View all Business VPN & SASE Alternatives
Best Free Alternatives to NordLayer (by Nord Security)
Stop paying $8 - $14/user per month. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Business VPN & SASEVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Tailscale
FREEBest for Developers & Mesh Networking
Why we like it
Built on WireGuard; zero-config mesh networking; free tier for up to 3 users/100 devices; allows you to access your aaPanel VPS as if it were on your local network.
Keep in mind
Proprietary control plane; requires third-party identity providers (Google, Microsoft, etc.) for login; no 'Global Gateway' list like traditional VPNs.
Twingate
FREEBest for Zero Trust (ZTNA)
Why we like it
Hides your resources from the public internet entirely; no 'tunnel' latency; granular access control for your WordPress database or SSH ports; generous free tier for small teams.
Keep in mind
Requires a 'Connector' agent installed on your server; can be overkill if you just need to change your IP for geo-testing.
Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81)
Best for Enterprise Compliance
Why we like it
Full SASE suite with integrated FWaaS, ZTNA, and SWG; highly detailed audit logs for SOC 2/HIPAA compliance; deep security integration with the Check Point ecosystem.
Keep in mind
The most expensive option; 10-user minimum for most advanced features; interface is more complex than NordLayer.
WireGuard (Self-Hosted)
FREEBest for Technical Sovereignty
Why we like it
The fastest, most modern VPN protocol; 100% free; native to the Linux kernel; you have total control over your data and infrastructure.
Keep in mind
Requires manual setup on your VPS; no built-in GUI for user management or MFA (unless using a wrapper like Subspace or WG-Dashboard).
Cloudflare One
FREEBest for Web-Only Access
Why we like it
Secure your WordPress admin or staging sites without a VPN client; uses the Cloudflare global edge for incredible speed; world-class DDoS protection included.
Keep in mind
Full-network tunneling (WARP) is less intuitive than traditional VPN apps; requires moving your DNS management to Cloudflare.
GoodAccess
FREEBest Budget Dedicated IP Solution
Why we like it
Specifically designed for SMBs needing static IPs; very fast setup; include 'ThreatBlock' to filter malicious domains; simpler pricing than Perimeter 81.
Keep in mind
Fewer global gateway locations (35+) compared to NordLayer (60+).
Proton VPN for Business
Best for Maximum Privacy
Why we like it
Swiss-based jurisdiction; open-source and audited apps; 'Secure Core' architecture routes traffic through multiple servers; no logging whatsoever.
Keep in mind
Lacks some of the 'Granular Network Segmentation' and ZTNA features found in NordLayer or Twingate.
Surfshark One B2B
Best for Unlimited Devices
Why we like it
Allows unlimited simultaneous connections per user; includes antivirus and data breach monitoring; very cost-effective for teams with many mobile devices.
Keep in mind
Less focused on 'Network Access Control' and more on 'Endpoint Privacy' compared to NordLayer.
NetBird
FREEBest Open-Source Tailscale Alt
Why we like it
Zero-config mesh VPN based on WireGuard; self-hostable control plane; includes a modern ZTNA access control dashboard; perfect for DevOps.
Keep in mind
Smaller community and fewer 'Enterprise' integrations than Tailscale or NordLayer.
OpenVPN Cloud (CloudConnexa)
FREEThe Reliable Standard
Why we like it
World-renowned protocol; CloudConnexa removes the need for self-hosting the server; very flexible routing options for complex hybrid-cloud setups.
Keep in mind
SSL-based VPNs are generally higher latency than WireGuard; the setup process is more 'IT-heavy' than NordLayer.
Need more options?
Explore our full directory of Business VPN & SASE software alternatives.
Browse the Business VPN & SASE Hub