If you’ve ever tried to share a local web app, test a webhook, or run a demo from your laptop, you already know the biggest problem: localhost isn’t reachable from the outside world.
That’s why tools like Cloudflare Tunnel have become so popular. They let you expose a local service to the internet without opening ports, configuring routers, or buying a public IP.
But Cloudflare Tunnel isn’t always the perfect fit.
Maybe you want UDP support, maybe you don’t want to be tied into one ecosystem, or maybe you simply want something lighter and faster for quick testing. Whatever the reason, the tunneling world in 2026 offers plenty of great alternatives.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top 10 Cloudflare Tunnel alternatives, with uses, pros, cons, installation steps, and pricing, so you can pick the right one for your workflow.
Overview of Cloudflare Tunnel (Quick Refresher)
Cloudflare Tunnel (previously Argo Tunnel) creates a secure outbound connection from your local machine or server to Cloudflare’s network. This makes your application reachable from the internet without directly exposing your device.
Pros of Cloudflare Tunnel
- Strong built-in security, including firewall and DDoS protection
- Simple setup with minimal configuration
- SSL certificates included
- Reliable routing using Cloudflare’s global infrastructure
Cons of Cloudflare Tunnel
- Requires Cloudflare account and configuration
- Can become costly at scale
- Locks you into Cloudflare’s ecosystem
- No UDP tunnels
Pricing
Cloudflare Tunnel works with Cloudflare’s free plan for basic use. Paid plans for advanced capabilities start at around $20/month depending on the tier.
List of the Best Cloudflare Tunnel Alternatives (2026)
- Pinggy
- Ngrok
- Tailscale
- LocalXpose
- Zrok
- Localtunnel
- localhost.run
- Rathole
- Tunnelmole
- Frp
Now let’s go one by one.
1) Pinggy.io
Pinggy is built for developers who just want a tunnel that works without unnecessary setup pain. It’s lightweight, terminal-friendly, and especially handy when you need to share an app fast.
Uses
- Sharing dev builds with teammates or clients
- Testing webhooks
- Quick demos and debugging
- Exposing both TCP and UDP services
Pros
- Very simple setup, no complicated installation
- Terminal-based workflow (ideal for devs)
- QR code generation for tunnel URLs
- Built-in request inspection for HTTP traffic
- Custom domain mapping support
- Supports both TCP and UDP tunnels
- Collaboration-friendly tunnel sharing
- Budget-friendly compared to many alternatives
Cons
- No OAuth 2.0 for tunnel visitor authentication
- No global edge load balancing
Installation / Command
Example for exposing a React app running at localhost:3000:
ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:3000 a.pinggy.io
Pricing
- Free tier: tunnels up to 60 minutes
- Paid plans start at $2.50/month
2) Ngrok
Ngrok is the most recognized tunneling tool for a reason. It provides a polished developer experience, powerful features, and excellent traffic inspection tools.
Uses
- API testing
- Webhook development (Stripe, GitHub, Twilio, etc.)
- Demo apps over HTTPS
- Secure temporary deployments
Pros
- Works on Windows, macOS, Linux
- Strong security options: OAuth, JWT, IP whitelisting
- Powerful dashboard for monitoring tunnels
- API for automation and control
- Excellent request/response inspection
- Custom domains available
Cons
- No UDP tunnels
- Requires account signup
- Free plan has limited bandwidth
Installation / Command
Download and run:
./ngrok http 8080
Pricing
Starts at $8/month, depending on features.
3) Tailscale
Tailscale is technically not a tunneling tool in the traditional sense. Instead, it creates a private mesh VPN using WireGuard. But for many teams, it replaces tunnels entirely.
Uses
- Private access to internal tools
- Connecting devices securely (laptop, cloud VM, NAS, phone)
- Remote development environments
- Team collaboration without exposing services publicly
Pros
- Secure direct peer-to-peer connections
- Simple setup and smooth UX
- Runs on almost every platform, including mobile
- Strong identity-based access control
- Handles NAT traversal automatically
- Easy device management
Cons
- More of a private-network solution than a “public tunnel”
- Might feel complex if you’re new to VPN tools
Installation / Command
Install and enable:
sudo tailscale up
Pricing
- Free plan for personal use
- Paid plans from $5/user/month
4) LocalXpose
LocalXpose stands out by offering a full GUI alongside tunneling features. It’s a good choice for users who want more visual control.
