Tailscale
Business VPN software
Network security software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$5 per month
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Education and training
- Healthcare and life sciences
What is Tailscale
Tailscale is a mesh VPN and secure networking product that uses the WireGuard protocol to connect users, servers, and devices across networks without requiring traditional site-to-site VPN configuration. It targets IT teams and developers who need remote access to internal resources, cross-cloud connectivity, and secure device-to-device communication. The product centers on identity-based access control, automatic NAT traversal, and centralized administration for managing users, devices, and policies. It can be deployed with a hosted control plane or with a self-hosted control server option for some environments.
WireGuard-based encrypted connectivity
Tailscale builds its data plane on WireGuard, providing modern cryptography and efficient tunneling for device-to-device traffic. It typically establishes direct peer-to-peer paths when possible, which can reduce latency compared to hub-and-spoke VPN designs. The client footprint is lightweight and available across common desktop, mobile, and server platforms. This approach fits distributed teams and hybrid infrastructure where endpoints move between networks.
Identity-centric access controls
Tailscale integrates with common identity providers to map network access to user and group identity rather than static IP-based rules. Admins can define ACLs and device posture-related constraints (where supported) to limit which users and devices can reach specific services. This model supports least-privilege access for internal apps and administrative interfaces. Centralized policy management reduces the need to manage per-site firewall rules for remote access use cases.
NAT traversal and subnet routing
The product includes automatic NAT traversal and relay fallback to maintain connectivity when direct paths are not possible. It supports subnet routers and exit nodes to extend access to non-Tailscale networks and to route traffic through controlled egress points. These features help connect legacy subnets, cloud VPCs, and on-prem networks without deploying full VPN concentrators everywhere. It is useful for incremental rollouts where not every device can run an agent.
Control plane dependency choices
Many deployments rely on Tailscale’s hosted coordination/control plane for device registration and policy distribution. While traffic can be peer-to-peer, organizations with strict sovereignty or offline requirements may need alternatives and additional planning. Self-hosting options exist but may not match the hosted service feature-for-feature in all cases. This can be a constraint for regulated environments that require full in-house control of management components.
Not a full network firewall
Tailscale focuses on secure connectivity and access control, but it does not replace perimeter firewalls, secure web gateways, or full SASE stacks. Advanced network security functions such as comprehensive URL filtering, inline threat inspection, and broad WAN edge routing typically require additional products. Teams expecting an all-in-one network security platform may need to integrate multiple tools. This can increase architectural complexity for larger enterprises.
Operational fit for complex routing
Mesh VPN designs can introduce routing and DNS complexity when connecting many subnets, overlapping IP ranges, or multi-cloud networks. Features like subnet routing and exit nodes require careful planning to avoid asymmetric routing and unintended access paths. Large-scale environments may need more structured network segmentation and change control than small teams. Troubleshooting can also involve endpoint configuration, identity policy, and underlying network path behavior.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $0 — Free forever | Limited to 3 users; up to 100 devices; access nearly all of Tailscale’s features; intended for personal use. |
| Personal Plus | $5 per month | Limited to 6 users; up to 100 devices; share Tailscale with family and friends. |
| Starter | $6 per active user, per month | 100 devices + 10 per user; split tunnelling; MagicDNS (human-readable device names); limited ACL functionality; Kubernetes networking support; First two weeks free (14-day trial for commercial users). |
| Premium | $18 per active user, per month | Everything in Starter plus: 100 devices + 20 per user; Tailscale SSH (automatic key management); Funnel (service-level networking); identity-aware/full ACL functionality; MDM policies; configuration audit and network flow logging; priority support; First two weeks free. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Contact sales for custom device limits, user/group provisioning integrations, Tailnet Lock, advanced posture management, auditing/log streaming, dedicated support, and invoice/annual billing options. |
Seller details
Tailscale Inc.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2019
Private
https://tailscale.com/
https://x.com/tailscale
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tailscale/
