Our verdict · 8.0/10 Excellent
A flexible, low-cost way to network devices, especially for technical teams. It is not a turnkey zero-trust product for non-technical admins.
Key takeaways
- Best for: IoT and device fleets.
- Strongest area: Value for money (8.8/10). Weakest: Integrations & ecosystem (7.0/10).
- Price: Free for 10 devices; Essential $18 / month — free plan available.
- Watch out for: Device-based pricing adds up.
What is ZeroTier?
ZeroTier creates virtual networks so devices across offices, clouds and homes can talk as if on the same local network. It is popular for remote access, IoT and lab environments. A free plan covers 10 devices; paid plans are priced by devices rather than users.
ZeroTier is made by ZeroTier and is reviewed here as a business VPN. It is priced on a freemium basis, and our editorial score is 8.0 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose ZeroTier if
- IoT and device fleets
- Developers and lab networks
- Linking small offices cheaply
Not for you if
- Admins wanting app-level access policies out of the box
- Users wanting a privacy VPN
Key features
Layer-2 networks spanning any location.
Direct encrypted connections between devices.
Network-level access rules.
Manage members and routes in one console.
- Linux
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Docker
Pros & cons
What we like
- Works across almost any platform
- Free for small networks
- Peer-to-peer performance
- Self-hostable controller
Watch out for
- Device-based pricing adds up
- Steeper learning curve
- Fewer identity integrations
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Free | 10 devices |
| Essential | ≈ $18 / mo | 10 devices, +$2/device |
| Scale | ≈ $179 / mo | 100 devices |
Pricing watch-out: Essential includes 10 devices plus $2 per extra device; Scale is $179/month for 100 devices.
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% | 7.4 | 1.10 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 8.8 | 1.30 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.2 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 30% | 8.2 | 2.50 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 5% | 7.0 | 0.40 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for security products | 8.0 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask ZeroTier |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ZeroTier against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check ZeroTier’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any business VPN
Check ZeroTier 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.
ZeroTier alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Easier to use
NordVPNEase-of-use score 9.2 vs 7.4 - Better integrations
Cloudflare Zero TrustIntegrations score 8.6 vs 7.0 - Stronger on securityCloudflare Zero TrustSecurity & privacy score 9.2 vs 8.2
- Higher overall scoreCloudflare Zero TrustOverall 8.7 vs 8.0
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as ZeroTier. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Easy mesh networking built on WireGuard — private networks in minutes.
Open-source WireGuard mesh networking with zero-trust access control.
Zero-trust remote access designed as a simple VPN replacement.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
ZeroTier FAQ
Is ZeroTier free?
Yes for personal networks with up to 10 devices.
ZeroTier vs Tailscale?
Both build mesh networks; Tailscale is simpler with identity-based access, ZeroTier is more flexible at the network layer.
Does ZeroTier have a free plan?
Yes. ZeroTier offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Free for 10 devices; Essential $18 / month (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is ZeroTier best for?
ZeroTier is best for: ioT and device fleets; developers and lab networks; linking small offices cheaply.
How is the ZeroTier score calculated?
The 8.0/10 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 ZeroTier?
Popular alternatives include Tailscale, NetBird, Twingate. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.