Which mesh VPN is right for you?
ZeroTier uses a custom protocol with Layer 2 (Ethernet) virtualization, giving you more networking flexibility but with a larger codebase. It's been around since 2011 and targets enterprise multi-cloud environments.
Netrinos uses industry-standard WireGuard encryption, the same protocol trusted by Cloudflare, NordVPN, and Mullvad. Simpler, faster, and with a minimal attack surface. Netrinos focuses on ease of use for individuals and small teams.
Quick Comparison
| Netrinos | ZeroTier | |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | WireGuard (industry standard) | Custom protocol |
| Encryption | ChaCha20-Poly1305, Curve25519 | 256-bit ECC (custom) |
| Free tier | 1 user, 100 devices | 1 network, 10 devices |
| Paid (e.g. 10 users, 25 devices) | $10/month | $48/month |
| Performance | WireGuard (faster) | Custom protocol (slower) |
| Mobile apps | Coming soon | iOS, Android |
| Access control | Point-and-click, device-level | Flow rules (advanced) |
| Layer 2 support | No (Layer 3 only) | Yes |
| Setup complexity | Minimal | More network concepts |
Pricing Comparison
Netrinos
| Plan | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Free | 1 user, 100 devices, non-commercial |
| Pro | $10/month | 10 users, 100 devices, commercial use |
| Pro (scaled) | +$1/user | Each user adds 10 devices to pool |
ZeroTier
| Plan | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Free | 1 network, 10 devices, 1 admin |
| Essential | $18/month | 25 networks, 10 devices + $2/device |
| Scale | $179/month | Unlimited networks, 100 devices + $1.80/device |
| Enterprise | Custom | FIPS encryption, priority support |
Cost Examples
| Scenario | Netrinos | ZeroTier |
|---|---|---|
| 10 devices, personal | Free | Free |
| 25 devices, personal | Free | $48/month |
| 25 devices, commercial | $10/month | $48/month |
| 50 devices, commercial | $10/month | $98/month |
| 100 devices, commercial | $10/month | $179/month |
Netrinos pricing is simpler: $10/month covers 10 users and 100 devices. ZeroTier charges per device with a base fee, which adds up quickly for homelabs or IoT deployments.
Who Should Choose Netrinos?
You want industry-standard security. WireGuard is audited, minimal, and trusted. You're not betting on a custom protocol.
You want better performance. WireGuard delivers 5-6x the throughput of ZeroTier on the same hardware.
You have many devices. 100 devices for free (personal) or $10/month (Pro) beats ZeroTier's per-device pricing for homelabs, IoT setups, or device-heavy networks.
You want simplicity. Install the app, sign in, done. No network IDs to configure, no flow rules to write.
Good fit for:
- Home users with NAS, Raspberry Pi, media servers
- Small businesses needing remote access
- IoT and homelab deployments with many devices
- Technical users who want proven security without complexity
Who Should Choose ZeroTier?
You need Layer 2 networking. ZeroTier can bridge Ethernet segments, useful for gaming LANs, legacy protocols, or specific enterprise scenarios.
You need advanced flow rules. ZeroTier's rule system handles complex traffic policies at the packet level.
You're already invested in ZeroTier. Migration has a cost. If ZeroTier works for you, switching may not be worth it.
You need mobile apps now. ZeroTier has iOS and Android apps. Netrinos mobile is coming soon.
Good fit for:
- Gaming groups wanting LAN-like multiplayer
- Legacy applications requiring Layer 2
- Complex enterprise networking scenarios
- Users who need advanced packet-level rules
The Protocol Difference
This is the fundamental distinction between Netrinos and ZeroTier.
WireGuard (Netrinos)
Netrinos is built on WireGuard, an industry-standard VPN protocol:
- Minimal attack surface: WireGuard's ~4,000-line codebase is auditable
- Modern cryptography: ChaCha20, Curve25519, Poly1305, BLAKE2s
- Audited and trusted by security researchers worldwide
- Used by major providers: Cloudflare, NordVPN, Mullvad, and more
Custom Protocol (ZeroTier)
ZeroTier built their own protocol with:
- Layer 2 virtualization for advanced networking scenarios
- Larger codebase with more potential attack surface
- 256-bit ECC encryption (secure, but custom implementation)
Bottom line: If you need Layer 2 Ethernet bridging, ZeroTier offers it. If you want proven security and better performance, WireGuard is the industry choice.
Performance
| Metric | Netrinos (WireGuard) | ZeroTier |
|---|---|---|
| Typical throughput | Line speed (gigabit+) | 50-60 Mbps |
| Latency | Lower | Higher |
WireGuard can saturate gigabit connections even on modest hardware. ZeroTier's custom protocol runs entirely in userspace, limiting throughput.
Platform Support
| Platform | Netrinos | ZeroTier |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Raspberry Pi | ||
| Cloud VMs | ||
| iOS | Coming soon | |
| Android | Coming soon |
ZeroTier has broader platform support today, especially for mobile. Netrinos mobile apps are on the roadmap.
The Bottom Line
Choose Netrinos if you want industry-standard WireGuard security, better performance, and simpler pricing. Especially good for device-heavy setups where ZeroTier's per-device pricing adds up quickly.
Choose ZeroTier if you need Layer 2 Ethernet bridging, advanced flow rules, or mobile apps today.
For most users connecting devices across the internet, Netrinos offers better security, better performance, and better value.