Defguard
Enterprise-grade open source VPN solution combining WireGuard with mandatory 2FA/MFA and integrated OpenID Connect SSO for secure remote access
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/defguard/defguard or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Zerotier.
Replaces 1 paid app
up to $6/mo ($72/yr) in subscriptions
Defguard FAQ
Common questions
Is Defguard free and open source?+
Defguard is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Enterprise-grade open source VPN solution combining WireGuard with mandatory 2FA/MFA and integrated OpenID Connect SSO for secure remote access
What paid software does Defguard replace?+
Defguard serves as a free replacement for 1 paid SaaS application: Zerotier, saving up to $6/month ($72/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Defguard?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/defguard/defguard or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Defguard?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Zerotier.