n2n vs Netmaker
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | n2n | Netmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 93 · Excellent |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,018 | ★ 11,800 |
| First released | 2008 | 2021 |
| Replaces | ZeroTier, Hamachi | Tailscale, ZeroTier |
What are n2n and Netmaker?
n2n
n2n is an open-source layer-two peer-to-peer VPN that lets users build private encrypted networks across the internet. It uses a self-hosted supernode for peer discovery and NAT traversal.
- Layer-two VPN
- Peer-to-peer encryption
- Self-hosted supernode
- Cross-platform edges
Netmaker
Netmaker is an open-source platform for building and managing fast WireGuard-based virtual networks. It provides a self-hosted server and dashboard for connecting devices across locations.
- WireGuard mesh networks
- Self-hosted control server
- Web dashboard
- Site-to-site VPN
n2n vs Netmaker: key differences
N2n is written in C, while Netmaker is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for n2n versus Apache-2.0 for Netmaker. N2n is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Netmaker. N2n is the more established project (first released 2008), while Netmaker arrived in 2021. Netmaker lists first-class Docker deployment; n2n does not.
Why pick each one
Choose n2n if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 7k GitHub stars
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Netmaker if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is n2n or Netmaker better?
Neither is universally better. Netmaker has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are n2n and Netmaker free and open-source?
Yes. n2n is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Netmaker under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run n2n and Netmaker with Docker?
n2n: check the project docs for container support. Netmaker: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, n2n or Netmaker?
n2n has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Netmaker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.