Tunnelto vs ngrok: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare the key differences between Tunnelto and ngrok, two popular tools used for exposing local development servers to the internet. Both Tunnelto and ngrok serve a similar purpose, but they have distinct features and characteristics that set them apart.

1. Pricing and Usage Limits: One major difference between Tunnelto and ngrok is their pricing structure and usage limits. Tunnelto offers a more affordable pricing model compared to ngrok, making it suitable for developers with limited budgets or smaller projects. Tunnelto provides a generous free tier with unlimited tunnels and 1GB of data transfer per month, whereas ngrok's free tier has more limited features and restricts the usage to 40 connections per minute.

2. Custom Domain Support: Another notable difference is the support for custom domains. Tunnelto allows users to easily set up custom domains for their tunnels, giving them the ability to use their own subdomain or domain name to access their local servers. This feature is particularly useful for branding and easy recognition. On the other hand, ngrok does not offer native support for custom domains and requires additional configuration steps to achieve the same functionality.

3. Connectivity: In terms of connectivity and stability, Tunnelto and ngrok have different underlying technologies. Tunnelto uses WebSockets, which provides a persistent and reliable connection to the local server. This ensures that the tunnel remains active even during idle periods or when the internet connection fluctuates. Ngrok, on the other hand, uses TCP tunnels, which can sometimes result in intermittent connection issues or a temporary loss of connectivity.

4. Authentication and Security: When it comes to authentication and security, ngrok offers more advanced features compared to Tunnelto. Ngrok allows users to password-protect their tunnels, enabling an extra layer of security for restricting unauthorized access. In addition, ngrok also supports the use of client-side certificates for authentication, providing even stronger security measures. Tunnelto, however, does not currently offer these authentication options.

5. Integration and Extensibility: Ngrok provides a wide range of integrations and extensibility options, making it a versatile tool that can seamlessly integrate with various platforms and third-party services. Ngrok offers dedicated libraries and SDKs for multiple programming languages, allowing developers to easily integrate ngrok with their existing workflows or applications. In contrast, Tunnelto currently has limited integration options and lacks official support for SDKs or libraries.

In summary, Tunnelto and ngrok differ in terms of pricing, custom domain support, connectivity, authentication and security features, as well as integration and extensibility options. These distinctions make Tunnelto a more affordable choice with native custom domain support and stable connectivity, while ngrok offers advanced authentication options and a broader range of integration possibilities.