SpoofDPI alternative for Mac
A fair look at SpoofDPI on macOS, what users report, and the alternatives: GreenTunnel's Mac app, ByeDPI and zapret's tpws. Who should stay with SpoofDPI.
If you searched for a "SpoofDPI alternative", SpoofDPI has probably stopped opening a site for you, or you want something that does not live in a terminal window. This page explains what SpoofDPI does well, what users have reported, and which other tools exist on a Mac. We make GreenTunnel, so we are biased. We link every claim about other tools to its public source so you can check it.
What SpoofDPI is, and what it does well
SpoofDPI (xvzc/spoofdpi on GitHub) describes itself as a simple and fast anti-censorship tool written in Go. As of November 2026:
- Open and popular. It is licensed Apache-2.0 and has about 5,100 stars on GitHub. Anyone can read the code.
- Actively maintained. The latest release is v1.5.5, published on 16 October 2026, following v1.5.4 in late September.
- Easy to install. Its documentation lists an install script and package managers:
brew install spoofdpion macOS, plus Arch, Fedora and FreeBSD packages. Supported systems include macOS, Linux and FreeBSD. - Simple to run. It can resolve names over DNS over HTTPS (DoH) when you turn that option on. By default it listens as an HTTP proxy on
127.0.0.1:8080. A SOCKS5 mode is available, and a TUN mode is marked experimental. An option calledauto-configure-networkcan set the macOS system proxy for you. It is off by default and works only on macOS.
For many Mac users who are comfortable in a terminal, it is the go-to tool, and for good reason. The README also gives two warnings worth repeating. SpoofDPI is not available on iOS or Android, and you should download it only from GitHub or official package managers, because copies from other sources may contain malware.
What users have reported
Every tool of this kind depends on how a particular network filters traffic, so reports like these are normal and do not mean the project is broken. They do explain why people look for alternatives.
- Stopped working on a network. In issue #270 (October 2024), a user on macOS in Russia reported that v0.11.1 stopped opening YouTube after working for a month, and many others reported the same. Commenters shared flag changes that helped some of them. The issue was closed as stale in January 2026.
- Trouble after a macOS update. In issue #249 (September 2024), users said v0.12.0 stopped opening some sites after updating to macOS 15 Sequoia. Collaborators suggested changing the window size option and offered a test branch, and noted that some connection problems on Sequoia might not be related to SpoofDPI. It was closed as stale in December 2025.
Both reports concern 2024 versions. The project has had many releases since, so try the current version before you conclude anything.
Two design points to know
A proxy covers only apps that use it
In its default HTTP and SOCKS5 modes, SpoofDPI works as a proxy. Browsers and most apps that follow the macOS proxy settings go through it, once the system proxy is set by hand or with auto-configure-network. Apps that ignore the system proxy, such as many command-line tools and some apps with their own networking, connect directly and are not covered. The experimental TUN mode is meant to close that gap, but it is not yet the default.
It is a terminal tool
SpoofDPI runs in a terminal with a text interface. There is no official graphical app. Third-party wrappers exist, for example ezDPI, a menu bar app that bundles SpoofDPI. Its README says releases are ad-hoc signed and not notarized. As with any third-party build, check the source and signing yourself.
GreenTunnel on a Mac
GreenTunnel is a local VPN that runs on your Mac. There is no relay server run by us. On macOS it works as a network extension in VPN mode, so it covers traffic from the whole Mac, not just apps that follow the proxy settings. It needs macOS 14 Sonoma or newer, on Apple silicon or Intel, and the download is signed and notarized by Apple. The first time, macOS asks you to allow the network extension in System Settings.
- DPI bypass. It reshapes the first TLS and HTTP packets of a connection, with techniques such as TLS record splitting, so a filter does not see the site name in one piece. See how SNI filtering and splitting work.
- Encrypted DNS. Lookups go over DoH or DoT to Cloudflare, Google or Quad9, which handles DNS-based blocking. See DoH and DoT.
- Inspect URL. Checks one site on your network and says whether it is name filtered, given a fake DNS answer, blocked by IP address, or fine, and which technique works. See how to read it.
- Requester. Lists connections and how each was handled. On the Mac it shows domains but not which app opened each connection. See Requester.
