TL;DR
Looking for free alternatives to ZeroTier? Here are the best open source and free options for Mac.
What is the best free alternative to ZeroTier?
The best free alternative to ZeroTier ($18/month) is Tailscale. Install it with: brew install --cask tailscale-app.
Free Alternative to ZeroTier
Save $18/month with these 1 free alternatives that work great on macOS.
Our Top Pick
Quick Comparison
| App | Price | Open Source | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZeroTier | $18/month | No | — |
| Tailscale | Free | No | Security & Privacy |
Best Free Alternatives to ZeroTier for Mac
ZeroTier still makes mesh networking feel simple, but the pricing that arrived in late 2024 has held into August 2026. Free Personal is 10 devices on one network. Essential is $18 per month for 10 devices and $2 for each extra device. Scale is $179 per month for 100 devices and $1.80 for each extra, all listed on zerotier.com/pricing.
Tailscale is the usual free swap for most Mac users. Its Personal plan is free and includes unlimited devices for your user, up to six users, and around 50 tagged resources to start. It is built on WireGuard and ships a polished macOS app you install with `brew install --cask tailscale-app`, version 1.102.x in this check. If you want no vendor control plane at all, `wireguard-tools` from Homebrew gives you the WireGuard protocol directly. You get speed and a small codebase, but you handle NAT traversal and key distribution yourself.
The difference matters. ZeroTier emulates an L2 Ethernet segment and has specific stories for IoT and air gapped networks that do not map one to one to Tailscale's WireGuard model. If you already run ZeroTier Central for hundreds of devices or you rely on those topology tricks, moving has a cost. For a homelab or a small team of up to six people, Tailscale usually removes that $18 Essential bill.
Detailed Alternative Reviews
Tailscale
WireGuard-based mesh VPN with generous free tier
brew install --cask tailscale-appTailscale is the usual free replacement for ZeroTier on Mac in August 2026. Personal gives you unlimited devices for your user, up to six users, about 50 tagged resources, MagicDNS, exit nodes and SSO with Google, GitHub or Microsoft. Install the native client with `brew install --cask tailscale-app`, checked here as 1.102.2. Traffic runs peer to peer over WireGuard and the coordination plane handles keys and discovery. Paid Standard starts around $8 per user per month when you need more than six users. Compared with ZeroTier the trust model is different, identity provider instead of ZeroTier crypto IDs, and a self hosted control plane on the free path means running Headscale yourself, which is extra work to operate.
Key Features:
- Free Personal plan with unlimited devices for your user and up to six users
- Built on WireGuard for good performance and a small audited codebase
- MagicDNS gives short hostnames to every device on the tailnet
- Exit nodes let you route traffic through any device as a gateway
- Built in SSH replaces port forwarding for remote access
- Native Apple Silicon app that runs well on M series Macs
- NAT traversal without manual firewall rules for most networks
- SSO through Google, Microsoft, GitHub, Okta and others
Limitations:
- • Free plan stops at six users, larger teams need a paid plan
- • No self hosted control plane included in the free plan
- • Coordination relies on Tailscale servers, even though traffic stays peer to peer
- • MagicDNS means trusting Tailscale DNS for name resolution
Best for: People who want a free mesh VPN for personal use, homelabs, remote access to a home server and small teams of up to six that need multi device connectivity without a monthly fee
WireGuard
Bare-metal VPN protocol without a mesh SaaS bill
brew install wireguard-toolsWireGuard is the protocol under Tailscale and a free direct option when you do not want any mesh vendor in the middle. Install the user space tools with `brew install wireguard-tools`, current as of this 2026 check. You define peers, keys and endpoints yourself or run your own broker. Performance and auditability are strong. What you give up is the automation that ZeroTier and Tailscale add, such as automatic NAT traversal, MagicDNS and hosted SSO. For a two node tunnel between a Mac and a VPS it is ideal. For a 30 device roaming mesh it is operational work.
Key Features:
- Small audited codebase that is easy to review
- High throughput on Apple Silicon with low CPU use
- No per device SaaS fee to pay
- Available as the Homebrew formula wireguard-tools
- Works with macOS Network Extension clients
- Connects to peers on any platform that speaks WireGuard
- Simple modern cryptography
- Configuration you can script and version control
Limitations:
- • No automatic mesh discovery as with ZeroTier or Tailscale
- • You handle keys, IPs and NAT traversal yourself
- • No hosted MagicDNS or ACL console
Best for: Admins who want a free point to point or small static VPN and want to avoid ZeroTier Essential pricing
Which Alternative is Right for You?
Personal Homelab with Multiple Devices
→ Tailscale fits homelabs well. Personal is free for up to six users and does not cap your user devices, while ZeroTier free stops at 10 devices and one network. You can put your Mac, NAS, Raspberry Pi and a couple of VPS hosts on one tailnet without paying.
