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With the best Hamachi alternatives, you don’t have to miss out on your gaming sessions if you run into problems with the VPN software.
Best Performance Alternative to Hamachi: Parsec
Parsec is a specialized VPN software whose gaming version is designed primarily for co-op games. It offers basic VPN features, including a cloud for group gaming.
- Note: Parsec Gaming is free, but it does not offer any visual enhancements. Additionally, you’ll need a host PC through which the game is streamed. Other players then connect directly to the host’s computer via Parsec.
- Hosts stream the games via VPN. To join the game, other participants simply need the invitation via the generated link.
- It supports 60 FPS and a wide variety of gamepads, mice, and keyboards. Participants must also install the software on their PC.
- The Party Finder allows you to join one of the many supported games in the Parsec Arcade. The Arcade offers games via the cloud. You don’t even need to know the host or the multiplayer group.
- Note: Parsec supports Discord, enabling seamless voice chat, text chat, and other features.
Best Gaming Alternative to Hamachi: GameRanger
GameRanger is ideal for gamers looking for a simple VPN service.
- The software is particularly popular due to its low latency and the wide selection of retro games for your LAN party. Over 700 games are supported, including classics like Warcraft 3, Age of Empires II, and Heroes of Might & Magic II through V.
- Download the software to your PC or Mac. After installation, you can connect with other players and start gaming right away. At least one person in the group must act as the host.
- The tool’s features include profiles, friend lists, statistics, league systems, rankings, and VoIP.
- GameRanger is free and is funded by advertising. If you opt for a premium account for 39.95 US dollars per year, the ads will be removed.
OpenVPN as a custom alternative to Hamachi
Unlike Hamachi and the alternatives mentioned above, OpenVPN does not operate via a peer-to-peer network. This means there is no direct computer-to-computer connection.
- Everything is made possible via central servers that are offered for free. Additionally, one person in your group must provide a computer to set up the VPN server.
- The second major difference from the other VPN programs presented here is OpenVPN’s numerous configuration options. Users must familiarize themselves with these, which can be particularly complicated for VPN beginners.
- The advantage of these numerous options is the ability to customize the VPN according to your own preferences.
- For example, you can set the protocol for SSL encryption (TCP or UDP) or choose between two different authentication methods. These allow you, for example, to block individual users.
- Setting up OpenVPN is a bit more involved, but in return, you have more configuration options. The software is available for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS.
