joaoh82

**Rustunnel** is a open-source tunnel service written in Rust that replicates the core functionality of ngrok. It exposes local services running behind NAT/firewalls to the public internet through a relay server self-hosted or our managed service.

74
5
100% credibility
Found Mar 18, 2026 at 74 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
Rust
AI Summary

Rustunnel is an open-source, ngrok-like secure tunneling tool for exposing local services publicly via self-hosted servers or a hosted edge service, featuring encrypted connections, a live dashboard, and easy client setup.

How It Works

1
πŸ” Discover rustunnel

You find rustunnel, a simple way to share your local apps or services online securely without complicated setup.

2
πŸ“± Get your access code

Visit the site, request a free private code, and get it sent to you quickly to start sharing.

3
πŸ’» Install the client tool

Download and install the easy rustunnel client on your computer – it works everywhere.

4
βš™οΈ Run the setup helper

Open the client, enter your code and server details, and let it create your personal settings file.

5
🌐 Share your local app

Tell rustunnel which local app to share (like your website on port 3000), and it instantly gives you a public web link.

6
πŸ“Š Watch live in dashboard

Open the dashboard to see who's connecting, live requests, and manage everything easily.

πŸŽ‰ Your app is live worldwide

Anyone can now visit your secure public link to use your app, with full monitoring and control.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is rustunnel?

Rustunnel replicates ngrok's core functionality in Rust: it exposes local services running behind NAT or firewalls to the public internet via a relay server. You run a lightweight client command like `rustunnel http 3000` to get an HTTPS URL, or `rustunnel tcp 5432` for databases, with automatic reconnection and token auth. Self-host the open-source server on your VPS, or use their managed relay at edge.rustunnel.com.

Why is it gaining traction?

Unlike ngrok's paid tiers and central limits, rustunnel offers full self-hosting with Docker/systemd deploys, a live dashboard for request inspection and metrics, and Prometheus export. The Rust client is snappy with WebSocket/TLS encryption, subdomain requests, and config files for multi-tunnel setups. Bonus: MCP integration lets AI agents like Claude auto-open tunnels without manual CLI.

Who should use this?

Backend devs sharing APIs during reviews, frontend teams demoing localhost apps to stakeholders, or ops folks tunneling SSH/DB access securely. Ideal for self-hosters ditching SaaS tunnels, or AI workflow builders automating local service exposure.

Verdict

Grab it for ngrok-like workflows without vendor lock-inβ€”docs and deploys are polished for production. At 74 stars and 1.0% credibility, it's early but stable with tests; watch for community growth before betting the farm. (187 words)

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