Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VirtualBox VS ZeroTier

Compare VirtualBox VS ZeroTier and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

VirtualBox logo VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as...

ZeroTier logo ZeroTier

Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN
  • VirtualBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17
  • ZeroTier Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-29

VirtualBox features and specs

  • Open Source
    VirtualBox is open-source software, which means it is freely available for personal and commercial use. Users can access and modify the source code, enhancing flexibility and customization.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    VirtualBox supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris, making it highly versatile and suitable for various environments.
  • Ease of Use
    VirtualBox offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for both beginners and experienced users to create and manage virtual machines.
  • Snapshot Feature
    VirtualBox allows users to take snapshots of their virtual machines, enabling them to save the current state and revert back to it if necessary, which is useful for testing and debugging.
  • Guest Additions
    VirtualBox provides Guest Additions that enhance the performance and usability of guest operating systems. Features include shared folders, clipboard sharing, and improved graphics performance.

Possible disadvantages of VirtualBox

  • Performance Overhead
    VirtualBox may introduce performance overhead compared to running software directly on physical hardware. This can affect the speed and responsiveness of the virtual machines.
  • Limited 3D Graphics Support
    The 3D graphics support in VirtualBox is not as robust as some other virtualization solutions, which may be a limitation for users requiring heavy graphical applications.
  • Lack of Enterprise-Level Features
    While VirtualBox is suitable for personal and small-scale use, it may lack some advanced features and scalability options required for large enterprise environments.
  • Complex Network Setup
    Setting up complex networking configurations in VirtualBox can be challenging and may require additional knowledge and effort.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running multiple virtual machines in VirtualBox can be resource-intensive, potentially leading to system slowdowns if the host machine does not have sufficient CPU and memory resources.

ZeroTier features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    ZeroTier is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, enabling connectivity across devices with different operating systems.
  • Ease of Use
    Setting up a ZeroTier network is relatively simple, often requiring just a few clicks to get devices connected securely.
  • High Performance
    ZeroTier offers low latency and high throughput, making it suitable for a variety of applications including gaming, file sharing, and real-time communications.
  • Security
    ZeroTier provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that data transmitted over the network is secure from interception and unauthorized access.
  • Scalability
    The service scales well from small home networks to large enterprise environments, allowing for flexible network size and complexity.
  • Cost-Effective
    ZeroTier offers a free tier with robust features along with affordable paid plans, making it accessible for personal use and small to medium-sized businesses.

Possible disadvantages of ZeroTier

  • Complexity for Advanced Configurations
    While basic setup is straightforward, advanced configurations may require more technical expertise and understanding of networking principles.
  • Dependency on Cloud Service
    ZeroTier's functionality partially relies on its cloud service components, which could be a potential point of failure or concern for those requiring full on-premises solutions.
  • Usage Limits on Free Tier
    The free tier has limitations on the number of nodes and network configurations, which may not be suitable for larger networks or advanced use cases.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there could be concerns regarding data privacy and control, despite ZeroTier's use of end-to-end encryption.
  • Limited Official Support for Free Users
    Users on the free plan have limited access to official support, which could be an issue if they encounter complex problems or need timely assistance.

Analysis of ZeroTier

Overall verdict

  • Yes, ZeroTier is generally considered to be a good option for creating virtual private networks.

Why this product is good

  • ZeroTier offers a robust platform for building software-defined networks without the need for VPN appliances or hardware. It is praised for its ease of use, scalability, and the ability to connect various devices across different locations seamlessly. Users appreciate its cross-platform support, low latency, and strong security features, making it suitable for both personal and professional use. Its open-source nature and active community support further enhance its reliability and appeal.

Recommended for

  • Remote teams needing secure and easy-to-setup network access.
  • Organizations looking for scalable networking solutions without heavy hardware investments.
  • Developers needing to connect IoT devices securely across different networks.
  • Individuals seeking an alternative to traditional VPN services for personal use.

VirtualBox videos

VirtualBox vs VMware Player - In-Depth Comparison on Ubuntu 18.04

More videos:

  • Review - Oracle VM VirtualBox Review (Real User: Erik Benner)
  • Tutorial - How to Use VirtualBox (Beginners Guide)

ZeroTier videos

ZeroTier VS VPN and A Look At The Data Stream With Wireshark

More videos:

  • Review - Introducing the ZeroTier Edge
  • Review - Talking about ZeroTier VPN!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VirtualBox and ZeroTier)
Cloud Computing
86 86%
14% 14
VPN
0 0%
100% 100
Virtualization
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using VirtualBox and ZeroTier. 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 VirtualBox and ZeroTier

VirtualBox Reviews

Best Alternatives of VirtualBox for Windows
I’m sure you can appreciate the irony in the name of this program, but this is also a very accurate description of what Portable-VirtualBox is. In essence, this free and open source program is VirtualBox and does not need to be installed, making it useful even if it is contained on a USB drive. Portable-VirtualBox works by virtually downloading and installing VirtualBox on...
10 Best VMware Alternatives and Similar Software
VirtualBox now supports a broad number of guest operating systems and operates on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris hosts. VirtualBox is constantly evolving, with regular patches and an ever-growing list of features, and it supports various OSs and platforms.
12 Best FREE Virtual Machine (VM) Software in 2020
VirtualBox is an open-source hypervisor for x86 computers. This tool supports the creation and management of virtual machines. It runs on Windows, Linux, BSD, and others.
Source: www.guru99.com
What are the Top Most Open Source Virtualization Software?
VirtualBox provides full virtualization for any operating system to run in a virtual environment with all the software installed within, abstracted from the existing operating system.
7 VirtualBox Alternatives You Can Consider
There are lots of virtualization software out there that let you run multiple applications from different platforms in the same hardware. One of them is VirtualBox by Oracle Corporation. VirtualBox is an open source and freeware that lets users create a virtual environment to run a different operating system on the same machine. It runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Solaris....

