NetBird vs. ZeroTier Comparison: Which Mesh VPN is the Better Choice?

Traditional VPNs with central gateways are reaching their limits in modern IT environments. Mesh VPNs like NetBird and ZeroTier offer a contemporary approach: direct peer-to-peer connections, easy management, and flexible network configuration.

But which solution fits your business better? In this comparison, we analyze both platforms in detail – from architecture and security to costs and typical use cases.

Overview: NetBird and ZeroTier
Architecture and Technical Foundations
- NetBird: WireGuard-based and Open Source
- ZeroTier: Proprietary Protocol with Layer-2 Support
Security and Access Control
- Zero Trust with NetBird
- Network Segmentation with ZeroTier
Self-Hosting and Data Sovereignty
Usability and Administration
Cost Comparison
Comparison Table
When to Choose NetBird or ZeroTier?
Conclusion
Our Services

Overview: NetBird and ZeroTier

Solution	Focus
NetBird	Open-source mesh VPN based on WireGuard with Zero Trust, identity-based access, full self-hosting option, and modern web UI
ZeroTier	Overlay/SDN VPN with proprietary protocol, virtual LANs (Layer-2/Layer-3), peer-to-peer connections, and broad platform support

Both solutions aim to replace traditional VPNs and make corporate networks and remote access more flexible, secure, and modern.

Architecture and Technical Foundations

NetBird: WireGuard-based and Open Source

Screenshot from NetBird's cloud offering – the displayed user limitation only applies to the cloud version. Self-hosting has no limitations.

NetBird uses WireGuard as its cryptographic foundation – the most modern VPN protocol with excellent performance:

Kernel Integration: On Linux, WireGuard runs directly in the kernel, enabling maximum speed
Modern Crypto Stack: ChaCha20, Curve25519, BLAKE2s – proven, fast algorithms
Minimal Code: ~4,000 lines vs. ~100,000 for OpenVPN – smaller attack surface
Fast Connection Setup: Handshake in milliseconds instead of seconds

Communication is mostly peer-to-peer – devices connect directly to each other without traffic flowing through a central server. Management is handled through a central control plane with web UI and identity-based access control (SSO, MFA, IdP integration).

Particularly important: NetBird is fully open source under the BSD-3-Clause license. The entire code – client, server, and management plane – is available on GitHub and can be self-hosted.

ZeroTier: Proprietary Protocol with Layer-2 Support

ZeroTier uses a proprietary protocol (not WireGuard). It overlays network traffic and treats devices as if they were on the same local network.

The special feature: ZeroTier supports Layer-2 and Layer-3. This enables virtual LAN-like networks – including multicast, VLAN-like behavior, and more complex network segmentation.

Aspect	NetBird	ZeroTier
Protocol	WireGuard	Proprietary
Kernel Mode	Yes (Linux)	No (Userspace)
Cryptography	ChaCha20, Curve25519	Salsa20/12, Curve25519
Layer-2 Support	No	Yes
NAT Traversal	ICE/STUN/TURN	Proprietary solution

Assessment:

If performance and transparency are important → NetBird with WireGuard is the better choice
If virtual LAN functionality or Layer-2 features are needed → ZeroTier offers more flexibility here

Security and Access Control

Zero Trust with NetBird

NetBird follows a consistent Zero Trust approach: Access control is based on identity, not network segments. Only those explicitly authorized get access.

Security features:

Identity-Based Access: Integration with SSO, MFA, IdP (Google, Azure AD, Okta, Keycloak)
Granular ACLs: Detailed rules for which devices/users can access which resources
Posture Checks: Access only when devices meet certain security requirements
Device Approval: Admins must explicitly approve new devices
Audit Logging: Complete logging of all access
EDR/SIEM Integration: Connection to existing security tools possible

Through its fully open-source nature and self-hosting option, companies retain complete control over data, logs, and infrastructure – crucial for data protection and auditability.

Network Segmentation with ZeroTier

ZeroTier provides end-to-end encryption via its proprietary protocol. Peer-to-peer tunnels between devices work even through NAT/firewall via hole-punching.

Security features:

Flow Rules: Flexible rules for network traffic
Network Segmentation: Create virtual networks, group devices
VLAN-like Configuration: Finer network separation possible

However: Enterprise features like central identity/MFA integration are less convenient than with NetBird. The self-hosted controller offers no user-friendly web UI – management is via API/CLI.

Feature	NetBird	ZeroTier
Zero Trust ACLs	Yes, comprehensive	Yes, Flow Rules
Posture Checks	Yes	No
IdP Integration	Comprehensive (SSO, MFA)	Basic
Device Approval	Yes	Limited
Audit Logging	Yes	Limited

Assessment: For companies with compliance, data protection, and identity management requirements, NetBird has a clear advantage. ZeroTier offers solid security, but governance and identity features are less "out-of-the-box".

Self-Hosting and Data Sovereignty

This is where one of the biggest differences between the two solutions shows:

NetBird: Complete Self-Hosting

NetBird can be fully operated on your own infrastructure:

Management Server
Signal Server (for NAT traversal)
TURN Server (for relay connections)
Dashboard UI

After installation, there is no connection to NetBird servers – full data sovereignty. The entire code is open source and auditable.

