Netmaker
Zero trust networking platform powered by WireGuard
About Netmaker
Netmaker is an open-source networking platform by Gravitl that automates fast, secure, and distributed virtual networks using WireGuard. It enables organizations to create mesh VPNs, site-to-site connections, and remote access gateways across data centers, clouds, and edge devices with zero trust security.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source with a generous free community edition
- Leverages kernel WireGuard for maximum networking performance and security
- Highly flexible - supports mesh VPN, site-to-site, remote access, and Kubernetes networking
- Self-hosted option gives full control over data and infrastructure
- YC-backed (W22) with active development and community
- Cross-platform support including Linux, Windows, Mac, and Docker
Cons
- Some advanced features have been moved behind the Pro paywall over time
- Self-hosting requires networking knowledge and server management
- DNS configuration issues reported on newer Linux distributions like Ubuntu 24.04
- Steeper learning curve compared to simpler VPN solutions like Tailscale
- Community support only on the free tier
Key Features
WireGuard Mesh VPN
Create automated mesh VPN networks using kernel WireGuard for maximum speed and security
Zero Trust Access
Enforce zero trust network access policies with granular ACLs and identity-based controls
Egress & Ingress Gateways
Route traffic through designated gateways for secure access to external networks and resources
Remote Access Client
Desktop and mobile clients for secure remote access to private networks without full mesh participation
Site-to-Site Connectivity
Connect office locations, data centers, and cloud environments with encrypted tunnels
Private DNS
Create private domains for devices on the network with automatic multi-network DNS sync
Network Monitoring & Metrics
Track source/destination IPs, ports, protocols, and packet data with built-in monitoring dashboards
Failover & Relays
Automatic failover and relay nodes to maintain connectivity even when direct connections are unavailable
Interactive Network Graph
Visual network management with direct control of endpoints via an interactive topology graph
Multi-Platform Support
Deploy agents on Linux, Docker, Windows, and Mac or use standard WireGuard configuration files
Pricing
- Open source
- Unlimited personal use
- Core security features
- Community support
- Self-hosted
- Everything in Community
- Advanced ACLs
- Failover & relays
- Network monitoring
- Priority support
- Self-hosted
- Managed hosting
- Usage-based pricing
- Tiered connection rates
- No infrastructure management
- Automatic updates
- Everything in Pro
- Custom branding
- Dedicated support
- SLA guarantees
- Custom integrations
Best For
Secure Remote Access
Enable employees to securely access internal resources from anywhere using WireGuard-encrypted connections
Multi-Cloud Networking
Connect workloads across AWS, GCP, Azure, and on-premises data centers with automated mesh networking
IoT & Edge Device Management
Create secure overlay networks for IoT devices and edge computing nodes distributed across locations
Kubernetes Cluster Networking
Connect Kubernetes clusters across different environments with secure, low-latency WireGuard tunnels
Site-to-Site VPN Replacement
Replace traditional IPsec VPNs with faster, simpler WireGuard-based site-to-site connections
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Featured In
5 Best Cloud VPN & Network Security Tools for Businesses (2026)
Best for infrastructure teams building complex multi-cloud mesh networks — the most architecturally flexible option with kernel-level WireGuard performance and visual topology management
7 Best Open-Source Cybersecurity Tools for Small Teams (2026)
Best open-source mesh VPN for distributed infrastructure — connects servers, offices, and clouds with WireGuard encryption when you need machine-to-machine networking, not just user remote access.