Tailscale Review
When evaluating Tailscale as a VPN solution, it is essential to understand its distinguishing features in a competitive market. Tailscale utilizes a zero-trust mesh network model combined with the WireGuard protocol, aiming to facilitate secure direct connections.
Its design focuses on offering simplicity and flexibility, making it particularly suitable for individuals and small teams.
Tailscale’s pricing structure and features are designed to cater to different user needs, though it is critical to compare these with other prominent VPN services to determine relative value.
The key consideration is whether Tailscale can meet the specific requirements of its users and deliver on its security and connectivity promises. A thorough examination of its capabilities, compared to other solutions, will help in assessing if Tailscale merits consideration as a viable VPN option.
Key Takeaways
- Tailscale offers a free plan for up to 3 users and 100 devices, more generous than many competitors.
- Utilizes the WireGuard protocol for secure and fast direct connections between devices, enhancing data transmission security.
- Supports multi-platform installations with a user-friendly setup and an average user rating of 4.7 out of 5.
- Offers unique features like Taildrop (secure file transfers) and exit nodes for enhanced security and access to region-restricted content.
- Tailscale’s zero-trust network model provides decentralized, direct device connections, reducing latency and enhancing privacy compared to traditional VPNs.
Pricing and Plans
Tailscale offers a range of pricing plans designed to meet various user needs. The Free plan supports up to 3 users and 100 devices, providing a comprehensive starting point at no cost. This plan includes more features than the Starter plan, which costs $6 per month for each additional user and allows for unlimited users.
For users with expanding requirements, the Premium plan is available at $18 per user per month, supporting up to 20 devices and includes Priority Support for faster assistance.
For organizational use, Tailscale’s Team plan is priced at $5 per user per month, accommodating 2 admin users and 5 devices per user. It’s suitable for teams needing basic administration within certain device limits.
The Business plan, at $15 per user per month, offers greater flexibility with unlimited admin users and 10 devices per user, catering to larger organizations.
For organizations with specific requirements, the Enterprise plan offers customized pricing tailored to individual needs.
Tailscale also occasionally provides promotions, such as 3 months free, allowing users to evaluate these plans before making a long-term commitment.
Features
Tailscale offers a range of security features focused on both speed and privacy. It leverages WireGuard encryption to establish secure, direct connections between devices, ensuring that data doesn’t pass through external servers. This approach helps maintain a secure network while optimizing performance.
An additional feature, currently in its alpha phase, is the Taildrop, which facilitates secure file transfers between devices within the Tailscale network.
Tailscale’s exit nodes enhance security, particularly when using unsecured Wi-Fi networks. By routing traffic through trusted locations, users can access the internet safely, minimizing potential risks.
The platform provides effective access control through Access Control Lists (ACLs), allowing precise management of device permissions.
Integration with over 20 identity providers for Single Sign-On (SSO) is supported, streamlining the management of secure networks.
Tailscale’s web dashboard is designed to simplify the management of devices and connectivity settings for users. Additionally, multi-factor authentication is available to bolster security and protect against unauthorized access.
Privacy and Security
Tailscale integrates privacy and security as core components of its design, utilizing a zero-trust network model to ensure that all device communications are secure, under the assumption that every connection could be untrusted. This model enhances security by minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.
The service employs the WireGuard protocol, which is recognized for its efficient encryption capabilities, to establish secure peer-to-peer connections. Unlike traditional VPNs, Tailscale’s architecture doesn’t route traffic through external servers, thereby enhancing privacy.
Access Control Lists (ACLs) in Tailscale allow for precise management of permissions by restricting access to specific IP addresses and ports, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access. This is an important feature for maintaining a secure network environment.
Additionally, Tailscale offers exit nodes for securely routing internet traffic and subnet routers that connect remote devices to local networks without exposing them to the public internet.
It is important to note that Tailscale logs certain information such as device type and IP addresses. As a company based in Canada, a member of the 5 Eyes Alliance, this may raise privacy considerations for some users.
Despite this, Tailscale remains a viable option for secure and private networking solutions.
