netmaker vs headscale
netmaker and headscale share 5 technologies: Postgres, SQLite, gorm.io/gorm, golang.org/x/oauth2, and github.com/coreos/go-oidc/v3. Both are written in Go.
LinkedInWhat they share and what sets them apart
gravitl
netmaker
Netmaker makes networks with WireGuard. Netmaker automates fast, secure, and distributed virtual networks.
Go11.9kRead on November 11, 2026, at commit 4d495c6What is netmaker built with?Only in netmaker
- Gorilla
github.com/eclipse/paho.mqtt.golang
- ClickHouse
PostHog- gorm.io/datatypes
github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v4
- github.com/pquerna/otp
- github.com/skip2/go-qrcode
- gopkg.in/mail.v2
github.com/go-playground/validator/v10
In common
juanfont
headscale
An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server
Go45.7kRead on November 13, 2026, at commit 520eb6fWhat is headscale built with?Only in headscale
- chi
- github.com/tailscale/squibble
- HashiCorp
- github.com/glebarez/sqlite
github.com/danielgtaylor/huma/v2
github.com/chasefleming/elem-go
github.com/pterm/pterm
github.com/go-gormigrate/gormigrate/v2
- github.com/tailscale/hujson
- github.com/rs/zerolog
- Prometheus
- Docker
github.com/go-chi/metrics
- github.com/libdns/cloudflare
- github.com/libdns/hetzner/v2
- github.com/libdns/powerdns
- go.uber.org/zap
Side by side
netmakerheadscale
SizeLines written by people and agents, without generated ones; code files, without tests.
netmaker107,004 lines written414 code files
headscale238,989 lines written185 code files
Who writes itA commit counts as AI's when it carries its signature: a Co-Authored-By line, its author name or the merge of its branch.
netmaker0% of its commits signed by AIWith Cursor
headscale0.3% of its commits signed by AIWith Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and CodeRabbit
ActivityFrom GitHub and its history, on the day SeeRepo read it.
netmakerLast push November 11, 20265,736 commits11,867 stars
headscaleLast push November 13, 20264,476 commits45,660 stars
TestsThe files that test the code, and the share of code files a test imports.
netmaker102 test files32.9% of its code files have a test that imports them
headscale276 test files75.7% of its code files have a test that imports them
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, netmaker or headscale?
headscale, with 238,989 lines written; netmaker has 107,004.
The proof: juanfont/headscale's code at commit 520eb6f
Which has more GitHub stars, netmaker or headscale?
headscale, with 45,660 stars; netmaker has 11,867.
The proof: juanfont/headscale on GitHub
Which has more tests, netmaker or headscale?
headscale, with 276 test files; netmaker has 102.
The proof: juanfont/headscale's code at commit 520eb6f
Which was updated more recently, netmaker or headscale?
headscale: its last push was on November 13, 2026, and netmaker's on November 11, 2026.
The proof: juanfont/headscale's commits on GitHub
Which has more commits signed by AI, netmaker or headscale?
headscale: an AI signed 0.3% of its commits, with Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and CodeRabbit.
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