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Open-source alternatives to Tailscale | PickYourTech

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Alternatives to Tailscale

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

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 moreShow less

VPN & Zero Trust Networks

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Start with these picks

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

Netmaker

Best for self-hosting

Why teams pick it

Control your scheduling stack on your own infrastructure.

11,061UnknownView project

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.

Headscale

Privacy-first alternative

Why teams pick it

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

33,252BSD-3-ClauseView project

All open-source alternatives

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

11,061 starsUpdated 4 days agoLicense: Unknown4 years old

Visit site View project details

EasyTier

Decentralized, high-performance VPN built with Rust and Tokio

Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyRust

Headscale

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

Active developmentPermissive licensePrivacy-firstGo

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.

Tailscale

VPN & Zero Trust Networks

Visit Product Website

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.

Common questions

Do I need to run a reverse proxy with Headscale?

No. Reverse proxies are not supported or recommended for Headscale deployments.

Answer surfaced from Headscale

What operating system is required for the Netmaker server?

Ubuntu 24.04 is the recommended platform for the quick‑start installation.

Answer surfaced from Netmaker

How does EasyTier handle NAT traversal?

It uses UDP and IPv6 traversal techniques, plus KCP/QUIC proxies to maintain connectivity when direct P2P fails.

Answer surfaced from EasyTier

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.

8,380 starsUpdated 4 days agoLicense: LGPL-3.02 years old

Visit site View project details

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.

33,252 starsUpdated 4 days agoLicense: BSD-3-Clause5 years old

View project details