GlassWire vs ZeroTier
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
GlassWire is a network monitoring and personal firewall application for Windows and Android that visualizes current and past network activity to help users spot malware, bandwidth hogs, and unfamiliar devices on their network. Its firewall includes an ask-to-connect mode that lets users approve or deny individual apps' network access, alongside a network time machine for reviewing historical connections. GlassWire also tracks data usage across devices and can alert users before they exceed set data limits, while its network scanner flags new or unknown devices joining a WiFi network. Over 53 million downloads have been recorded for the Windows and Android apps combined.
ZeroTier is a software-defined networking platform that lets you connect servers, laptops, containers, and IoT devices into a single virtual LAN, regardless of where they physically sit. Instead of configuring traditional site-to-site VPNs or juggling firewall rules, admins create a virtual network in the ZeroTier console, and any authorized device joins it with a lightweight client. It is built on an open-core model, with a free Personal tier for small setups (10 devices, 1 network) and paid tiers that add more devices, networks, and centralized admin controls for teams and enterprises. ZeroTier is widely used for connecting remote infrastructure, home labs, IoT fleets, and distributed teams that need private, low-latency device-to-device connectivity.
- Combines network monitoring and firewall in one lightweight app
- Very affordable premium pricing at $2.99/month
- Visual, easy-to-understand traffic graphs
- Available on both Windows and Android
- Free tier is genuinely usable for small personal networks (10 devices)
- No physical hardware or complex VPN setup required to get started
- Scales from hobbyist home labs to enterprise and defense-grade deployments
- Self-hosting option available for organizations that cannot use a cloud-hosted controller
- Free tier limits network history to just 24 hours
- Windows and Android only, no Mac or Linux support
- Advanced threat detection features require Premium
- Per-device overage pricing on paid tiers can add up quickly for larger fleets
- Enterprise and Quantum tiers require contacting sales rather than transparent self-serve pricing
- Networking concepts (network IDs, managed routes) require some technical familiarity versus a simple point-and-click VPN app
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to GlassWire
View all →Windows tool for controlling, monitoring and limiting per-application internet bandwidth.
Next-generation firewall appliances with AI-powered threat protection and zero trust access.
