NetBird

NetBird connects users and machines through peer-to-peer, WireGuard-based encrypted networking. It is available as NetBird Cloud or can be self-hosted on an organization’s own infrastructure. Its hybrid access model includes advanced administration controls for grouping, DNS, private nameservers, and API-based configuration. Identity features include SSO, MFA, periodic re-authentication, and identity-provider MFA settings. Device posture policies can check firewall, antivirus, geography, and network location.

Teams can provision users and groups from an identity provider and organize them around teams and infrastructure. Integrations include Okta, Microsoft, Google, MDM, EDR, and SIEM platforms. NetBird logs configuration changes and connection events, with SIEM streaming. Its free plan covers up to 5 users and 100 machines. Team costs €6/user/mo and Business costs €12/user/mo; billing counts users and machines that connect or log in at least once during the billing period. Team and Business include a free trial. Enterprise has custom pricing, and the BSD-3 license permits self-hosting.

NetBird combines encrypted networking with identity, posture, and administration controls, and offers both hosted and self-hosted deployment. Review the tier limits and billing rule to determine which plan fits your team’s usage.

NetBird may suit teams that need encrypted connections among users and machines, with cloud or self-hosted deployment. Its identity controls, device posture policies, and administration tools may fit organizations that need centralized access management.

NetBird is encrypted network access software for teams connecting people, devices, and infrastructure. It suits organizations that need identity and device policies across a mixed fleet, especially those prepared to manage their own deployment. Its combination of self-hosting and advanced controls is compelling, though the free tier and machine quotas make plan fit important.

Overview

NetBird pairs peer-to-peer connections using WireGuard-based networking and encryption with centralized identity and administration. Teams can use NetBird Cloud or host it on their own infrastructure; its permissive BSD-3 license supports that self-managed option. The flexibility is useful for organizations with infrastructure staff, but self-hosting also means owning that deployment. For teams that only need straightforward network access, NetBird’s policy and administration breadth may be more than they need.

Its access model is hybrid, with advanced administrative controls, site-to-site networking, and audit logging. NetBird displays GDPR, ISO 27001, and DORA, a relevant signal for organizations evaluating security requirements.

Key features

Identity controls include SSO, MFA, periodic re-authentication, and identity-provider MFA settings. Users and groups can be provisioned from an identity provider and arranged by team and infrastructure, making access administration better suited to managed organizations than to informal device sharing.

Device posture policies can check firewall and antivirus status, geography, and network location. These checks let administrators account for device and connection context, though their value depends on teams maintaining policies that match their needs.

Centralized administration covers grouping, DNS, private nameservers, and API-based configuration. Integrations span Okta, Microsoft, Google, MDM, EDR, and SIEM platforms. NetBird also logs network configuration changes and connection traffic events, with SIEM streaming; this gives security teams a useful activity trail, while the level of support ranges from community help to ticketing, standard, and priority options.

Pricing

The Free plan costs €0.00 per billed user per month and includes up to 5 users and 100 machines. That is a meaningful starting allowance for a small team, but the user and machine caps constrain broader rollouts.

Team costs €6.00 per billed user per month and includes unlimited users, 100 machines plus 10 per user. Business costs €12.00 per billed user per month with the same stated user and machine allowance. Both paid plans offer a free trial. Since the listed capacity is the same, the choice between Team and Business should turn on which plan’s support and other terms fit the organization; support spans community, ticketing, standard, and priority levels.

Enterprise uses custom pricing and includes unlimited users and machines, making it the tier to consider when the paid plans’ machine allowance is insufficient. For paid plans, a user or machine is charged if it connects or logs in at least once during the billing period, so billing follows active use rather than simply the number of accounts or devices provisioned.

Platforms

NetBird supports Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, tvOS, Docker, and routers. The range covers desktop and mobile systems as well as infrastructure and network devices, which suits teams with a varied fleet.

Who it's for

NetBird is a strong fit for organizations that need encrypted access alongside identity-provider provisioning, posture checks, site-to-site networking, and centralized policy. Self-hosting and API configuration are especially relevant to teams that want control over deployment and administration. Small groups can start free, while teams planning to add users or machines should account for the caps and active-use billing rule. It is less compelling for people seeking only basic VPN access without a need for central policy management.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Cloud and self-hosted deployment options, backed by a permissive BSD-3 license, give infrastructure teams flexibility over where NetBird runs.
• Pro: SSO, MFA, posture checks, site-to-site networking, and SIEM streaming bring identity, device, and network oversight into one system.
• Pro: Broad support for operating systems, Docker, and routers suits mixed environments.
• Con: Free use is capped at 5 users and 100 machines, limiting how far a team can grow without a paid plan.
• Con: Paid plans charge for users and machines that connect or log in during the billing period, so active devices affect the bill.
• Con: Team and Business list the same user and machine allowance, leaving capacity alone with little to distinguish their prices.

Alternatives

Cloudflare Access is another freemium option, with a free plan for under 50 users and a listed Pay-as-you-go plan at $7 a month; consider it if that user threshold better matches your needs.

Twingate offers a free Starter plan for up to 5 users and includes 50 resources, peer-to-peer connections, split tunneling, and conditional access; it may suit a small team whose needs align with that allowance.

Bowtie Private Access has a free Basic plan with limits of 3 users, 2 devices per user, and 2 controllers, alongside a Zero Trust Policy Engine, always-on agent, Smart DNS, and SSO authentication; consider it when those caps and features fit the deployment.

Cloudflare Gateway offers a free plan for 50 users with up to 24 hours of standard log retention, plus a listed Pay-as-you-go plan at $7 a month; it may fit teams prioritizing that free user limit and retention window.

OpenVPN CloudConnexa has a Starter plan with 5 seats included and an Essential plan at $7 a month; consider it if those seat and price terms suit your requirements.

Genians ZTNA is a paid option with a free plan and trial, and its Professional Edition includes policy enforcement and compliance features; consider it for those stated priorities.

Menlo Security Secure Cloud Browser uses custom pricing that varies by products and users; consider it when its product-based licensing approach is a fit.

Sangfor EasyConnect is a paid option; consider it as another network access product to compare.

For broader comparisons, browse Zero Trust Network Access Software and Business VPN Software.

Verdict

NetBird is a strong choice for teams that want encrypted networking with identity, device posture, and administration controls, plus the option to self-host. Its main appeal is the breadth of control across users, machines, and infrastructure; its main drawback is that free and paid plans have machine limits, and active-use billing affects cost. Choose it when those controls justify managing the system and its capacity. Look elsewhere if basic connectivity is enough or your usage would outgrow the listed allowances.