Tailscale Alternatives & Competitors

Overview of Tailscale Alternatives

In today's interconnected world, securing your digital presence has become important. Whether you're a business owner or a remote worker, Tailscale VPN software is a dynamic platform that is designed to offer seamless and secure connectivity for users and organizations alike.

Tailscale is a moderate, easy-to-use VPN solution that emphasizes simplicity without compromising security. It enables users to create a safe and secure network between their devices, no matter where they are based.

So, whether you are working from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere else in the world, Tailscale ensures that your data remains encrypted, and your online activities are kept private.

Despite Tailscale's widespread usage, people are looking for Tailscale alternatives because of the certain issues they face when using the software. These challenges often include limited configuration options, over-dependency on Tailscale infrastructure, and more.

Why are People Looking for Tailscale Alternatives?

Although Tailscale is an exceptional VPN software, people are still switching to applications like Tailscale because of the challenges they face while using the platform. Some common problems are limited scalability in the free tier plan, limited control over network infrastructure, and more.

• Potential Performance Issues: People are looking for alternatives to Tailscale because of the potential performance issues. While the software aims to provide users with efficient and secure networking, VPNS can reduce speed, especially when accessing over long distances.
• Dependence on Various Third-Party Infrastructure: Tailscale is dependent on various third-party infrastructures provided by Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, and various other cloud providers. Any issues with these providers can potentially impact Tailscale's performance, which is the major reason why people are looking for applications like Tailscale.
• Limited User Management on Free Plan: Users are opting for Tailscale alternatives because the free tier plan only offers basic user management functionalities, and more advanced features, including access control, are only available under a paid plan.
• Limited Control Over Network Infrastructure: Users are opting for alternatives to Tailscale because it doesn't offer the same level of control over network infrastructure as some other VPN solutions. Therefore, this can be a limitation for users who require more granular control over their network configurations.

Must-Have Features in Alternatives to Tailscale

Kill Switch, strong encryption, DNS leak protection, and more are some of the vital features that you should consider while looking for competitors to Tailscale.

• Kill Switch: When looking for Tailscale alternatives, ensure that the chosen platform offers a kill switch. A kill switch is a safety feature that automatically disconnects your internet connection if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
• Multiple Server Locations: Competitors to Tailscale should provide you with servers for different locations that will give you more flexibility in opting for a server that is close to your physical location.
• DNS Leak Protection: Applications like Tailscale should provide users with DNS leak protection that will help prevent DNS leaks, thereby ensuring that the user's DNS requests are properly routed through a VPN tunnel.
• Strong Encryption: The chosen alternative to Tailscale should provide users with robust encryption protocols like AES to secure data transmitted over the network.

What to Look for When Searching for Competitors to Tailscale?

When searching for Tailscale alternatives, it is important to consider certain important factors like cross-platform compatibility, automatic wi-fi protection, and more. To help you make an informed decision, we have listed certain important factors that will help you choose the best alternatives to Tailscale.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: When looking for Tailscale alternatives, ensure that the platform you choose is able to offer support for various operating systems and devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.
• Simultaneous Connections: Alternatives to Tailscale should allow users to connect multiple devices simultaneously under one account for better management and the convenience of a user.
• Automatic Wi-Fi Protection: Tailscale competitors should be able to connect to the VPN automatically, especially while joining unknown Wi-Fi networks, as this will help secure the user's connections on various public hotspots.
• Customization Options: Applications like Tailscale should allow users to customize their settings, including preferred protocols, server selection, and auto-connect options, according to their preferences.

Comparison of Tailscale Competitors

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN are some of Tailscale competitors. However, choosing the alternative to Tailscale can be daunting, with many options available. Therefore, to ease this confusion, we have curated a table of applications like Tailscale and differentiated them on parameters like split tunneling, simultaneous connections, ease of use, and more.

What Type of Users are Looking for Tailscale Alternatives?

Tailscale is a robust VPN solution primarily targeted towards gamers, travelers, remote workers, and others. Users use VPN software to safeguard their sensitive data while using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection and easily access content and websites that may be blocked or restricted based on their location.

However, people are looking for Tailscale competitors because of the drawbacks they encountered while using the platform, including limited customization options, limited device compatibility, and more.

• Gamers: The gamer community is actively looking for applications like Tailscale that will help them reduce lag and improve connection stability, especially while participating in multiplayer online games.
• Travelers: People who frequently travel are opting for Tailscale alternatives that will protect their sensitive data from potential hackers on unsecured networks.
• Streaming Enthusiasts: Streaming enthusiasts are looking for alternatives to Tailscale that will offer them easy access to geo-restricted content like Netflix libraries from different countries.

What is the Ideal Alternative for Tailscale for Mac, Windows, and Linux?

The best Tailscale competitors for Windows, Mac and Linux are:

• Best Tailscale competitors for Mac: ZeroTier and WireGuard
• Best Tailscale competitors for Windows: NordVPN, and ExpressVPN
• Best Tailscale competitors for Linux: SoftEther VPN

Techjockey’s Verdict

Tailscale has established itself as a leading platform for virtual private networks (VPN). Its unique features, such as web inspection, remote access, real-time monitoring, and compliance management, make it an ideal solution for gamers, travelers, and remote workers.

However, Tailscale has certain issues that will not align with the user's goals and expectations. They can encounter problems like limited user management features under a free plan, as well as potential performance issues.

Fortunately, various platforms like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN are there to address your unique needs and preferences. So, while exploring competitors to Tailscale, carefully assess your needs and budget to make a wise choice.