While the need for private & secure networking cannot be overstated, the requirement for a reliable and efficient solution has become crucial. Over time, two names – Zerotier and Wireguard have risen to the forefront. Both are popular giants in their respective fields with the ultimate aim being to provide secure networking and communication. However, the bigger question is – ZeroTier vs Wireguard VPN, which should you choose based on speed, performance, and security? Well, let’s find out!
ZeroTier vs Wireguard
We understand how important it is to employ a solution that can offer the utmost security to your network. After all, what could be worse than compromised data and information? But both ZeroTier and Wireguard are different software programs.
ZeroTier is a software-defined networking (SDN) platform that combines the capabilities of VPN and SD-WAN (software-defined wide-area networks). It creates a secure and private network over the internet for devices to connect, irrespective of their actual locations.
Wireguard is an open-source VPN protocol that is comparatively faster and simpler than traditional VPN protocols like IPsec and OpenVPN. It is available on multiple platforms like Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
FEATURES | ZEROTIER | WIREGUARD |
Protocol | Custom | Wireguard |
Default MTU | 2800 | 1420 |
Encryption | 256-bit Salsa20, Curever25519 | ChaCha20; Curve25519; Poly1305 |
Configuration | Easy to setup | Simple to configure |
Supported Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, Android, iOS | Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, Android, iOS, Raspberry PI |
Plans | Free and Premium options | Open-source and free |
Speed | Fast | Super-Fast |
ZeroTier vs Wireguard Performance
Zerotier provides a zero-configuration setup. Users can connect devices to the virtual network without the need for complex manual configurations. Port forwarding is not present on ZeroTier which may improve the performance a little bit. The AI also works with web portals if the application counterpart is slower.
Wireguard is very easy to configure and is designed to quickly connect and reconnect when roaming between networks. Based on the findings, Wireguard API is present in its kernel already which gives a massive performance boost.
Also Read: ZeroTier vs. Tailscale: Which VPN is Better?
ZeroTier vs Wireguard Security
ZeroTier traffic is 256-bit end-to-end encrypted using secret keys that only the user controls to ensure all the data transmitted over the network is secure. It uses two virtualization layers: Virtual Layer 1 (VL1) and Virtual Layer 2 (VL2).
- VL1 is the underlying peer-to-peer transport layer while VL2 is built on top of VL1 and uses software defined-networking. Every peer on VL1 has a cryptographically secure identity.
- VL2 creates secure network boundaries, enforces rules and capabilities-based security, and certificate-based access control.
Wireguard employs the latest security protocols such as ChaCha20 for systematic encryption, Curve25519 for key exchange, Poly1305 for message authentication codes, BLAKE2s, SipHash24, and HKDF.
- It also supports an optional pre-shared key that can be added to the public key cryptography for additional symmetric-key crypto.
- Minimal codebase in its protocols provides a relatively smaller attack surface.
ZeroTier vs Wireguard Speed
Wireguard is generally known for its high performance and low overhead compared to other VPN protocols. Moreover, the latency is even comparatively lower. ZeroTier averages 56.8 Mbps whereas Wireguard averages 369.3 Mbps on the same hardware.
Also Read: Is ZeroTier Safe? All You Need to Know About It
ZeroTier and Wireguard Ease of Use
Setting up a VPN service is no easy task and hence we need an easy-to-use service that also works well with all. Even though both ZeroTier and Wireguard have user-friendly options for their customers, there are differences.
ZeroTier makes it much easier for the user as it employs a plug-and-play protocol, which is painless to manage. It allows new nodes to be added to a network by sharing a computer-generated secret code. It simplifies network management and avoids costly hardware vendor lock-in. However, some users have reported that it may require unblocking the ZeroTier UDP port if behind a firewall.
Wireguard is also simple and fast to set up, especially as it is already integrated into the kernel. However, it still strives to make the interface more easily accessible to a wider audience.
Also Read: How to Install ZeroTier on Windows
ZeroTier and Wireguard Community Support
ZeroTier and Wireguard have active and engaging communities including well-documented tools and protocols to help solve problems if a user faces any. This also includes answers to the most important questions the user posts.
The advantage of community support is when a user inexplicably finds a problem that the dev cannot fix in its current state the active community can help with hotfixes for a certain period before the developer releases a full-fledged update that rectifies the said issues.
Lastly, all we can say is that while both are the best VPN services and offer fantastic features, the ultimate choice depends on your needs and preferences. While ZeroTier is easy to set up even for a layman and employs sophisticated security protocols, Wireguard is faster.
We hope our review of ZeroTier vs Wireguard helped you make a better and more informed decision. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, do let us know in the comments section. Stay connected to TechCult for more comparative blogs.