--- title: STunnel Reviews meta\_title: 'STunnel Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how STunnel works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 3.9 review\_count: 5 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-07-17' parent\_category: name: Confidentiality url: https://www.g2.com/categories/confidentiality --- ### STunnel Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages #### Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews Generated from real user reviews Users value the **strong TLS encryption** offered by STunnel, enhancing security for legacy protocols effortlessly. [(3 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562910&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users appreciate the **strong TLS encryption** of Stunnel, enhancing security effortlessly for legacy applications. [(3 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562892&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users highlight the **easy accessibility** of STunnel, enhanced by excellent documentation and open-source benefits. [(2 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562974&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users appreciate the **ease of use** of STunnel, finding it straightforward to enhance application security with SSL. [(2 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562926&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **strong TLS encryption** provided by STunnel, enhancing security for legacy protocols seamlessly. [(2 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562899&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users experience **slow performance** with Stunnel due to significant overhead from cryptographic processing affecting high traffic throughput. [(3 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562945&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **complex setup** of STunnel tricky, requiring a deep understanding of the documentation for configuration. [(1 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562960&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users note **cybersecurity risks** due to performance drops and lack of features for intrusion detection or prevention. [(1 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562935&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users experience **performance drops** due to encryption, and setup can be challenging without thorough documentation. [(1 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562914&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **learning difficulty** of Stunnel challenging initially, requiring effort to fully grasp its functionality. [(1 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562884&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) ### 5 Pros or Advantages of STunnel ##### 1. Encryption Security Users value the **strong TLS encryption** offered by STunnel, enhancing security for legacy protocols effortlessly. [ See 3 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562910&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Dhaval S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Dhaval S.") DS Dhaval S. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.5/5 "Simplifying Secure Data Transport Using STunnel" What do you like about STunnel? STunnel services to TLS Encryption provides a lightweight yet powerful solution to efficiently secure non-TLS protocols in a variety of environments. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you like about STunnel? Strong TLS encryption is a feature that Stunnel excels at offering for outdated protocols. It boosts security without changing already-existing apps. ##### 2. Security Users appreciate the **strong TLS encryption** of Stunnel, enhancing security effortlessly for legacy applications. [ See 3 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562892&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you like about STunnel? Strong TLS encryption is a feature that Stunnel excels at offering for outdated protocols. It boosts security without changing already-existing apps. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you like about STunnel? It's really user-friendly and offers a straightforward way to add a security layer to your application, enabling SSL capabilities. Plus, it's open sou ##### 3. Accessibility Users highlight the **easy accessibility** of STunnel, enhanced by excellent documentation and open-source benefits. [ See 2 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562974&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you like about STunnel? Strong TLS encryption is a feature that Stunnel excels at offering for outdated protocols. It boosts security without changing already-existing apps. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you like about STunnel? It's really user-friendly and offers a straightforward way to add a security layer to your application, enabling SSL capabilities. Plus, it's open sou ##### 4. Ease of Use Users appreciate the **ease of use** of STunnel, finding it straightforward to enhance application security with SSL. [ See 2 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562926&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you like about STunnel? Strong TLS encryption is a feature that Stunnel excels at offering for outdated protocols. It boosts security without changing already-existing apps. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you like about STunnel? It's really user-friendly and offers a straightforward way to add a security layer to your application, enabling SSL capabilities. Plus, it's open sou ##### 5. Encryption Users value the **strong TLS encryption** provided by STunnel, enhancing security for legacy protocols seamlessly. [ See 2 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562899&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Dhaval S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Dhaval S.") DS Dhaval S. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.5/5 "Simplifying Secure Data Transport Using STunnel" What do you like about STunnel? STunnel services to TLS Encryption provides a lightweight yet powerful solution to efficiently secure non-TLS protocols in a variety of environments. DK Dhaval K. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 3.5/5 "STunnel Role in Securing Client-Server Architecture" What do you like about STunnel? Stunnel is excellent at providing strong TLS encryption for legacy protocols. Increase security without modifying existing applications. ### 5 Cons or Disadvantages of STunnel ##### 1. Slow Performance Users experience **slow performance** with Stunnel due to significant overhead from cryptographic processing affecting high traffic throughput. [ See 3 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562945&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you dislike about STunnel? The performance overhead of Stunnel can be substantial because of its cryptographic processing. High connection traffic throughput may be impacted by ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you dislike about STunnel? There’s been a bit of a drop in performance for the application because of the encryption layer. The initial setup can be a little tricky since you re ##### 2. Complex Setup Users find the **complex setup** of STunnel tricky, requiring a deep understanding of the documentation for configuration. [ See 1 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562960&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you dislike about STunnel? There’s been a bit of a drop in performance for the application because of the encryption layer. The initial setup can be a little tricky since you re ##### 3. Cybersecurity Risks Users note **cybersecurity risks** due to performance drops and lack of features for intrusion detection or prevention. [ See 1 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562935&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you