Reach a private database
Forward 5432 from a private RDS instance through your bastion to localhost:5432. Connect TablePlus, DBeaver, or psql to localhost — they think the database is local, and your SSH key is the auth.
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SSH Tunnels
Local forwarding (-L), remote forwarding (-R), and SOCKS5 proxy (-D) with full IPv4/IPv6/domain support. Up to 10 local + 5 remote tunnels per profile.
SSH tunnels are one of the most underrated tools in a sysadmin's toolkit — they let you reach internal services (a database, a Redis instance, an admin panel) without exposing them to the Internet. SSHive turns SSH tunneling from a memorized command-line incantation into a profile setting. Open a profile, click "Tunnels", add a forward — done. The tunnel starts automatically when the SSH connection comes up and tears down when it drops.
All three OpenSSH forwarding modes are supported: Local (`-L`) brings a remote port to your Mac, Remote (`-R`) exposes a local port on the remote server, and Dynamic SOCKS5 (`-D`) gives you a per-app proxy. Each profile can have up to 10 Local and 5 Remote tunnels active simultaneously. SOCKS5 supports IPv4, IPv6, and domain-name routing — so you can use SSHive as a private VPN-like proxy for browser sessions when traveling.
Key capabilities
Local forwarding (-L): Access remote services as if they were local
Remote forwarding (-R): Expose local services to the remote network
SOCKS5 dynamic proxy (-D): Full IPv4, IPv6, and domain name routing
Up to 10 local + 5 remote tunnels per connection profile
Real-world tunnel scenarios
Expose a local dev server
Use Remote forwarding to expose your local Vite dev server (port 5173) on a public host's port 8080. Quick demo to a stakeholder without ngrok or Cloudflare Tunnel.
SOCKS5 proxy for safe browsing
On hotel Wi-Fi, start a SOCKS5 tunnel through your home server, set Firefox/Chrome to use localhost:1080. All your web traffic exits from your home IP — encrypted, untouchable by the hotel network.
SSH tunnels — frequently asked questions
Why not just use a VPN?+
A VPN routes all traffic, requires admin privileges, and is overkill for reaching one database. SSH tunnels are surgical: only the ports you specify are forwarded, no kernel network changes, no sudo. They're also auditable — your bastion logs the SSH session, not opaque VPN tunnels.
Can I use a tunnel without keeping the SSH terminal open?+
Yes. SSHive separates "tunnel-only" profiles: connect with no shell, just the tunnels active. The connection stays alive in the background. Disconnect from the sessions panel when done.
How does SSHive handle tunnel re-establishment after a drop?+
Auto-reconnect retries with exponential backoff (1s, 2s, 4s, ... up to 60s). Tunnels reattach as soon as the SSH connection is back. You see a yellow indicator in the sessions panel during reconnect.
Are tunnels in the free tier?+
Tunnels are a Pro feature. Free tier covers SSH terminal + SFTP. Pro ($9.99 one-time) unlocks tunnels, RDP, VNC, broadcast, and unlimited sessions.
Common use cases
Manage AWS EC2 instances from your Mac
Connect to public and private EC2 instances with PEM keys, jump hosts, and tunnels — all from one native macOS app.
Manage your home server from your Mac
One app for everything in your home lab — SSH, SFTP, VNC, and secure tunnels for Plex, Home Assistant, Nextcloud, and more.
Docker host management from your Mac
SSH to Docker hosts, tunnel exposed ports, broadcast across swarm nodes — all from one native macOS app.
Step-by-step guides
How to set up an SSH tunnel on a Mac
A complete guide to local, remote, and SOCKS5 SSH tunnels on macOS — both command-line and visually in SSHive.
How to set up a SOCKS5 proxy via SSH on a Mac
Route browser traffic through a remote server — encrypted, untouchable by hotel networks. Free, no VPN service.
How to use a jump host on a Mac
Visual ProxyJump configuration, agent forwarding, multi-hop chains — without editing ~/.ssh/config every time.
Try SSH Tunnels Free
Local forwarding (-L), remote forwarding (-R), and SOCKS5 proxy (-D) with full IPv4/IPv6/domain support. Up to 10 local + 5 remote tunnels per profile.