Netmaker Review
Netmaker runs kernel WireGuard rather than a userspace implementation, so it is the fastest mesh in this group. It expects Linux fluency in return.
Review last updated 2026-08-20 · How we rate providers
Scorecard
Pros
- Uses kernel WireGuard, so throughput is the highest of any mesh product here
- Open source and self-hostable with unlimited devices
- Kubernetes and multi-cloud networking are first-class use cases
- Egress and relay gateways give fine control over routing
Cons
- Linux-centric and clearly aimed at infrastructure engineers
- Client platform support is narrower than Tailscale or NetBird
- Smaller community and less documentation
- Managed tier costs more than comparable competitors
Privacy, jurisdiction & audits
Who the company answers to legally, what it keeps, and whether anyone independent has checked.
| Legal jurisdiction | United States in the 5 EyesSelf-hosting removes the dependency on any hosted control plane. |
|---|---|
| Logging policy | Not a privacy service; operational logs by design |
| Independent audits | None published |
| RAM-only servers | - |
| Warrant canary | - |
| Anonymous payment | Card / PayPal only |
Netmaker plans & pricing
Advertised rates as of August 20, 2026. VPN promo rates normally require the prepaid term shown and renew at the higher rate; proxy pricing falls with volume. Confirm on Netmaker's own site before buying.
| Plan | Price | Devices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community (self-hosted)Business VPN & ZTNA | Free | Unlimited | Open source, unlimited devices, you run it |
| ProfessionalBusiness VPN & ZTNA | $10/user/moper user, monthly | Managed control plane with SSO and support | |
| EnterpriseBusiness VPN & ZTNA | $18/user/moannual contract, quoted |
Features
Our Netmaker review
Netmaker builds WireGuard meshes using the kernel implementation rather than a userspace one, which shows up directly in throughput: on capable hardware it will saturate links that make userspace meshes work hard.
The natural use cases are infrastructure rather than laptops. Connecting Kubernetes clusters across clouds, joining VPC networks in different providers, building flat networks for distributed services, and doing it with configuration rather than clicks.
It is open source and self-hostable with unlimited devices in the community edition, and the managed tiers add SSO, support and a hosted control plane at $10 per user per month and up.
The rough edges are real. Documentation is thinner than Tailscale's, the client story on macOS and mobile is weaker, and the assumed operator is comfortable with Linux networking, systemd and iptables.
Where it fits, it fits very well: high-throughput site-to-site and cluster-to-cluster networking where the alternative is hand-managing WireGuard configuration files.
Choose Netmaker for infrastructure performance, Tailscale for user devices, NetBird if you want a balance with an EU control plane.
Notable facts
- Uses kernel-space WireGuard for maximum throughput
- Open source community edition with unlimited devices
- Designed around Kubernetes and multi-cloud networking
At a glance
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Alexandria, Virginia, US |
| Service types | Business VPN & ZTNA |
| Country coverage | 10 |
| Protocols | WireGuard (kernel) |
| Apps | Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Starting price | $10/user/mo |
| Free tier | Yes |
| Support | slack, email, knowledge-base |
Frequently asked questions
Why is kernel WireGuard faster?
It avoids copying packets between kernel and userspace, which cuts CPU overhead substantially at high throughput. On gigabit-plus links the difference is measurable.
Is Netmaker good for laptops?
It works, but client polish on macOS and mobile lags Tailscale and NetBird. Its strength is server and cluster networking.
Can I self-host it?
Yes, the community edition is open source with unlimited devices. The managed tiers add SSO, support and a hosted control plane.
Bottom line
Netmaker runs kernel WireGuard rather than a userspace implementation, so it is the fastest mesh in this group. It expects Linux fluency in return.
Check current Netmaker pricing →
