Defguard vs WireGuard UI
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Defguard
WireGuard VPN and identity platform with MFA
VS
WireGuard UI
Web interface for managing WireGuard configurations
| Feature | Defguard | WireGuard UI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,798 | ★ 5,137 |
| First released | 2023 | 2020 |
| Replaces | OpenVPN Access Server, Twingate | OpenVPN Access Server |
Why pick each one
Choose Defguard if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Rust
Choose WireGuard UI if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.1k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Defguard or WireGuard UI better?
WireGuard UI is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Defguard if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Defguard and WireGuard UI free and open-source?
Yes. Defguard is licensed under Apache-2.0 and WireGuard UI under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Defguard and WireGuard UI with Docker?
Defguard: yes. WireGuard UI: yes.