Tailscale AlternativesOnly apps categorised as VPN Services

The best VPN alternative to Tailscale is OpenVPN Connect, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Tailscale and many of them are VPN Services so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting VPN Service alternatives to Tailscale are WireGuard, NetBird, Headscale and ZeroTier.

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Tailscale alternatives are mainly VPN Services, but if you're looking for Virtual LAN Software or VPN Clients you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Tailscale.
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Alternatives list

  1. OpenVPN Connect icon

    OpenVPN Connect

     786 likes

    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.

    63 OpenVPN Connect alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 1
     
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    3
    OpenVPN Connect vs Tailscale Comments
    dess
    Negative
    5

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

    mzs_47
    1

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

    Persons
    Positive
    0

    Openvpn has a very different use case than tailscale. Tailscale is for multiple services and openvpn is used for 3 different services at ounce. Well tailscale is for multiple services at ounce.

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

    WireGuard

     280 likes

    Implements modern cryptographic standards, maintains a small codebase for security auditing, ensures fast cross-platform VPN performance, supports embedded and enterprise environments, offers easy deployment, IPv4/IPv6, secure key exchange, and mobile app support.

    64 WireGuard alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • openSUSE
    • Arch Linux
    • Gentoo
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenWrt
    • Alpine Linux
    • Slackware
    • Termux
    • OpenBSD
    WireGuard screenshot 1
     
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    2
    WireGuard vs Tailscale Comments
    dess
    Negative
    5

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

    ikaz
    2

    Tailscale is built on top of WireGuard.

    • WireGuard is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • WireGuard is LightweightTailscale is not according to our users
  4. NetBird icon

    NetBird

     40 likes

    NetBird is an open-source Zero Trust networking platform that makes it easy for engineers to create fast, secure, and private networks with simple, decentralized management.

    39 NetBird alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Homebrew
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • Android TV
    • Raspberry Pi
    List of connected machines (peers)
     
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    1
    NetBird vs Tailscale Comments
    mzs_47
    Positive
    1

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

    • NetBird is Freemium and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • NetBird is LightweightTailscale is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    OpenVPN Connect icon
    OpenVPN Connect

    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.

    https://openvpn.net
    Learn More
  6. Headscale icon

    Headscale

     29 likes

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

    24 Headscale alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • OpenBSD
    • BSD
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Fedora
     
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    1
    Headscale vs Tailscale Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Headscale is basically open source server implementation of Tailscale

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Headscale is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Headscale is Security-focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  8. ZeroTier icon

    ZeroTier

     100 likes

    Enables encrypted peer-to-peer virtual Ethernet networks across platforms for remote device access, secure virtual LANs, gaming, private or public network creation, and seamless setup without port forwarding or complex configuration, suitable for personal or business use.

    66 ZeroTier alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    ZeroTier screenshot 1
     
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    1
    ZeroTier vs Tailscale Comments
    markopaasila
    Positive
    1

    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.

    • ZeroTier is Freemium and ProprietaryTailscale is also Freemium and Proprietary
  9. Rayfish icon

    Rayfish

     14 likes

    A peer-to-peer mesh VPN with zero infrastructure. Create a private network, share a code, and your machines reach each other as if they were on the same LAN. No servers to run, no ports to forward, no static IPs to manage.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Mac
    • Rust
    • Self-Hosted
    Rayfish screenshot 1
     
  10. Outline VPN icon

    Outline VPN

     39 likes

    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.

    184 Outline VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Homebrew
    • F-Droid
    Outline VPN screenshot 1
     
  11. SoftEther VPN icon

    SoftEther VPN

     125 likes

    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.

    60 SoftEther VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    SoftEther VPN screenshot 1
     
  12. LogMeIn Hamachi icon

    LogMeIn Hamachi

     209 likes

    A hosted VPN service that provides secure connections, extending LAN-like network connectivity to mobile users and teams. Create secure virtual networks on demand across public and private networks. Manage and maintain from anywhere on the web, with free options for up to five devices.

    42 LogMeIn Hamachi alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Register client
     
  13. WG Tunnel icon

    WG Tunnel

     16 likes

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

    62 WG Tunnel alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Home
     
  14. Amnezia VPN icon

    Amnezia VPN

     21 likes

    Combines classic VPN, free regional access, and easy self-hosted setup inside one open-source app. Built for censorship-heavy environments, it uses an enhanced WireGuard protocol, supports many platforms, offers region switching, and passed 7ASecurity audits.

    72 Amnezia VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    Amnezia VPN screenshot 1
     
  15. Nostr VPN icon

    Nostr VPN

     11 likes

    Private mesh VPN built on a FIPS-backed data plane, supporting invite-only trusted networks, device and peer approvals, MagicDNS, route advertisement, QR onboarding, Umbrel integration, desktop and mobile shells, WireGuard egress, and Docker coverage.

    52 Nostr VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Nostr VPN screenshot 1
     
12 of 32 Tailscale alternatives