| Updated: November 21, 2024
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You can build your own VPN that will keep your online activities anonymous, hide your IP address, and change your location. Here are the tools you will need.
Your homemade VPN will secure your traffic, but you won’t be able to bypass geo-restirctions and have multiple locations.
If streaming is your goal, then I recommend getting a commercial and premium VPN, which is the best you can do.
The popularity of VPNs has seen steady growth and will keep growing due to censorship and content restrictions globally. A VPN not only hides your IP address but also encrypts your traffic and lets you access restricted content and websites.
The process consists of a VPN client which is installed on your device, a VPN server that receives your encrypted traffic and sends it to the internet and back. Building your own VPN requires technical skills and I don’t recommend doing it if you are not technically sound.
However, if you have the basic know-how of VPN servers and protocols, you can set up your own VPN and do not need to buy it. I have explained how you can set up your own VPN in the easiest way in this blog.
Creating a VPN is nothing more than encrypting your data and making it pass through a VPN server. Basically, you have to create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server, which further sends your traffic to the internet.
Most of us use commercial VPNs to hide our online activities, but since you are on a quest to make your own VPN, you will need a cloud-based server and an application to encrypt your traffic. This will effectively change your IP address and encrypt your data. No one would be able to see what you are doing even if the secured tunnel is breached.
Here are the tools you will need to create your own VPN.
You will need a place to install your VPN that is where VPS comes in. You will need to choose a cloud service provider that suits your budget and requirements. Here are a few points to consider before choosing a VPS.
If you don’t want to get into details and choose a one-stop solution, then opt for a popular cloud server provider. Some of these are listed below.
I prefer DigitalOcean over others due to its user-friendliness. The starter pack is available at $5 and gives you 1TB of bandwidth, which is enough for a user. Your second best option is Amazon EC2 which gives 1-year free plan.
Ansible Scripts allows you to perform complex IT task with a single click. You don’t need to write the code of your VPN functionality and let Ansible do it for you.
The most popular project for creating a secure tunnel is Algo VPN. It was created by the same team behind Trail of Bits. It also supports the cloud services listed above and creates disposable VPNs.
Algo VPN and DigitalOcean work together, and you don’t need to do anything manually. All you need to do is use the API by Algo VPN to configure VPN on your DigitalOcean server.
The process will be smooth and automated as both services are update regularly. Alog’s API will establish and authenticate everything itself and you don’t have to write a single line of code yourself.
Here is the official Algo GitHub repository, where you will find the necessary steps to deploy your VPN.
The steps may vary depending on your device, but Algo VPN is designed to be highly user-friendly, ensuring you can set up and start using your self-hosted VPN in no time. Furthermore, have a look at this guide by DigitalOcean on setting up a VPN.
You will need basic technical knowledge to setup your own VPN, otherwise your data might get leak to third parties and the point of creating your own VPN will get lost. Here are some advantages of creating your own VPN instead of purchasing a commercial VPN.
You can setup a private VPN for under $5. This is comparatively cheaper than most commercial VPNs out there in the market. However you can only use a single location where your rented server is based, if you want to use multiple locations, get a commercial VPN.
DigitalOcean allows you to boot up a new server everything you want to. Therefore, you can have a new server every time you want to and delete your previous data and history.
At the start of this article we recommended you to purchase a commercial VPN and don’t spend your precious time in building your own VPN. We said this because commercial VPNs are ready to use backed by customer support.
Your own home VPN will definitely work but it is a hassle to setup and operate. If this was a viable option that is cheaper in cost, it would have flooded the market, and everyone would have established their own VPN, which is not happening. Here are a few limitations to setting up your own VPN.
Homemade VPNs are effective for encrypting traffic, but they often fall short when it comes to bypassing advanced systems like the Great Firewall of China or Iranian surveillance networks. If you live in a country with strict censorship, it’s advisable to invest in a reliable commercial VPN to safeguard your online activities effectively.
Your homemade VPN is good enough to encrypt your traffic and change your IP address, but it won’t be enough to bypass the modern system used by streaming platforms to identify IP addresses and will block you.
If streaming is your thing, I recommend getting a paid VPN to access Hulu or HBO Max from outside the US or change your Netflix regions from anywhere.
Homemade VPNs are often considered more private, but in reality, they provide a similar level of privacy to commercial VPNs. Cloud providers, used for hosting self-made VPNs, collect personal data during registration and use tracking technologies, just like VPN services.
They may store information like your IP address, ISP, and browsing details, which can be exploited if the provider is hacked or compelled to share data with authorities. Additionally, these providers work with advertisers who may also track users. Therefore, in terms of privacy, there is no significant advantage to using a homemade VPN over a commercial one.
Yes, your homemade VPN can change your IP address and encrypt your data, but it won’t be enough to unblock OTT platforms from anywhere. For example, I tried to access Hulu from outside the US with my homemade VPN, but it failed, and Hulu detected that I was using a VPN.
On the setup side, a commercial VPN is designed to be user-friendly. Anyone with zero technical skills can download and use a commercial VPN, whereas a homemade VPN requires some kind of technical knowledge for setup.
Therefore, my vote is with the commercial VPN, which is effective in unblocking OTT platforms and websites, provides the best online security and privacy, and offers a one-click connection with many servers.
We have listed the best and easiest way through which you can build your own VPN. It will encrypt your data and change your IP address to a basic level. However, your homemade VPN won’t be able to bypass sophisticated techniques implied by the government to track citizens.
Aditionally, I was not able to unblock Hulu outside the US with a homemade VPN and had to use a commercial VPN. Therefore, I recommend subscribing to a premium VPN with a kill switch and dedicated IP address. You might be interested in reading the following articles.
Mustafa is a cybersecurity analyst and a co-founder of VPN for What. Since 2017, Mustafa has gained international experience, working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.