Remote Access to Home Network While Traveling
→ Both can do remote access, but Tailscale includes an exit node feature. You flag one device at home as an exit node and route all traffic from a laptop on hotel WiFi through it. With ZeroTier you configure that forwarding yourself. On the free tier Tailscale already includes this.
Small Team of Developers (7+ people)
→ Once you pass six users, both need a paid plan. Tailscale Standard is around $8 per user per month. ZeroTier Essential is $18 per month for 10 devices plus $2 per extra device. Work out whether your cost is driven by users or by device count and pick the cheaper model for your shape.
Gaming Network for Friends
→ For a small gaming group, Tailscale Personal covers up to six users without a fee. WireGuard underneath tends to give lower latency and quicker reconnection after sleep than ZeroTier's protocol, so games and voice chat feel snappier. No port forwarding for most titles.
IoT Device Deployment (50+ devices)
→ If you need 50 plus devices, Tailscale Personal does not charge per device. ZeroTier Essential would bill $18 plus $2 for each device beyond 10, so 50 devices would be well over $100 per month. For device heavy IoT that difference is about $2,500 per year at current pricing.
Enterprise with Strict Compliance Requirements
→ At enterprise scale compare paid tiers directly. Tailscale offers device posture checks, audit logging and SAML SSO. ZeroTier Enterprise keeps more network control on your side. Both are custom priced at that level, so run a short pilot of each with your compliance checklist.
Migration Tips
Exporting ZeroTier Network Configuration
Before you move anything, record your ZeroTier network settings. Open ZeroTier Central and export the member list with assigned IPs. If you have flow rules, take screenshots or copy the rule text. You will use that list to recreate the IP scheme or the ACL policy on the other side.
Setting Up Tailscale Exit Nodes
If you use ZeroTier to send traffic through a specific host, do the same with a Tailscale exit node. On the host you want as a gateway run tailscale up --advertise-exit-node. On the clients run tailscale up --exit-node=<hostname> to send traffic through it. This replaces the default gateway setting in ZeroTier.
Migrating DNS Dependencies
ZeroTier leans on IPs such as 192.168.192.x. Tailscale MagicDNS replaces that with stable hostnames like macbook.tail1234.ts.net that survive IP changes. Update any scripts, bookmarks or config files that hard code ZeroTier IPs to use those hostnames instead.
Handling ACL Policy Migration
ZeroTier flow rules do not paste directly into Tailscale ACLs. Tailscale uses a JSON policy file written in HuJSON, which allows comments. Start with a permit all policy and tighten it step by step, using the ACL test tool in the admin console to check each change. Keep comments that explain intent.
Device-by-Device Cutover Strategy
Move one device at a time. Tailscale and ZeroTier use different virtual interfaces, Tailscale on utun and ZeroTier on zt, so both can run together without conflict. Install Tailscale next to ZeroTier, confirm you can reach the services you need, then disable ZeroTier on that device before moving to the next.
Quick comparison
| Feature | ZeroTier | Tailscale | WireGuard DIY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free devices | 10 (Personal) | Unlimited user devices | Unlimited (self-managed) |
| Free users/networks | 1 network | Up to 6 users | N/A |
| Paid entry | $18/mo Essential (+$2/device) | ~$8/user/mo Standard | $0 |
| Protocol | ZeroTier VL2 | WireGuard | WireGuard |
| NAT traversal | Built-in | Built-in | Manual/UPnP/own broker |
| Mac install | brew cask zerotier-one 1.16.2 | brew cask tailscale-app 1.102.x | brew wireguard-tools |
| SSO | OIDC on paid/higher tiers | Yes on Personal providers | DIY |
| Best for | Existing ZT topologies / L2 needs | Homelab & small teams free | Simple static tunnels |
The verdict
Tailscale
It gives you unlimited devices for your user and up to six users free, with MagicDNS, exit nodes and WireGuard performance. For personal use and small teams that is enough to avoid ZeroTier Essential at $18 per month and still get built in SSH and NAT traversal.
Full reviewWireGuard
Pick raw WireGuard when you only need a few fixed peers and you do not want any coordination service. For a mesh with many roaming devices Tailscale saves a lot of manual work.
Bottom line
ZeroTier free is 10 devices on one network, Essential is $18 per month. Tailscale Personal is free for up to six users with no device cap. Raw WireGuard is free and hands on. Pay for ZeroTier only when you need its specific L2 topology or you already run it at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Technologies & Concepts
Sources & References
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About the Author
Security & Privacy Researcher
Sam Patel is a cybersecurity professional specializing in application security, privacy tools, and secure software practices. With over 9 years in information security—including roles at security firms and as an independent consultant—Sam evaluates applications for security vulnerabilities, data handling practices, and privacy implications.