Open-source alternatives to Zscaler

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

Zscaler

Zscaler is a cloud security platform offering Secure Web Gateway and Zero Trust Network Access solutions. Instead of routing traffic through corporate networks, users connect to Zscaler's cloud, which inspects web traffic for threats and enforces security policies (blocking malicious sites, filtering content). For private applications, Zscaler brokers a secure connection between the user and the app based on identity and context, eliminating the need for VPNs while keeping internal services hidden from the internet. By doing so, Zscaler provides fast, secure access for remote and mobile users and simplifies network security in a cloud-first world.Read more

VPN & Zero Trust Networks

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Start with these picks

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

Octelium

Best for self-hosting

Why teams pick it

Octelium delivers a self-hosted, zero-trust access layer that unifies VPN, ZTNA, secure tunnels, API and AI gateways, and PaaS capabilities, enabling secretless, identity-based connectivity for humans and workloads.

Key stats

5Alternatives
1Support self-hosting
Run on infrastructure you control
5Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
2Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses

Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Zscaler.

Teleport

Fastest to get started

Why teams pick it

Launch quickly with streamlined setup and onboarding.

All open-source alternatives

Teleport

Secure unified access proxy for modern infrastructure

Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyGo

Why teams choose it

Short‑lived certificates for all supported protocols
Built‑in SSO (GitHub, OIDC, SAML) and mandatory 2FA
Unified access proxy with RBAC and access‑request workflow

Watch for

Open source edition limited to GitHub SSO

Migration highlight

Secure remote SSH access for developers

Developers obtain short‑lived certificates via SSO, eliminating static keys and providing audit logs of every session.

Octelium

Unified zero-trust platform for secure access and deployment

Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstGo

Pomerium

Clientless, zero‑trust access proxy for internal web applications

Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyGo

OpenZiti

Zero‑trust, programmable network fabric for secure application connectivity

Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployGo

NetBird

Zero-config peer-to-peer VPN with centralized access control

Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyGo

Choosing a vpn & zero trust networks alternative

Teams replacing Zscaler 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.
5 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 Zscaler.

Zscaler

Zscaler is a cloud security platform offering Secure Web Gateway and Zero Trust Network Access solutions. Instead of routing traffic through corporate networks, users connect to Zscaler's cloud, which inspects web traffic for threats and enforces security policies (blocking malicious sites, filtering content). For private applications, Zscaler brokers a secure connection between the user and the app based on identity and context, eliminating the need for VPNs while keeping internal services hidden from the internet. By doing so, Zscaler provides fast, secure access for remote and mobile users and simplifies network security in a cloud-first world.Read more

VPN & Zero Trust Networks

Visit Product Website

Key stats

5Alternatives
1Support self-hosting
Run on infrastructure you control
5Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
2Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses

Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Zscaler.

Common questions

Do I need to open ports for a self‑hosted NetBird deployment?

Yes. The server must be reachable on TCP ports 80 and 443, and UDP ports 3478 and 49152‑65535.

Answer surfaced from NetBird

What authentication methods does Teleport support?

Teleport uses certificate‑based authentication with short‑lived certificates, supports two‑factor authentication, and provides SSO via GitHub (open source), OpenID Connect, and SAML providers such as Okta or Microsoft Entra ID.

Answer surfaced from Teleport

What does “clientless” mean?

It means users do not need to install VPN clients; access is performed through standard web browsers or HTTP clients that are redirected through the proxy.

Answer surfaced from Pomerium

Why teams choose it

Unified zero‑trust architecture with L7‑aware, identity‑based access for humans and workloads
Dynamic secretless connectivity via WireGuard/QUIC tunnels and client‑less BeyondCorp access
Policy‑as‑code control using CEL and OPA for fine‑grained, context‑aware rules

Watch for

Requires a Kubernetes cluster, adding operational overhead for small setups

Migration highlight

Zero‑Trust Remote Access for Distributed Workforce

Employees connect securely via WireGuard tunnels or client‑less portals, with per‑request policies enforcing least‑privilege access to internal apps.

Why teams choose it

Clientless, tunnel‑free access via standard browsers
Identity‑aware policy enforcement for each request
Deployable alongside applications for low latency

Watch for

Requires deployment and management of proxy infrastructure

Migration highlight

Remote employee accesses internal dashboard

Securely logs in via SSO and reaches the dashboard without VPN, with policies enforcing role‑based access.

Why teams choose it

Zero‑trust, application‑level access control with certificate‑based identities
Dark services and routers that require only outbound connections
Programmable REST management API and extensible SDKs for multiple languages

Watch for

Initial setup can be complex for newcomers

Migration highlight

Secure remote access to internal dashboards

Employees connect through dark routers, gaining access only to authorized web interfaces without exposing ports.

Why teams choose it

Zero‑config WireGuard overlay with automatic peer discovery
Granular access policies with SSO/MFA and group sync
Cross‑platform agents (Linux, macOS, Windows, mobile, OpenWRT)

Watch for

Self‑hosted setup needs a public domain and open ports

Migration highlight

Remote development environment

Developers connect laptops to office resources securely without VPN configuration.

Find Open-Source Alternatives

Zscaler

Start with these picks

Key stats

All open-source alternatives

Choosing a vpn & zero trust networks alternative