ZeroTier vs OpenVPN — Trust Score Comparison

Side-by-side trust comparison of ZeroTier and OpenVPN. Scores based on security, compliance, maintenance, popularity, and ecosystem signals.

ZeroTier scores 78.0/100 (B+) while OpenVPN scores 85.0/100 (A) on the Nerq Trust Score. OpenVPN leads by 7.0 points. ZeroTier is a uncategorized agent with 0 stars, Nerq Verified. OpenVPN is a uncategorized agent with 0 stars, Nerq Verified.
78.0
B+ verified
Categoryuncategorized
Stars0
Sourcevpn
Security80
Maintenance75
Documentation70
vs
85.0
A verified
Categoryuncategorized
Stars0
Sourcevpn
Security80
Maintenance75
Documentation70

Detailed Metric Comparison

Metric ZeroTier OpenVPN
Trust Score78.0/10085.0/100
GradeB+A
Stars00
Categoryuncategorizeduncategorized
Security8080
ComplianceN/AN/A
Maintenance7575
Documentation7070
EU AI Act RiskN/AN/A
VerifiedYesYes

Verdict

OpenVPN leads with a trust score of 85.0/100 compared to ZeroTier's 78.0/100 (a 7.0-point difference). Both agents should be evaluated based on your specific requirements.

Detailed Analysis

Security

ZeroTier leads on security with a score of 80/100 compared to OpenVPN's 80/100. This score reflects dependency vulnerability analysis, known CVE exposure, and security best practices. A higher security score means fewer known vulnerabilities and better security hygiene in the codebase.

Maintenance & Activity

ZeroTier demonstrates stronger maintenance activity (75/100 vs 75/100). This metric captures commit frequency, issue response times, and release cadence. Actively maintained tools receive faster security patches and are less likely to accumulate technical debt.

Documentation

ZeroTier has better documentation (70/100 vs 70/100). Good documentation reduces onboarding time and helps teams adopt the tool safely. This score evaluates README completeness, API documentation, code examples, and tutorial availability.

Community & Adoption

ZeroTier has 0 GitHub stars while OpenVPN has 0. Both tools have comparable community sizes, suggesting similar levels of ecosystem support and third-party resources.

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose ZeroTier if you need:

  • Consider if it better fits your specific use case

Choose OpenVPN if you need:

  • Higher overall trust score — more reliable for production use

Switching from ZeroTier to OpenVPN (or vice versa)

When migrating between ZeroTier and OpenVPN, consider these factors:

  1. API Compatibility: ZeroTier (uncategorized) and OpenVPN (uncategorized) share similar interfaces since they are in the same category.
  2. Security Review: Run a security audit after migration. Check the ZeroTier safety report and OpenVPN safety report for known issues.
  3. Testing: Ensure your test suite covers all integration points before switching in production.
  4. Community Support: ZeroTier has 0 stars and OpenVPN has 0. Larger communities typically mean better Stack Overflow answers and migration guides.
ZeroTier Safety Report OpenVPN Safety Report ZeroTier Alternatives OpenVPN Alternatives

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, ZeroTier or OpenVPN?
Based on Nerq's independent trust assessment, ZeroTier has a trust score of 78.0/100 (B+) while OpenVPN scores 85.0/100 (A). The 7.0-point difference suggests OpenVPN has a stronger trust profile. Trust scores are based on security, compliance, maintenance, documentation, and community adoption.
How do ZeroTier and OpenVPN compare on security?
ZeroTier has a security score of 80/100 and OpenVPN scores 80/100. Both have comparable security profiles. ZeroTier's compliance score is N/A/100 (EU risk: N/A), while OpenVPN's is N/A/100 (EU risk: N/A).
Should I use ZeroTier or OpenVPN?
The choice depends on your requirements. ZeroTier (uncategorized, 0 stars) and OpenVPN (uncategorized, 0 stars) serve similar use cases. On trust, ZeroTier scores 78.0/100 and OpenVPN scores 85.0/100. Review the full KYA reports for each agent before making a decision. Consider factors like integration requirements, documentation quality (70 vs 70), and maintenance activity (75 vs 75).

Related Comparisons

Last updated: 2026-08-22 | Data refreshed weekly
Disclaimer: Nerq trust scores are automated assessments based on publicly available signals. They are not endorsements or guarantees. Always conduct your own due diligence.

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