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Home β†’ Compare β†’ vs AmneziaVPN

ClownVPN
vs AmneziaVPN.

AmneziaVPN is open-source, you self-host the server, and it's purpose-built for censorship circumvention. We're free, ad-funded, and built for unrestricted networks. Real differences worth understanding.

⚑ Quick verdict

AmneziaVPN is technically excellent and serves censorship-resistance users very well. ClownVPN serves no-setup privacy users on unrestricted networks. If you're capable of running a VPS and need DPI evasion, AmneziaVPN is genuinely better. If you want one-tap install for normal privacy use, we are.

πŸŽͺ What AmneziaVPN Is

AmneziaVPN is an open-source VPN project developed by Privacy Accelerator, a non-profit focused on internet freedom. Released around 2022, it has become one of the more respected DIY-VPN options in the Russian-speaking privacy community and increasingly elsewhere.

The architecture: you rent a VPS (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, Vultr β€” $3-5/month is typical), install the AmneziaVPN server with one click from the desktop client, and then connect your devices. You own the server. There's no company in the middle that could be subpoenaed or compromised β€” only your VPS provider, and they only see encrypted traffic.

Protocol portfolio

Where AmneziaVPN really stands out is protocol variety and obfuscation:

πŸŽͺ Side By Side

Property🀑 ClownVPNAmneziaVPN
ModelCommercial, ad-supportedOpen-source, you self-host
Cost (real)$0 (ads inside app)~$3-5/mo for VPS
Setup time30 seconds~15-30 minutes (VPS + client)
Technical skill neededNoneSome (VPS management, DNS, SSH basics)
Source codeClosedOpen (GitHub)
Trust modelTrust ClownVPN as operatorTrust your VPS provider only
ServersUS (6 meme servers)Wherever your VPS is
Number of users sharing your IPMany (crowd anonymity)Just you
DPI evasionNoYes (multiple protocols)
Mobile appsAndroidAndroid, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Best forCasual privacyCircumvention, technical users

πŸŽͺ The Self-Hosting Trade-Off

Self-hosting your own VPN server, as AmneziaVPN encourages, is the strongest trust model β€” you control the entire infrastructure. The trade-offs are real though:

Pros of self-hosting

Cons of self-hosting

For users who specifically need maximum trust control, or who need DPI evasion that no commercial provider in their jurisdiction offers, the trade-off is worth it. For most privacy users on unrestricted networks, commercial VPNs offer better crowd-blending and zero maintenance overhead.

πŸŽͺ Where AmneziaVPN Genuinely Wins

We're a small commercial operation; they're an internet-freedom nonprofit. We're closed-source; they're fully open. We don't have audits; they have community code review. On every "VPN ideology" metric, AmneziaVPN is ahead.

Where we're competitive is in the friction-vs-functionality trade-off. For a non-technical user who wants public WiFi protection or ISP-level privacy, "install app, tap connect" beats "rent VPS, configure server, install client" by a wide margin. Both serve their populations well.

πŸŽͺ Who Should Pick What

πŸ‘‰ Pick AmneziaVPN if…

  • You're in a censorship-heavy jurisdiction and need DPI evasion
  • You're comfortable managing a VPS (SSH, basic Linux)
  • You want full control of your VPN infrastructure
  • Open-source code matters to you for trust reasons
  • You want multi-platform (iOS, Windows, Linux) support
  • You don't mind being the only user on your IP

πŸ‘‰ Pick ClownVPN if…

  • You want a VPN that works in 30 seconds with no setup
  • You're on Android and need privacy / public WiFi protection
  • You want crowd-blending IP (shared with many users)
  • You're in an unrestricted-internet jurisdiction
  • You don't have time / skill to manage a VPS
  • You're fine with closed-source in exchange for zero setup

πŸŽͺ FAQ

Is AmneziaVPN really free?
The client is free and open-source. The server side runs on a VPS that you rent β€” typical cost is $3-5/month for a basic VPS from providers like Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or Vultr. So 'free' depends on definition: the software is free, the infrastructure is your responsibility. For technical users this is the cheapest serious VPN setup available; for non-technical users the VPS-management requirement is meaningful friction.
What's AmneziaWG and how is it different from regular WireGuard?
AmneziaWG is a fork of WireGuard with modifications specifically designed to defeat deep packet inspection. Standard WireGuard has a recognizable packet signature that DPI can identify; AmneziaWG adds padding, randomization, and other obfuscations that make the traffic harder to fingerprint as VPN. Performance is similar to regular WireGuard. It's one of the only obfuscated WireGuard implementations actively maintained.
Should everyone use AmneziaVPN since it's open-source?
Open-source is great, but AmneziaVPN's value proposition is specifically for users who need DPI evasion AND can self-host. For most US/EU users on unrestricted networks, the self-hosting overhead isn't worth it β€” Mullvad, ProtonVPN, or our free tier solve the actual problem with less work. Use the right tool for your problem, not the most ideologically pure one.
Could ClownVPN ship AmneziaWG support?
Technically yes; positioning-wise no. AmneziaWG is specifically a circumvention protocol β€” its value is defeating DPI, which is irrelevant on the networks our audience uses. Adding it would imply we're a circumvention tool, which we deliberately aren't. For users who need that, AmneziaVPN itself is purpose-built; ClownVPN with bolted-on AmneziaWG would be the wrong choice.
Who's behind AmneziaVPN?
Privacy Accelerator, a non-profit organization founded by Russian developers focused on internet freedom. The project is open-source, code is on GitHub (github.com/amnezia-vpn/amnezia-client), and it's funded by donations and grants from internet-freedom organizations. Operationally transparent in a way most VPN providers (including us, currently) aren't.

πŸŽͺ Different Population, Both Honest

Zero-setup ad-supported privacy. The lazier alternative.

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