Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NetBird VS Code42

Compare NetBird VS Code42 and see what are their differences

NetBird logo NetBird

Connect your devices into a single secure private WireGuardยฎ-based mesh network with SSO/MFA and manage access with just a few clicks.

Code42 logo Code42

Code42 is a SaaS solution for enterprises that secures all user data on one secure platform, leaving you and your business secure in the knowledge that both your employee's and customer's data is protected. Read more about Code42.
  • NetBird Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-10-28
  • NetBird Browser client support
    Browser client support //
    2025-10-28
  • NetBird Control Center
    Control Center //
    2025-10-28
  • NetBird Setup in minutes!
    Setup in minutes! //
    2025-10-28
  • NetBird Secure sharepoints
    Secure sharepoints //
    2025-10-28
  • NetBird SSH/RDP
    SSH/RDP //
    2025-10-28

NetBird is an open-source Zero Trust Networking platform designed by engineers, for engineers. It radically simplifies how modern organizations deploy and manage secure private networks offering the speed, security, and scalability todayโ€™s distributed teams demand.

Built on the trusted, high-performance WireGuardยฎ protocol, NetBird overcomes the traditional limitations of legacy VPNs by creating high-throughput, low-latency decentralized private networks. Its robust architecture provides a single, intuitive management console that enables granular, identity-based access control, integrating seamlessly with your existing Identity Provider (IdP) to support SSO and MFA out of the box.

With native IdP integration, your devices, servers, and cloud environments form direct, encrypted tunnels to each other - no central gateway or bottleneck. The centralized control plane offers full visibility, policy enforcement, and point-and-click management for secure remote access across hybrid and multi-cloud setups.

NetBirdโ€™s decentralized architecture delivers multiple key advantages:

Zero bottlenecks: Traffic flows directly between peers, avoiding latency and bandwidth constraints from central gateways.

Enhanced resilience: With no single point of failure, users stay connected even if on-prem infrastructure fails. Cloud-to-cloud and user-to-cloud links remain fully operational.

Scalability and privacy: Lightweight clients on each peer manage encrypted communication, while the management plane handles authentication and policy distribution without ever seeing your data.

Seamless integrations: Works effortlessly with CrowdStrike, Microsoft Intune, SentinelOne, pfSense, OPNsense, and more. MSPs can manage multiple customer environments securely from a unified dashboard.

Use NetBird for secure remote access, zero-config VPN replacement, Zero Trust enforcement, dynamic posture checks, centralized management, detailed logging and many more features.

  • Code42 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

NetBird

Website
netbird.io
$ Details
freemium $5.0 / Monthly (Per user)
Platforms
Linux MacOS Windows Android iOS Servers Docker
Release Date
2022 April
Startup details
Country
Germany
State
Berlin
City
Berlin
Founder(s)
Mikhail Bragin, Maycon Santos
Employees
10 - 19

Code42

Website
code42.com
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
2001 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
Minnesota
Founder(s)
Brian Bispala
Employees
500 - 999

NetBird features and specs

  • Easy Setup
    NetBird offers a straightforward setup process, which allows users to quickly configure and deploy a secure network without needing extensive technical knowledge.
  • Enhanced Security
    The platform provides robust security features, such as end-to-end encryption and zero-trust architecture, to ensure safe and secure communications across devices and networks.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    NetBird is designed to work across various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and more, providing flexibility and interoperability for users with different devices.
  • Scalability
    NetBird allows for easy scaling to accommodate growing networks or expanding user bases, making it suitable for both small teams and larger enterprises.
  • Open-Source
    As an open-source solution, NetBird invites contributions from the community, which can lead to continuous improvements and transparency of its code base.
  • Zero bottlenecks
    Traffic flows directly between peers, eliminating the latency and bandwidth limits caused by routing through a central gateway.
  • Multi-Tenant Management for MSPs
    Manage all customer networks securely from one unified dashboard

Possible disadvantages of NetBird

  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    The performance of NetBird can be hindered by poor or unstable internet connections, potentially impacting network speed and reliability.
  • Potential Learning Curve
    While the setup is generally user-friendly, users without prior experience in networking may encounter a learning curve when navigating certain advanced features or integrations.
  • Limited Support Resources
    As a relatively new or niche solution, NetBird might not have an extensive library of support resources, tutorials, or community forums compared to more established networking tools.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Although NetBird is cross-platform, there could be occasional compatibility issues with specific hardware or software configurations that require troubleshooting.
  • Resource Intensity
    Running NetBird's security protocols can consume considerable system resources, which might be a concern for users with older or less powerful devices.

Code42 features and specs

  • Comprehensive Data Protection
    Code42 offers extensive data backup and recovery solutions, ensuring that user data is protected against loss or accidental deletion.
  • Real-Time Backup
    The platform provides real-time and continuous backups, minimizing data loss by ensuring the latest data is always protected.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Code42 supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility for diverse IT environments.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for users with limited technical knowledge.
  • Strong Security Measures
    Code42 implements robust encryption both in transit and at rest, ensuring that user data remains secure and confidential.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale with business growth, from small businesses to large enterprises, providing tailored solutions as needs evolve.
  • Centralized Management
    Administrators can manage and monitor all backups from a central dashboard, simplifying oversight and ensuring compliance with company policies.

