trailofbits/algo

Analysis updated 2026-06-20

★ 30,216PythonAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 3/5Setup · moderate

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((algo))
    What it does
      Sets up VPN
      Self hosted
      One command
    Features
      WireGuard support
      IKEv2 support
      QR code setup
      Ad blocking
    Tech Stack
      Python
      Ansible
    Who its for
      Privacy minded
      Remote workers
      Small teams

mindmap root((algo)) What it does Sets up VPN Self hosted One command Features WireGuard support IKEv2 support QR code setup Ad blocking Tech Stack Python Ansible Who its for Privacy minded Remote workers Small teams

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Set up a personal VPN server on a cloud provider to secure traffic on public Wi-Fi without trusting a commercial VPN service.

USE CASE 2

Create a private VPN for a small team by generating per-device config files and QR codes each member can scan to connect.

USE CASE 3

Block ads at the network level for all devices connected through your VPN server.

USE CASE 4

Add limited SSH tunnel access for specific users on an existing Algo server.

What is it built with?

PythonAnsible

How does it compare?

	trailofbits/algo	tatsu-lab/stanford_alpaca	stevenblack/hosts
Stars	30,216	30,253	30,310
Language	Python	Python	Python
Setup difficulty	moderate	hard	easy
Complexity	3/5	5/5	1/5
Audience	ops devops	researcher	general

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 1h+

Requires a cloud provider account and comfort running commands in a terminal.

In plain English

Algo VPN is a collection of automation scripts that set up a personal, private VPN server in the cloud with a single command. A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server you control, so your internet provider or anyone watching the network cannot see what you are doing. The difference here versus a commercial VPN service is that you own and run the server yourself, it belongs to you, not a third-party company. The scripts handle everything: they spin up a virtual machine at your chosen cloud provider, configure the VPN software using secure modern encryption standards (IKEv2 and WireGuard, two well-tested protocols), generate configuration files and QR codes you can scan directly into your phone, and set up automatic security updates. Once the server is running, connecting a device is as simple as importing a config file or scanning a QR code. The tool also optionally blocks ads at the network level and can set up limited SSH tunnels for users. You would use Algo if you want a private VPN for personal use, for example, to stay secure on public Wi-Fi or to avoid handing your browsing data to a commercial VPN provider, and you are comfortable setting up a cloud account and running a command in a terminal. It explicitly does not promise anonymity or censorship circumvention. The tech stack is Python with Ansible, an automation framework for configuring servers.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I want to use algo to set up my own VPN server on DigitalOcean. Walk me through the steps from creating the cloud account to connecting my iPhone.

Prompt 2

Using trailofbits/algo, help me generate WireGuard config files for three devices, my laptop, phone, and work computer.

Prompt 3

Show me how to add a new user to my existing Algo VPN server and send them a QR code they can scan with their phone.

Prompt 4

I've set up an Algo VPN server. What commands or checks can I run to verify my traffic is actually routing through it and the encryption is working?

Frequently asked questions

What is algo?

A one-command tool that spins up your own private VPN server in the cloud, routing your internet traffic through a server you own rather than a third-party VPN company.

What language is algo written in?

Mainly Python. The stack also includes Python, Ansible.

How hard is algo to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is algo for?

Mainly ops devops.

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