Our verdict · 8.3/10 Excellent
A credible open-source alternative to Tailscale with good value. The ecosystem and polish are still maturing.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Teams wanting open source.
- Strongest area: Value for money (9.0/10). Weakest: Support & reliability (7.4/10).
- Price: Free for 5 users; Team €6 / user / month — free plan available.
- Watch out for: Smaller company and ecosystem.
What is NetBird?
NetBird builds a peer-to-peer WireGuard network between devices with identity-based access policies, SSO, posture checks and activity logging. It can be self-hosted for free or used as a managed cloud service with a generous free tier.
NetBird is made by NetBird and is reviewed here as a business VPN. It is priced on a freemium basis, and our editorial score is 8.3 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose NetBird if
- Teams wanting open source
- Replacing legacy VPN for developers
- Self-hosted zero trust
Not for you if
- Non-technical teams needing vendor hand-holding
- Consumer VPN use
Key features
Direct encrypted connections between peers.
Group-based rules for who can reach what.
Require OS versions or location before access.
Run the control plane yourself.
- Okta
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Google Workspace
- Keycloak
- Zitadel
Pros & cons
What we like
- Open source and self-hostable
- WireGuard performance
- SSO and posture checks
- Free tier for five users
Watch out for
- Smaller company and ecosystem
- Euro pricing for US buyers
- Fewer enterprise integrations
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Up to 5 users |
| Team | ≈ $6 / user / mo | EUR |
| Business | ≈ $12 / user / mo | EUR |
Pricing watch-out: Prices are in euros. Business is €12/user/month. Extra machines €0.50/month each.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked November 5, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Steep tier jump. Moving from Team to Business raises the per-user price from $6 to $12 (2.0×). Check which features force the upgrade.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked November 5, 2026 (source). Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 8.2 | 2.10 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 8.0 | 1.20 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 9.0 | 1.40 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.4 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 30% | 8.6 | 2.60 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 5% | 7.6 | 0.40 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for security products | 8.3 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask NetBird |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for NetBird against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check NetBird’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any business VPN
Check NetBird against the same list we use for every business VPN — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Central admin console
- Dedicated IP / gateway options
- SSO and user provisioning
- Device posture checks
- Clear logging policy
See every ranked option in Business VPN & Zero Trust.
NetBird alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
ZeroTier≈ $18/mo vs $60/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Easier to use
NordVPNEase-of-use score 9.2 vs 8.0 - Better integrations
Cloudflare Zero TrustIntegrations score 8.6 vs 7.6 - Stronger on securityCloudflare Zero TrustSecurity & privacy score 9.2 vs 8.6
- Higher overall scoreCloudflare Zero TrustOverall 8.7 vs 8.3
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as NetBird. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Easy mesh networking built on WireGuard — private networks in minutes.
Software-defined networking that links devices anywhere as one LAN.
Zero-trust remote access designed as a simple VPN replacement.
Head-to-head comparisons
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
NetBird FAQ
Is NetBird free?
Yes for up to five users on the cloud service, and free to self-host.
Is NetBird open source?
Yes, under a BSD-3 style licence for the client and an AGPL licence for the management service.
Does NetBird have a free plan?
Yes. NetBird offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Free for 5 users; Team €6 / user / month (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is NetBird best for?
NetBird is best for: teams wanting open source; replacing legacy VPN for developers; self-hosted zero trust.
How much does NetBird cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Team) works out at roughly $60 per month, or about $720 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the NetBird score calculated?
The 8.3/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for security products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to NetBird?
Popular alternatives include Tailscale, ZeroTier, Twingate. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.