OpenZiti

OpenZiti is an open-source Zero Trust networking platform that makes services invisible and grants access by identity. It is a strong fit for teams that can manage their own network fabric and want to connect applications, APIs, sites, or devices without opening inbound ports. Its central advantage is production use without license fees; the trade-off is community support for the self-managed tier.

Overview

A controller manages identities, policy, and network state, while edge routers carry sessions through an encrypted mesh with smart routing and automatic failover. Clients and services initiate outbound connections, so they need neither inbound listening ports nor publicly reachable endpoints. That approach suits teams trying to reduce direct exposure while connecting private services, though operating the fabric remains part of the job.

Security combines certificate-based identities, mutual authentication, identity-based policy, and end-to-end encryption. OpenZiti supports private-app access and device posture checks, and its Apache 2.0 license allows production use without a license charge.

Key features

Application connectivity

SDKs for Go, C, C#/.NET, Python, Node.js, Java/Kotlin, and Swift let development teams build connectivity into their own applications. Tunnelers connect existing applications without code changes across Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The SDK route fits teams that can change their software; tunnelers are useful when modifying existing applications is impractical.

Tools around the network

The ecosystem includes zrok for secure sharing, a visual Ziti Console, and AI gateways for MCP tool servers and LLM providers. These broaden its reach beyond basic service connectivity, particularly for teams securing AI agents and APIs.

Pricing

OpenZiti costs nothing. The self-hosted, self-managed plan includes the Apache 2.0 software and community support through Discourse, GitHub, and documentation. There is no license fee to run it in production, making it the straightforward choice for teams able to operate the fabric and work through community channels.

NetFoundry-Hosted has custom pricing for a dedicated managed fabric with 100+ points of presence and a contractual uptime SLA of up to 99.95%. It suits teams seeking managed operations. NetFoundry Self-Hosted also has custom pricing and pairs a self-hosted fabric with a licensed management suite and 24×7 enterprise support, for organizations that want their fabric on their own infrastructure but need a supported management offering.

Platforms

OpenZiti covers Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and self-hosted environments. That range accommodates mobile and desktop clients as well as teams running their own infrastructure.

Who it's for

OpenZiti is aimed at teams replacing VPNs, connecting sites, securing AI agents and APIs, or reaching OT and IoT devices. Its outbound-only model and identity-based access are especially relevant when services should remain unreachable from public endpoints. Teams that need managed operations or 24×7 enterprise support should consider NetFoundry's hosted or self-hosted offerings instead.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Apache 2.0 licensing carries no production license cost; outbound-only connections avoid inbound listening ports and public endpoints; SDKs and tunnelers cover both new and existing applications.
• Cons: The free OpenZiti tier is self-managed and relies on community support, so teams seeking 24×7 enterprise support need a paid NetFoundry offering with custom pricing.

Alternatives

Security Service Edge Software is a useful category to browse when comparing tools in the broader security service edge space.

Twingate is worth considering for teams that want a freemium option with a free Starter plan capped at 5 users and 50 resources, plus a free trial.

Cloudflare One may suit teams looking for a free plan with a 50-user limit and up to 24 hours of standard log retention.

Cloudflare Gateway offers a free plan capped at 50 users, as well as a $7 a month Pay-as-you-go plan.

Dope Security CASB Neural is an alternative for teams focused on web and cloud app controls, with a plan that includes on-device SSL inspection, URL filtering, anti-malware, and Shadow IT discovery.

Forcepoint Data Security Cloud has pricing by request for teams considering a broader data security cloud platform.

NetFoundry is a paid option for teams seeking a dedicated managed network with managed infrastructure, an uptime SLA, and 24×7 support.

Skyhigh Private Access is another paid private access option.

Symantec IT Management Suite may fit teams looking for a licensable suite or individual components, with pricing available through a partner.

Verdict

Choose OpenZiti if your team can run its own fabric and wants identity-controlled connectivity without production license fees. Its outbound-only architecture, application integration options, and open license make a compelling combination for that audience. Look elsewhere if community support is not enough or you need managed operations: NetFoundry's hosted and self-hosted plans add those services at custom pricing.