Tailscale AlternativesTop VPN Services & Virtual LAN Software like Tailscale

Tailscale is described as 'Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in' and is a VPN service in the security & privacy category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Tailscale for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best Tailscale alternative is OpenVPN Connect, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Tailscale are WireGuard, ZeroTier, SoftEther VPN and LogMeIn Hamachi.

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Tailscale alternatives are mainly VPN Services but may also be Virtual LAN Software or VPN Clients.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Tailscale.
Tailscale iconTailscale
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Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.

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Tailscale alternatives page was last updated Aug 12, 2024
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  1. OpenVPN Connect icon
    OpenVPN Connect icon

    OpenVPN Connect

     741 likes
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    OpenVPN Connect provides flexible VPN solutions to secure your data communications, whether it's for Internet privacy, remote access for employees, securing IoT, or for networking Cloud data centers.

    53 OpenVPN Connect alternatives
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 1
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 2
    +1
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 3

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Online Anonymity
    2.  Cisco AnyConnect
    3.  OpenVPN
    4.  Voice Chat
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  No Logs
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Encrypted VPN
    10.  Private repositories
    11.  OS deployment
    12. KeePass icon  Keepass integration
    OpenVPN Connect iconTailscale Icon

    OpenVPN Connect VS Tailscale

    Is OpenVPN Connect a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
    Comments about OpenVPN Connect as an Alternative to Tailscale
     
    dess

    Tailscale is a VPN-based mes SDN, while OpenVPN is just VPN and nothing more.

    Negative comment •Mar 25, 2023
    5
    mzs_47

    This uses the hub-spoke or centralized setup, now with decentralized VPNs using wireguard,there is no reason to continue with this.

    Comment •Dec 14, 2022
    1
    Tailscale Icon
    OpenVPN Connect icon

    • OpenVPN Connect is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Tailscale.

    • OpenVPN Connect is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Tailscale.

    • OpenVPN Connect is Freemium and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • OpenVPN Connect is Security-focused and Privacy focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  2. WireGuard icon
    WireGuard icon

    WireGuard

     217 likes
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    WireGuard is an extremely simple yet fast and modern VPN that utilizes state-of-the-art cryptography. It aims to be faster, simpler, leaner, and more useful than IPSec, while avoiding the massive headache. It intends to be considerably more performant than OpenVPN.

    53 WireGuard alternatives
    WireGuard screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • OpenWrt
    WireGuard screenshot 1
    WireGuard screenshot 2
    +1
    WireGuard screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted VPN
    2.  Fast speed
    3.  No Logs
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  WireGuard
    8.  AES-256 Encryption
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Built-in VPN
    11.  No registration required
    WireGuard iconTailscale Icon

    WireGuard VS Tailscale

    Is WireGuard a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
    Comments about WireGuard as an Alternative to Tailscale
     
    ikaz

    Tailscale is built on top of WireGuard.

    Comment •Sep 14, 2023
    2
    dess

    Tailscale is a VPN-based mesh SDN (which relies on Wireguard as VPN tech), while Wireguard is just VPN and nothing more.

    Negative comment •Mar 25, 2023
    4
    Tailscale Icon
    WireGuard icon

    • Some users think WireGuard is a great Tailscale alternative, some don't.

    • WireGuard is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • WireGuard is Lightweight and Privacy focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  4. ZeroTier icon
    ZeroTier icon

    ZeroTier

     93 likes
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    ZeroTier creates virtual ethernet networks that work everywhere. Use it as a VPN alternative, for gaming, or to create a virtual office LAN that travels with you.

    52 ZeroTier alternatives
    ZeroTier screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Virtual LAN
    2.  P2P Network
    3.  Peer-To-Peer
    4.  Zero configuration
    5.  LAN Tunneling
    6.  Mesh network
    7.  Software defined network
    8.  No port forwarding required
    9.  Peer to peer VPN
    10.  No Logs
    11.  End-to-End Encryption
    12.  Decentralized
    ZeroTier iconTailscale Icon

    ZeroTier VS Tailscale

    Is ZeroTier a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
    Comments about ZeroTier as an Alternative to Tailscale
     
    markopaasila

    Creates a secure and private (or public if you choose to) mesh network - extremely easily. It is of high quality, and is free and open source.

    Positive comment •Apr 27, 2020
    1
    Tailscale Icon
    ZeroTier icon

    • Almost everyone thinks ZeroTier is a great Tailscale alternative.

    • ZeroTier is Freemium and ProprietaryTailscale is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • ZeroTier is Privacy focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  5. SoftEther VPN icon
    SoftEther VPN icon

    SoftEther VPN

     118 likes
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    SoftEther VPN ("SoftEther" means "Software Ethernet") is one of the world's most powerful and easy-to-use multi-protocol VPN software. It runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD and Solaris.

    53 SoftEther VPN alternatives
    SoftEther VPN screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    SoftEther VPN screenshot 1
    SoftEther VPN screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Virtual LAN
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  No registration required
    4.  WireGuard
    5.  Built-in VPN
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Support for Multiple protocols
    9.  L2TP
    10.  Multiple languages
    SoftEther VPN iconTailscale Icon

    SoftEther VPN VS Tailscale

    Is SoftEther VPN a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  6. LogMeIn Hamachi icon
    LogMeIn Hamachi icon

    LogMeIn Hamachi

     206 likes
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    LogMeIn Hamachi is a hosted VPN service that securely connects devices and networks, extending LAN-like network connectivity to mobile users, distributed teams and business applications. You can easily create secure virtual networks on demand, across public and private networks.

