The ZeroTier Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ZeroTier in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ZeroTier
The Insider’s Guide
Peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices, servers and sites
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from ZeroTier’s own pages.
Made by ZeroTier, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ZeroTier’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ZeroTier’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade
ZeroTier builds private virtual networks on top of existing infrastructure. Devices join a network with a cryptographic identity and connect to each other peer-to-peer where possible, which suits reaching home machines, linking servers across clouds and running small VPN or SD-WAN setups. A free Personal plan covers 10 devices, and paid plans add a commercial license.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ZeroTier, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You create a network, join each device and manage rules, which takes some setting up.
- 1
Best for peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices
ZeroTier joins devices into a virtual network, with a free Personal plan for non-commercial use.
- 2
Paid plans start at $18 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $18 per month for 10 devices.
- 3
There is a free plan
Personal plan: free for non-commercial use, with 10 devices, one network and one network admin.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
Virtual networks across sites and clouds
Private networks that span public clouds, data centers, on-premises machines and remote devices, without proprietary hardware.
- 6
Peer-to-peer connections
Devices connect directly to each other whenever possible, with traffic encrypted end to end and policy enforced at every endpoint.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 11 of 35
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace ZeroTier you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
ZeroTier at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $18 per month for 10 devices
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- ZeroTier, Inc.
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices
ZeroTier joins devices into a virtual network, with a free Personal plan for non-commercial use. It shows no remote screen, Personal stops at 10 devices and one network, and business use starts at $18 a month for 10 devices with only community support.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Essential 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 | B | Personal 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 | C | Virtual 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 | C | No store rating on record. You create a network, join each device and manage rules, which takes some setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with an API on Essential and above. No web client is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ZeroTier is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Hobbyists linking a few home devices at no cost
- Small companies that need a simple VPN-style network between offices and servers
- Service providers and developers running many networks
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$18
A month to start. There is a free plan too
ZeroTier has a free plan. Paid plans start at $18 per month for 10 devices.
One person could live on it, until the device count or work use gets in the way.
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.
Enterprise
Custom
Sized for 500 or more devices, with self-hosted and air-gapped options, 90-day audit logs and priority support. Sold through sales.
The free plan
Personal plan: free for non-commercial use, with 10 devices, one network and one network admin.
Read from zerotier.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices, servers and sites. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: end-to-end encrypted, public API, vPN.
Virtual networks, peer-to-peer links, access control, UI, CLI and API.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
ZeroTier is made by ZeroTier, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/35
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
ZeroTier's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 19 of 35) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $18 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 14 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 10 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 36 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ZeroTier’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 35
- BFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 35
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 35
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 35
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 35
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 remote desktop apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ZeroTier is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace ZeroTier you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 16 of the 35 other remote desktop apps grade higher. It costs $216 a year.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- An API that other software can build on.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: single sign-on.
What this rests on. ZeroTier’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Tailscale, NoMachine, MeshCentral, RustDesk and TeamViewer
The 5 tools ZeroTier is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Tailscale
Free plan · from $8/mo
Private network that links your devices, servers and teams.
- Tailscale is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
NoMachine
Free trial · from $24.50/yr
Self-hosted remote desktop sold as yearly server subscriptions.
- ZeroTier has a free plan. NoMachine does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NoMachine lists a web app.
- ZeroTier is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
MeshCentral
Free
Self-hosted open-source remote device management site.
- Only ZeroTier lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only MeshCentral lists a web app.
- ZeroTier is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
RustDesk
Free plan · from $11.88/mo
Open-source remote desktop you can run on your own server.
- Only RustDesk lists a web app.
- ZeroTier is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- RustDesk is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
TeamViewer
Free plan · from $619.99/yr
Remote access and IT support, free for personal use only.
- Only TeamViewer lists a web app.
- ZeroTier also covers vPN.
- TeamViewer also covers remote desktop.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ZeroTier free?
ZeroTier has a free plan. Personal plan: free for non-commercial use, with 10 devices, one network and one network admin.
How much does ZeroTier cost?
ZeroTier lists 4 plans. Personal: $0.
What platforms does ZeroTier work on?
ZeroTier is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is ZeroTier open source?
ZeroTier is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Is ZeroTier end-to-end encrypted?
ZeroTier describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does ZeroTier have an API?
Yes. ZeroTier offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes ZeroTier?
ZeroTier is made by ZeroTier, Inc.
What are the alternatives to ZeroTier?
The closest alternatives to ZeroTier in our directory are Tailscale, NoMachine, MeshCentral, RustDesk and TeamViewer.
How does ZeroTier compare with other remote desktop apps?
ZeroTier's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 11 of the 35 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is ZeroTier good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ZeroTier C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $18 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 14 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of ZeroTier?
To replace ZeroTier you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ZeroTier’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ZeroTier's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ZeroTier, Inc. Prices change, so check zerotier.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ZeroTier, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zerotier
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ZeroTier: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zerotier
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zerotier/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after ZeroTier, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 36 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- Jump Desktop Insider's GuideRemote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan3.2 GPA
- Moonlight Insider's GuideOpen-source client for streaming PC games to other devices3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ZeroTier’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ZeroTier is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ZeroTier, Inc. Prices and plans change: check zerotier.com before you buy.