Boom. Your service is available at 3000.bangie.digital.
bFree is a lightweight tunneling tool inspired by ngrok, built for developers who want full control over how their local services are exposed to the internet.
It uses a central relay server and public node clients to forward local ports without requiring Docker, root access, or complex configuration.
It’s designed for those moments when you need a quick preview link, test a webhook behind NAT, or set up something slightly cursed in your home lab.
What it does
- 🧪 Built with Node.js,
ssh2, and a custom relay protocol - 📡 Public relays connect to a central reverse proxy
- 💻 One command:
bfree --port 3000 - 🔧 Designed for frontend devs, no backend changes needed
- 🧰 Works behind NAT and typical home routers
Why it exists
Sometimes you do not want a whole platform.
You just want:
- a public URL for a local service
- a way to test webhooks behind NAT
- a clean preview link for a frontend build
- something self-controlled enough to fit a home lab workflow
That is the gap bFree is meant to fill.
How it works
bFree uses a relay-based model.
- the local machine opens the outbound connection
- a public relay handles exposure
- traffic is forwarded back to the local port you choose
That keeps the workflow lightweight while avoiding the usual router and firewall pain.
Outcome
Just install it once, point it at a port, and get on with the real work.
bFree is about freedom — from configuration, from containers, and from your ISP’s firewall.