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LanOrbit and the alternatives
An honest look at the other ways to play a LAN game over the internet, including the ones that cost nothing.
| What matters | LanOrbit | Generic VPN tools | Mesh networks | Port forwarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Install, join a room | Install, create a network, share credentials | Install, authorise each device | Router config per game, per player |
| Route optimisation | Measures paths, switches automatically | None, you get whatever the internet gives you | Direct peer-to-peer when it can, relay when it can't | Direct, and that's it |
| Players per network | 8 free, up to 64 paid | Usually 5 free, more on paid tiers | Often 25 or more free | Unlimited in theory |
| Voice and chat | Built in, per room and per team | No | No | No |
| Room browser | Public rooms with live ping | No, you share a network name | No | No |
| Per-game guides | Written and tested per title | Community forums | Community forums | You're on your own |
| Works behind strict NAT | Yes, relayed | Usually, relayed | Sometimes, falls back to relay | Often not at all |
| Cost | Free tier, €3.90/mo for more | Free tier, paid tiers above it | Generous free tier | Free, if you have router access |
| Best for | Old LAN games with friends, casually | Occasional small sessions | Technical users, always-on device networks | One fixed group, one machine that always hosts |
When you shouldn't use us
You always play with the same two people
If one of you has a static IP and router access, forwarding a port costs nothing and adds no hop. Do that instead.
You need a network for servers, not games
For linking machines, remote desktops or a home lab, a proper mesh network is the better tool. We're built around game rooms and we don't pretend otherwise.
The game has working official servers
If a modern title has matchmaking that works for you, use it. We exist for the ones that never had it, or lost it.