Pritunl vs ZeroTier (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ZeroTier grades higher than Pritunl: 2.4 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
ZeroTier grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pritunl
Self-hosted open-source VPN server for OpenVPN and WireGuard
ZeroTier
Peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices, servers and sites
Which one is for you
Pick Pritunl if
- Fits if you can run a Linux server and want your own VPN with no per-user fee
- Works for teams that sign in through Okta, Google Workspace or Duo
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as the install page lists Linux distributions only
- Pricey if you need SSO, failover or site-to-site links, which need Enterprise at $70 per host a month
- Watch out: servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also have to run
- Too light for phones without extra work, as the Pritunl Client covers macOS, Windows and Linux only
Pick ZeroTier if
- Fits if you have up to 10 devices at home and want them on one virtual network
- Works for developers who want an API and CLI to manage the network
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to see and control a remote screen, since it only connects devices
- Tight if you have more than 10 devices on the free plan, or want it for work, which needs a paid plan
- Pricey if you want a support ticket, as that starts at Scale, $179 a month, and Essential has community support only
- Watch out: devices past the included count cost $2.00 each on Essential and $1.80 on Scale every month
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAPritunlFair | 2.4GPAZeroTierFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree only if you host it yourself, which needs a server, so it sits at C. Premium is $10 per host a month and Enterprise $70. | CEssential is $18 a month for 10 devices, then $2.00 a device, which is in the upper half of what remote access tools charge ($4.17 to $28). Scale is $179 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe Community edition is free for one host with unlimited servers, users and devices, and needs no registration or card. | BPersonal is free for non-commercial use with 10 devices, one network and one admin. One person could live on it, until the device count or work use gets in the way. |
| Features | COpenVPN and WireGuard clients, a REST API and plugins are listed, but single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links are Enterprise only. | CVirtual networks, peer-to-peer links, access control, UI, CLI and API. The listing says it does not share a remote screen, so desktop access needs another tool on top. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You install the server on Linux and run MongoDB, which is a command-line job. | CNo store rating on record. You create a network, join each device and manage rules, which takes some setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CClient apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, with SSO through Okta, Google Workspace and others. Other devices use OpenVPN profiles. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with an API on Essential and above. No web client is listed. |
| Best for | a self-run VPN server for companies | peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Pritunl and ZeroTier. How we grade
Price against what you get
Pritunl starts at $10 a month for each person and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. ZeroTier starts at $18 a month and scores 2.3.
ZeroTier scores higher, and starts $8 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other remote desktop apps on the chart, 33 score higher than Pritunl for less, and 24 score higher than ZeroTier for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Pritunl is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- ZeroTier is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Pritunl | ZeroTier | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $10 per host / month | $18 per month for 10 devices |
| Free plan | Community edition: free for a single host, with unlimited servers, users and devices. | Personal plan: free for non-commercial use, with 10 devices, one network and one network admin. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Pritunl, Inc. | ZeroTier, Inc. |
| Price read from | pritunl.com | zerotier.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Pritunl
- You install and run the server yourself; the install page lists Linux distributions only.
- Single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links need Enterprise at $70 per host per month.
- Servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also need to run.
- The Pritunl Client is available for macOS, Windows and Linux only; other devices use OpenVPN profiles.
ZeroTier
- ZeroTier connects devices into a network; it does not share a remote screen, so desktop access needs a separate remote desktop or VNC tool on top.
- The Personal plan is limited to 10 devices, one network and non-commercial use.
- Essential includes community support only; ticketed support with an SLA starts at Scale, $179 per month.
- Devices beyond the included count are billed monthly, $2.00 each on Essential and $1.80 each on Scale.
Key features
Pritunl
- OpenVPN and WireGuard clients
- The server accepts any OpenVPN client, and the Pritunl Client for macOS, Windows and Linux handles both OpenVPN and WireGuard.
- Site-to-site links
- Pritunl Link joins networks over WireGuard or IPsec, with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Oracle Cloud and Hetzner named on the homepage.
- Single sign-on
- Enterprise supports SAML, Google, Duo Security and RADIUS; the SSO page also lists Okta and OneLogin.
- Failover and replication
- Servers share state through MongoDB and run as equal peers, so clients move to another node if one fails.
- Device authentication
- TPM and Apple Secure Enclave device authentication is offered, along with TOTP and push two-step sign-in.
- REST API and plugins
- A REST API automates user and server management, and a Python plugin system supports custom authentication.
ZeroTier
- Virtual networks across sites and clouds
- Private networks that span public clouds, data centers, on-premises machines and remote devices, without proprietary hardware.
- Peer-to-peer connections
- Devices connect directly to each other whenever possible, with traffic encrypted end to end and policy enforced at every endpoint.
- Identity-based access control
- Network behavior is set by policy tied to each node's cryptographic identity, with custom flow rules on the Scale plan.
- Management through UI, CLI and API
- Personal includes a CLI, a UI and webhooks. API access and OIDC single sign-on start on Essential.
- Broad client coverage
- The download page lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker, FreeBSD and NAS packages.
- Post-quantum option
- ZeroTier Quantum is a separate platform for regulated and air-gapped environments, scoped per deployment through sales.
Plans
Pritunl
Community$0
Free for a single host with unlimited VPN servers, users and devices. You host it yourself.
Premium$10
per host / month
Single host. Adds port forwarding, gateway links, Chromebook support, configuration sync and email user keys.
Enterprise$70
per host / month
Everything in Premium plus single sign-on, automatic failover, replicated servers and site-to-site links.
ZeroTier
Personal$0
Non-commercial use only. 10 devices, one network, one network admin, CLI, UI and webhooks, community support.
Essential$18
per month for 10 included devices, then $2.00 per extra device
Commercial license, 10 networks, five admins, API access, OIDC single sign-on and 30-day audit logs. Community support only.
Scale$179
per month for 100 included devices, then $1.80 per extra device
Everything in Essential plus unlimited networks, 10 network admins, custom flow rules and ticketed support with an SLA.
EnterpriseCustom
Sized for 500 or more devices, with self-hosted and air-gapped options, 90-day audit logs and priority support. Sold through sales.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pritunl or ZeroTier?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pritunl starts at $10 per host / month, and ZeroTier starts at $18 per month for 10 devices. One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Pritunl or ZeroTier?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Pritunl and ZeroTier have a free plan.
Which platforms do Pritunl and ZeroTier run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only ZeroTier lists iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.