Headscale vs Netbird
Self-host pick — both replace Tailscale (Mesh VPN / zero-config networking).
Both Headscale and Netbird self-host as a replacement for Tailscale (Mesh VPN / zero-config networking). Pick Headscale if you want the lighter footprint — 20min (single Go binary + reverse proxy), $5 vps — coordination only, traffic is peer-to-peer. Pick Netbird if you need teams who want a Tailscale-shaped product + web admin UI in one self-hosted package — 30min docker-compose (management + signal + relay) and $5-10 vps for the management plane.
| Headscaleopen-source | Netbirdopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-3-Clause |
| Setup time | 20min (single Go binary + reverse proxy) | 30min docker-compose (management + signal + relay) |
| Monthly cost | $5 VPS — coordination only, traffic is peer-to-peer. | $5-10 VPS for the management plane. |
| GitHub | juanfont/headscale | netbirdio/netbird |
| Replaces | Tailscale | Tailscale |
Good fit for
Headscale
Teams that already love Tailscale UX but don't want a SaaS dependency.
Weak at:No web admin UI in core — third-party UIs (headplane, headscale-ui) fill the gap.
Netbird
Teams who want a Tailscale-shaped product + web admin UI in one self-hosted package.
Weak at:Smaller community than Tailscale/Headscale.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli tailscale prints Tailscale's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Headscale or Netbird?
Headscale: 20min (single Go binary + reverse proxy). Netbird: 30min docker-compose (management + signal + relay).
What does each cost to run?
Headscale: $5 VPS — coordination only, traffic is peer-to-peer.. Netbird: $5-10 VPS for the management plane.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Headscale and Netbird replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Tailscale.