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Open-source alternatives to Tailscale

Compare community-driven replacements for Tailscale in vpn & zero trust networks workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.

Tailscale logo

Tailscale

WireGuard-based mesh VPN that creates encrypted peer-to-peer connections between devices. Eliminates traditional VPN concentrators with automatic NAT traversal and centralized access control policies.Read more
VPN & Zero Trust Networks
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Key stats

  • 3Alternatives
  • 1Support self-hosting

    Run on infrastructure you control

  • 3Active development

    Recent commits in the last 6 months

  • 1Permissive licenses

    MIT, Apache, and similar licenses

Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Tailscale.

Start with these picks

These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Tailscale.

Netmaker logo
Netmaker
Best for self-hosting

Why teams pick it

Control your scheduling stack on your own infrastructure.

Headscale logo
Headscale
Privacy-first alternative

Why teams pick it

Privacy‑focused users who want to avoid third‑party control servers

All open-source alternatives

Netmaker logo

Netmaker

Automate secure WireGuard networks from homelab to enterprise

Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstGo

Why teams choose it

  • Web UI for network creation and ACL management
  • Built‑in OAuth and private DNS integration
  • Cross‑platform Netclient for Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker

Watch for

Server requires Ubuntu 24.04 with static public IP

Migration highlight

Multi‑cloud site‑to‑site mesh

Unifies VPCs across AWS, GCP, and Azure into a single private network

EasyTier logo

EasyTier

Decentralized, high-performance VPN built with Rust and Tokio

Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyRust

Why teams choose it

  • Decentralized peer‑to‑peer architecture with no central server
  • Cross‑platform binaries and zero‑config deployment
  • Intelligent latency‑aware routing and automatic path selection

Watch for

Network secret management is manual

Migration highlight

Remote development across NATs

Secure, low‑latency connections between developers' machines without exposing public IPs.

Headscale logo

Headscale

Self‑hosted Tailscale control server for personal and small‑scale networks

Active developmentPermissive licensePrivacy-firstGo

Why teams choose it

  • Self‑hosted control plane compatible with standard Tailscale clients
  • Single‑tailnet design simplifies configuration for personal use
  • BSD‑3‑Clause license encourages unrestricted modification and redistribution

Watch for

Limited to a single tailnet; not suited for multi‑tenant environments

Migration highlight

Personal development environment

Securely connect laptops and servers across a home network without third‑party control.

Choosing a vpn & zero trust networks alternative

Teams replacing Tailscale in vpn & zero trust networks workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.

  • 1 project let you self-host and keep customer data on infrastructure you control.
  • 3 options are actively maintained with recent commits.

Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Tailscale.