NordVPN Makes Linux App GUI Open Source, Reverses Meshnet Shutdown Decision

Two significant announcements show that the company is listening to its community.

NordVPN (partner link) is one of the best no-logs VPNs for Linux around. The Panama-based service has consistently demonstrated its commitment to transparency through independent audits and a proven track record of protecting user data.

Over the past few weeks, the company has made two significant announcements that signal some interesting changes, with both moves appearing to be directly driven by user feedback and community engagement.

NordVPN's Open Source Move

Just a placeholder image of NordVPN's Linux GUI client.

First up, NordVPN has released the source code for its Linux application's graphical user interface under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The code is now available on GitHub, complete with build instructions and contribution guidelines for developers interested in improving the application.

The GUI version was initially introduced earlier this year and reportedly led to a 70% increase in Linux devices using NordVPN daily. The command-line interface for the Linux client was already open source, making this release the final piece of the puzzle.

The Linux client manages network interfaces through tuntap, handles firewall rules via iptables, routing through iproute2, and DNS management with systemd-resolved. It supports major distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Kali Linux, and OpenSUSE.

Additionally, the official NordVPN Snap package has been updated to include the GUI, which was previously limited to command-line functionality.

But Wait, There's More!

In a separate announcement earlier this month, NordVPN reversed its decision to discontinue the Meshnet feature following strong pushback from users. If you didn't know, Meshnet allows users to securely connect up to 60 devices in a private local area network (LAN) without routing traffic through NordVPN's servers.

The company confirmed that Meshnet will remain available "just the way you know it," with no changes to its current functionality. More significantly, they announced plans to open source Meshnet as well.

Talking about the open sourcing of the Linux app's GUI, Marijus Briedis, the CTO of NordVPN, added that:

Linux is built on openness and community collaboration. It’s what makes it one of the most resilient ecosystems in the world. We share these same values and seek to better serve the Linux community.

At the time of writing, NordVPN has not published an official blog post about either announcement on its website. The information appears to have been shared through press releases and social media channels.

People interested in following official updates can monitor NordVPN's blog portal for any future announcements.

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