Best Self Hosted Alternatives to ZeroTier

Headscale is an open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. It coordinates a WireGuard-based overlay network by exchanging node keys, assigning addresses, and managing routes and sharing within a tailnet.

Key Features

• Implements core control-plane functions for a Tailscale-compatible network (tailnet)
• Node registration and coordination via Tailscale clients
• WireGuard key exchange and IP address management
• User/namespace boundaries and machine sharing between users
• Route advertisement and management for subnet routing
• Designed for a single tailnet suited to personal use or small organizations

Use Cases

• Run a private Tailscale-compatible VPN without relying on the hosted control server
• Connect homelab, servers, and remote devices via a WireGuard-based overlay network
• Provide secure remote access and subnet routing for a small team or community project

Limitations and Considerations

• Focused on a narrow scope: a single tailnet rather than large multi-tenant deployments
• Some Tailscale features may be unavailable or behave differently depending on client support and Headscale version

Headscale is a practical choice for self-hosters who want the Tailscale experience with an open control plane. It emphasizes a lean, hobbyist-friendly approach while supporting common coordination features needed for a private overlay network.

wg-easy is an all-in-one WireGuard VPN solution that bundles a WireGuard server with a web-based admin interface. It simplifies provisioning and managing VPN clients while providing visibility into connected peers and traffic.

Key Features

• All-in-one deployment: WireGuard plus web admin UI
• Create, edit, enable/disable, and delete VPN clients
• Generate and display client QR codes and download configuration files
• Connection status and per-client traffic statistics with Tx/Rx charts
• One-time links and client expiration support
• Prometheus metrics support
• IPv6 and CIDR support
• Optional 2FA support
• Light/dark mode and multilingual UI

Use Cases

• Managing a home lab or small team VPN without manual config editing
• Quickly onboarding devices via QR code configuration
• Monitoring VPN usage and traffic per client with basic metrics

wg-easy is well-suited for users who want a straightforward way to deploy WireGuard and handle day-to-day client administration through a browser. It combines simple operations with useful visibility features while keeping WireGuard management approachable.

NetBird is an open-source private networking platform that creates a WireGuard-based overlay connecting devices across environments without configuring VPN gateways. It provides centralized access control and a management UI for policy enforcement across Linux, macOS, Windows, Android and iOS.

Key Features

• Kernel WireGuard integration
• Admin Web UI
• SSO & MFA support
• Public API
• Cross-platform clients (Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, iOS)
• Peer-to-peer connections with auto peer discovery
• Access control - groups & rules
• Setup keys for bulk provisioning
• NAT traversal with TURN fallback
• Identity provider integrations
• Activity logging
• Self-hosting via Docker and docker-compose
• Private DNS
• Docker-based quickstart script

Use Cases

• Secure remote access to private resources across distributed teams
• Site-to-site private networks across cloud/infrastructure
• Least-privilege access control with per-group policies via IdPs

Limitations and Considerations

• Self-hosted deployments require a publicly accessible Linux host and opening specific ports; NAT traversal can fail in strict networks, in which case a TURN relay is used

Conclusion

NetBird unifies a WireGuard-based overlay with centralized access control and identity-aware policies, enabling zero-configuration, scalable private networks across heterogeneous environments. It supports cloud-hosted or self-hosted deployments with an admin UI and REST API for managing peers and policies.

Pangolin is an identity-based remote access platform built on WireGuard that securely routes traffic to private and public resources across multiple networks. It combines VPN-style connectivity with browser-based reverse proxy access to applications, using zero-trust access controls.

Key Features

• WireGuard-based tunnels to connect remote networks (“sites”) without exposing ports or requiring public IPs
• Browser-based access to web applications via identity- and context-aware tunneled reverse proxy
• Client-based access to private resources (for example SSH, databases, RDP, and network ranges)
• Granular zero-trust access controls so users only reach explicitly allowed resources
• SSO and OIDC support, plus additional authentication options such as PIN and passwords
• Centralized dashboard to manage applications across networks, with access logging and policy enforcement
• Automatic TLS/SSL certificate handling for proxied apps

Use Cases

• Provide secure access to internal tools (Grafana, Bitwarden, admin panels) across offices, cloud VPCs, and edge locations
• Replace or complement traditional VPNs with per-application access and stronger identity enforcement
• Publish self-hosted web apps safely without directly exposing the underlying network

Limitations and Considerations

• Dual-licensed: Community Edition under AGPL-3, with separate enterprise/commercial licensing terms

Pangolin is well-suited for teams and homelabs that need identity-aware access to distributed networks and apps. It emphasizes minimizing network exposure while still enabling convenient browser and client access to protected resources.

OpenVPN is an open-source VPN daemon that implements SSL/TLS-based secure tunneling for creating encrypted network connections. It supports both certificate-based and pre-shared-key modes, virtual TUN/TAP interfaces, and is portable across major operating systems.

Key Features

• TLS/SSL-based authentication and encryption using the OpenSSL ecosystem
• Supports multiple modes: SSL/TLS client-server, static key (pre-shared), routed (tun) and bridged (tap)
• Works with TUN/TAP virtual network interfaces for flexible routing and bridging
• Extensive configurability via command-line options and config files; sample configs and scripts included
• Cross-platform codebase with primary implementation in C and build support for Unix-like systems and Windows
• Multiple authentication and integration options for Access Server (local, PAM, RADIUS, LDAP, SAML) and extensible scripting hooks
• Build and packaging support via Autotools and CMake; project maintained on a public Git repository

Use Cases

• Secure remote-access VPN for employees connecting to corporate networks
• Site-to-site encrypted tunnels to link branch offices or cloud networks
• Enabling secure access to internal services and resources from untrusted networks

Limitations and Considerations

• PKI and certificate management can be complex for new administrators; external tooling or guides are typically required
• Users seeking minimal latency and very small codebase may prefer newer kernel-level protocols (e.g., WireGuard) for some use cases
• Reliance on external crypto libraries (OpenSSL and alternatives) increases the importance of timely dependency updates and security maintenance

OpenVPN remains a mature, feature-rich VPN implementation with a long history and broad platform support. It is suited to a wide range of secure tunneling needs but requires careful operational management for PKI and dependency security.

Amnezia is an open-source VPN client for desktop and mobile that helps you connect to a VPN and, notably, deploy your own private VPN server on a VPS. It automates server setup and supports multiple VPN protocols, including options designed to help in restrictive networks.

Key Features

• Automated VPN server deployment via SSH, including installing required Docker containers
• Supports classic VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
• Traffic masking/obfuscation options such as OpenVPN over Cloak, OpenVPN over Shadowsocks, AmneziaWG, and XRay
• Split tunneling for selected sites (and apps on Android and desktop)
• Cross-platform clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

Use Cases

• Quickly deploying a personal VPN on a rented server for privacy and safer browsing
• Connecting from networks with VPN restrictions using obfuscation-capable modes
• Enabling VPN only for specific apps or websites via split tunneling

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires access to a remote server (VPS) and working SSH credentials to automate deployment
• Some protocols and masking methods may require extra troubleshooting depending on network censorship and ISP behavior

Amnezia is a practical choice for users who want a single client that both provisions and manages a private VPN server and provides multi-protocol connectivity across major operating systems. Its protocol variety and masking options make it especially useful in challenging network environments.

Firezone is an open source zero-trust access platform designed to replace traditional VPNs with identity-aware, least-privilege connectivity. It uses WireGuard-based tunnels and a gateway/relay architecture to securely connect users to specific resources instead of whole networks.

Key Features

• Granular, group-based access policies for applications, subnets, and networks
• Peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted tunnels with NAT traversal (hole punching)
• Lightweight gateway component deployable in your infrastructure
• Optional relay (STUN/TURN) to facilitate connectivity when direct paths fail
• SSO and identity provider integration, including OIDC-based authentication
• Admin portal for managing users, resources, and policies
• Audit/activity logging for visibility and compliance needs

Use Cases

• Secure access to internal web apps, databases, and services without exposing networks
• Remote workforce connectivity as an alternative to OpenVPN-style VPN deployments
• Contractor or partner access with strict, least-privilege, policy-based controls

Limitations and Considerations

• Production self-hosting is not officially supported and internal APIs may change rapidly
• Officially distributed clients may not always be compatible with a custom self-hosted control plane build

Firezone fits teams that want a modern, identity-aware approach to private access with WireGuard performance characteristics and centralized policy management. It is especially useful when you need to reduce broad network access while keeping connectivity fast and manageable.

iodine is a tunnel application that transports IPv4 traffic through DNS, using a client and server to create a virtual network interface and route IP packets over DNS queries and replies. It is commonly used in constrained networks where direct internet access is blocked but DNS is still permitted.

Key Features

• Client/server IP-over-DNS tunnel using a TUN/TAP virtual interface
• Works across multiple platforms (Linux, BSDs, macOS, and Windows)
• Supports multiple DNS record types for transport, with autodetection for best throughput
• Automatic probing of fragment/packet sizes to optimize performance
• Challenge-response login and basic peer filtering to reduce unauthorized injection
• Can fall back to raw UDP tunneling when direct UDP to port 53 is possible

Use Cases

• Remote connectivity from restricted networks that only allow DNS traffic
• Creating a temporary backchannel for administration and troubleshooting
• Running a second-layer VPN or SSH-over-tunnel for more secure transport

Limitations and Considerations

• Carries IPv4 payload only; tunneled traffic is not encrypted by default
• Throughput is constrained and often asymmetric, depending on DNS relays and policies
• Client and server typically need matching versions due to protocol compatibility

iodine is a pragmatic tool for establishing connectivity over DNS when other protocols are blocked, offering portability and performance-focused DNS transport choices. For security-sensitive scenarios, it is best used as a transport for an encrypted layer such as VPN or SSH.

OPNsense is an open source firewall and routing platform used to secure and manage networks. It combines a web-based management interface with a systems backend and API to configure firewalling, routing, and related network services.

Key Features

• Web-based GUI for firewall, routing, and system management
• Built-in API for automation and integrations
• VPN capabilities for secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity
• Captive portal support for guest and managed network access
• Traffic shaping and policy-based controls for bandwidth management
• Extensible platform with additional services typically used at the network edge

Use Cases

• Perimeter firewall and router for a home lab or small business network
• VPN gateway for remote workers or inter-site connectivity
• Guest Wi-Fi access control using a captive portal

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced features and tooling are reserved for the Business Edition

OPNsense is well-suited for users who want a modern, verifiable, and configurable firewall/router stack with a strong web UI and automation-friendly API. It can serve as a central edge device for both homelab and professional network deployments.

OpenZiti is an open-source, programmable zero trust networking platform for connecting applications using an identity-based overlay network instead of IP-based trust. It provides a fabric (mesh), edge components, and SDKs/tunnelers to securely connect users, devices, and services with policy-driven access.

Key Features

• Identity-based connectivity with certificate-backed identities and policy-based authorization
• Application segmentation and “deny by default” access controls for services
• Overlay mesh fabric with smart routing and pluggable capabilities
• “Dark” services and routers that can operate without inbound listening ports by using outbound connections into the fabric
• End-to-end encryption options, including application-embedded connectivity via SDKs
• REST management APIs and a web-based admin console for managing the network
• Support for integrating existing apps through tunnelers and proxies when embedding SDKs is not feasible

Use Cases

• Zero trust access to internal applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• Secure machine-to-machine or service-to-service communications without exposing ports
• Replacing or reducing traditional VPN access with per-application access policies

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced capabilities (for example, true process-to-process protection) are best achieved when applications embed the OpenZiti SDKs rather than relying only on tunnelers
• Designing policies, identity lifecycle, and PKI can add operational complexity compared to simple IP allowlists

OpenZiti is well-suited for teams that want a flexible, open-source foundation for zero trust application access. It combines a scalable overlay fabric with strong identity controls and multiple integration options, ranging from SDK embedding to tunneling and proxying.

WGDashboard is a lightweight web interface for managing and monitoring WireGuard VPN servers without relying on manual command-line checks. It discovers existing WireGuard and AmneziaWG configurations and provides a central place to administer peers and view key status details.

Key Features

• Seamless integration with existing WireGuard and AmneziaWG setups
• Automatic discovery of configurations under common server paths
• Web UI to manage configurations and peers
• Add single or multiple peers with auto-generated configuration details
• Edit, restrict, and delete peers
• Share peer access via QR code or shareable link, with email sharing support
• Optional TOTP-based multi-factor authentication (2FA)
• Job scheduling for actions like restricting or deleting peers based on conditions

Use Cases

• Administer a small-to-medium WireGuard VPN for a homelab, family, or team
• Quickly onboard and rotate client devices by generating and sharing peer configs
• Monitor and manage multiple WireGuard configurations from a single UI

Limitations and Considerations

• Not affiliated with the official WireGuard project
• Feature set and compatibility depend on the underlying WireGuard/AmneziaWG environment and server configuration

WGDashboard is a practical choice for operators who want a simple, self-hosted control panel for WireGuard peer lifecycle management and basic monitoring. It focuses on the most important operational tasks while keeping setup and day-to-day administration straightforward.

ShellHub is a centralized SSH gateway that lets teams remotely access and manage Linux servers, containers and embedded devices using a web UI, mobile app or standard SSH clients. It aggregates devices behind a single gateway and provides centralized access controls, logging and session playback.

