HTTP requests can be sent from the command line using xh, a fast tool inspired by HTTPie.
The Best RustCat Alternatives in 2026
Looking for something like RustCat? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 16 are open source.
Listen on network ports or open a reverse shell with Rustcat, a cross-platform command-line tool.
Top picks at a glance
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | xh | — | Yes | Android, Linux, macOS |
| 2 | Cloudflared | — | Yes | — |
| 3 | CLI | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | frp | — | Yes | — |
| 5 | YARP | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | SwitchHosts | — | Yes | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| 7 | Speed Test | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | Unbound | — | Yes | — |
| 9 | PingTracer | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | CLI | — | Yes | — |
All RustCat alternatives
Connect local services through Cloudflare Tunnel with cloudflared, the command-line tunnel client.
Test download and upload speeds from the command line using fast.com with fast-cli.
Expose a local server behind NAT or a firewall using frp, a reverse proxy for network tunneling.
High-performance HTTP reverse proxy applications can be developed with YARP, a toolkit.
Switch between host file configurations on macOS, Linux, and Windows with SwitchHosts.
Measure network performance with OpenSpeedTest, an open-source HTML5 speed test built with browser APIs.
Run Unbound as a validating, recursive, caching DNS resolver for network domain lookups.
Trace network latency by continuously pinging each host between a computer and its destination.
Run Cloudflare’s internet speed test from a terminal and view results in a text interface.
Use the AdGuard DNS filter, which combines filters for ads, tracking protection, and mobile ads.
Run a self-hosted HTML5 internet speed test with LibreSpeed, which supports multiple server configurations.
Benchmark HTTP and HTTPS endpoints with Plow, which displays results in a web UI or terminal.
Register a free domain, connect a DNS provider, and follow practical DNS learning resources through DigitalPlat FreeDomain.
Explore HaGeZi DNS free, non-commercial public DNS servers operated in Europe.
Troubleshoot network problems with NETworkManager, an open-source application with built-in diagnostic tools.
PortCheckers
portcheckers.comCheck whether network ports are open and test port forwarding or router connectivity with PortCheckers.
Globalping
globalping.ioGlobalping runs latency tests and network commands from probes around the world.
PortChecker
portchecker.coPort Checker tests whether ports are open and whether router port forwarding is configured.
CanYouSeeMe
canyouseeme.orgCanYouSeeMe checks whether an internet connection has an open port and verifies port forwarding.
WiFi Analyzer helps Windows users identify wireless network problems and choose a Wi-Fi channel.
Ping,
ping.peThis service runs ping, MTR, DNS, TCP port, and BGP diagnostics from multiple locations.
Arcai
arcai.comArcai provides NetCut and router utilities for controlling Wi-Fi networks on Windows and macOS.
DNS.SB
dns.sbResolve DNS queries with DNS.SB, which supports DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS.
Alternatives to similar tools
What is the best alternative to RustCat?
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Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative























