Dante
Dante: A configurable self-hosted SOCKS proxy for organizations that need access control. Ranked #22 of 34 in Proxy Software by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free SOCKS proxy servers with access control.
At a glance
- Editor score6.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree SOCKS proxy servers with access control
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports SOCKS 4/5, IPv6, chaining, and session management
- Provides access rules, authentication, logging, and network diagnostics
- Connects with LDAP, Active Directory, UPnP, and HTTP CONNECT proxies
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires network and server administration
- The listed platforms are Linux and Android
- Focused on controlled proxying rather than proxy-network breadth or rotation
Our verdict on Dante
Dante is open-source, self-hosted proxy software from Inferno Nettverk A/S, combining a SOCKS server with a SOCKS client library. It supports SOCKS 4 and SOCKS 5 and is designed for organizations managing controlled connectivity between internal clients and external networks. Its feature set also suits forward and reverse proxy deployments, with access rules, authentication, logging, IPv6, server chaining, session management, and network diagnostics. The listed platforms are Linux and Android.
The core software is free and uses a BSD/CMU-type license. According to the published product details, optional commercial modules extend the system with bandwidth control, traffic redirection, and LDAP authorization. These modules are separately priced, so buyers should distinguish the free core from add-on capabilities when planning a deployment. The core feature set covers controlled SOCKS proxying, while the modules add more specialized traffic and directory-management functions.
Dante’s strongest fit is for teams that want to operate their own proxy infrastructure and define precisely which clients and SOCKS commands are allowed. Username/password and GSS-API authentication, along with LDAP and Active Directory authorization through a module, support environments with established identity controls. Server chaining, HTTP CONNECT proxy integration, UPnP, IPv6, and session controls broaden its deployment options. Organizations seeking a configurable, access-controlled SOCKS server should consider Dante; those looking primarily for a broad proxy network or automatic proxy rotation should choose a different type of product.
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Dante pricing
Dante fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Proxy networks | Not verified |
| IP rotation | Not verified |
| Supported protocols | SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5, HTTP CONNECT, UPnP |
| Countries covered | Not verified |
| Concurrent sessions | Not verified |
| Included bandwidth | Not verified |
| API access | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, Android |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Email, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: LDAP, Active Directory, UPnP, HTTP CONNECT proxies |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | inet.no |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Dante integrations
Dante lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- LDAP
- Active Directory
- UPnP
- HTTP CONNECT proxies
Alternatives to Dante
- Apache Traffic ServerA self-hosted proxy for caching, TLS termination, traffic control, and extensibility.9.3
- SquidA focused open-source choice for caching, reverse proxying, and traffic control.9.1
- PrivoxyA free, open-source proxy for detailed web filtering across desktop systems.8.7
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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