# Headscale vs Netmaker: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Headscale](https://cybersectools.com/tools/headscale) is a free [VPN](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vpn) solution. [Netmaker](https://cybersectools.com/tools/netmaker) is a commercial [VPN](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vpn) solution by [Netmaker](https://cybersectools.com/companies/netmaker). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Headscale | Netmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | VPN | VPN |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 36,500 | – |
| Last commit | Mar 2026 | – |
| Company | – | Netmaker |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Headscale | Netmaker |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | – |
| Zero Trust Architecture | – | Yes |
| ZTNA | – | Yes |
| Private Networks | – | Yes |
| Network Segmentation | – | Yes |
| Microsegmentation | – | Yes |
| Remote Access | – | Yes |
| Kubernetes | – | Yes |
| IoT Security | – | Yes |
| Network Administration | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Headscale**

No features listed.

**Netmaker**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**Headscale**

No integrations listed.

**Netmaker**

1 integration listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Headscale](https://cybersectools.com/tools/headscale) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [Netmaker](https://cybersectools.com/tools/netmaker) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.

## Headscale vs Netmaker FAQ

Common questions when comparing Headscale vs Netmaker for VPN.

### What is the difference between Headscale and Netmaker?

**Headscale**: An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server.

**Netmaker**: WireGuard-based zero-trust mesh networking platform for secure connectivity, built by Netmaker.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Headscale and Netmaker?

**Headscale** is open-source with 36,500 GitHub stars. **Netmaker** is made by Netmaker. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Headscale a good alternative to Netmaker?

Often, yes. Headscale and Netmaker are both VPN products, and both cover WireGuard. Key differences: Headscale is Free while Netmaker is Commercial, Headscale is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Headscale vs ZeroTier One](https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-zerotier-one)
- [Headscale vs ZeroTier Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-zerotier-platform)
- [Headscale vs Tailscale](https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-tailscale)
- [Netmaker vs ZeroTier One](https://cybersectools.com/compare/netmaker-vs-zerotier-one)
- [Netmaker vs ZeroTier Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/netmaker-vs-zerotier-platform)
- [Netmaker vs Tailscale](https://cybersectools.com/compare/tailscale-vs-netmaker)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Headscale alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/headscale)
- [See all Netmaker alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/netmaker)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-netmaker

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/headscale.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Headscale and Netmaker: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md