- Rules. Choose which sites get bypass and which always go direct. See routing rules.
It is free to use. Premium adds Proxy Route and Tunnel Link, which send selected sites through a proxy, Shadowsocks or WireGuard server that you choose. A note on names: SpoofDPI's README credits an open-source project called "Green Tunnel" by SadeghHayeri as an inspiration. That project is separate from GreenTunnel VPN and not made by us. Unlike SpoofDPI, GreenTunnel is proprietary software, so you cannot read its code. We never collect browsing content, domains or traffic.
Other options on a Mac
ByeDPI
ByeDPI is an MIT-licensed local SOCKS proxy with several DPI bypass methods. Its README documents Linux, BSD and Windows, with no macOS instructions. Using it on a Mac means building and running it yourself without official guidance, and like SpoofDPI's proxy modes it covers only apps that use the proxy.
zapret and tpws
zapret lists macOS support as partial. Its BSD and macOS notes say the tpws component works on macOS as a transparent proxy fed by pf redirect rules, must run as root, and does not apply to root's own traffic. The packet-level component does not work there. The notes warn that future macOS versions may break it. The original zapret is now end-of-life and accepts only bug fixes. Its successor, zapret2, states that macOS is not supported. This route suits people comfortable editing firewall rules.
Side by side
| SpoofDPI | GreenTunnel (Mac) | ByeDPI | zapret tpws | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal | Mac app | Terminal | Terminal, config files |
| How traffic reaches it | HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy, TUN experimental | Network extension, whole Mac | SOCKS proxy | pf redirect, transparent |
| Encrypted DNS | DoH option, off by default | DoH and DoT built in | No | Separate setup |
| macOS documented | Yes | Yes, macOS 14+ | No | Partial, zapret 1 only |
| Source code | Open, Apache-2.0 | Proprietary | Open, MIT | Open |
| Price | Free | Free, optional Premium | Free | Free |
Only one VPN-type app can run at a time on a Mac, and two tools that both rewrite traffic can confuse each other. Turn one off before you test another, and test the same site on the same network.
Who should stay with SpoofDPI
- You are happy in the terminal and it opens the sites you need.
- You want open source code you can read, build and audit.
- You also use Linux or FreeBSD and want the same tool everywhere.
- You only need browsers covered, and setting a proxy is fine.
GreenTunnel may suit you better if you want an app instead of a terminal, coverage for apps that ignore proxy settings, encrypted DNS in the same place, or a quick way to see why a site fails before changing settings.
Honest limits and responsible use
None of these tools hides your IP address or makes you anonymous. None can get around an IP-level block, a shutdown or an allowlist with local tricks alone. Results depend on your ISP and change over time, so a tool that works today may need different settings next month.
FAQ
Is there an official SpoofDPI app for Mac?
Not as of November 2026. SpoofDPI is a terminal tool. Menu bar wrappers such as ezDPI are made by third parties.
Can I run SpoofDPI and GreenTunnel together?
It is better not to. Both reshape the start of connections, and running both makes results hard to read. Turn one off while you test the other.
Does SpoofDPI work on iPhone or Android?
No. Its README says it is not available on iOS or Android and warns that copies from other sources may contain malware. GreenTunnel has apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Why did SpoofDPI stop working for me?
Networks change how they filter, and macOS updates can change networking behaviour. Update to the latest release, check the project's issues for your network, and try another tool on the same network to compare.
Sources
- GitHub, xvzc/spoofdpi README (license, warnings, stars) and releases (v1.5.5, 16 October 2026), read November 2026.
- SpoofDPI documentation, spoofdpi.dev: install page and app options (
app-mode,listen-addr,auto-configure-network) and DNS options. - GitHub issue #270, "10 october: stop working in Russia".
- GitHub issue #249, "After update on MacOS 15.0 (24A335) Sequoia not working with YouTube and other sites".
- GitHub, aliakpoyraz/ezdpi README.
- GitHub, hufrea/byedpi README.
- GitHub, bol-van/zapret README and docs/bsd.md, and bol-van/zapret2 README.
SpoofDPI, ByeDPI, zapret and ezDPI are products of their developers and are mentioned here only to identify them. We are not affiliated with any of them.