TunnelBar Connect

Your connection.One click away.

Connect to your SSH server from your Mac’s menu bar. A local SOCKS5 proxy, without the extra steps.

Made for macOS 15 and later

TunnelBar Connect

Connected

SSH tunnelYour server. Your connection.
Your Mac127.0.0.1
Your serverSSH
Encrypted over SSHSOCKS5
Try the switch. That’s how simple it feels.
Interactive demo

A click to connect.

Turn your tunnel on or off from the menu bar. Right-click to open settings.

Your server. Your keys.

Use an SSH key, your SSH agent, or a password stored in the macOS Keychain.

Back to how it was.

When you disconnect, TunnelBar restores the previous SOCKS settings on your selected network services.

Set it up once

Then, just connect.

Bring a Mac and an SSH server you trust. TunnelBar takes care of the local proxy.

  1. 1

    Add your server

    Enter its address, your username, and your preferred authentication method.

  2. 2

    Verify and test

    Verify the server’s fingerprint through a trusted channel, then test the connection in settings.

  3. 3

    Connect from the menu bar

    Choose your network services and activate the tunnel. Your next connection is one click away.

A few things to know.

Is this a VPN?

No. TunnelBar creates an SSH tunnel with a local SOCKS5 proxy for TCP traffic. It works with apps that respect SOCKS proxy settings, such as Safari.

Do I need my own server?

Yes. You need access to an SSH server that allows TCP forwarding, plus a password, SSH key, or SSH agent. TunnelBar does not provide servers or a VPN subscription.

What happens when I disconnect?

TunnelBar restores your previous SOCKS settings before closing the tunnel. If it cannot confirm the restoration, it shows “Recovery pending” so you can review Diagnostics.