// compare
lrok vs bore. Open-source self-host vs $9 hosted.
bore is a Rust reverse-tunnel server with a simple wire protocol. It nails the OSS / self-host story; lrok is the pick when you want a hosted service with reserved subdomains, custom domains, and a request inspector without operating any infrastructure yourself.
Free tier
| Feature | lrok | bore |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted edge included | Yes — Helsinki | Self-host required |
| Reserved subdomain | 1 free | Self-managed (random ports by default) |
| Real Let's Encrypt cert | Auto | Self-managed |
| Setup time | < 1 minute | Server install + DNS + cert |
| Request inspector | Last 100 requests | Not built-in |
Pro tier
| Feature | lrok | bore |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9 / mo flat | Free + your VPS bill |
| Custom domains | Yes | Self-managed |
| TCP tunnels | Yes | Yes (TCP-native) |
| HTTP basic-auth gating | Yes | Not built-in |
Where bore still wins
We're up-front about the gaps. Some are on the roadmap; the enterprise / specialized ones probably won't be.
| Feature | lrok | bore |
|---|---|---|
| Self-host control | Hosted only | You own the server + traffic |
| Source-available code | Backend source published | Fully MIT-licensed |
| Network protocol simplicity | yamux over TLS | Custom Rust protocol — small, audit-able |