink with presence in our 300+ locations world-wide. DNS servers are the address book of the internet: A DNS server provides the exact addresses you need to visit a website or open an app. Data Monitor: Track per-app and per-connection Mobile or WiFi data usage.
| Feature | Calyx VPN | Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | Apache-2.0 |
| Install sources | F-Droid | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Password ManagerVPNMessagingBrowser | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsMessagingBrowser |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |