{
  "slug": "zerotier",
  "category": "mesh-vpns",
  "name": "ZeroTier",
  "description": "Peer-to-peer virtual network platform that joins devices into encrypted virtual Ethernet networks, managed through ZeroTier's hosted controller or a self-hosted one.",
  "website": "https://www.zerotier.com",
  "source": "https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "android",
    "ios"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 38,
  "coverage": 88,
  "summary": "ZeroTier scores 38 out of 100 (grade F) on the mesh VPNs and private networks criteria. It meets 1 of 7 criteria: keys stay on devices. It partly meets open source, no ads or data sales and self-hosted coordination server. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. Still needing evidence: no connection logs by default. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/mesh-vpns/zerotier/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/mesh-vpns/zerotier/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne/blob/dev/LICENSE.txt",
      "note": "The core is MPL-2.0, but parts of the repository use a source-available license and the hosted ZeroTier Central is closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.zerotier.com/privacy-policy/",
      "note": "The website loads Google Analytics, HubSpot, Microsoft Clarity, Facebook, LinkedIn and Reddit trackers."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.zerotier.com/pricing/",
      "note": "Funded by paid plans with no ads in the product, though the website shares data with ad partners for ZeroTier's own marketing."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "device_keys": {
      "title": "Keys stay on devices",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://docs.zerotier.com/protocol",
      "note": "Each node creates its identity keys locally. Traffic is end-to-end encrypted and cannot be read by root servers or network controllers."
    },
    "self_hosted_control": {
      "title": "Self-hosted coordination server",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/zerotier/ZeroTierOne/blob/dev/nonfree/LICENSE.md",
      "note": "The network controller can be self-hosted, but its code uses a source-available license that forbids commercial use without a paid license."
    },
    "no_connection_logs": {
      "title": "No connection logs by default",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "unknown",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": null
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Google Analytics",
        "host": "inline code",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "Google Tag Manager",
        "host": "www.googletagmanager.com",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "HubSpot",
        "host": "js.hs-scripts.com",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "Microsoft Clarity",
        "host": "www.clarity.ms",
        "effect": "no"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:31.029Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}