Key Features

• Native SSH access (supports OpenSSH/standard SSH clients) for web and terminal connections.
• Web-based terminal and mobile access with session recording and built-in replay player.
• Public-key authentication and configurable SSH firewall rules for granular access control.
• SCP/SFTP support and container (Docker) access integration for remote container management.
• Microservices deployment using Docker Compose; production guidance includes HTTPS/NGINX and persistent MongoDB volumes.

(github.com)

Use Cases

• Centralized remote administration of distributed Linux servers and IoT/embedded fleets.
• Secure remote troubleshooting and maintenance of Docker containers and edge devices.
• Compliance and auditing through recorded SSH sessions and audit logs for forensic review.

(shellhub.io)

Limitations and Considerations

• Certain advanced features (enterprise/cloud capabilities) vary by edition: HTTP/Web Endpoints, SAML improvements and some session-recording backend behaviors are highlighted as Enterprise/Cloud features in the project releases. Implementation and storage of large recordings can require S3-compatible storage (e.g., MinIO) for scale. (github.com)

• The recommended self-hosted deployment expects Docker Engine / Docker Compose and a MongoDB service; production setups require additional configuration for volumes, HTTPS termination and proxy protocol handling. (docs.shellhub.io)

ShellHub provides a focused, open-source platform to centralize SSH access for cloud, edge and IoT environments. It is available as a Community (open-source) edition plus paid Cloud and Enterprise editions that add managed and enterprise features.

Wiredoor is a self-hosted ingress-as-a-service platform for securely exposing applications and services running in private networks to the public internet. It creates reverse VPN tunnels using WireGuard and routes inbound traffic through a built-in NGINX reverse proxy.

Key Features

• Reverse VPN tunneling powered by WireGuard for connecting private nodes to a public entrypoint
• Built-in NGINX reverse proxy to publish HTTP services and route traffic by domain
• Expose both HTTP and TCP services, including support for WebSocket connections
• Automatic TLS certificates via Let’s Encrypt, with self-signed fallback for internal/local domains
• Web UI to manage nodes, domains, and exposed services
• CLI-driven setup for registering nodes and creating/revoking exposures
• Optional OAuth2-based authentication per domain/service via an OAuth2 proxy
• Designed to work across environments (Kubernetes, Docker/Compose, VMs, legacy servers, and IoT)

Use Cases

• Publish internal dashboards (for example monitoring tools) without opening inbound firewall ports
• Provide temporary external access to a private service for support, maintenance, or demos
• Expose services running inside Kubernetes clusters, Docker hosts, or on-prem networks through a single public gateway

Wiredoor fits teams and homelabs that want cloud-like ingress control while keeping networking and access fully under their own infrastructure. It provides a consistent way to connect private nodes, map domains, and expose services securely with minimal operational overhead.

ZTNET is a self-hosted web interface for managing ZeroTier networks through a private controller. It adds team-oriented features such as organizations and multi-user access, making day-to-day administration easier than using raw controller APIs.

Key Features

• Web-based management for ZeroTier networks, members, and controller settings
• Organization and multi-user support for shared administration in teams
• Centralized user and platform administration features (including mail-related settings)
• Modern UI focused on simplifying common controller operations

Use Cases

• Operate a private ZeroTier controller with a user-friendly admin console
• Manage multiple networks and members for small teams or organizations
• Delegate network administration using multi-user access controls

Limitations and Considerations

• The project is marked as BETA and may contain bugs or breaking changes

ZTNET is a practical choice for anyone running a private ZeroTier controller who wants an easier, team-ready way to manage networks and members. It focuses on improving operational workflows while keeping ZeroTier control in your own environment.

GNUnet is a network protocol stack and framework for building secure, distributed, and privacy-preserving applications. It aims to provide an alternative foundation to conventional Internet protocols by reducing exposed metadata and avoiding reliance on centralized intermediaries.

Key Features

• Self-organizing peer-to-peer networking substrate for decentralized applications
• Encrypted communication channels with routing designed to better protect metadata
• Resource discovery, addressing, and naming components for building higher-level services
• Modular protocol stack intended as a reusable foundation for multiple P2P applications
• Research-driven design with a focus on security, privacy, and resilience

Use Cases

• Building privacy-preserving P2P applications (messaging, publishing, content distribution)
• Research and prototyping of decentralized networking protocols and services
• Deploying community-operated network services that minimize reliance on trusted third parties

Limitations and Considerations

• Primarily a protocol stack/framework rather than a single end-user application, so practical use often requires integrating or deploying specific GNUnet-based services

GNUnet is best suited for developers, researchers, and organizations that need a robust foundation for secure decentralized systems. It provides shared building blocks to reduce repeated reinvention of P2P components while prioritizing privacy and user control.