# bitcoind vs setup-ipsec-vpn

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | bitcoind | setup-ipsec-vpn |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 87/100 ✓ | 78/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 9 in Fintech | #3 of 56 in VPN |
| GitHub stars | 90 533 ✓ | 28 888 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +290 | +322 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 9 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v29.5 · 26 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | MIT | Other |
| Main language | C++ | Shell |

## Which one should you pick?

bitcoind scores 87/100 against 78/100 for setup-ipsec-vpn, so it is the safer default.

bitcoind ships more often: 9 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for setup-ipsec-vpn.

If you want the quickest setup, setup-ipsec-vpn is easier to run; bitcoind needs more configuration.

## Details

- [bitcoind](https://selfhost.directory/project/bitcoind) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/bitcoind.md)
- [setup-ipsec-vpn](https://selfhost.directory/project/setup-ipsec-vpn) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/setup-ipsec-vpn.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/bitcoind-vs-setup-ipsec-vpn