ZeroTier: Limited Self-Hosting

With ZeroTier, the situation is more complicated:

The client is open source
The central controller is proprietary and operated by ZeroTier
Self-hosting is possible, but without a convenient web UI
Management is via REST API / CLI – more technical know-how required
Networks must initially be registered via ZeroTier infrastructure

Aspect	NetBird	ZeroTier
Fully Open Source	Yes	No (client only)
Self-Hosting Possible	Yes, completely	Yes, limited
Web UI for Self-Hosting	Yes	No
Data Sovereignty	100% possible	Limited
External Dependencies	None	Root server required

Assessment: For companies with compliance requirements (GDPR, ISO27001, healthcare, financial sector, government), NetBird is the clearly better choice. Complete control over infrastructure is not achievable with ZeroTier.

Usability and Administration

Aspect	NetBird	ZeroTier
Installation	Quick: Install client, SSO/login or setup key	Quick: Install client, join via Network ID
Web UI	Modern, intuitive, complete	Cloud: good / Self-hosted: none
Self-Hosted Management	Comfortable with web UI + API	API/CLI required, technical know-how needed
Multi-Tenant	Yes, well suited for MSP	Limited
Documentation	Good	Very good (longer market presence)
Community	Growing	Established, larger

Assessment: NetBird offers a modern, clear interface and is well suited when security + user-friendliness + control are desired – without deep networking know-how.

ZeroTier is more suitable for networking professionals who need more flexibility at the Layer-2/Layer-3 level and don't mind doing more technical setup.

Cost Comparison

NetBird: Self-Hosted = Free

Self-hosted NetBird is completely free – no license fees, no per-user fees, no hidden costs. You only pay for server resources (own hardware or cloud VMs).

Self-Hosted: Free, unlimited users and devices
Cloud Version: Free tier available for small teams

ZeroTier: Freemium with Limitations

ZeroTier works with a freemium model:

Free Tier: Up to 25 nodes free
Beyond that: Paid plans required
Self-Hosted Enterprise: Additional fees / contract terms

Aspect	NetBird Self-Hosted	ZeroTier
License Costs	None	Paid from 25+ nodes
Per-User Fees	None	Depending on plan
Unlimited Devices	Yes	No (Free tier limited)
Enterprise Features	Included	Paid

Assessment: For companies with many devices or long-term needs, NetBird self-hosted is economically unbeatable – no ongoing license costs, full features. ZeroTier can be cheap for very small installations, but costs increase with scale.

Comparison Table

Feature	NetBird	ZeroTier
Protocol	WireGuard	Proprietary
Fully Open Source	✅	❌ (client only)
Self-Hosting	✅ Complete	⚠️ Limited
Web UI (Self-Hosted)	✅	❌
Zero Trust ACLs	✅ Comprehensive	✅ Flow Rules
Posture Checks	✅	❌
IdP Integration (SSO/MFA)	✅ Comprehensive	⚠️ Basic
Layer-2 Bridging	❌	✅
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
User-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Self-Hosted Cost	Free	Limited option
Data Sovereignty	100%	Limited

When to Choose NetBird or ZeroTier?

Choose NetBird if you:

✅ Need complete control over your infrastructure (self-hosting)
✅ Value data protection and compliance (GDPR, ISO27001)
✅ Want to implement Zero Trust with identity-based access (SSO, MFA)
✅ Prioritize open source and auditability
✅ Want a modern web UI for easy management
✅ Want no ongoing license costs with self-hosting
✅ Connect hybrid cloud/on-prem environments (servers, VMs, containers, Kubernetes)

Choose ZeroTier if you:

✅ Need Layer-2 features (virtual LANs, multicast)
✅ Want to build complex overlay network topologies
✅ Prefer an established solution with a large community
✅ Can work with the free tier (25 nodes)
✅ Have networking professionals on your team who prefer CLI/API management

Conclusion

The comparison clearly shows: NetBird and ZeroTier are both strong tools, but they follow different philosophies.

NetBird excels with:

Modernity through WireGuard
Complete transparency (100% open source)
Comprehensive security (Zero Trust, Posture Checks, SSO/MFA)
User-friendly web UI
Free self-hosting without per-user fees

ZeroTier scores with:

Layer-2 functionality for complex networks
Long-term stability and large community
Flexibility at the network level

For most companies – especially SMBs or businesses focused on security, data protection, costs, and easy management – NetBird is the better choice. The combination of WireGuard performance, Zero Trust security, full self-hosting, and free usage is hard to beat.

Those who need complex network architectures or Layer-2 features can gain more freedom with ZeroTier – at the expense of convenience and transparency.

Our Services

As an experienced IT service provider, we support you with evaluation, implementation, and operation of NetBird:

Consulting and Conception

Analysis of your network requirements
Zero Trust strategy development

Installation and Setup

Self-hosted NetBird deployment (Docker, Kubernetes, bare-metal)
Integration with existing identity providers (Azure AD, Okta, Keycloak)
Access control configuration and policy design
Migration from traditional VPNs or ZeroTier

Managed Service

Operation of NetBird infrastructure
Monitoring and alerting
Security updates and patches
Support and troubleshooting

Contact

Want to modernize your VPN infrastructure or switch to Zero Trust? We're happy to advise you – no obligation, with expertise.

Schedule a Consultation →

NetBird vs. ZeroTier Comparison: Which Mesh VPN is the Better Choice?

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