ZeroTier vs Headscale

Struggling to choose between ZeroTier and Headscale? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

ZeroTier is a Network & Admin solution with tags like encryption, virtual-network, peertopeer.

It boasts features such as Creates encrypted virtual networks between devices, Works across public and private networks, Does not require port forwarding, NAT, or VPN servers, Works through firewalls and NAT, Self-configuring and self-healing, Open source and free for unlimited users/devices and pros including Easy to set up and use, Provides secure remote access, Bypasses firewalls and NAT limitations, Works on any device and operating system, Free with no limits on users or devices.

On the other hand, Headscale is a Network & Admin product tagged with networking, encryption, privacy, remote-access.

Its standout features include Mesh VPN using WireGuard, Centralized authentication and access controls, Web UI for management and monitoring, Auto-configuration of clients, NAT traversal support, Load balancing and failover, Access controls based on groups and users, Client apps for major platforms, and it shines with pros like Open source and free, Simple to set up, Good performance, Granular access controls, Multi-platform support, Active development community.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

ZeroTier

ZeroTier

ZeroTier is an open-source program that creates a virtual encrypted network between devices and across the internet. It allows devices to communicate over a private network as if they are locally connected, bypassing firewalls and NAT.

Categories:
encryption virtual-network peertopeer

ZeroTier Features

  1. Creates encrypted virtual networks between devices
  2. Works across public and private networks
  3. Does not require port forwarding, NAT, or VPN servers
  4. Works through firewalls and NAT
  5. Self-configuring and self-healing
  6. Open source and free for unlimited users/devices

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Easy to set up and use

Provides secure remote access

Bypasses firewalls and NAT limitations

Works on any device and operating system

Free with no limits on users or devices

Cons

Requires client software installation

Limited configuration options compared to VPNs

Relies on central servers for coordination

Not as fast as direct local connections


Headscale

Headscale

Headscale is an open-source WireGuard based mesh VPN used to connect devices within a network. It provides a simple way to create a encrypted private network, allowing secure access to devices remotely.

Categories:
networking encryption privacy remote-access

Headscale Features

  1. Mesh VPN using WireGuard
  2. Centralized authentication and access controls
  3. Web UI for management and monitoring
  4. Auto-configuration of clients
  5. NAT traversal support
  6. Load balancing and failover
  7. Access controls based on groups and users
  8. Client apps for major platforms

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Open source and free

Simple to set up

Good performance

Granular access controls

Multi-platform support

Active development community

Cons

Limited reporting capabilities

No commercial support offered

Less flexible than proprietary VPNs

Immature compared to some alternatives