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Headscale

An open-source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale coordination server.

Open sourceSelf-hostableVPN services
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About Headscale

Headscale replaces the one part of Tailscale that is normally hosted: the coordination server that hands out keys, tracks devices and distributes network maps. You run Headscale on your own server and point the official Tailscale clients at it, so devices still get direct WireGuard connections, but no third party knows which machines are in your network. It is aimed at individuals and small organisations, and the maintainers are clear that it targets a single tailnet rather than every Tailscale feature at enterprise scale. Setup involves running a binary or container, configuring DNS and OIDC login if wanted, and managing users from the command line or a third-party web UI. It is free and open source under the BSD licence. It suits self-hosters and privacy-minded home-lab users who like Tailscale's clients but want to own the control plane.

Best for: Self-hosters who want Tailscale's clients without a hosted control server.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Works with the official Tailscale clients
  • No third party sees your device list
  • Free and open source

Why people leave

  • No official web interface
  • Lags behind some newer Tailscale features
  • You maintain and secure the server yourself

Top Headscale alternatives

See all 7
  1. 1Tailscale logo
    Tailscale

    The hosted original, with less to maintain and every feature.

    66.5
  2. 2NetBird logo
    NetBird

    Fully open-source mesh with its own clients and a web dashboard.

    62.6
  3. 3Nebula logo
    Nebula

    Self-run overlay network with certificate-based identity.

    59.6
  4. 4wg-easy logo
    wg-easy

    Simpler hub-and-spoke WireGuard server with a web UI.

    57.2
  5. 5Netmaker logo
    Netmaker

    Self-hostable WireGuard mesh with its own web UI and kernel WireGuard, for those who want a full stack rather than a Tailscale server.

    55.3

Why people left Headscale

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Headscale: common questions

Is Headscale free?

Yes. Headscale is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is Headscale open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at juanfont/headscale. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does Headscale run on?

Headscale is available for Self-hosted and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to Headscale?

The highest-ranked Headscale alternatives right now are Tailscale, NetBird and Nebula. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 7 Headscale alternatives