Firezone vs ZeroTier
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Firezone
Open-source secure remote access platform
VS
ZeroTier
Global virtual network for connecting devices anywhere
| Feature | Firezone | ZeroTier |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | Apache-2.0 | BSL-1.1 |
| Language | Elixir | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,103 | ★ 17,125 |
| First released | 2021 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Cisco AnyConnect, Tailscale | Tailscale |
What are Firezone and ZeroTier?
Firezone
Firezone is a self-hosted secure remote access platform built on WireGuard, offering zero-trust network access with policy-based controls. It replaces traditional corporate VPNs.
- Zero-trust access policies
- WireGuard under the hood
- SSO integration
- Web admin portal
ZeroTier
ZeroTier creates secure virtual Ethernet networks that connect devices as if they were on the same LAN. The controller can be self-hosted for full control over your networks.
- Layer 2 virtual networks
- Self-hostable controller
- Cross-platform clients
- Peer-to-peer connectivity
Firezone vs ZeroTier: key differences
Firezone is written in Elixir, while ZeroTier is built with C++. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Firezone versus BSL-1.1 for ZeroTier. ZeroTier is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Firezone. ZeroTier is the more established project (first released 2014), while Firezone arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose Firezone if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Elixir
Choose ZeroTier if…
- Easy flat virtual networks
- Clients for every platform
- Self-hostable controller
Watch out for
- BSL license restrictions
- Controller setup involved
Frequently asked questions
Is Firezone or ZeroTier better?
Neither is universally better. ZeroTier has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Firezone and ZeroTier free and open-source?
Yes. Firezone is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ZeroTier under BSL-1.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Firezone and ZeroTier with Docker?
Firezone: yes. ZeroTier: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Firezone or ZeroTier?
ZeroTier has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Firezone. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.