DeleGate review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

DeleGate is a proxy server for administrators who need to mediate application protocols or relay arbitrary TCP and UDP traffic between clients and servers. It is a fit for operators seeking a multi-protocol gateway, including small, mid-market, and enterprise environments. The documented software is open source and free, and is deployed self-hosted on Windows or Linux. Its scope is broader than a single-purpose HTTP proxy: it supports application-level proxying and circuit-level forwarding in the same server.

The breadth of its protocol handling is a defining strength. Listed protocols include HTTP, FTP, Telnet, NNTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP, LPR, LDAP, ICP, DNS, SSL, SOCKS, TCP, and UDP. Administrators can set access controls for protocols, destination servers, and clients, with traffic logging and caching for supported application protocols. Filtering through user-defined programs and protocol conversion provide additional ways to mediate traffic. That combination suits environments where traffic needs to be restricted, cached, or translated; teams seeking only straightforward HTTP proxying may find the range unnecessary.

Routing flexibility is another reason to consider DeleGate: it can operate as an application-level router and select upstream proxies or SOCKS servers, while circuit-level relay covers TCP and UDP. The trade-off is operational: self-hosting requires administrators to manage deployment, and the documented platform coverage is Windows and Linux. DeleGate is best suited to teams that can operate a server and need multiple proxy modes, controls, and routing choices. Organizations looking for a managed service, or a proxy with broader documented platform coverage, should consider another option.

DeleGate pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Handles application protocols alongside arbitrary TCP and UDP traffic
  • Combines access controls, logging, caching, filtering, and protocol conversion
  • Can select upstream proxies or SOCKS servers for routing
• Where it doesn't
  • Deployment is self-hosted, so operators manage the server environment
  • Documented platform coverage is limited to Windows and Linux
  • Its broad protocol and routing options may be excessive for simple proxy needs

DeleGate fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update