NetBird
Open-source WireGuard mesh VPN with zero-trust access controls.
why this verdict
Keep paying — Anthropic has not replaced it
Anthropic's version overlaps, but does not finish the security job, so this one still earns its $9/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- Tailscale's dominant mindshare and cloud providers bundling zero-trust networking. Anthropic, November 4, 2025 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 3 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Tailscale, Headscale and ZeroTier.
- What the call is worth $108/yr
- $9/mo at the entry paid tier — $108 a year per seat.
- Threatened by
- Anthropic
- Since
- November 4, 2025
- List price
- $9/mo
- Per year
- $108
The backstory
NetBird builds peer-to-peer encrypted networking on WireGuard with policy-based access, which is the same shape as Tailscale but fully open source including the control plane. That distinction matters to exactly the organisations most likely to buy a VPN: those who cannot depend on a third party holding the coordination server. Competing with a beloved incumbent on features is hopeless, and competing on self-hostability is a real lane in security infrastructure.
Escape hatches
More polished with a much larger community
tailscale.com open_in_newOpen-source control server for Tailscale clients
headscale.net open_in_newLong-standing software-defined networking
zerotier.com open_in_new3 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.