VPN

Decentralised VPN (dVPN) Comparison 2022

Track the differences between emerging decentralised virtual privacy networks in the market.

May 19, 2022

Decentralised VPN (dVPN) Comparison

The following is a continually dVPN comparison is a resource tracking the differences between emerging decentralised virtual privacy networks in the market.

Last updated: 19 May 2020

If you would like to see an additional dVPN compared here, please do get them to reach out to us, we’d love to continue to develop this as an educational resource for end-users to make educated decisions on their digital lives.

Related: Tor vs VPN vs dVPN – what are the differences?

Network Design

Mysterium Network

A global collection of nodes power a VPN network by sharing bandwidth P2P in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Users can easily become a node and also download the free VPN app to select from a global menu of IP addresses/bandwidth providers.

Orchid

VPN users connect to bandwidth sellers (nodes) using a directory. Node providers stake tokens to advertise these services.

Users install the Orchid VPN, add OXT to their wallet, and can then access the internet through their preferred path (single or multi-hop).

Sentinel

P2P VPN network also functioning as an SDK. Allows anybody to become a “resource node” by selling their unutilized computing resources in the marketplace.

Users mask their Internet traffic through a series of nodes.

VPN

A global VPN service which can provide Dedicated IP address, Double VPN, Onion Over VPN and connection to the Tor anonymity network.

As well as dedicated data centre servers around the world, centralized VPNs also allow P2P traffic on certain servers  – there are hundreds of them in different locations around the world, optimized for file sharing.

How are nodes incentivised or rewarded?

Mysterium Network

Pilot program

Monthly bounties for UK, US, Italian and German participants, earning up to $600 in ETH per year. Only an email and IP address is required.

P2P payment network (coming soon)

Nodes set their own price based on supply and demand. This unique micropayments system utilises cryptocurrency payments, so nodes can sell their bandwidth in small intervals, ensuring security and convenience.

Orchid

Stake-weighting

Anyone can operate an Orchid Node, but must first stake (lock up as collateral) the native OXT cryptocurrency. The more OXT that is staked, the more traffic they can receive, and the greater the chances of reward in the Network.

Orchid uses an advanced payments architecture known as probabilistic nanopayments for per-packet network payments.

Sentinel

Resource Nodes can earn the native $SENT token in return for contributing network bandwidth and other resources by hosting a Service Node for the dVPN Service.

VPN

Nodes are not incentivized in centralized VPNs as these businesses own the infrastructure and charge end users for the service.


Node Onboarding

Mysterium Network

Anyone can run a node using their computer, mining equipment or compatible hardware such as a Raspberry Pi. Link your node to your Ethereum wallet address via an easy to use dashboard, My.Mysterium.Network to track your earnings.

No staking is required to be a node – sign up is free.

Orchid

Anyone can run a node by signing up to the stake registry and provider directory on the blockchain.

However, all new nodes must purchase and stake OXT to start receiving traffic.

Sentinel

Running a node requires technical knowledge of how to install a docker and configure a node. At present there is no user-friendly dashboard or application for download.

VPN

No need to onboard. By paying for the service, users get access to the VPN service, but do not help power it.


Costs & fees

Mysterium Network

While on testnet, the VPN is currently free to use.

Once live, users will pay in cryptocurrency for only the bandwidth they consume on a pay-per-use model.

Nodes pay no fees and earn cryptocurrency directly from users of this VPN service.

Orchid

Users pay for the bandwidth in OXT.

Nodes pay OXT to advertise their services.

Sentinel

Using their on-chain, inbuilt ‘Token Swap’ feature, users can privately purchase $SENT tokens to access any service on the Sentinel network.

Running a node is free.

VPN

Monthly subscription model, rather than a pay-as-you-go structure. Users get access to a VPN service where they can select from IP addresses based all over the world to suit their browsing needs.


VPN Security

Mysterium Network

Layered protection protocols built to protect any individual or organization. Mysterium is a fast and scalable transport security layer to reinvent privacy via VPN. Traffic is encrypted and sharded into separate pieces, filtered in an unrecognisable form through the distributed node network — without the possibility of being traced or censored.

Orchid

Users can select single- or multi-hop onion routed circuits by selecting nodes randomly weighted on stake and filtered by price, location, etc. A single hop route has the benefits of a normal VPN connection, creating a tunnel to route your traffic over a public network or your ISP, while a multi-hop connection provides additional privacy benefits by securing your network data from any one provider.

