Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NetBird VS zrok

Compare NetBird VS zrok and see what are their differences

NetBird logo NetBird

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

zrok logo zrok

Next-generation sharing platform built on top of OpenZiti
  • NetBird Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • zrok Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09

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.

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.

zrok features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    zrok offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Secure Data Transmission
    zrok ensures secure data transfer through end-to-end encryption, providing users with peace of mind regarding data privacy and security.
  • Scalability
    zrok is designed to handle varying scales of data traffic, making it suitable for both small businesses and larger enterprises.

Possible disadvantages of zrok

  • Limited Customization
    zrok may offer fewer customization options compared to some competitors, which can be limiting for users with specific or advanced needs.
  • Learning Curve
    While user-friendly, zrok may still require some initial learning for users unfamiliar with network and data management tools.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    As with many online services, the performance and reliability of zrok are dependent on a stable internet connection, which can be a drawback in areas with poor connectivity.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NetBird and zrok)
VPN
61 61%
39% 39
Localhost Tools
22 22%
78% 78
Cloud VPN
100 100%
0% 0
Testing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

NetBird Reviews

Self Hosting Like Its 2025
If you’re familiar with Tailscale, you’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

zrok Reviews

We have no reviews of zrok yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, zrok should be more popular than NetBird. It has been mentiond 80 times since March 2021. 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 (12)

  • Tailscale Is Pretty Useful
    Open source alternative: https://netbird.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Tailscale Is Pretty Useful
    Probably the closest to tailscale, optionally selfhosted, and using wireguard meshing would be https://netbird.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Accessing GitHub Action runners using Netbird
    Recently I've been looking at VPN solutions, specifically ones built around WireGuard, that take away some of the manual steps required to manage a large scale deployment. After building proof of concept solutions with several of these offers, I settled on NetBird. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • The New Internet
    Or https://netbird.io which is open-source. You can host the coordination server too :). - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • AWS Lambda Serverless Security. Mistakes, Oversights, and Potential Vulnerabilities
    The best way to securely connect your functions to your other resources is with an encrypted mesh network like NetBird. NetBird lets you link your infrastructure together using a zero-config private WireGuard network that works across cloud, serverless, and on-premise infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
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zrok mentions (80)

  • Mycoria is an open and secure overlay network that connects all participants
    How does this compare to zrok (https://zrok.io/)? Looking forward to experimenting, though I'm a little worried as it sounds like it's not private by default. - Source: Hacker News / 3 days ago
  • Tailscale Is Pretty Useful
    Thanks for the feedback, tons in there. - Agreed. OpenZiti is not trying to focus on indie hosts. It has the goal to completely transform how networking and connectivity are done, to make secure by default and a simple user experience the de facto standard. - Our path to do this definitely depends on monetising enterprise rather than indiehosters. That said, you can build abstractions on OpenZiti, which are much... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Tailscale Is Pretty Useful
    For replacing port forwarding, OpenZiti definitely works. zrok, which is built on top of OpenZiti, could also be a great option for sharing resources - https://zrok.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: What's your app idea that you don't have the time or motivation to build
    Sounds like ngrok SDKs (https://ngrok.com/categories/sdks), but its closed source so I guess falls foul of your 3rd party solution comment. Another option could be zrok (https://zrok.io/), which is an alternative that is open source, and also includes SDKs - https://blog.openziti.io/the-zrok-sdk. I work on its parent project, OpenZiti, which also may fit your idea. Either way, its a programmatic way to embed... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Launch HN: Firezone (YC W22) – Zero-trust access platform built on WireGuard
    Through OpenZiti into the mix too - https://openziti.io/. Its open source and was designed from the ground up with zero trust, SDN, and deny-by-default principles. It also includes SDKs to allow developers to embed ZTN as part of the SDLC. We also built zrok (https://zrok.io/) on top of it, as a demonstration of a 'ziti-native' app, and being a better Ngrok. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

Pinggy.io - Public URLs for localhost without downloading any binary

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.

ngrok - ngrok enables secure introspectable tunnels to localhost webhook development tool and debugging tool.

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

Netmaker - Netmaker automates mesh VPN's and software-defined networks using WireGuard.