Best Self-Hosted Virtual Private Network in 2026

Tools for creating encrypted VPN connections to protect internet traffic and maintain online privacy.

The top-rated pick is Headscale with 40,431 GitHub stars.

4 self-hosted virtual private network — ranked by GitHub stars. Browse all

Headscale

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

Alternative to:

ExpressVPN

NetBird

Self-hostable, zero-trust overlay network that combines a WireGuard-based mesh VPN with SSO, MFA, and granular access controls.

Alternative to:

Tailscale

wg-easy

The easiest way to run a self-hosted WireGuard VPN with a web-based admin UI, automatic client management, and one-liner deployment.

Alternative to:

Tailscale

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is an open source VPN daemon

Alternative to:

ExpressVPN

Why self-host?

Self-hosting puts you in control. You own your data, avoid vendor lock-in, and eliminate recurring subscription costs. For teams handling sensitive data or operating under strict compliance requirements, running your own infrastructure is often the only viable option.