Best Free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) 2026
We checked every ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) product in our catalog against its vendor's own pricing page in October 2026 and kept only products with a permanent free plan, not a free trial. 3 qualify.
3 others we checked are listed below with why they were excluded.
The best ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) tools in 2026 are Cloudflare Access (free plan; paid $7/user/mo), Tailscale (free plan; paid $8–$18/user/mo), and Twingate (free plan; paid from $12/user/mo). The best free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) in 2026 is Cloudflare Access. Cloudflare Zero Trust Free plan: up to 50 users, community forum support, log retention up to 24 hours.. 2 other tools also have a permanent free plan: Tailscale, Twingate.
The best free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) in 2026 is Cloudflare Access. Cloudflare Zero Trust Free plan: up to 50 users, community forum support, log retention up to 24 hours.. 2 other tools also have a permanent free plan: Tailscale, Twingate.
Compare the top 3 side-by-side
Drag the seat slider, lock a tier per product, see Vendr median pricing and hidden costs for Cloudflare Access, Tailscale, Twingate.
Our Rankings
Cloudflare Access
Cloudflare Zero Trust Free plan: up to 50 users, community forum support, log retention up to 24 hours.- Permanent free plan: Free Plan
- Upgrade path to paid tiers when you outgrow it
- Free plan has usage or feature limits
Tailscale
Free forever Personal plan: up to 6 users, unlimited user devices, 3 ACL groups, 50 tagged resources, nearly all features.- Permanent free plan: Personal
- Upgrade path to paid tiers when you outgrow it
- Free plan has usage or feature limits
Twingate
Free Starter plan: up to 5 users, broad OS support, peer-to-peer connections, split tunneling, conditional access controls.- Permanent free plan: Starter
- Upgrade path to paid tiers when you outgrow it
- Free plan has usage or feature limits
Also evaluated
These 3 providers were checked against the same criteria and did not qualify for the ranking. Each row states what the vendor actually offers.
No free tier (3)
Paid from the first token. Listed so this page answers the question both ways.
| Provider | What you actually get | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Appgate SDP | No free plan on the vendor’s pricing page; paid or quote-only plans. | 2026-10-20 |
| banyan-security | No free plan on the vendor’s pricing page; paid or quote-only plans. | 2026-10-20 |
| Akamai Enterprise Application Access | No free plan on the vendor’s pricing page; paid or quote-only plans. | 2026-10-20 |
Evaluation Criteria
- free tier
- features
- usage limits
- upgrade path
How We Picked These
We evaluated 6 products and ranked the top 3 (last researched 2026-10-20).
What you actually get at $0
Core functionality available on free plan
Users, storage, and usage caps on free tier
Pricing and value of paid plans when ready
Setup time and learning curve
Frequently Asked Questions
01 What is the best free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access)?
Cloudflare Access has the best free plan among the ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) tools we track. Tailscale is also worth considering.
02 Is a free trial the same as a free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) plan?
No. A free trial ends after a set number of days; a free plan stays free with limits. This page lists only permanent free plans, checked on each vendor’s own pricing page.
03 When should I upgrade from a free ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) plan?
Upgrade when you hit the free plan’s user, volume or feature limits, or need support and admin controls that only paid tiers include.
Explore More ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access)
See all ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) pricing and comparisons.
View all ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) software →