> /v1/alternatives/cisco-secure-access
Open source alternatives to Cisco Secure Access[005]
Cisco Secure Access delivers cloud-managed zero trust network access, VPN and secure web gateway for remote users reaching apps. Below are 5 self-hostable open source alternatives, ranked by GitHub popularity.
Tailscale
The easiest, most secure way to use WireGuard and 2FA.
★ STARS
31.3k
⑂ FORKS
2.5k
Netbird
Connect your devices into a secure WireGuard -based overlay network with SSO, MFA and granular access controls.
★ STARS
25.1k
⑂ FORKS
1.3k
Pangolin
Identity-aware VPN and proxy for remote access to anything, anywhere.
★ STARS
20.6k
⑂ FORKS
671
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open source VPN daemon
★ STARS
13.8k
⑂ FORKS
3.3k
Firezone
Easiest way to set up Zero Trust Access for your team
★ STARS
8.6k
⑂ FORKS
414
// EDITOR'S TAKE
Netbird is the closest fully open stack, pairing a WireGuard mesh with identity-based access policies and a control plane you can host yourself, which is exactly where Tailscale stops being open. Tailscale is still the smoothest to run if you accept a proprietary coordination server, Firezone is the simplest way to gate a handful of resources, and Pangolin fits better when you want identity-aware proxying of specific web apps instead of a full network overlay.
// FREQUENTLY ASKED
What is the best open source Cisco Secure Access alternative?
Tailscale is the most popular open source Cisco Secure Access alternative by GitHub stars (31,326 stars). The other 4 options are ranked above.
Are these Cisco Secure Access alternatives self-hostable?
Yes — every project listed here is open source and runs on your own infrastructure. Click into a project to see its license, stars, language, and current health status.
Are they free?
All projects shown are free and open source. Check each project's license page for the terms — most are MIT, Apache 2.0, or AGPL.