Possible disadvantages of Code42

  • Cost
    Code42 can be expensive, especially for small businesses or startups that may have limited IT budgets.
  • Bandwidth Consumption
    Real-time backups can sometimes use significant bandwidth, potentially affecting other network activities if not managed properly.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down older or less powerful systems during backup operations.
  • Complexity in Large Deployments
    While scalable, large enterprise deployments may require significant time and expertise to set up and manage effectively.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    Currently, Code42 offers limited functionality on mobile devices compared to its desktop application.

NetBird videos

Get Started with NetBird: Build your Secure P2P Overlay Network

More videos:

  • Tutorial - NEW Netbird Control Center - Remote Access, Beautifully Visualized
  • Demo - NetBird Explained: Architecture for Simple and Secure Remote Access

Code42 videos

Introducing Code42 Next-Gen Data Loss Protection

More videos:

  • Review - MACOM Protects IP from Insider Threats with Code42 and Splunk
  • Review - You asked. We answered with Code42 CrashPlan 5.0

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NetBird and Code42)
VPN
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud VPN
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing NetBird and Code42.

What makes your product unique?

NetBird's answer

NetBird is unique because it creates direct, peer-to-peer encrypted connections using WireGuardยฎ, removing the bottlenecks of traditional VPNs. Itโ€™s open-source and self-hostable, giving full control and transparency to users. With identity-based access control and seamless IdP integration, it fully embraces Zero Trust principles. Its decentralized, high-performance architecture ensures scalability, resilience, and simplicity for modern, distributed teams and for MSPs.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

NetBird's answer

Choose NetBird for its peer-to-peer WireGuardยฎ architecture that delivers faster, more resilient connections without VPN bottlenecks. Itโ€™s open-source and self-hostable, giving you full transparency and control over your network. With built-in Zero Trust, IdP integration, and simple management, NetBird combines security, speed, and ease of use better than traditional VPNs.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

NetBird's answer

NetBird serves anyone who wants to securely connect devices, users, and applications anywhere in the world without the complexity of traditional VPNs.

Itโ€™s built for DevOps engineers, IT and security professionals, and MSPs managing distributed infrastructure across cloud, hybrid, or on-prem environments.

User comments

Share your experience with using NetBird and Code42. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare NetBird and Code42

NetBird Reviews

Self Hosting Like Its 2025
If youโ€™re familiar with Tailscale, youโ€™ll find yourself at ease with NetBird. It acts as a VPN server that handles a WireGuard network on your behalf, significantly reducing complexity. You have the option to self-host or take advantage of their generous free tier on the cloud.
Source: kiranet.org

Code42 Reviews

Best Nessus Alternatives (Free and Paid) for 2021
Code42โ€™s Threat and Vulnerability Management software monitors for vulnerabilities on an on-going basis. It also conducts monthly internal as well as external vulnerability scans using industry-recognized top-notch vulnerability scanning tools. Identified vulnerabilities are evaluated, documented, and remediated to avoid any potential risk of the data breach.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NetBird seems to be a lot more popular than Code42. While we know about 19 links to NetBird, we've tracked only 1 mention of Code42. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

NetBird mentions (19)

  • How I Ditched Datadog and Built a Self-Hosted Monitoring Stack on a $5 VPS
    NetBird creates a WireGuard mesh between your machines. The key feature is Network Routing โ€” one peer acts as a gateway for a whole subnet. So your monitoring stack lives on 172.19.0.0/16, and any connected peer can reach Grafana at http://172.19.0.3:3000 without exposing anything to the internet. - Source: dev.to / 24 days ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2026)
    NetBird | Berlin, Germany | ONSITE & Remote for some roles | Full-time | https://netbird.io We build open source secure remote access for teams and infrastructure. 25k+ stars, Series A. Our mission: make secure connectivity simple and accessible for everyone. Looking for people excited about the product, startup pace, and growth. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Budget Friendly ISO27001/SOC2 Compliant Environments for AWS
    Some Cloud Native tools have appeared to replace both SSH access and VPNs, among them it is worth mentioning Netbird and Teleport. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Tailscale Peer Relays is now generally available
    Https://netbird.io/ is open source, with a freemium hosted option. Works for us and I find it easier to configure than tailscale for routing rules. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Tailscale Peer Relays is now generally available
    > Also, sometimes it seems like I get rate limited on Tailscale. As I understand it if everything is working properly you should end up with a peer to peer wireguard connection after initial connection using tailscales infrastructure. ie, there should be nothing to rate limit. There are exceptions depending on your network environment where you need one of the relays noted in this post. As for opensource... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
View more

Code42 mentions (1)

  • Looking for the best cloud backup for all my files
    It's not a big surprise, given that Code42 (the parent company) pretends they have nothing to do with Crashplan. They've done a massive pivot to some kind of security company, with ZERO references to the OG product of Crashplan on code42.com, which (I'm guessing) is the bulk of their revenue. If you do a site search on google, you'll find some old links, but they just push you over to crashplan.com. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing NetBird and Code42, you can also consider the following products

TailScale - Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.

Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Fully protect your data with the comprehensive detection technologies and unified policies of Symantec's industry leading Data Loss Prevention (DLP).

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

Microsoft BitLocker - BitLocker is a full disk encryption feature included with Windows Vista and later.

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel

Paubox - Paubox provides HIPAA compliant email encryption without the hassle of extra steps.