Headscale AlternativesVPN Services & Virtual LAN Software like Headscale

Headscale is described as 'An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. HeadScale-ui is a complementary project to have a Web UI for this' and is a VPN service in the security & privacy category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Headscale for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best Headscale alternative is ZeroTier, which is free. Other great apps like Headscale are SoftEther VPN, Tailscale, LogMeIn Hamachi and NetBird.

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Headscale alternatives are mainly VPN Services but may also be Virtual LAN Software or Remote Desktop Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Headscale.
Headscale iconHeadscale
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An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. HeadScale-ui is a complementary project to have a Web UI for this.

More about Headscale
Headscale alternatives page was last updated Sep 22, 2024
  1. ZeroTier icon
     93 likes

    ZeroTier creates virtual ethernet networks that work everywhere. Use it as a VPN alternative, for gaming, or to create a virtual office LAN that travels with you.

    52 ZeroTier alternatives
    ZeroTier screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtual LAN
    2.  P2P Network
    3.  Peer-To-Peer
    4.  Zero configuration
    5.  LAN Tunneling
    6.  Mesh network
    7.  Software defined network
    8.  No port forwarding required
    9.  Peer to peer VPN
    10.  No Logs
    11.  End-to-End Encryption
    12.  Decentralized
    ZeroTier iconHeadscale Icon

    ZeroTier VS Headscale

    Is ZeroTier a good alternative to Headscale?
     
    Comments about ZeroTier as an Alternative to Headscale
     
    mzs_47

    Switched to a unrecognized license - SSPL which is not FLOSS.

    Negative commentDec 14, 2022
    0
    Headscale Icon
    ZeroTier icon
    • ZeroTier is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Headscale.

    • ZeroTier is the most popular free alternative to Headscale.

    • ZeroTier is Freemium and ProprietaryHeadscale is Free and Open Source
    • ZeroTier is Privacy focused and DecentralizedHeadscale is not according to our users
  2. SoftEther VPN icon
     118 likes

    SoftEther VPN ("SoftEther" means "Software Ethernet") is one of the world's most powerful and easy-to-use multi-protocol VPN software. It runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD and Solaris.

    53 SoftEther VPN alternatives
    SoftEther VPN screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Virtual LAN
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  No registration required
    4.  WireGuard
    5.  Built-in VPN
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Support for Multiple protocols
    9.  L2TP
    10.  Multiple languages
    SoftEther VPN iconHeadscale Icon

    SoftEther VPN VS Headscale

    Is SoftEther VPN a good alternative to Headscale?
     
    • SoftEther VPN is the most popular Open Source alternative to Headscale.

    • SoftEther VPN is Free and Open SourceHeadscale is also Free and Open Source
    • SoftEther VPN is Lightweight and Privacy focusedHeadscale is not according to our users
  3. Tailscale icon
     30 likes

    Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.

    38 Tailscale alternatives
    Tailscale screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Tailscale Features

    1.  Virtual LAN
    2.  WireGuard
    3.  Software defined network
    4.  Mesh network
    5.  Overlay network
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Two-factor Authentication
    8.  Built-in VPN
    9.  Anonymous Proxy
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Decentralized
    12.  Ad-free
    Tailscale iconHeadscale Icon

    Tailscale VS Headscale

    Is Tailscale a good alternative to Headscale?
     
    • Tailscale is the most popular SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to Headscale.

    • Tailscale is Freemium and ProprietaryHeadscale is Free and Open Source
    • Tailscale is DecentralizedHeadscale is not according to our users
  4. LogMeIn Hamachi icon
     206 likes

    LogMeIn Hamachi is a hosted VPN service that securely connects devices and networks, extending LAN-like network connectivity to mobile users, distributed teams and business applications. You can easily create secure virtual networks on demand, across public and private networks.

    33 LogMeIn Hamachi alternatives
    Register client

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Top LogMeIn Hamachi Features

    1.  Peer-To-Peer
    2.  Clear IP Addresses
    3.  Text Chat to member
    4.  Remote File Access
    5.  Integrated Password Manager
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  LAN Tunneling
    8.  Support for Multiple Users
    9.  On Demand
    10.  Remote Printing
    11.  Encrypted VPN
    LogMeIn Hamachi iconHeadscale Icon

    LogMeIn Hamachi VS Headscale

    Is LogMeIn Hamachi a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  5. NetBird icon
     16 likes

    Connect your devices into a single secure private WireGuard®-based mesh network with SSO/MFA and manage access with just a few clicks.

