firezone
Firezone is an open-source zero-trust remote access platform built on WireGuard that provides fast, granular access control via peer-to-peer encrypted tunnels. It offers both a managed cloud service with per-seat pricing and self-hosted options, marketed as 3x faster than OpenVPN with sub-10ms latency.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | firezone/firezone |
| Owner | firezone |
| Primary language | Elixir |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 8.7k |
| Forks | 425 |
| Open issues | 465 |
| Latest release | headless-client-1.5.10 (2026-06-25) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
| Source | https://github.com/firezone/firezone |
What firezone is
Written in Elixir (control plane) and Rust (data plane/gateway), Firezone implements zero-trust access using WireGuard tunnels with holepunching technology to enable direct peer-to-peer connections. Supports group-based policies, multiple SSO providers (Google Workspace, Okta, Entra ID, OIDC), and claims up to 5 Gbps throughput per connection with lightweight memory footprint.
Get the firezone source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/firezone/firezone.gitcd firezone# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Gateway deployment requires infrastructure (cloud or on-prem); managed service eliminates this but introduces dependency on Firezone's infrastructure.
- Client apps are pre-built and published to app stores; compatibility between published clients and self-hosted portals is not guaranteed due to app store update lag.
- SSO configuration supports multiple providers (Google, Okta, Entra, OIDC) but integration complexity depends on existing directory structure.
- Holepunching for P2P requires STUN/TURN relay infrastructure; understand fallback behavior and latency impact if direct P2P connections cannot be established.
- Audit logging and compliance features (SOC 2, 90-day activity tracking) are available only in paid/enterprise tiers, not in free or self-hosted versions.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Need Full Mesh Networking — Firezone explicitly states it is not a tool for creating bi-directional mesh networks. Projects like Tailscale or ZeroTier may be better suited for dynamic mesh topologies.
- Require Production Self-Hosting with Support — README explicitly states internal APIs are changing rapidly and production self-hosting is not officially supported. Self-hosting is limited to educational/hobby use only.
- Need Full Router/Firewall Capabilities — Firezone is not a full-featured router or firewall. If you need advanced routing, NAT, or stateful inspection, choose dedicated network infrastructure.
- Budget-Constrained Small Teams — Paid tiers start at $5/user/month (Team). Free tier caps at 6 users with basic features. High per-seat costs may not align with tight budgets.
License & commercial use
Dual-licensed: Apache 2.0 (permissive OSI license) for the codebase, with additional Elastic License 2.0 components. Apache 2.0 permits modification and redistribution. See Apache 2.0 terms for detailed commercial use permissions.
Apache 2.0 is a permissive OSI-compliant license generally allowing commercial use, but the README notes production self-hosting is not officially supported. Commercial use of the self-hosted version requires independent validation of compatibility and support model. Managed cloud service has explicit commercial pricing (usage-based, per-seat). Consult Firezone's support or legal terms for clarification on self-hosted commercial deployments.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | High |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
WireGuard protocol provides encryption (ChaCha20/Poly1305). Zero-trust architecture means all connections are authenticated and authorized. Holepunching minimizes routing through infrastructure. Audit logs available on paid/enterprise tiers. Managed cloud offering claims SOC 2 Type I/II compliance. Self-hosted security posture depends on deployment environment and internal API stability. No vulnerability disclosure policy, bug bounty program, or third-party audit data provided in README.
Alternatives to consider
Tailscale
Mesh VPN with simpler setup, broader device support, and stronger free tier. Larger ecosystem and adoption. May be simpler if full mesh networking is acceptable.
ZeroTier
Alternative P2P/mesh platform with strong self-hosting support, lower barrier to production deployment. Better suited if you need full control and don't require strict zero-trust granularity.
Traditional Hub-Spoke VPN (OpenVPN, IPSec)
Mature alternatives with broad organizational support and compliance tooling. Slower but well-understood operational model. Consider if your team is already trained on legacy VPN infrastructure.
Build on firezone with DEV.co software developers
Start with the managed cloud service (free for 6 users, no credit card required) to assess zero-trust access and peer-to-peer performance. For production self-hosting or advanced integrations, consult Firezone support to confirm compatibility and operational requirements.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
firezone FAQ
Can I use Firezone in production on self-hosted infrastructure?
What are the licensing and pricing options?
Which SSO providers are supported?
How does performance compare to OpenVPN?
Work with a software development agency
Adopting firezone is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Evaluate Firezone for Your Organization
Start with the managed cloud service (free for 6 users, no credit card required) to assess zero-trust access and peer-to-peer performance. For production self-hosting or advanced integrations, consult Firezone support to confirm compatibility and operational requirements.