Boundary vs Bowtie Private Access

Boundary provides authenticated, identity-based access to infrastructure without requiring users to connect directly to its underlying network. It supports just-in-time and least-privilege access, role-based authorization, and single sign-on through OIDC or LDAP. Users can reach TCP, SSH, RDP, HTTPS, RDS, Kubernetes, and database targets through familiar clients such as SSH tools, PuTTY, Remote Desktop, database clients, and web browsers. Boundary can broker credentials and integrate with HashiCorp Vault for short-lived dynamic credentials and credential injection. Target discovery can be automated, with dynamic host catalogs for AWS, Azure, and GCP available in HCP Boundary. Deployment options include managed HCP Boundary, optionally with customer-run workers, and self-managed Boundary Enterprise. The Community Edition is listed at free. HCP Boundary Standard and Plus have usage-based billing, with monthly rates per user depending on edition; Standard includes Vault credential injection and audit-log streaming, while Plus adds session recording. Enterprise is self-managed and has full feature parity with HCP Boundary. Boundary supports Terraform, a REST API, CLI, and SDK.

Bowtie Private Access creates encrypted connections from devices to private resources without routing traffic through intermediary networks. Its Zero Trust policies grant authenticated access according to user or device characteristics. Bowtie Internet Access adds web filtering enforced on the device rather than through a centralized gateway, while its policy engine can unify overlapping networks and segment access. The product uses WireGuard encryption; Bowtie says keys are generated and stored in the customer's environment and traffic does not pass through its cloud. Basic is free for up to 3 users, 2 devices per user, and 2 controllers. Essentials costs $11 a month per user and supports up to 1000 users, 3 devices per user, and 4 controllers. Enterprise pricing is custom. SSO options include Okta and Entra ID, with configurations also described for GitHub, GitLab, SAML, AWS Identity Center, and Google IDP. Essentials includes API access and a Terraform provider; Enterprise adds MDM deployment and SIEM integration. Bowtie supports iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, with client downloads for Mac, Windows, and Linux.