Tailscale creates a private mesh network between your devices using WireGuard, with zero configuration — no port forwarding, firewall rules, or static IPs required.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Tailscale's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
WireGuard is the underlying VPN protocol Tailscale uses. Running it directly gives full control without a central coordination server, but requires manual key exchange, IP assignment, and firewall configuration for every peer connection.
Explore WireGuard data →ZeroTier creates virtual Ethernet networks across the internet, supporting up to 25 devices free. It uses its own SDN protocol rather than WireGuard and allows custom IP ranges and network segmentation. More configuration flexibility than Tailscale but steeper learning curve.
Explore ZeroTier data →Netbird is an open-source alternative to Tailscale built on WireGuard. It can be fully self-hosted, supports access control policies, and integrates with identity providers. Suitable for teams who want Tailscale-style convenience with self-hosting control.
Explore Netbird data →Headscale is a community-built open-source implementation of the Tailscale control server, allowing you to run the coordination layer yourself. Tailscale clients work with Headscale, giving you the convenience of Tailscale without the cloud dependency.
Explore Headscale data →Cloudflare Access is part of Cloudflare Zero Trust and allows employees to connect to internal apps securely via browser or WARP client without a traditional VPN. It integrates with identity providers and provides per-app access control.
Explore Cloudflare Access data →OpenVPN is the most widely deployed open-source VPN, supported by virtually every router and firewall. It requires a server and configuration management but offers mature, well-understood security. OpenVPN Access Server is the commercial self-hosted product.
Explore OpenVPN data →Tailscale uses the WireGuard protocol under the hood and assigns each device a stable IP in the 100.x.x.x range accessible only from within your Tailscale network.
Finance and Payments alternatives.
News and Magazines alternatives.
Health and Fitness Tracking alternatives.
Shopping and Resale alternatives.