Forward MITM proxy with PAC support
Publisher’s description
What is forwarder?
forwarder is an open-source vpn & proxy program for Windows from SauceLabs. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and ARM64 as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.6.3, released on September 18, 2026. 8 versions are listed since June 4, 2024, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 3.5 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (saucelabs/forwarder) has 285 stars. Similar programs include OpenVPN, nginx and Proton VPN.
Project description on GitHub: “Forwarder is a production-ready, fast MITM proxy with PAC support. It's suitable for debugging, intercepting and manipulating HTTP traffic. It's used as a core component of Sauce Labs Sauce Connect Proxy.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
In short: forwarder is an open-source vpn & proxy tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is forwarder safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
1C2A2B7DBDD5DA3972E960D67BAAC12405346E509248577FF1608077CC8DE24B· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 8 versions ›8 versions over 2 years · about 3.5 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6.3Latest | September 18, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.6.2 | August 24, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.6.1 | August 11, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.4.0 | December 6, 2024 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.3.2 | August 5, 2024 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.3.1 | June 18, 2024 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.3.0 | June 11, 2024 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.2.1 | June 4, 2024 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id SauceLabs.forwarder -eRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- SauceLabs
- Category
- VPN & proxy
- Licence
- MPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/saucelabs/forwarder
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.6.3
- Released
- September 18, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- June 4, 2024
- Versions listed
- 8
- Updates / year
- 3.5
- GitHub stars
- 285
- GitHub forks
- 25
- Website
- opensource.saucelabs.com
- winget ID
- SauceLabs.forwarder
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is forwarder free?
Yes. forwarder is open-source software under the MPL-2.0 licence.
Is forwarder safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install forwarder with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does forwarder run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of forwarder?
The versions page lists all 8 versions with links to their official installer files, back to June 4, 2024.
Can I use forwarder without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to forwarder?
OpenVPN, nginx, Proton VPN, Tailscale and v2rayN. The alternatives page compares them.
