What is Headscale?
Headscale functions as an open-source, self-hosted control server for the Tailscale network, enabling users to fully control their private tailnets while utilizing Tailscale clients. It provides features like user and node registration, the creation of pre-authentication keys, subnet route advertising, exit node establishment, access control enforcement, and integration with identity providers such as OIDC/SAML for user verification. The software can be installed using Debian or Ubuntu packages, or through standalone binaries, and is fully configurable via a YAML file, with management facilitated through its command-line interface or REST API. Headscale also keeps an extensive database that monitors all nodes, routes, and users, supports approval workflows for routes, and includes functionalities like subnet routing, exit node designation, and direct connections between nodes within the tailnet. By being self-hosted, it allows organizations and enthusiasts to maintain full ownership of their network endpoints, encryption keys, and traffic flows, thus removing the need for a commercial control plane. This degree of control significantly improves security while also offering users the flexibility to tailor their networking solutions to better fit their unique requirements, which can lead to increased performance and efficiency within their network operations. Ultimately, Headscale represents a powerful tool for those looking to enhance their networking capabilities while prioritizing privacy and control.
Pricing
Price Starts At:
Free
Free Version:
Free Version available.
Similar Software to Headscale
Chainstack provides a suite of APIs and software that empower countless businesses, regardless of their size, to develop, expand, and sustain blockchain applications effectively. Their APIs are designed with security in mind, featuring secure node connections and best practices for key management to ensure your data remains safe and under your control. You also have the capability to invite additional members to your network, allowing them to deploy their infrastructure effortlessly through user-friendly network management tools. With Chainstack, you can select and implement the blockchain protocol that meets your specific requirements, and it will remain unchanged for your use. Chainstack’s managed blockchain services simplify the processes of launching, joining, and scaling decentralized networks, making it accessible for users at all levels. The platform enables you to test out enterprise-grade tools and services with confidence before transitioning to a production environment. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and resource provisioning are provided to help you maintain optimal performance and efficiency. This comprehensive approach ensures that businesses can focus on innovation while relying on robust support from Chainstack.
Learn more about Chainstack
NetCrunch is commercial, self-hosted, agentless network and IT infrastructure monitoring software for Windows Server. It monitors network devices, servers, virtualization platforms, cloud services including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, applications, websites, logs, telemetry, and custom data using technologies such as SNMP, WMI, REST APIs, and scripts.
NetCrunch supports 680+ monitoring targets and provides 270+ ready-to-use Monitoring Packs for devices, applications, and operating systems. Policy-based monitoring automatically applies monitoring settings, Monitoring Packs, thresholds, and alerts to matching devices and systems. Licensing is based on monitored nodes and network interfaces rather than individual sensors, checks, or metrics.
Real-time dashboards and automatic Layer 2 and routing topology maps provide visibility into network status and performance. NetCrunch supports event correlation, dependency-aware alert suppression, predictive thresholds, escalation, and 40+ automated response actions, including script execution, notifications, webhooks, and integrations with external IT and collaboration tools.
NetCrunch also provides hardware and software inventory, network device configuration backup and change tracking, bandwidth monitoring, and network traffic analysis using NetFlow, sFlow, IPFIX, and other flow technologies. Distributed Monitoring Probes extend monitoring to remote and isolated locations, while REST APIs support integration and automation with external systems.
NetCrunch is self-hosted on Windows Server and can monitor on-premises, air-gapped, cloud, and hybrid IT environments.
Learn more about AdRem NetCrunch
Pangolin
Pangolin is an innovative open-source platform tailored for identity-aware tunneled reverse-proxying, enabling users to safely expose applications from virtually any location without the requirement of opening inbound ports or configuring a traditional VPN. It utilizes a decentralized network of globally distributed nodes that aid in routing traffic through encrypted WireGuard tunnels, allowing devices located behind NATs or firewalls to publicly host applications via a centralized management dashboard. This comprehensive dashboard permits users to oversee multiple sites and resources across their infrastructure while defining intricate access-control policies that include features like SSO, OIDC, PINs, geolocation, and IP restrictions, all while facilitating real-time monitoring of health and usage metrics. The platform supports both self-hosted options—available in Community or Enterprise editions—and a managed cloud service, which operates by deploying a lightweight agent on each site, with the central control server responsible for managing ingress, traffic routing, authentication, and failover processes. Moreover, the design of Pangolin promotes a secure and efficient framework for developers and IT teams focused on simplifying application exposure while upholding stringent security measures. This added layer of security not only enhances the integrity of the applications but also streamlines the overall management process.
Learn more about Pangolin
HoneyWire
Built entirely in Go, HoneyWire is an open-source, self-hosted deception engine that catches network intrusions and lateral movement. It strips away the heavy agents and bloat of legacy security software, allowing blue teams and sysadmins to drop distroless canary tripwires onto any Linux machine in seconds via an intuitive TUI wizard.
The detection model is designed strictly around a zero false-positive philosophy. Every deployed sensor is a completely synthetic decoy with no real business purpose. Because no legitimate employee or internal system should ever touch them, a single connection attempt guarantees you are dealing with a live attacker, a rogue script, or a compromised CI/CD runner.
The current out-of-the-box sensor suite includes:
- TCP Tarpits: Bind to highly targeted ports to stall automated scanners and capture incoming payloads.
- Admin Web Decoys: Fake router and management login interfaces designed to bait HTTP reconnaissance.
- FIM File Canaries: Silent directory tripwires that fire the moment an adversary scrapes or reads fake sensitive files.
- Network & ICMP Detectors: Uncover stealthy subnet mapping and ping sweeps long before your actual infrastructure is discovered.
(Plus a growing library of upcoming sensors!)
The architecture is entirely agentless. Your fleet of traps is managed centrally through the HoneyWire Hub a completely private, self-hosted control center. When a wire is tripped, the Hub instantly pushes high-fidelity alerts out via Syslog, Slack, Discord, Ntfy, or Gotify. This makes it trivial to plug HoneyWire directly into your existing SIEM or EDR workflows without ever sending your network telemetry to a third-party cloud.
Learn more about HoneyWire
Screenshots and Video
Company Facts
Company Name:
Juan Font
Company Location:
Netherlands
Company Website:
headscale.net/stable/
Product Details
Deployment
SaaS
Training Options
Documentation Hub
Support
Web-Based Support
Product Details
Target Company Sizes
Individual
1-10
11-50
51-200
201-500
501-1000
1001-5000
5001-10000
10001+
Target Organization Types
Mid Size Business
Small Business
Enterprise
Freelance
Nonprofit
Government
Startup
Supported Languages
English