methods / lantern-guide
Lantern - the other free anti-censorship tool
Short answer
Lantern is a free anti-censorship tool that tunnels traffic past censoring networks, available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Introduction to Lantern
Lantern is a nonprofit VPN that fights censorship and provides fast, private, and unrestricted internet access. It is developed by Brave New Software Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization [1]. Lantern has been downloaded over 250 million times since 2014 and is available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can download Lantern from the official website [1] or from GitHub releases [2].
How Lantern Works
Lantern tunnels through its own network of servers and peer connections, using obfuscation to survive Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). It adapts in real-time to blocks and censorship, using multiple protocols and smart routing to maintain access when other tools can't connect [1]. Lantern's Smart Routing feature uses region-specific rules to protect blocked and sensitive traffic, while keeping everything else fast and direct [1]. You can learn more about Lantern's features and how it works on the official website [1] or on the GitHub page [2].
Platform Differences
Lantern is available on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Android app covers the whole device, while desktop installers cover Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download the app or installer from the official website [1] or from GitHub releases [2]. For example, on Android, you can download the Lantern app from the Google Play Store or from the official website [1]. On desktop, you can download the installer from the official website [1] or from GitHub releases [2].
Setup (Two Minutes)
Setting up Lantern is a straightforward process that takes only a few minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Download Lantern from the official website [1] or from GitHub releases [2].
- Install the app or launcher on your device.
- Launch the app and enable the toggle. No account is required.
- The blocked site should open. If one endpoint is degraded, restarting the app typically re-picks a connection path.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during setup or while using Lantern, you can try restarting the app or checking the official website [1] for troubleshooting guides. You can also join the Lantern community on GitHub [2] or on social media to get help from other users and developers.
Honest Positioning
Lantern is a free anti-censorship tool that offers a paid "Pro" tier with faster endpoints. The free tier is fully usable for unblocking, but it has a daily data limit in most countries [1]. Lantern is a tunnel, not an anonymizer, which means that the operator sees your traffic instead of your network [1]. On phones, Lantern is a direct sibling of Psiphon, and you can install both without any issues [1].
When Lantern is the Right Pick
Lantern is the right pick in several situations:
- Psiphon is degraded or blocked on your network.
- You want a phone-wide tunnel without a VPN account.
- You are in a country where both Lantern and Psiphon are actively maintained against the local censor.
You can learn more about Lantern's features and advantages on the official website [1] or on the GitHub page [2]. You can also check out our guides on choosing a VPN and how to unblock any website for more information.
Advanced Features
Lantern offers several advanced features, including:
- Smart Routing: uses region-specific rules to protect blocked and sensitive traffic [1].
- Private Server mode: allows you to run Lantern on your own hardware or cloud account [1].
- Advanced censorship circumvention: supports more protocols than any other VPN [1].
- Built-in Ad Blocking: blocks intrusive ads and trackers with built-in protection [1].
You can learn more about these features on the official website [1] or on the GitHub page [2].
Security and Auditing
Lantern is open-source and actively improved in partnership with the global circumvention community [1]. It is regularly reviewed by independent security experts and has a transparent privacy policy [1]. You can view the audits and privacy policy on the official website [1].
Conclusion
Lantern is a powerful and free anti-censorship tool that offers fast, private, and unrestricted internet access. It is developed by a nonprofit organization and has been downloaded over 250 million times since 2014. With its advanced features, smart routing, and private server mode, Lantern is an excellent choice for anyone looking to bypass internet censorship. You can download Lantern from the official website [1] or from GitHub releases [2] and start using it today.
You can also check out our other guides on cloudflare warp guide, doh setup, and tor browser guide for more information on how to stay safe and private online.
FAQ
What is Lantern?
Lantern is a nonprofit VPN that fights censorship and provides fast, private, and unrestricted internet access.
Is Lantern free?
Yes, Lantern is free to use, with a daily data limit in most countries.
Does Lantern work in China, Iran, or Russia?
Yes, Lantern is designed for the world's most heavily censored environments and supports more censorship-resistant protocols than any other VPN.
Does Lantern keep logs?
No, Lantern does not collect your browsing activity, connection history, or personal data.
How is Lantern different from other VPNs?
Lantern is one of the only nonprofit VPNs, using Smart Routing to protect only the traffic that needs protection, keeping everything else fast and direct.