Where should I start in InstaTunnel docs?

Follow this order: Install CLI, authenticate, run first tunnel, then move to MCP/webhooks/referrals based on your use case. Use CLI Flags and Troubleshooting for day-to-day operations.

Last reviewed: March 5, 2026

Compatibility: Core docs align with CLI v1 default and MCP --transport v2 for streaming clients.

Quick command

instatunnel auth login -e you@example.com && instatunnel 3000 --subdomain docs-demo

Common failures and quick fixes

Auth not persisted-Run instatunnel auth set-key it_your_api_key to store your key locally.
Webhook 401 signature errors-Use provider-specific secret verification guides in /docs/webhooks before production tests.

Evidence and trust

Use these references when evaluating compatibility, reliability, and security posture.

Release cadence

CLI and docs release notes are updated continuously, with version-specific compatibility notes.

View release notes

Security controls

Review policy enforcement, auth layers, and operational safeguards in the security whitepaper.

Open security whitepaper

Reliability runbooks

Troubleshooting guides cover common failures, recovery steps, and CLI compatibility baselines.

Read troubleshooting guides

Authentication

InstaTunnel supports two levels of authentication: creating an account for enhanced features, and securing your tunnels with password protection or basic auth.

👤 Account Authentication

Creating an Account

# Register with your email

$ instatunnel auth login --email your@email.com

✅ Registration successful!

🔑 API key saved to config

📧 Verification email sent

# Now you can use enhanced features

$ instatunnel 3000 --subdomain myapp

✅ Tunnel created: https://myapp.instatunnel.my

Benefits of an Account:

• Custom subdomains and longer sessions
• Tunnel management across sessions
• Basic analytics and request logs
• API access for automation

Anonymous Usage

# Use InstaTunnel without an account

$ instatunnel 3000

✅ Tunnel created: https://k8m9n2.instatunnel.my

💡 Anonymous session - expires in 24 hours

💡 Create account for longer sessions

InstaTunnel works immediately without any signup. Perfect for quick testing and development.

Logout

# Remove stored credentials

$ instatunnel auth logout

✅ Logged out successfully

🗑️ API key removed from config

🔐 Tunnel Security

Password Protection

# Protect your tunnel with a password

$ instatunnel 3000 --password mypassword123

✅ Tunnel created: https://abc123.instatunnel.my

🔒 Password protection enabled

🔑 Visitors will be prompted for password

Simple password protection - visitors need to enter the password before accessing your tunnel.

HTTP Basic Authentication

# Basic authentication with username:password

$ instatunnel 3000 --auth admin:secret123

✅ Tunnel created: https://abc123.instatunnel.my

🔐 Basic authentication enabled

👤 Username: admin

Standard HTTP Basic Authentication - more secure than simple password protection.

Security Best Practices

# Use environment variables for passwords

$ export TUNNEL_PASSWORD="mySecurePassword123!"

$ instatunnel 3000 --password $TUNNEL_PASSWORD

# Or for basic auth

$ export TUNNEL_AUTH="admin:secret123"

$ instatunnel 3000 --auth $TUNNEL_AUTH

🔒 Security: Never hardcode passwords in scripts or commit them to version control. Always use environment variables.

🎯 Authentication Comparison

Feature	Anonymous	With Account	Password/Auth
Setup Required	None	Email registration	Set --password or --auth
Session Duration	24 hours	24 hours (Free) / Unlimited (Pro)	Same as account level
Custom Subdomains	❌	✅	Same as account level
Tunnel Security	Public access	Public access	Protected access
Best For	Quick testing	Development	Demos, staging

💡 Recommended: Start with anonymous usage for testing, create an account for development work, and add password protection for demos or staging environments.