Remote access comparison
Public Tunnel vs VPN: which do you need?
Both can help you reach something private, but they solve different problems. A Public Tunnel exposes one service to outside visitors; a VPN usually connects a user or device into a wider private network.
Public Tunnel
Best when you need one browser-based service reachable from the public internet.
- Good for local web apps, dashboards, previews, and webhooks.
- Visitors use a public URL.
- Does not require giving users network-level access.
VPN
Best when trusted users need broader access into a private network.
- Good for admin access across multiple internal services.
- Users usually install a client or profile.
- Can expose more of the private network than one app.
Quick comparison
| Question | Public Tunnel | VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Best first use | One public web service | Private network access |
| Visitor setup | Open a URL | Install or configure a VPN client |
| Exposure scope | One routed service | Potentially many internal services |
| Good for webhooks? | Yes | Usually no |
How to choose
If outside users only need one HTTPS endpoint, start with Public Tunnel. If trusted users need to reach many private systems, a VPN is usually the more natural fit. If the service is TCP-based but still only needs one public endpoint, look at Static-IP Relay instead.
Need one public service, not a whole private network?
DNSExit Public Tunnel is the web-first Remote Access path for users who need a reachable URL without opening router ports.