    27 NetBird alternatives
    List of connected machines (peers)

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • iPad
    • iPhone
    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    NetBird Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Two-factor Authentication
    3.  AES-256 Encryption
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Peer-To-Peer
    6.  Golang
    NetBird iconHeadscale Icon

    NetBird VS Headscale

    Is NetBird a good alternative to Headscale?
     
    • NetBird is the most popular Web-based alternative to Headscale.

    • NetBird is Free and Open SourceHeadscale is also Free and Open Source
  6. ngrok icon
     39 likes

    ngrok exposes local servers behind NATs and firewalls to the public internet over secure tunnels.

    56 ngrok alternatives
    ngrok screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Localhost
    2.  ingress-as-a-service
    ngrok iconHeadscale Icon

    ngrok VS Headscale

    Is ngrok a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  7. Tinc VPN icon
     25 likes

    tinc is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) daemon that uses tunnelling and encryption to create a secure private network between hosts on the Internet.

    47 Tinc VPN alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  AES-256 Encryption
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Decentralized
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Support for IPv6
    9.  Encrypted VPN
    Tinc VPN iconHeadscale Icon

    Tinc VPN VS Headscale

    Is Tinc VPN a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  8. defguard icon
     1 like

    defguard is an SSO & VPN Server based on OpenID and WireGuard VPN with unique secure & private architecture for building secure and privacy-aware organizations.

    31 defguard alternatives
    defguard screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Windows
    • Docker
    • Kubernetes

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Two-factor Authentication
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Single Sign-On
    5.  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    6.  OpenID Connect
    defguard iconHeadscale Icon

    defguard VS Headscale

    Is defguard a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  9. Netmaker icon
     8 likes

    Netmaker is a tool for creating and managing virtual networks. Netmaker consists of a server, an agent, and a UI. You spin up the Netmaker server and then install netclient (the agent) on your computers. Netmaker will do the rest.

    14 Netmaker alternatives
    Netmaker screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Linux

    Netmaker Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Golang
    Netmaker iconHeadscale Icon

    Netmaker VS Headscale

    Is Netmaker a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  10. Twingate icon
     3 likes

    Provides secure access through zero trust principles, replacing traditional VPNs for remote work, enabling centralized management, user connectivity, and application-level privilege without infrastructure changes.

    19 Twingate alternatives
    Twingate screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Cloud based
    Twingate iconHeadscale Icon

    Twingate VS Headscale

    Is Twingate a good alternative to Headscale?
     
    • Twingate is the most popular commercial alternative to Headscale.

    • Twingate is Paid and ProprietaryHeadscale is Free and Open Source
    • Twingate is LightweightHeadscale is not according to our users
  11. Nebula by Slack icon
     2 likes

    Nebula is a scalable overlay networking tool with a focus on performance, simplicity and security. It lets you seamlessly connect computers anywhere in the world. Nebula runs on Linux, OSX, and Windows. Mobile is in active development.

    10 Nebula by Slack alternatives
    Nebula by Slack screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Peer-To-Peer
    Nebula by Slack iconHeadscale Icon

    Nebula by Slack VS Headscale

    Is Nebula by Slack a good alternative to Headscale?
     
  12. Firezone icon
     7 likes

    Firezone is an open-core(uses Elastic license) VPN server and egress firewall for Linux that makes it simple to manage secure remote access to your company’s private networks. Built on modern technologies, including the new blazing fast WireGuard tunneling protocol, Firezone is...

    46 Firezone alternatives
    License is non-DFSG and non-OSS compliant, Elastic license v2.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • openSUSE
    • CentOS
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian

    Firezone Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Two-factor Authentication
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Encrypted VPN
    5.  Access Control
    Firezone iconHeadscale Icon

    Firezone VS Headscale

    Is Firezone a good alternative to Headscale?
     
12 of 20 Headscale alternatives