    33 LogMeIn Hamachi alternatives
    Register client

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Preferences
    LogMeIn Hamachi screenshot 2
    +2
    Chat

    Top LogMeIn Hamachi Features

    1.  Peer-To-Peer
    2.  Clear IP Addresses
    3.  Text Chat to member
    4.  Remote File Access
    5.  Integrated Password Manager
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  LAN Tunneling
    8.  Support for Multiple Users
    9.  On Demand
    10.  Remote Printing
    11.  Encrypted VPN
    LogMeIn Hamachi iconTailscale Icon

    LogMeIn Hamachi VS Tailscale

    Is LogMeIn Hamachi a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  7. Headscale icon
    Headscale icon

    Headscale

     13 likes
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    An open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server. HeadScale-ui is a complementary project to have a Web UI for this.

    20 Headscale alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Self-hosted
    2.  WireGuard
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Portable
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Split Tunneling
    8.  Mesh network
    9.  Peer to peer VPN
    Headscale iconTailscale Icon

    Headscale VS Tailscale

    Is Headscale a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
    Comments about Headscale as an Alternative to Tailscale
     
    Guest

    Headscale is basically open source server implementation of Tailscale

    Positive comment •Oct 8, 2023
    2
    Tailscale Icon
    Headscale icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Headscale is a great Tailscale alternative.

    • Headscale is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Headscale is Security-focused and Privacy focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  9. WG Tunnel icon
    WG Tunnel icon

    WG Tunnel

     9 likes
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    This is an alternative Android Application for WireGuard and Amnezia VPN added features. Built using the wireguard-android library and Jetpack Compose, this application was inspired by the...

    51 WG Tunnel alternatives
    Home
    Adding a VPN
    +1
    Editing a VPN

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Player vs Player
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Split Tunneling
    WG Tunnel iconTailscale Icon

    WG Tunnel VS Tailscale

    Is WG Tunnel a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  10. NetBird icon
    NetBird icon

    NetBird

     16 likes
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    Connect your devices into a single secure private WireGuard®-based mesh network with SSO/MFA and manage access with just a few clicks.

    27 NetBird alternatives
    List of connected machines (peers)

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • iPad
    • iPhone
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Network access control
    Desktop UI client
    +1
    Machine authentication flow

    NetBird Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Two-factor Authentication
    3.  AES-256 Encryption
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Peer-To-Peer
    6.  Golang
    NetBird iconTailscale Icon

    NetBird VS Tailscale

    Is NetBird a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
    Comments about NetBird as an Alternative to Tailscale
     
    mzs_47

    Completely FLOSS project, and has the whole shebang - server, UI and clients. Mobile clients are on the roadmap.

    Positive comment •Dec 14, 2022
    0
    Tailscale Icon
    NetBird icon

    • NetBird is the most popular Web-based alternative to Tailscale.

    • NetBird is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
  11. Outline VPN icon
    Outline VPN icon

    Outline VPN

     22 likes
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    Journalists need safe access to information to research issues, communicate with sources, and report the news. Outline lets news organizations easily provide their network safer access to the open internet.

    181 Outline VPN alternatives
    Outline VPN screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Homebrew
    Outline VPN screenshot 1
    Outline VPN screenshot 2
    +3
    Outline VPN screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Encrypted VPN
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  OpenVPN
    7.  Portable
    8.  No Logs
    9.  AES-256 Encryption
    10.  Shadowsocks
    11.  AES Encryption
    Outline VPN iconTailscale Icon

    Outline VPN VS Tailscale

    Is Outline VPN a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  12. ngrok icon
    ngrok icon

    ngrok

     39 likes
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    ngrok exposes local servers behind NATs and firewalls to the public internet over secure tunnels.

    56 ngrok alternatives
    ngrok screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Localhost
    2.  ingress-as-a-service
    ngrok iconTailscale Icon

    ngrok VS Tailscale

    Is ngrok a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  13. Tinc VPN icon
    Tinc VPN icon

    Tinc VPN

     25 likes
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    tinc is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) daemon that uses tunnelling and encryption to create a secure private network between hosts on the Internet.

    47 Tinc VPN alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  AES-256 Encryption
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Decentralized
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Support for IPv6
    9.  Encrypted VPN
    Tinc VPN iconTailscale Icon

    Tinc VPN VS Tailscale

    Is Tinc VPN a good alternative to Tailscale?
     
  14. Netmaker icon
    Netmaker icon

    Netmaker

     8 likes
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    Netmaker is a tool for creating and managing virtual networks. Netmaker consists of a server, an agent, and a UI. You spin up the Netmaker server and then install netclient (the agent) on your computers. Netmaker will do the rest.

    14 Netmaker alternatives
    Netmaker screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Linux

    Netmaker Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  Golang
    Netmaker screenshot 1
    Netmaker screenshot 2
    Netmaker iconTailscale Icon

    Netmaker VS Tailscale

    Is Netmaker a good alternative to Tailscale?
     

    • Netmaker is the most popular SaaS alternative to Tailscale.

    • Netmaker is Freemium and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
12 of 38 Tailscale alternatives