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, Self-Hosted and Android apps. The best Tailscale alternative is OpenVPN Connect, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Tailscale are WireGuard, ZeroTier, Headscale and Fossorial Pangolin.

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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

     763 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.

    55 OpenVPN Connect alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 1
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 2
    OpenVPN Connect screenshot 3
     
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    3
    Comments about OpenVPN Connect as an Alternative to Tailscale
    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.

    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 LightweightTailscale is not according to our users
  2. WireGuard icon

    WireGuard

     257 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.

    55 WireGuard alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenWrt
    • Termux
    WireGuard screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about WireGuard as an Alternative to Tailscale
    ikaz
    2

    Tailscale is built on top of WireGuard.

    dess
    Negative
    4

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

    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 LightweightTailscale is not according to our users
  4. ZeroTier icon

    ZeroTier

     95 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.

    55 ZeroTier alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    ZeroTier screenshot 1
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about ZeroTier as an Alternative to Tailscale
    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.

    Tailscale Icon
    ZeroTier icon

    • Almost everyone thinks ZeroTier is a great Tailscale alternative.

    • ZeroTier is Freemium and ProprietaryTailscale is also Freemium and Proprietary
  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

     21 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.

    20 Headscale alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • OpenBSD
    • BSD
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Fedora
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about Headscale as an Alternative to Tailscale
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Headscale is basically open source server implementation of Tailscale

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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-focusedTailscale is not according to our users
  7. Fossorial Pangolin icon

    Fossorial Pangolin

     8 likes

    Pangolin is an open-source, identity-based remote access platform built on WireGuard that enables secure, seamless connectivity to private and public resources.

    11 Fossorial Pangolin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Online
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Fossorial Pangolin screenshot 1
     

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

    • Fossorial Pangolin is Free and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
  10. NetBird icon

    NetBird

     27 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.

    30 NetBird alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Homebrew
    • Docker Hub
    List of connected machines (peers)
     
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    1
    Comments about NetBird as an Alternative to Tailscale
    mzs_47
    Positive
    0

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

    Tailscale Icon
    NetBird icon
    • NetBird is Freemium and Open SourceTailscale is Freemium and Proprietary
    • NetBird is LightweightTailscale is not according to our users
  11. 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.

    34 LogMeIn Hamachi alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    WG Tunnel

     13 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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Home
    Adding a VPN
    Editing a VPN
     
  13. Outline VPN icon

    Outline VPN

     29 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.

    190 Outline VPN alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    ngrok

     40 likes

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

    69 ngrok alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    ngrok screenshot 1
     
12 of 44 Tailscale alternatives