8 Best Open Source Alternatives to Tailscale in 2025: Build Your Mesh VPN

Mesh VPNs have changed how developers and teams connect devices across different networks. One of the most popular tools in this space is Tailscale, known for its dead-simple setup and security built on WireGuard. But despite its ease of use, Tailscale isn’t for everyone, especially if you're looking for complete self-hosting, no vendor dependency, or greater customization.

Luckily, in 2025, several mature and developer-friendly open source alternatives to Tailscale let you host your own coordination server or even build your VPN stack from scratch.

Let’s explore some of the best options available and what makes each one a solid choice depending on your needs.

Why Choose an Open Source Mesh VPN?

Tailscale hides much of the complexity of network configuration, which is great for beginners. But under the hood, it relies on a closed-source control server that your clients must register with. If you're working in a regulated environment, want to scale without recurring fees, or simply prefer running everything yourself, open-source tools offer that freedom.

Advantages of going open source:

• You control your data and infrastructure.

• You avoid recurring costs and service limits.

• You can customize the architecture to match your needs.

• You’re not tied to a vendor or their availability.

Top Open Source Mesh VPN Tools in 2025

1. Headscale

Your Own Control Plane for Tailscale Clients

If you like Tailscale’s client experience but don’t want to rely on their servers, Headscale is a drop-in replacement. You get to run your own coordination server, while still using official Tailscale apps.

Install Example:

wget https://github.com/juanfont/headscale/releases/download/v0.26.1/headscale_0.26.1_linux_amd64
chmod +x headscale_0.26.1_linux_amd64
sudo mv headscale_0.26.1_linux_amd64 /usr/local/bin/headscale

sudo mkdir -p /etc/headscale
sudo headscale config generate > /etc/headscale/config.yaml

✅ Compatible with Tailscale clients
✅ Fully self-hosted
⚠️ Less polished UI, requires manual setup

2. NetBird

Fully Open Source Mesh VPN with UI & Identity Integration

Unlike Headscale, NetBird is a complete solution—from clients to control panel—all open source. It’s built with teams in mind, offering access control, OAuth support, and a modern web interface.

Setup Using Docker:

git clone https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird.git
cd netbird
docker-compose up -d

✅ Web dashboard, DNS, SSO, logging
✅ Built from scratch for self-hosted teams
⚠️ Newer project, smaller community size

3. Nebula

Performance-First Overlay Networking by Slack

Originally developed at Slack, Nebula is a mesh VPN designed for speed and flexibility. It supports complex network topologies and relies on certificates for authentication.

Example Setup:

wget https://github.com/slackhq/nebula/releases/latest/download/nebula-linux-amd64.tar.gz
tar -xzf nebula-linux-amd64.tar.gz

./nebula-cert ca -name "MyNetwork"
./nebula-cert sign -name "host1" -ip "192.168.100.1/24"

✅ Extremely lightweight
✅ Works well in large and custom infrastructures
⚠️ No GUI, steep learning curve

4. Innernet

Rust-Based VPN with CIDR Awareness

Innernet takes a structured approach by modeling its mesh network like traditional networking—think subnets, IP ranges, and ACLs. Written in Rust, it’s secure and fast but does expect a networking background.

Install From Source:

cargo install innernet
cargo install innernet-server

sudo innernet-server new org-network

✅ Subnet-based routing and hierarchy
✅ Fast and secure thanks to Rust
⚠️ No UI, smaller community

5. Netmaker

Full-Stack Mesh Networking with WireGuard

Netmaker takes WireGuard and wraps it in an enterprise-ready platform. It’s ideal for multi-site VPNs, hybrid clouds, and Kubernetes-native infrastructure.

Quick Setup:

curl -sfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gravitl/netmaker/master/scripts/nm-quick.sh | sudo bash

✅ Site-to-site VPN, DNS, metrics
✅ UI, load balancing, and OAuth
⚠️ Some advanced features require a paid plan

6. OpenZiti

App-Level Zero Trust Networking

OpenZiti does away with traditional VPNs by embedding secure connectivity directly into applications. It uses identity-based rules and doesn’t require opening ports at all.

Run Quickstart Script:

bash <(curl -s https://get.openziti.io/quick/ziti-cli-functions.sh)
expressInstall

✅ Zero-trust from the ground up
✅ Fine-grained access control at app level
⚠️ Requires integration and advanced setup

7. ZeroTier

Flexible Virtual Networking with Optional Self-Hosting

ZeroTier offers a hybrid model, you can use their hosted controller or deploy your own. It’s user-friendly and supports everything from laptops to embedded devices.

Build Your Controller:

git clone https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne.git
cd ZeroTierOne
make

✅ Easy cross-platform setup
✅ Virtual LAN over the internet
⚠️ Controller software is not fully open source

8. WireGuard

The Foundation of It All

WireGuard is a simple, fast, and secure VPN protocol—not a mesh tool by itself, but a building block. Many of the tools above use it under the hood. You can even write your own scripts to create a custom mesh.

Manual Setup:

sudo apt install wireguard
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey

# Set up wg0.conf and start
sudo wg-quick up wg0

✅ Minimal, auditable codebase
✅ Lightning fast with kernel-level support
⚠️ No UI, no discovery, manual configuration

At a Glance: Choosing the Right Tool

Conclusion

Choosing the right mesh VPN in 2025 depends on how much control, automation, and customization you want. If you’re looking for minimal overhead and familiar UX, Headscale is a great start. Need a polished interface? Try NetBird or Netmaker. Working at scale or seeking zero-trust architecture? Nebula or OpenZiti might fit better.

No matter your path, open source mesh VPNs put the control back in your hands, giving you the tools to design and secure your network your way.

Reference

1. Top Open Source Tailscale Alternatives in 2025