Nonprofit, Open Source, No Logs

The VPN that fights censorship

Connects where other VPNs can't. Free to use, worldwide.

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Trusted by 250 million people

Unmatched Speed

A smarter VPN that’s seriously fast

Most VPNs slow you down by sending all your traffic through their servers, even when it's unnecessary. By default, Lantern protects only what needs protection: blocked, unencrypted, and sensitive traffic. Everything else stays fast and direct. Want full coverage? Switch to full-tunnel mode anytime.

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Smart Routing By Default

Smart Routing uses region-specific rules to protect blocked and sensitive traffic. Everything else connects directly, keeping your connection as fast as possible. Switch to Full Tunnel for complete coverage.

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Host Your Own Server

Use Lantern’s trusted network or run your own server with Lantern’s Private Server manager. Either way, your connection stays private, flexible, and fully under your control.

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Reliable Access, Anywhere

Lantern adapts in real time to blocks and censorship with multiple protocols, smart routing, and constant updates. When one method gets blocked, Lantern switches to another automatically.

Try Lantern for Free

Built on transparency, trust, and purpose

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Proven when it matters most

Lantern has helped people stay online during some of the world’s most extreme censorship events, including the Women, Life, Freedom protests in Iran (2022) and the Hong Kong protests (2019). It enabled millions to reach the open internet when access was nearly impossible.

Learn more about our impact

Mission-Driven Nonprofit

Built by a nonprofit with 12+ years of experience advancing internet freedom in the world’s most restricted regions.

Read about our mission

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Open Source

15k Stars on Github

Lantern is open source and actively improved in partnership with the global circumvention community.

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No Logs

We don’t collect your browsing activity, connection history, or any personal data. Ever.

View our Privacy Policy

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Audited

Regularly reviewed by independent security experts.

View our Audits

Get access to anything, from anywhere

Join the 250+ million people who've downloaded Lantern.

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What makes Lantern different?

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Smart routing

Region-specific rules protect blocked, unencrypted, and sensitive traffic. Everything else stays fast and direct.

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Private Server Ready

Use our network or run your own VPN with Lantern’s Private Server manager for complete control over how and where you connect.

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Advanced censorship circumvention

Lantern includes more protocols than any other VPN, allowing it to adapt dynamically and bypass censorship in the most restrictive environments.

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Built-in Ad Blocking

Block intrusive ads and trackers with built-in protection for a cleaner, more private web.

Learn More About Our Features →

Stay connected across all your devices

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From our users

Lantern user stories

“I operate a platform for underground music. Everything we do gets blocked. Lantern gives us a way to share and survive.”

Shervin, Tehran

“I’m Afghan, living in Iran. My family can’t get a SIM card, open a bank account, or access public services. Lantern is how I stay connected to my relatives abroad, and to hope.”

Sara, Shiraz

“I run a foundation that lends laptops to underprivileged teens. We use Lantern so they can access courses in English, programming, and data science.”

Ramin, Isfahan

"I make wedding souvenirs at home and rely on Instagram to sell them, but it’s blocked. I’m a single mother, and this is how I support my child. I’ve joined nationwide strikes, even though I depend on this income. Paid VPNs are out of reach. Lantern keeps my business alive."

Shima, Kermanshah

"I’m a video editor and part-time journalist. Sometimes I send articles abroad, which can be dangerous. I don’t trust local VPNs. Lantern gives me the privacy and safety I need to keep doing this work."

Ehsan, Tehran

"I teach English online through messaging apps and video calls. Lantern is the only way I can connect with my students. It’s not just a tool, it’s how I keep working."

Mahsa, Zarghoun

*Names and locations have been changed to protect user privacy.

Lantern FAQ

Lantern is a nonprofit VPN built to bypass internet censorship and provide fast, private access to the open internet. It's developed by Brave New Software Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and has been downloaded over 250 million times since 2013. It's available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Yes. Lantern offers a free tier with daily data caps. Lantern Pro removes those limits and adds features like ad blocking, server location selection, and up to 5 simultaneous devices. Every Pro subscription helps fund free access for people in censored regions.

Yes. Lantern is designed for the world's most heavily censored environments and supports more censorship-resistant protocols than any other VPN. It adapts in real time to maintain access when other tools can't connect. During Iran's 2022 protests, an estimated 13% of all Iranian internet traffic flowed through Lantern.

No. Lantern does not collect your browsing activity, connection history, or personal data. It's open source, independently audited, and built by a nonprofit with no incentive to monetize your data.

Lantern is one of the only nonprofit VPNs. It uses Smart Routing to protect only the traffic that needs protection, keeping everything else fast and direct. It supports more censorship-resistant protocols than any other VPN, and lets you host your own VPN server for free with Private Server. Pro subscriptions directly fund open access in censored regions.