Streaming and Torrenting
Tailscale enables direct peer-to-peer connections for streaming and torrenting by utilizing its decentralized network architecture. This approach bypasses the need for centralized servers, which can be a bottleneck, thereby potentially improving speed and reducing latency. These factors are important for maintaining the quality of streaming and optimizing the efficiency of torrenting.
The use of exit nodes within Tailscale allows users to access region-restricted streaming services while keeping their connections encrypted. This feature facilitates secure access to global content. By integrating WireGuard encryption, Tailscale ensures that streaming and torrenting activities are kept private without compromising performance.
Tailscale’s capability to form a mesh network offers seamless access to Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices and other shared resources within a private network. This functionality supports the smooth streaming of media files and the sharing of large torrent files.
Although Tailscale isn’t specifically designed for torrenting, it includes robust access control features that allow for the effective management of permissions. This permits users to restrict access to specific devices, maintaining secure and controlled file-sharing activities.
Tailscale provides a structured solution for handling streaming and torrenting requirements securely and efficiently.
User Experience and Apps
Tailscale offers a comprehensive set of features with its client application, designed to simplify the process of connecting multiple devices across platforms such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
The installation process is straightforward, with minimal configuration required, enabling users to establish peer-to-peer connections efficiently, typically within minutes. This ease of use can be particularly beneficial for small and mid-sized businesses, as it reduces IT overhead and allows teams to focus on their primary activities.
The client application enhances usability by allowing access to devices through simple hostnames or fully qualified domain names, eliminating the need to remember complex IP addresses. An average user rating of 4.7 out of 5 reflects user satisfaction and the reliability of Tailscale, often highlighted for its simplicity and effective functionality.
A VPN icon in the system tray provides a visual indicator of active connections, which helps users stay informed about their network status, potentially reducing VPN-related inquiries.
Customer Support
Tailscale is known for providing a user-friendly experience through its intuitive applications, but effective customer support is an essential component of its service. Tailscale offers customer support via email during business hours (9am-6pm ET, Mon-Fri), with typical response times of up to two business days for standard inquiries. This response time may affect customer satisfaction for those needing prompt assistance.
Enterprise account holders receive priority support, although some have reported that response times and overall service quality could be improved.
Tailscale provides a comprehensive knowledge base, which includes setup documents, How-To guides, and FAQs to help users troubleshoot issues and optimize their use of the service. The closure of Tailscale’s official web forum in summer 2023 has reduced opportunities for direct community engagement.
While the subreddit remains active and offers quick responses from the community, some users have noted a preference for the structured discussions previously available on the forum.
To enhance customer satisfaction, Tailscale could consider improving response times and expanding community engagement opportunities. Addressing these areas may lead to better user support experiences and improve perceptions of the service.
Comparison with Competitors
Tailscale differentiates itself in the VPN market with its zero-trust mesh network model, offering an alternative to traditional VPNs that use centralized servers. This setup enables direct device-to-device communication, potentially reducing latency and providing a smoother user experience.
Unlike many conventional VPNs, Tailscale doesn’t channel traffic through central servers, which can help prevent ISP throttling and improve file transfer speeds between devices.
When compared to competitors like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Tailscale’s free plan is notable. It allows for up to 100 devices and three users, whereas many competitors either limit their free offerings or have more restrictive conditions. This makes Tailscale a practical option for those seeking comprehensive VPN capabilities without initial financial commitment.
Furthermore, Tailscale utilizes the WireGuard protocol, which is recognized for its speed and security. In contrast, some competitors continue to use older protocols that may not offer the same performance or security levels.
Tailscale’s pricing begins at $6 per month for the Starter plan, with a pricing structure that’s relatively straightforward. This level of transparency is often valued, especially when compared to competitors with potentially hidden fees or more complex pricing models.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you’ll find Tailscale to be a compelling VPN choice, especially if you value security and performance. Its zero-trust mesh network and use of the WireGuard protocol ensure your data stays safe. With a transparent pricing model and a generous free plan, Tailscale is both accessible and affordable. You’ll appreciate features like Taildrop and comprehensive access controls. Compared to competitors, Tailscale’s user-friendly experience and strong customer support make it a standout choice.
