Side by side
Headscale vs strongSwan
Both stand on virtual private network software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4
Choose Headscale if you want a free, self-hosted control server for a personal or small-organisation tailnet, with network tools and API interfaces. Look elsewhere if you need enterprise-oriented scaling or an officially supported Docker deployment.
Visit Headscale Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3
strongSwan provides a broad IPsec VPN implementation with extensive authentication, cryptography, and platform support. Its free GPLv2 plan is useful for organizations that can manage deployment themselves, while commercial licensing and support are separate options.
Visit strongSwanThe facts
| Headscale | strongSwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | strongSwan |
| Website | headscale.net | strongswan.org |
| On virtual private network software | #10 of 54 | #21 of 54 |
Headscale: what it does well
- Free, open-source, and self-hosted.
- Supports IPv4, IPv6, subnet routers, and exit nodes.
- Includes ACLs, API-based ACL management, and Tailscale SSH.
- Offers REST and gRPC interfaces for integrations and remote control.
- Supports a broad range of client operating systems.
What to know first
- Designed for one tailnet and personal or small-organisation use.
- Docker deployments are not officially supported.
- OIDC groups cannot be used in ACLs.
- Many nodes with frequent network changes can strain performance.
strongSwan: what it does well
- Supports IKEv1, IKEv2, IPv6, MOBIKE, and NAT traversal
- Works across Linux, Android, FreeBSD, macOS, iOS, and Windows
- Plugin system extends cryptography and authentication
- Supports smartcards and TPM 2.0 key protection
- Free GPLv2 open-source plan
What to know first
- Core developer does not offer commercial configuration support
- Some components may require a commercial non-GPL license
Alternatives to Headscale Alternatives to strongSwan The whole list