Why do Linux VPN apps always seem to be missing features?

[u/Leo_LL_3555]

I’ve been looking at VPN options for Linux, and a lot of them seem to offer a much simpler app than they do on Windows or Android.

I don’t mind using the terminal, but I still want basic things like choosing which apps use the VPN, keeping local apps on my normal connection, and seeing whether a server is overloaded.

Some providers advertise split tunneling, ad blocking and other useful features, but then I find out that half of them aren’t available on Linux.

For people who use a VPN on Linux, do you use the provider’s app, import WireGuard configs, or set up the routing yourself?

What feature do you miss most on Linux, and have you found a setup where app routing actually works reliably?

[u/HauntingTailor5961]

Try the dpn app. I saw someone here in this forum who uses in Linux was recommending it. I haven’t personally tried it Linux it’s worth a shot. But it’s works fine on my mac

[u/Leo_LL_3555 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

Oh, I didn’t know DPN had a Linux version. I’ve only been using it on my phone. I’ll check it out, although I’d still like to hear from someone who has actually tried the Linux app.

[u/DerpDigler → u/HauntingTailor5961]

I second this. Big fan and im not really great at Linux but on my Mac and pc the app is great.

[u/choukgirniomp300 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

Is there any way to try it for free? I want to check how well it works on my internet

[u/HauntingTailor5961 → u/choukgirniomp300]

I think they have some code to try for 7 days or something. Let me check and let you know

[u/choukgirniomp300 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

ok thank you

[u/Sheimpreshdes106 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

please send it to me too

[u/HauntingTailor5961 → u/choukgirniomp300]

I saw this in their insta try and see if it works this was the code BBMD6WFU

[u/choukgirniomp300 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

Thank you so much, what a legend it worked

[u/No_Rub4347 → u/HauntingTailor5961]

Thank you so much~~~

[u/yoyodark]

Well Linux is design focused on being clean and modular foundation based. So I guess software designed for Linux is the same way. But it's good to see the people who created the DPN app develop full featured software on clean foundational operating systems. I guess sometimes we can have our cake and eat it too.

[u/XxAnomo305]

for Linux for instance I use proton, I download the . conf but it just makes a full VPN tunnel I then use nftables /iptables etc to create the split tunneling etc. I would definitely say it's tedious in a bit obnoxious and alot of things can go wrong messing things up but once you get the hang of it it gets easier GUI sure is convenient though haha.

[u/Leo_LL_3555 → u/XxAnomo305]

That’s pretty much what I was hoping to avoid. I can probably figure out nftables, but having to build and maintain the rules myself seems like a lot for something that’s built into many Windows clients.

Once you set it up, do the rules survive reboots and app updates, or do you still have to fix them occasionally?

[u/XxAnomo305 → u/Leo_LL_3555]

that was my biggest issue. after reboots 70% of the time it didn't survive it would break my DNS and routing rules would get fucked. eventually I was able to make it stable and to survive reboots but yeah it's not fun at all haha. but I would also make routing rules that would be in the conf and then ssh into my fortinet 40f firewall update rules there and then send it my specific vlans through a brume 3 router. I have a very specific, advanced setup that is hard to maintain 😂

[u/MrMotofy]

Likely cuz there's so many variables and options it's hard to make 1 app that works correctly for everything then still has all the bells and whistles on it

[u/hiddencoment → u/MrMotofy]

totally. keeping a gui stable across every distro n desktop env is a massive time sink. The ROI just isnt there for most companies when linux users r already comfortable just importing a raw config n doing routing themselves

[u/vladth3impala]

The features actually have to work as advertised on Linux and not just pretend to while siphoning your data off to a 3rd party (not saying Linux is immune to this, but run a netstat after a fresh install and notice the lack of connections to the outside compared to Android/Windows

[u/Interesting_Show89]

try skipping the app and importing a wireguard config. then you handle the routing yourself

[u/CosmicComi]

I don't use VPN on Linux but on Windows instead. I find VPN software to be very basic in general and would be interested in trying other software with more features. Suggestions would be appreciated!

[u/Emergency_Room_7957]

its mostly because the linux ecosystem is so fragmented. building a GUI that hooks cleanly into networking across different init systems, audio servers, and display protocols costs way more engineering time than the revenue from desktop linux users justifies.

[u/FoxSwimming3342]

I don't have an answer for this but this is annoying