Uses
- Sharing local websites easily
- Remote access for non-technical users
- File sharing through public URLs
- Team tunnel collaboration
Pros
- Supports HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP
- Custom domains supported
- GUI makes tunnel control simple
- Built-in file server
- Wildcard domain support
- Multi-user collaboration
Cons
- Requires installation
- Documentation isn’t as deep as older tools
Installation / Command
After install:
./localxpose http 3000
Pricing
Starts at $6/month, with a limited free tier.
5) Zrok
Zrok is an open-source tunneling alternative built with a strong focus on zero-trust networking. It’s for people who want control and security over convenience.
Uses
- Secure sharing of internal tools
- Private access to services without exposing them publicly
- Zero-trust file/resource sharing
Pros
- Transparent and customizable (open source)
- Secure access model with explicit permissions
- Simplifies IP handling and connectivity
- Supports file sharing
- Supports TCP and UDP
Cons
- Setup can feel complex for beginners
- No built-in traffic inspection like Ngrok
Installation / Command
Clone and follow setup guide:
git clone https://github.com/openziti/zrok
Pricing
Free, but requires self-hosting.
6) Localtunnel
Localtunnel is one of the simplest tools for quickly sharing localhost. If your goal is speed and simplicity, it still holds up in 2026.
Uses
- Quick demos
- Sharing frontend previews
- Temporary public testing
Pros
- Easy npm installation
- Works on any platform with Node.js
- Minimal setup, instant tunnel
- Can choose subdomains
- Community-supported project
Cons
- No TCP support
- No custom domains
- Requires Node.js installed
Installation / Command
npm install -g localtunnel
lt --port 3000
Pricing
Free.
7) localhost.run
localhost.run is for those moments when you don’t want to install anything at all. It works using SSH and gives you a tunnel instantly.
Uses
- One-time demos
- Quick webhook tests
- Temporary sharing of local apps
Pros
- No installation required
- No account needed
- Works anywhere SSH works
- Great for fast, disposable tunnels
Cons
- Limited features
- No TCP/UDP tunneling
- No advanced monitoring
Installation / Command
ssh -R 80:localhost:3000 localhost.run
Pricing
Free.
8) Rathole
Rathole is a high-performance reverse proxy written in Rust. It’s aimed at users who prefer self-hosting and want speed with strong encryption.
Uses
- Home lab tunnels
- Exposing services via VPS
- Game servers or streaming services
- High-throughput tunneling
Pros
- Fast and lightweight (Rust)
- Secure encryption using Noise Protocol
- Open source
- Cross-platform support
- No bandwidth limits beyond your own server
Cons
- Requires self-hosting with a public server
- TOML-based config might feel less friendly than CLI-only tools
Installation / Command
Example client config:
[client]
remote_addr = "your-server-ip:2333"
[client.services.myservice]
local_addr = "127.0.0.1:3000"
Run:
./rathole client.toml
Pricing
Free (you only pay for VPS hosting).
9) Tunnelmole
Tunnelmole is a newer open-source tunneling tool designed for simplicity. If you want “just give me HTTPS and a URL,” it delivers.
Uses
- Webhook testing
- Sharing localhost sites
- Secure endpoint for temporary use
Pros
- Open source client
- Automatic HTTPS
- Very lightweight
- Easy installation
Cons
- Smaller community compared to older tools
- Fewer enterprise features
Installation / Command
npm install -g tunnelmole
tmole 3000
Pricing
Free and open source.
10) Frp (Fast Reverse Proxy)
Frp is one of the strongest self-hosted tunneling tools. It supports multiple protocols and is widely used by DevOps teams for complex setups.
Uses
- Secure exposure of internal services
- Private network tunneling
- High traffic production-like tunnels
- Load-balanced reverse proxying
Pros
- High performance tunneling
- Supports TCP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS
- Highly configurable
- Good documentation
- Strong access controls
Cons
- Requires server configuration
- More setup steps than instant tools
Installation / Command
Configure and run:
./frpc -c ./frpc.ini
Pricing
Free and open source.
Conclusion
Cloudflare Tunnel remains one of the cleanest solutions for secure tunneling with strong infrastructure behind it. But in real developer life, not everyone needs the same workflow.
If you want the fastest “share my localhost now” experience, tools like Pinggy, localhost.run, and Localtunnel are hard to beat.
If you need enterprise-grade security and monitoring, Ngrok is still a strong choice.
If privacy is your priority and you want direct device-to-device connectivity, Tailscale can replace tunneling entirely.
And for developers who want full control through self-hosting, Rathole and Frp remain excellent long-term investments.
The best Cloudflare Tunnel alternative in 2026 isn’t about picking the “most famous” tool. It’s about choosing the one that fits your exact workflow: simplicity, security, control, protocol support, and cost.
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