Sentinel

Swixer is Sentinel’s first utility that allows anybody to simply convert their cryptocurrency tokens online while keeping their data away from prying eyes.

User’s privacy is enhanced by Swixer’s cross-chain swaps between the Ethereum chain and other blockchains which possess a working zero-knowledge protocol or privacy layer within the protocol.

VPN

Traditional VPN services route all users’ internet traffic through a remote server, hiding IP addresses and encrypting all incoming and outgoing data. For encryption, they use the OpenVPN and Internet Key Exchange v2/IPsec technologies in their applications.

One company admits their servers were hacked due to an expired internal private key being exposed, potentially allowing anyone to spin out their own servers imitating their own.


Logging policy

Mysterium Network

no logs! Mysterium protocol removes any technical possibility for collecting or storing logs centrally.

Orchid

No logs.

Sentinel

No logs.

VPN

In theory, a centralized VPN *could* keep logs, but most state they are committed to a zero-logs policy.

Ease of Use

Mysterium Network

VPN is a simple to use and free desktop or mobile application.

New nodes can get set up in just 5 minutes and 5 steps via a simple, user-friendly dashboard. There is a knowledgebase and support team on hand to help.

Users will need to have some basic understanding of cryptocurrency and must have an Ethereum wallet set up to receive payments.

Learn more about upcoming features.

Orchid

VPN app designed for mobile and desktop. People wishing to be nodes must register and have some prior knowledge of cryptocurrency and staking.

Sentinel

Sentinel is not user-friendly and is better suited to more technically proficient users or those intuitive with Ethereum DApps and blockchain platforms.

VPN

Smart algorithms automatically select the best VPN server for you based on location, loads, or your special requirements.

They also have a dedicated support team.


Scalability

Mysterium Network

As with most P2P infrastructure, the more participants which join the network, the stronger and more robust it becomes.

Mysterium’s micropayments system is a homegrown Layer 2 solution. It was built to handle large volumes of users and transactions, making the network faster and more scalable.

Orchid

Orchid uses a probabilistic payment system which scales to millions of transactions per second, enabling a highly liquid bandwidth market without a trusted central party.

Sentinel

Sentinel’s “multi-chain architecture” secures data exchange between people and both centralized and decentralized applications meaning. This is meant to solve problems with infrastructure and scaling.

VPN

Depends on high bandwidth throughput and fast connection speeds to provide an optimal service for their users. Often use multiple tunneling protocols to ensure their network can scale and can adapt to various needs.

Social following

Mysterium Network

11.3K Twitter Followers

2000 Medium Followers

2088 Telegram Members

Orchid

27.1 K Twitter Followers

235 Medium Followers

4381 Telegram Members

Sentinel

3,392 Twitter Followers

336 Medium Followers

2946 Telegram Members

VPN

Not applicable.

Compatible with

Mysterium Network

Android, Mac, Windows, Linux.

Orchid

iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, and (soon) Windows.

Sentinel

Mac, Windows, Linux, Android.

VPN

Android, Windows, Mac, iOS, Chrome/Firefox extension, Linux.


Decentralised?

Mysterium Network

You bet.

Orchid

Of course.

Sentinel

Of course.

VPN

Nope. Decentra-what?

Network status

Mysterium Network

Testnet live – 900 residential nodes, with more than 300 live at any given point.

Orchid

Between five and 10 node providers at launch, including players from both the traditional VPN world and “new entrants from the crypto space.”

Sentinel

83 nodes in the network, with an average of 28 at any time

VPN

Choose from over 5200 servers in 59 countries.

Also – several cases of being hAcKEd

Open Source?

Mysterium Network

Transparent and collaborative from Ground Zero – check out Myst codebase.

Orchid

Duh. Everything to see here.

Sentinel

Yep. Peek under the hood here.

VPN

No – centralized VPNs are proprietary and closed source.


What is Mysterium Network?

Mysterium Network is one of several emerging networks enabling decentralisation of the internet. Find out how you can contribute by running a node. Or download our dVPN and give it a whirl.

Related: Tor vs VPN vs dVPN – what are the differences?

Latest Posts

Get updates from Mysterium to your inbox.

By signing up to this newsletter, you agree to receive updates on key milestones in Mysterium Network.