ZeroTier review
Choose ZeroTier when you need to connect your own machines across desktop, mobile and server environments, with access rules and the option to host the controller yourself. Watch the controller licence: self-hostable here means source-available with a non-commercial restriction.
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Score breakdown
One formula for every mesh & self-hosted, explained on how we score VPNs.
Plans and the true 3-year price
| Plan | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | 1 month | $0 / month |
| Essential | 1 month | $18 / month |
| Scale | 1 month | $179 / month |
| Enterprise | 1 month | See site |
You can also host it yourself on your own server: see our VPS hosting reviews.
Providers change prices often, and we regularly verify prices against their own pricing pages, though small differences from current prices are possible. Prices checked 11 Oct 2026.
Who it's for
Pick it if
- You need private access across a broad mix of devices.
- You want NAT traversal and relay support.
- You need access rules and SSO.
- Your controller self-hosting plans fit the non-commercial licence.
Skip it if
- You require an open-source controller.
- You want a bundled privacy VPN service.
- You need ticketed support with an SLA on an entry plan.
Ownership
How it works
- Open-source control serverNo
- Client licenceMPL-2.0 (ZeroTier One agent); network controller is source-available under the ZeroTier Source-Available License, non-commercial use only
- Self-hostableYes
- SSOYes
- Access rules (ACLs)Yes
- NAT traversalYes
- Relay networkYes
- Exit nodesYes
- Platformslinux, windows, macos, ios, android, docker, freebsd, routers, nas
Security audits
| Date | Auditor | Type | Scope | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undated | Not named | Infrastructure | SOC 2 Type II listed under compliance in the trust center | Gated or summary only |
| Undated | Not named | Other | Penetration testing listed as a product-security control in the trust center | Gated or summary only |
| Undated | Not named | Other | FIPS 140-3 validation, Certificate #5424 | Not stated |
Our take
ZeroTier's security evidence needs to be read by scope. The trust center lists an infrastructure compliance audit and penetration testing, with reports gated or available only as summaries and no auditor named in those entries. A cryptographic validation is also listed, but that addresses a different question from how a service handles activity records. These entries do not establish a no-logs assurance. For access to your own machines, access rules and SSO are useful controls, but their presence alone does not demonstrate how well your network is configured.
ZeroTier, Inc. is the owner, and we found no parent group. That makes the ownership relationship straightforward, but independence does not settle questions about privacy or software freedom. The ZeroTier One agent uses the MPL licence; the network controller uses the ZeroTier Source-Available License, restricted to non-commercial use. You can host the controller yourself, but you should not read that as permission for unrestricted commercial deployment. For a small business, the controller licence deserves attention before self-hosting becomes part of the operating plan.
The meaningful cost distinction is between access to the software and the support your team needs. Personal and Essential have community support, while Scale adds ticketed support with an SLA and Enterprise has priority support. Essential starts at $18 a month and renews at $18, with $648 across the comparison period. Scale starts at $179 a month and renews at $179, with $6,444 across that period. The listed rates show no introductory discount to unwind. If you run infrastructure yourself, budget for hosting and maintenance alongside the subscription; our VPS hosts reviews cover that part of the decision.
ZeroTier fits the task of reaching your own machines: it combines NAT traversal, relay support and access rules across a broad platform range. Exit-node support also gives you a routing option, although we found no bundled privacy VPN add-on. Against Headscale, NetBird, Tailscale and Self-hosted WireGuard, make the comparison around controller licensing, who operates the infrastructure and how much configuration you want to own. ZeroTier belongs on your shortlist when its device coverage and connection tools match your setup, provided the controller restrictions fit your intended use.
FAQ
Is ZeroTier a privacy VPN?
ZeroTier is a mesh networking tool for connecting devices and reaching your own machines. It supports exit nodes, but we found no bundled privacy VPN add-on, so choose it around your private access needs.
Is ZeroTier free for personal use?
The free tier is listed as: Personal plan: 10 devices, 1 network, 1 admin; non-commercial use only. Personal includes community support, so factor your ability to troubleshoot into the decision.
Can I self-host ZeroTier?
Yes, the network controller is self-hostable under the ZeroTier Source-Available License, which restricts use to non-commercial purposes. Check that restriction against your intended deployment before committing to running it yourself.
Is ZeroTier open source?
The ZeroTier One agent uses the MPL licence, but the network controller is source-available under a licence restricted to non-commercial use. Calling the whole setup open source would obscure a licensing distinction that matters when you choose how to deploy it.
Has ZeroTier been independently audited?
The trust center lists an infrastructure compliance audit and penetration testing, but the auditor is unnamed in these entries and reports are gated or available only as summaries. A cryptographic validation is also listed; these scopes do not establish a no-logs assurance.
Which ZeroTier plan has support with an SLA?
Scale includes ticketed support with an SLA, while Personal and Essential use community support. Enterprise has priority support, so the support commitment should be part of your plan choice alongside the subscription cost.