frp review
A free open-source tunnel for TCP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, and private services.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
frp is an open-source, self-hosted reverse proxy for making services behind NATs or firewalls reachable through a server with a public IP address. It is aimed at developers, infrastructure teams, and technically capable operators who need to tunnel private services without a paid plan. Deployments use separate frpc client and frps server components, with configuration handled through TOML, YAML, or JSON files. The published model is free and open source rather than a tiered hosted service.
Its main strength is breadth within reverse proxy and tunneling work. frp supports TCP and UDP proxying, HTTP and HTTPS host-based routing, WebSocket and WSS transport, TCP connection multiplexing, and port multiplexing. Load balancing between proxy groups, P2P communication, client and server plugins, authentication, web dashboards, monitoring, and proxy-level bandwidth limiting extend it beyond a basic port forwarder. The platform list covers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and self-hosted environments, giving it room for mixed operating setups.
The trade-off is operational ownership. A deployment must include the client and server components, a public-IP server, and file-based configuration, so frp suits teams comfortable managing their own infrastructure more than buyers seeking a managed interface or hosted support model. Choose it when protocol coverage, open-source control, and configurable tunneling matter most. Consider an alternative if you want a single hosted product that handles deployment and administration for you.
frp pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports TCP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, and WSS traffic
- Includes multiplexing, load balancing, P2P communication, and bandwidth limits
- Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and self-hosted deployments
- Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosted deployment with separate frpc and frps components
- Configuration uses TOML, YAML, or JSON files rather than a single setup flow
- Needs a server with a public IP address for exposed services
frp fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update