Unicorn HTTPS alternative: GreenTunnel
A fair comparison of Unicorn HTTPS and GreenTunnel: both target SNI filtering, but differ in DNS, Requester, Inspect URL, free tier and Premium.
If you searched for an "alternative to Unicorn HTTPS", you probably already use a local tool to deal with filtered sites and want to compare options, or you are looking for a second tool to try. This page compares the two as fairly as we can. We make GreenTunnel, so we are biased, which is why we stick to what each product says about itself and tell you where we could not verify something.
What Unicorn HTTPS is
Unicorn HTTPS is published by Unicorn Soft, Inc. It is listed on the App Store (subtitle "Bypassing SNI HTTPS Filtering") and on Google Play ("Unicorn HTTPS:Secure & Fast"). As of October 2026, the App Store page lists these features:
- HTTPS blocking bypass
- Quick DNS change (1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8)
- SNI field protection
- No slowdown
- Support for all browsers
The listing says the app is free and shows no in-app purchases, and the developer states that it does not collect personal information and shows no ads. It also says the app works by modifying specific packets rather than by routing traffic through overseas servers. These are the developer's own statements, and we have not tested or audited the app. The App Store privacy label, also filled in by the developer, lists some analytics and diagnostics data that is not linked to you. The App Store page shows it as available for iPhone, iPad and, on Apple silicon Macs, macOS.
What GreenTunnel is
GreenTunnel is a local VPN for Android and iPhone/iPad. It runs entirely on your device and there is no relay server run by us. It reshapes the first TLS and HTTP packets of a connection so that a filter reading the site name does not recognise it (how this works), uses encrypted DNS, and offers a few diagnostics and control tools:
- Inspect URL: tells you whether one site is blocked on your network and how (fake DNS, name filtering, IP block), and which technique works. See how to read it.
- Requester: shows which apps connected where and how each connection was handled (Bypass, Direct or Error). See Requester.
- Routing rules and Always direct: choose which sites go direct, which get bypass, and which skip reshaping entirely. See routing rules.
- Automatic fallback between techniques, so a site that fails with one technique is retried with another, and a one-tap "Use this technique" from Inspect URL.
- Plugins and block lists for ads and scam sites, and your own lists.
It is free to use. Premium unlocks Proxy Route and Tunnel Link (route selected sites through a proxy or a WireGuard server that you choose) and, on Android, the per-app filter in Requester. The free Android app can show ads, and Premium removes them. The iPhone and iPad app has none. We never collect browsing content, domains or traffic.
Side by side
| Unicorn HTTPS (per its store pages) | GreenTunnel | |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Bypass SNI-based HTTPS filtering | Same core job, plus diagnostics and routing |
| Where it runs | On the device | On the device (local VPN) |
| Relay server | Developer says traffic is not routed overseas | None of ours. Optional server that you choose |
| DNS | Quick switch between two public resolvers | Encrypted DNS (DoH, DoT, DoQ) with several providers |
| Diagnose a site | Not listed on the store page | Inspect URL |
| See what apps connect to | Not listed on the store page | Requester |
| Per-site control | Not listed on the store page | Rules, block lists, Always direct |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac with Apple silicon, Android | Android, iPhone and iPad |
| Price | Free, per the store pages | Free, with optional Premium |
| Hides your IP | Developer says it is not a typical VPN. Check its policy | No, unless you choose a proxy or tunnel |
Where we write "not listed on the store page" we mean we did not find the feature described there, not that it does not exist. Check the current listing before deciding.
Who should pick which
Unicorn HTTPS may be enough if
- You want one simple, free thing: get past SNI-based filtering and switch DNS quickly.
- You do not need to know why a site fails or to fine-tune which sites are treated how.
- You use a Mac with Apple silicon and want the same app there.
GreenTunnel may suit you better if
- You want to diagnose first: is it DNS, SNI or an IP block, and does a local technique even help?
- You want encrypted DNS with a choice of providers, always applied while protection is on.
- You want to see which of your apps connect where, and to send selected sites through your own proxy or WireGuard server (Premium).
- A banking or similar app dislikes modified traffic, and you want Always direct for it.
Neither will help if
- The block is by IP address, the protocol is blocked, or the network is shut down. You would need another server.
- You need to hide your IP address or appear in another country. That is a remote VPN's job (see NordVPN alternative?).
Trying both safely
Android and iOS allow only one VPN-type app to be active at a time, so turn one off before you turn on the other. To compare fairly, test the same site on the same network with each tool, and run a baseline check without either. Results vary between ISPs and change over time, so a comparison on your network today may differ next month.
GreenTunnel is free on Android and iPhone, with optional Premium. See the home page for how it works.
FAQ
Is GreenTunnel a drop-in replacement for Unicorn HTTPS?
For the core job of getting past SNI-based filtering, they overlap. GreenTunnel adds diagnostics, per-site control and optional proxy or tunnel routing, so it works a little differently and has more settings to learn.
Do I need a VPN if I use one of these?
Not for the problems these tools target. A remote VPN solves a different set of problems, mainly hiding your IP address from sites. See Do I need a VPN?
Can I run both at the same time?
Not if both use the system's VPN interface, because only one such app can be active at a time. Turn one off first.
Which one is faster?
We have not benchmarked Unicorn HTTPS and we do not publish speed claims for GreenTunnel. Both only touch the start of each connection, so most people notice little difference. Your network matters more than the tool.
Sources
- Apple App Store, Unicorn HTTPS (developer Unicorn Soft, Inc., feature list, privacy label, compatibility), read October 2026.
- Google Play, "Unicorn HTTPS:Secure & Fast", developer Unicorn Soft, Inc. (package kr.co.lylstudio.httpsguard), confirmed from Google Play search, October 2026.
Unicorn HTTPS is a product of its developer and is mentioned here only to identify it. We are not affiliated with it.