dislike about STunnel? There’s been a bit of a drop in performance for the application because of the encryption layer. The initial setup can be a little tricky since you re ##### 4. Encryption Issues Users experience **performance drops** due to encryption, and setup can be challenging without thorough documentation. [ See 1 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562914&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.0/5 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" What do you dislike about STunnel? There’s been a bit of a drop in performance for the application because of the encryption layer. The initial setup can be a little tricky since you re ##### 5. Learning Difficulty Users find the **learning difficulty** of Stunnel challenging initially, requiring effort to fully grasp its functionality. [ See 1 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1562884&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Stunnel is Awesome!" What do you dislike about STunnel? The performance overhead of Stunnel can be substantial because of its cryptographic processing. High connection traffic throughput may be impacted by ## Top-Rated Alternatives [ ![Keeper Password Manager](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_01594bd607354336a9061abbe06a71a2/keeper-password-manager.png "Keeper Password Manager") Keeper Password Manager 4.6/5(1,235) ](https://www.g2.com/products/keeper-password-manager/reviews) [ ![Progress MOVEit](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/5b00e6dcd9914c9bcd5d86a4aeac7af2/progress-moveit.svg "Progress MOVEit") Progress MOVEit 4.4/5(529) ](https://www.g2.com/products/progress-moveit/reviews) [ ![Signal](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1492186272/open-whisper-systems-signal.jpg "Signal") Signal 4.4/5(454) ](https://www.g2.com/products/open-whisper-systems-signal/reviews) [ View All Alternatives ](https://www.g2.com/products/stunnel/competitors/alternatives) ![Verified User in Computer Software](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer Software") UC Verified User in Computer Software Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 10/7/2024 "Reliable and efficient way to add ssl to legacy applications" 3/5 What do you like best about STunnel? It's really user-friendly and offers a straightforward way to add a security layer to your application, enabling SSL capabilities. Plus, it's open source, which makes it even more accessible, especially with the excellent documentation available. It relies on OpenSSL under the hood, which is a huge advantage for compatibility. Overall, it's a solid choice for anyone looking to enhance security of their applications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about STunnel? There’s been a bit of a drop in performance for the application because of the encryption layer. The initial setup can be a little tricky since you really need to understand the documentation, as everything has to be configured in the stunnel.conf file. Also, it only focuses on encrypting traffic and doesn’t offer any features for intrusion detection or prevention, which is a bit of a downside. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is STunnel solving and how is that benefiting you? It lets us wrap our legacy application and use an encrypted connection with the OpenSSL library, so there's no need to change the application itself. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Information Technology and Services](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Information Technology and Services") UI Verified User in Information Technology and Services Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 10/12/2024 "Stunnel is Awesome!" 3.5/5 What do you like best about STunnel? Strong TLS encryption is a feature that Stunnel excels at offering for outdated protocols. It boosts security without changing already-existing apps. It is quite easy to use and provides a clear method for adding a security layer and turning on SSL capabilities to your application. Furthermore, because of the available documentation, it is much more accessible because it is open source. The fact that OpenSSL is used internally is a major compatibility benefit. For those wishing to improve the security of their apps, it's an excellent option all around. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about STunnel? The performance overhead of Stunnel can be substantial because of its cryptographic processing. High connection traffic throughput may be impacted by this. It took some getting used to and required some searching on forums and internet, but once that was done, it worked perfectly! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is STunnel solving and how is that benefiting you? Through the protection of sensitive data communications, tunnel enhances privacy. It allows for safe communication across systems that are incompatible without changing already-running apps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Dhaval S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Dhaval S.") DS Dhaval S. Business Analyst Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 10/9/2024 "Simplifying Secure Data Transport Using STunnel" 4.5/5 What do you like best about STunnel? STunnel services to TLS Encryption provides a lightweight yet powerful solution to efficiently secure non-TLS protocols in a variety of environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about STunnel? Using Stunnel in a chroot environment requires additional configuration steps to ensure TCP Wrappers work properly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is STunnel solving and how is that benefiting you? Stunnel enables TLS encryption for current clients and servers without requiring any code modifications, which facilitates secure communication for untrusted network also. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More 11/6/2024 Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite DK Dhaval K. Technology Analyst Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 10/6/2024 "STunnel Role in Securing Client-Server Architecture" 3.5/5 What do you like best about STunnel? Stunnel is excellent at providing strong TLS encryption for legacy protocols. Increase security without modifying existing applications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about STunnel? Stunnel's performance overhead can be significant due to cryptographic processing. This may affect the throughput of high connection volumes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is STunnel solving and how is that benefiting you? Stunnel increases privacy by protecting sensitive data communications. Enables secure communication between incompatible systems without modifying existing applications. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Computer Software](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Computer Software") AC Verified User in Computer Software Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 5/16/2018 "stunnel is great!" 5/5 What do you like best about STunnel? that STunnel gave me the ability to use needed old software with SSL Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about STunnel? the configuration was a little annoying and not easy, I had to google and search on their forums, but after that it was great! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering STunnel: I recommend the use of Stunnel definitely!! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is STunnel solving and how is that benefiting you? We had an older software that uses POP but does not use SSL, STunnel allowed us to "trick" the software into using SSL and allowing us to have secure mail Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Current UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ## Work at STunnel? Claim this profile to respond to reviews, update product info, and reach in-market buyers. 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