ZeroTier Reviews

Top Hamachi Alternatives for Virtual LAN Gaming in 2023
ZeroTier has fewer restrictions on this app. Also, it supports almost all operating systems. It has its own Android and iOS mobile applications. It not just offers VPN services but also provides SDN. The community of ZeroTier is huge; if you ever get stuck with your app or the LAN party, a community will always be able to help you out.
Best Free Hamachi Alternatives For You To Try in 2022
ZeroTier is the close second of the hamachi alternatives. The best trait of the tool is that instead of Windows, you can use ZeroTier on Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux devices. Single software to meet all your VPN needs on different devices and platforms. The tool is quite smart and is not at all like the traditional VPN tools.
15 Best Hamachi Alternatives for Gaming in Virtual LAN (Latest 2021)
ZeroTier creates a safe & secure network between computers, cloud, and mobile devices through its P2P functionality.
Source: growtechy.com
The 10 Best Open Source VPN Apps
According to the makers themselves, ZeroTier is a network hypervisor that allows users to create a virtual network. Accordingly, referring to ZeroTier as simply a VPN client would be an injustice to it. Users who are just looking for a VPN can also opt for this open-source software. Using this software, you won’t have to worry about different websites accessing your location...
11 Best Hamachi Alternatives for Virtual LAN Gaming
ZeroTier also supports almost all operating systems and also has its own Android and iOS mobile applications. It not just offers VPN services but also provides SDN. ZeroTier has a huge community and you won’t have to worry if you get into any trouble while setting up your LAN party. It offers low ping and even though it’s a VPN client it’s useful to setup Virtual LAN parties.

Social recommendations and mentions

ZeroTier might be a bit more popular than VirtualBox. We know about 35 links to it since March 2021 and only 32 links to VirtualBox. 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.

VirtualBox mentions (32)

  • Barbie Secret Agent game for Mac
    Also, if your sister has an Intel Mac instead of an M1 Mac, I highly suggest VirtualBox and setting up something like Windows XP on that instead of Windows 11-- the steps will be pretty similar, and VirtualBox is free. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is virtualbox.org down?
    I am unable to reach any page within the virtualbox.org domain including forums, but I can't find any post online about others having this issue. Is there a known problem at virtualbox.org or should I look locally? I usually get the error 502 - Bad Gateway. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Multipass: Ubuntu Virtual Machines Made Easy
    Some of these tools include Oracle VM VirtualBox (that I've used since before the acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle), VMWare Workstation Player, and QEMU, but last year, I found out about Multipass. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Can I use a Mac?
    You can use a Mac, then use Parallels or Virtual Box for any virtual machines you might need(I prefer Parallels). There are Educational versions of Windows amongst other Microsoft products available to you through NJIT. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Will anyone continue on debian 11?
    I thought Debian doesn't have VB packages? Or are you the talking about the ones from http://virtualbox.org web site? Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

ZeroTier mentions (35)

  • Setup a Local Wifi Lan
    If you just want to connect between your devices, you don't need any hardware. Just install zerotier on them. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Father and Son family time not working :( LAN or Portforwarding hosting server on same network not working
    Hi there, I've tried hosting a server on my computer and then both my Dad and I try to play together. However, it's only worked once or twice when I hosted from playtogether.gg or when it worked once with the zerotier.com method. I've portforwarded, I've made sure both our firewalls were allowing 10578, nothing seems to work. We both have Skyrim Together fully installed on our SSE, and we just want it to work :(... Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm speechless for services like Tailscale, what's the downside?
    I lived under a rock, and only today I found a service called Tailscale.com . I think other provider offers the same thing, one alternative seems to be zerotier.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Lab simulators
    I set up EVE-ng on a google cloud VM. Then immediately the question was how do I get access to the lab equip? I found this video explaining how to set up a virtual nic on the eve-ng VM, connect that to a cloud network in eve-ng, then connect mgmt interfaces from your devices to that. Then he used zerotier.com to setup a quick ssl vpn. Now I can turn off all inbound access to the VM and access all my lab... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Cheap and cheerful router with block list?
    I prefer Routerboard with arm cpu, because it support running ZeroTier and docker containers. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing VirtualBox and ZeroTier, you can also consider the following products

VMware Workstation - VMware Workstation is a multiple operating system handler to easily evaluate the any other type of new operating systems.

Hamachi - Hamachi is a VPN service scaled to the unique needs of business owners.

QEMU - QEMU (short for "Quick EMUlator") is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that...

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.

Proxmox VE - Proxmox is an open-source server virtualization management solution that offers the ability to manage virtual server technology with the Linux OpenVZ and KVM technology.

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN