[Feature Request]: Integration with Rethink app #107

Onxr commented 2026年05月11日 13:24:52 +02:00

Please confirm that:

• I have searched the issues and didn't find the feature I am looking for

Feature description

Is it possible for this client to act as proxy and not use VPN method ? Similar to orbot's Power User Mode ?
I'm using Rethink for both DNS and VPN (mainly for firewall) but for that it requires VPN access of the phone.
Currently Rethink is working on to implement tailscale (open issue). I brought the Netbird issue but was told incompatible license with Rethink's license.
I wanted to use commercial Wireguard VPN and also wanted to access Netbird hosts at the same time.

I did create an issue on Netbird android client here last month.

### Please confirm that: - [x] I have searched the [issues](https://codeberg.org/bg443/JetBird/issues) and didn't find the feature I am looking for ### Feature description Is it possible for this client to act as proxy and not use VPN method ? Similar to orbot's **Power User Mode** ? I'm using Rethink for both DNS and VPN (mainly for firewall) but for that it requires VPN access of the phone. Currently Rethink is working on to implement tailscale ([open issue](https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/issues/1047)). I brought the Netbird [issue](https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/issues/2531) but was told incompatible license with Rethink's license. I wanted to use commercial Wireguard VPN and also wanted to access Netbird hosts at the same time. I did create an issue on Netbird android client [here](https://github.com/netbirdio/android-client/issues/150) last month.

bg443 commented 2026年05月11日 19:19:05 +02:00

Hey,

This is not something that would be straightforward to implement in JetBird, as everything has been designed around using it as a VPN.

Saying that, it is possible. NetBird has a netstack mode which creates a SOCKS proxy. If you really need support, this might work under Termux (not saying it will, as I haven't tested that). It also might not solve your use case.

As an aside, the comment you received on your Rethink issue seems to be a misunderstanding. Whilst the NetBird Android client (and JetBird) are licensed under GPL, NetBird itself is licensed under BSD 3.0. This should be able to be used by Rethink, as they are using Apache 2.0, and the NetBird core should have everything they will need to create an integration.

Hope this helps. Support for this use case isn't off the table, however would likely be done outside of JetBird.

Hey, This is not something that would be straightforward to implement in JetBird, as everything has been designed around using it as a VPN. Saying that, it is possible. NetBird has a [netstack mode](https://docs.netbird.io/use-cases/cloud/netbird-on-faas) which creates a SOCKS proxy. If you really need support, this might work under Termux (not saying it will, as I haven't tested that). It also might not solve your use case. As an aside, the comment you received on your Rethink issue seems to be a misunderstanding. Whilst the NetBird Android client (and JetBird) are licensed under GPL, NetBird itself is licensed under [BSD 3.0](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/blob/main/LICENSE). This should be able to be used by Rethink, as they are using Apache 2.0, and the NetBird core should have everything they will need to create an integration. Hope this helps. Support for this use case isn't off the table, however would likely be done outside of JetBird.

Onxr commented 2026年05月12日 08:11:53 +02:00

Thanks for the clarification I'm not well versed in License. I only know these are FOSS licenses but some are more permissive than others which might results license incompatibility.

I only use termux so I can get shell access for my pc. I will look into it.

Support for this use case isn't off the table, however would likely be done outside of JetBird.

I guess you're talking about the upstream Netbird client ? As I didn't get any response I opened an issue here.

I have a question does this fork works better in terms of less power consumption compared to the official client ? Did anyone complained yet ?
I have seen people complaining about it. Currently I am using tailscale but I would like to move to Netbird and I'm worried about battery draining

Thanks for the clarification I'm not well versed in License. I only know these are FOSS licenses but some are more permissive than others which might results license incompatibility. I only use termux so I can get shell access for my pc. I will look into it. > Support for this use case isn't off the table, however would likely be done outside of JetBird. I guess you're talking about the upstream Netbird client ? As I didn't get any response I opened an issue here. I have a question does this fork works better in terms of less power consumption compared to the official client ? Did anyone complained yet ? I have seen people complaining about it. Currently I am using tailscale but I would like to move to Netbird and I'm worried about battery draining

bg443 commented 2026年05月12日 19:03:29 +02:00

I guess you're talking about the upstream Netbird client ? As I didn't get any response I opened an issue here.

No, I am hinting that I may consider creating something like this for Android, but it would not be done in JetBird. ;)

The battery usage will be very similar, however JetBird is lighter on the storage front, and probably lighter on memory usage as well which could lead to slightly better battery life over a long period.

Do see this JetBird issue about battery usage. For the most part, it is determined by the power efficiency of NetBird itself. Enabling lazy connections can help, as you will only connect to peers on demand instead of always trying to maintain a connection to them.

> I guess you're talking about the upstream Netbird client ? As I didn't get any response I opened an issue here. No, I am hinting that I may consider creating something like this for Android, but it would not be done in JetBird. ;) The battery usage will be very similar, however JetBird is lighter on the storage front, and probably lighter on memory usage as well which could lead to slightly better battery life over a long period. Do see [this JetBird issue](https://codeberg.org/bg443/JetBird/issues/44) about battery usage. For the most part, it is determined by the power efficiency of NetBird itself. Enabling lazy connections can help, as you will only connect to peers on demand instead of always trying to maintain a connection to them.

Onxr commented 2026年05月16日 17:26:54 +02:00

Sorry for the late reply. Actually jet bird is the only project I'm tracking on code berg.

No, I am hinting that I may consider creating something like this for Android, but it would not be done in JetBird. ;)

Sounds really great.

BTW thanks to your clarification, I shared the information back to that issue and one of the collaborator replied here

Positive. Thanks. I'm unsure when I'll personally find time to work on this. I welcome pull requests, though I understand that it will likely be lot of tedious work (in an unknown codebase) for anyone (other than us).

In case you started working on this you can collaborate with them. I'm sorry as I don't know anything about coding, I can't help with anything other than being a messenger.

If battery isn't an issue then I see no point with Tailscale. Thanks for the linked issue I will test Netbird with Jet Bird client.
Once again thanks for this awesome project and your time.

Sorry for the late reply. Actually jet bird is the only project I'm tracking on code berg. > No, I am hinting that I may consider creating something like this for Android, but it would not be done in JetBird. ;) Sounds really great. BTW thanks to your clarification, I shared the information back to that issue and one of the collaborator replied [here](https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/issues/2531#issuecomment-4431677603) > Positive. Thanks. I'm unsure when I'll personally find time to work on this. I welcome pull requests, though I understand that it will likely be lot of tedious work (in an unknown codebase) for anyone (other than us). In case you started working on this you can collaborate with them. I'm sorry as I don't know anything about coding, I can't help with anything other than being a messenger. If battery isn't an issue then I see no point with Tailscale. Thanks for the linked issue I will test Netbird with Jet Bird client. Once again thanks for this awesome project and your time.

Onxr commented 2026年05月16日 17:30:19 +02:00

BTW as you mentioned about outside of this project then should I keep this issue open (for future tracking even though not same project) or close it ?

BTW as you mentioned about outside of this project then should I keep this issue open (for future tracking even though not same project) or close it ?

bg443 commented 2026年05月16日 17:58:01 +02:00

You can keep it open

You can keep it open

Onxr commented 2026年05月22日 18:31:49 +02:00

If you need a tester for that project do let me know.

If you need a tester for that project do let me know.