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

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

## Side-by-side comparison

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

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Headscale | Runetale |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | – |
| Encryption | – | Yes |
| Remote Access | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Headscale**

No features listed.

**Runetale**

9 features 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 need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [Runetale](https://cybersectools.com/tools/runetale) fits if you want a cloud product.

## Headscale vs Runetale FAQ

Common questions when comparing Headscale vs Runetale for VPN.

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

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

**Runetale**: Automated VPN solution with peer-to-peer encryption using WireGuard, built by Runetale.

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

### Who makes Headscale and Runetale?

**Headscale** is open-source with 36,500 GitHub stars. **Runetale** is made by Runetale. 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 Runetale?

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

## Related comparisons

- [Headscale vs NetBird Connect](https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-netbird-connect)
- [Headscale vs Defguard WireGuard VPN Client](https://cybersectools.com/compare/defguard-wireguard-vpn-client-vs-headscale)
- [Headscale vs VIPRE Encrypt.team](https://cybersectools.com/compare/headscale-vs-vipre-encryptteam)
- [Runetale vs NetBird Connect](https://cybersectools.com/compare/netbird-connect-vs-runetale)
- [Runetale vs Defguard WireGuard VPN Client](https://cybersectools.com/compare/defguard-wireguard-vpn-client-vs-runetale)
- [Runetale vs VIPRE Encrypt.team](https://cybersectools.com/compare/runetale-vs-vipre-encryptteam)

## Alternatives to each

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

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

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 Runetale: 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