The Best Hamachi Alternatives [June 2019]

Single-player games might be popular with the PC crowd, but like it or not, multiplayer is the name of the game when it comes to computer games. Some may say that there is nothing better than hanging out and playing with your buddies over a LAN router.

But if you’re not in the same building, LAN is out of the question, right?

Luckily, no. With Virtual LAN Creators, such as Hamachi, you don’t have to go through the trouble of finding a good online public server or porting forward your router.

On the downside, Hamachi is far from new. Although it remains the common choice among experienced players worldwide, the drawbacks may be the death of Hamachi. For one, a free Hamachi account can host 5 clients tops, and this includes the host. As if this wasn’t enough, Hamachi is prone to lags and latency.

Therefore, it’s imperative to find the appropriate alternatives to Hamachi.

Alternatives

Luckily, the PC VLAN gaming market has started adjusting to this, and an increasing number of Hamachi alternatives are popping up. Here are some cool alternatives.

Evolve (Player.me)

One of the most exciting projects in the VLAN gaming world, Evolve is a primary choice for many gamers across the globe. Similar to Hamachi, this app also comes with extra tunneling drivers and network adapters, which boost communication. Unlike Hamachi, however, Evolve seems to be looking up to Steam, offering an overlay that supports a huge number of PC games. Also like Steam, direct game purchases are made exclusively through Evolve’s client.

The upcoming Evolve 2.0 will offer integrated live streaming, and you probably know how important streaming is to the modern gamer. Unfortunately, Evolve shut down as of November 11, 2018, and the official website invites the community to go to Player.me.

NetOverNet

For those of you who want a simple, basic version of Hamachi, your search may stop at NetOverNet. This tool, however, isn’t exclusively focused at gaming, but it’s essentially a VPN emulator. Of course, this works perfectly with gaming: each device is accessible in the user’s virtual network and has its own username and password.

This client will allow you direct access to remote computers, which is perfect for broad data sharing. Unfortunately, though, NetOverNet has a limit of 16 clients on its advanced payment plan. However, if you’re looking for a Hamachi alternative that also works as a VPN emulator, this is a perfect tool for killing two birds with one stone.

Wippien

Try reading the name aloud. Yep, VPN. Using the WeOnlyDo wodVPN component, this tool establishes a P2P connection with the clients, thereby establishing a VPN. The best part about Wippien is that it’s not only free but also open-source, which means it’s highly tweakable and fun for computer geeks.

Unfortunately, the app works with Gmail and Jabber accounts only.  Hotmail and Yahoo users will have to create a new account to enjoy this Hamachi alternative. The best part about Wippien lies in its simplicity and low footprint (a mere 2MB).

GameRanger

Believe it or not, this project started way back in 1999. Originally created for macOS, GameRanger became available for PCs in 2008 and has since been one of the safest LAN gaming tools out there. GameRanger doesn’t boast a vast roster of features, but the security and stability are absolutely incomparable.

Here’s how it works. Unlike most other VLAN gaming clients, GameRanger emulates LAN gaming internally via its client instead of using a variety of drivers. Unfortunately, this cool platform has a limited list of supported games, owing to the fact that the support for each game has to be added to the client. Game diversity at the cost of safety and security.

P2PVPN

This client of a rather clever name was created by the developer for his thesis. The guy must’ve been a genius for single-handedly creating a user-friendly client with a basic set of features that can create a VPN very efficiently. Naturally, P2PVPN is open-source and written in Java through and through.

On the flip side, the last update for this client is dated 2010, so you might run into bugs and issues with this service. Still, P2PVPN deserves commendation for being a very functional VPN platform.

ZeroTier

This is one of the best alternatives to Hamachi out there for creating your virtual Local Area Network. First of all, it supports all of the most used operating systems, from Windows and iOS to Linux, and even Android. Secondly, ZeroTier is open-source, which means a great deal of custom stuff from fellow computer enthusiasts. It also comes with a free app for iOS and Android.

ZeroTier has the capabilities of VPNs, SD-WAN, and SDN. You might think that this would make things overly complicated and confusing, but the software is in fact incredibly simple and easy to use. You won’t need any port forwarding with ZeroTier. The advanced plan gives you extra support and features, but the free version already works enough for most people. You can expect low ping, a user-friendly interface, and a whole bunch of other useful features.

Final Judgement

ZeroTier is without a doubt the best choice here. It is a powerful platform with a wide range of capabilities. However, some of the other alternatives on this list might turn out to be your cup of tea, so don’t be afraid to give ‘em a go.

Do you still use Hamachi? If not, what is your favorite Hamachi alternative? Maybe something that isn’t on this list? Feel free to leave a comment below and share with the community why you’ve chosen a particular client.