NetBird combines a configuration-free peer-to-peer private network and a centralized access control system in a single platform, making it easy to create secure private networks for your organization or home.
Connect. NetBird creates a WireGuard-based overlay network that automatically connects your machines over an encrypted tunnel, leaving behind the hassle of opening ports, complex firewall rules, VPN gateways, and so forth.
Secure. NetBird enables secure remote access by applying granular access policies while allowing you to manage them intuitively from a single place. Works universally on any infrastructure.
Publisher’s description
What is Netbird?
Netbird by NetBird GmbH is open-source Windows software in the vpn & proxy category. It ranks 6th by popularity among vpn & proxy in this catalogue. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) and MSI installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.81.5, released on October 26, 2026. The version history goes back to September 6, 2023: 194 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 62 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 169,557 times. The source code on GitHub (netbirdio/netbird) has 30,134 stars. Similar programs include OpenVPN, nginx and Tailscale.
Project description on GitHub: “NetBird securely connects people, machines and AI agents across any network with one identity-based Zero Trust platform. Powered by peer-to-peer WireGuard®”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 62 a year)
- Large user base
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Netbird is an open-source vpn & proxy tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Netbird safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
F1BD303057BD71407D2053A9A60C0979FE731FBE43474A96F64AA19C93E1F5A1· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the netbirdio/netbird repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Code review10
- Actively maintained10
- Security policy10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Published packages10
- Static code analysis10
- Licence declared9
- Pinned dependencies6
- Branch protection1
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Fuzzing0
- Signed releases0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 194 versions ›194 versions over 3 years · about 62 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.81.5Latest | October 26, 2026 | — | ARM64 EXE (NSIS)ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.81.4 | October 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)ARM64 MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.81.3 | October 19, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS)ARM64 EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.81.2 | October 16, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS)ARM64 MSI |
| 0.81.1 | October 16, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)ARM64 MSI |
| 0.81.0 | October 15, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.80.0 | October 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)ARM64 MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 0.79.0 | September 18, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSIARM64 EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Netbird.Netbird -echoco install netbird -yscoop install extras/netbirdnetbird_installer_0.81.5_windows_amd64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- NetBird GmbH
- Category
- VPN & proxy
- Licence
- BSD-3-Clause
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/netbirdio/netbird
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS), MSI
- Version
- 0.81.5
- Released
- October 26, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- May 13, 2024
- Versions listed
- 194
- Updates / year
- 61.8
- Chocolatey downloads
- 169,557
- GitHub stars
- 30,134
- GitHub forks
- 1,770
- Website
- netbird.io
- winget ID
- Netbird.Netbird
- Chocolatey package
- netbird
- Scoop package
- extras/netbird
- MSI product code
- {9DDAFED6-BFDF-4480-8C81-99907CF02352}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Netbird
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Frequently asked questions
Is Netbird free?
Yes. Netbird is open-source software under the BSD-3-Clause licence.
Is Netbird safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Netbird with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Netbird be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does Netbird run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Netbird?
The versions page lists all 194 versions with links to their official installer files, back to September 6, 2023.
What are alternatives to Netbird?
OpenVPN, nginx, Tailscale, Proton VPN and WireGuard. The alternatives page compares them.
