Dante review
A configurable self-hosted SOCKS proxy for organizations that need access control.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Dante pros and cons
- 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
Dante fact sheet, pricing and score →
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