
ZeroTier
Peer-to-peer virtual networking
The Lens
ZeroTier creates a virtual network between your devices, your office, and your cloud VMs. No port forwarding, no VPN server to maintain. Install the agent on each machine, join a network ID, and they can talk to each other directly, peer-to-peer.
ZeroTier uses its own protocol (not WireGuard), handles NAT traversal, and supports both layer 2 and layer 3 networking. That layer 2 support is a genuine differentiator: you can bridge entire network segments across the internet, which Tailscale (layer 3 only) cannot do. The self-hosted controller option gives you full control over your network infrastructure with no dependency on a third party. The license is BSL 1.1 (converts to Apache 2.0 after 4 years), so it's source-available with eventual open source.
The catch: Tailscale has gained significantly more developer traction in recent years. It's simpler to set up, uses WireGuard (which is audited and well-trusted), and has a larger integration ecosystem. If you don't need layer 2 networking or full self-hosting, Tailscale is the easier choice. But if either of those matters to you, ZeroTier is the tool that actually delivers them.
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Free vs Self-Hosted vs Paid
freemium**Free tier:** Up to 25 devices on ZeroTier's hosted controller. Peer-to-peer connections, basic network management. Good for personal use.
**Paid tiers:** - **Essential:** $5/mo, 25 nodes, priority support - **Business:** $49/mo, 100 nodes, SSO, advanced management - **Enterprise:** Custom pricing, unlimited nodes, SLA
**Self-hosted option:** You can run your own controller (ztncui or the API directly) and eliminate the hosted dependency entirely. This is free but adds ops burden. All peer-to-peer connections are free regardless. The controller just handles network coordination.
The math: for personal/homelab use, the free 25-device limit is generous. For teams, $49/mo for 100 nodes is reasonable. Self-hosting the controller costs nothing but your time.
Free for up to 25 devices. Self-host the controller for unlimited nodes at no cost.
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