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Awacino vs ngrok: a public URL vs a private network address

In short

ngrok gives a local service a public URL through its servers - handy for demos, webhooks and development. Awacino publishes nothing: it gives your own devices and invited guests a private address inside your network. Choose ngrok to share a local web service with the internet quickly; choose Awacino to reach your home or office network privately with your own tools.

Last checked: Nov 8, 2026

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Side by side

	ngrok	Awacino
How it connects	Through ngrok's servers to a public URL	Direct device to device, end-to-end encrypted; Awacino's servers only introduce the devices
What you install	The ngrok agent next to the service	Awacino on your device and on one device in the network you want to reach
Router changes	None	None: no port forwarding, no public IP address, no DynDNS
Behind CGNAT / DS-Lite	Works	Works
Devices without an app (NAS, printer, PLC)	Only the service behind the agent	Reachable at their usual address through your SituIP
Your own tools (RDP, VNC, SSH)	HTTP and TCP forwarding of single services	Yes, any tool, unchanged
Guest access	Anyone with the URL, unless you add access rules	A Beam-in code, switched off with one tap
Licence model	Free tier; subscriptions by features and usage	Slots: devices and active Beam-in codes, never people; free for 2 devices for private use
Open source	Agent no (older versions were open source)	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux and more	iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, Linux; Raspberry Pi, NAS and servers with the Unattended Client

Typical setups; details vary by plan and version.

When ngrok is the better choice

You need a public URL for a webhook, a demo or a test.
You develop web apps and want to share them quickly.
You want traffic inspection for a single service.

When Awacino is the better choice

You want private access - nothing published to the internet.
You need the whole network: NAS, printers, RDP, SSH.
Guests should get in with one code you switch off.

Questions people ask

Is Awacino an ngrok alternative?

For private remote access, yes. For a public URL to a local service, ngrok is made for that; Awacino does not publish services.

Is my network reachable from the internet with Awacino?

No. Devices connect directly and end-to-end encrypted, and only your devices and invited guests can reach the network.

Does Awacino work behind CGNAT?

Yes. Both devices connect outwards and then talk to each other directly, so you need no public IP address and no port forwarding - also behind CGNAT, DS-Lite and on mobile networks.

Can I use RDP, VNC or SSH with Awacino?

Yes. Your device gets a SituIP, a real address in the remote network, so the Remote Desktop, VNC and SSH tools built into Windows, macOS and Linux work unchanged.

Is Awacino free?

Private use is free for 2 devices. Commercial use is licensed by slots - devices and active Beam-in codes, never people - from a few devices to large fleets and MSPs with many customer networks.

Is Awacino open source?

No. Awacino is closed-source software by ImageNotion UG, Germany. Connections are direct and end-to-end encrypted; Awacino's servers never carry your data.