OpenVPN vs Tailscale
Maybe it’s no surprise that we prefer Tailscale to OpenVPN, but here’s our case based on thousands of customers who’ve made the switch.
WireGuard protocol
Tailscale is a mesh VPN service built on the WireGuard protocol. You get the performance and security perks of WireGuard, instead of basic SSL/TLS encryption with the OpenVPN protocol.
Setup and management
OpenVPN needs more setup, management, and maintenance, especially when self-hosting. If you want to just download, log in with SSO, and get to work, Tailscale’s your choice.
Networking solutions
Tailscale really shines with more complex network solutions—site-to-site networking, multi-cloud connections, Kubernetes deploys, all while setting you up for zero-trust.
OpenVPN paved the way, Tailscale takes you further.
Time investment
Tailscale needs a download and logging in to connect. Direct integration of single-sign-on (SSO) means no separate accounts to manage. OpenVPN needs more initial setup and configuration—just for network access, an admin needs to deploy connectors for each set of subnet routes and domains they want to manage. With Tailscale you spend less time onboarding, messing with config files, and maintaining the complexities of self-hosted or custom solutions.
User experience
Security features are pointless if users find a tool too unpleasant to use. Tailscale really does feel invisible and seamless—so your team will actually use it, and your connections will always be encrypted end-to-end. Your IT team will also be grateful for fewer support tickets.
Security
Security features are pointless if users find a tool too unpleasant to use. Tailscale feels invisible and seamless, so your team will actually use it—connections will always be encrypted end-to-end. Your IT team will also be grateful for fewer support tickets.
Performance
Tailscale is built on WireGuard, allowing for direct connections between devices regardless of their region. Tailscale automatically finds the best route between resources, optimizing for speed and stability. Meanwhile, OpenVPN Access Server employs a concentrator that funnels traffic between devices and requires per-region configuration—with varying performance depending on the server location and network conditions. OpenVPN CloudConnexa needs “connector” software to connect resources—certain users have experienced disruptions with “connectors”, leading to frequent reauthentication.
Identity and authentication
Tailscale integrates with existing identity providers for authentication, supporting platforms like Google, Microsoft, Okta, and others, enabling SSO/MFA for user authentication. OpenVPN supports MFA through LDAP and SAML for identity verification. TLS certificates are used for authentication, requiring setting up and maintaining a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for issuing and managing certificates—additional overhead that can be resource intensive.
Access management
Tailscale adds an ACL layer on top of WireGuard so that you can further control network traffic. Tailscale ACLs allow you to express ACLs for everything in a single, easy-to-maintain place using users, groups, and tags. OpenVPN offers role-based access controls with only partial capabilities for location context and device posture attributes.
Versatility
You can connect anything together on the internet with Tailscale, even if your machines are in different locations or have challenging network topology between them. This includes SSH connections into VMs and containers, networked Kubernetes clusters with Tailscale’s operator, and even ephemerally spun up CI/CD pipelines.
| Tailscale | OpenVPN Access Server | OpenVPN Cloud Connexa® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Type | Mesh VPN | Hub-and-spoke | Mesh VPN |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underlying Architecture | Utilizes Wireguard to offer peer-to-peer direct connections that are end-to-end encrypted | Uses OpenVPN protocol along with SSL/TLS for encryption | Creates a mesh based on the OpenVPN protocol utilizing 30 worldwide points-of-presence (PoPs), utilizes SSL/TLS for encryption |
| Setup | Connects resources by installing Tailscale on every device through a one-click process. The software is automatically updated. |
Self-hosted and self-configured. Requires server setup and extensive security configurations. Requires a high level of knowledge of networking and the OpenVPN protocol. | Connects resources by running a ‘Connector’ software on application servers and/or VMs on the network. Utilizes OpenVPN protocol-compatible routers to make applications part of the overlay network. Also, requires installing the 'Connect' application on devices. Requires more manual setup (e.g., certificate generation, route configuration). |
| Performance | Built on Wireguard, which is an efficient and lightweight protocol. Being a mesh network, Tailscale finds the best route between resources, optimizing for speed and stability. | Performance can vary depending on the server’s location and network conditions, as all traffic routes through the VPN server. | Performance depends on the speed and reliability of ‘Connectors’ that are used to connect resources. Also, since it utilizes cloud servers for routing traffic, performance can depend on location. |
| Security | Wireguard enforces end-to-end encryption between each connection by default. Offers automatic certificate management through Tailscale SSH. Access controls can be set up using user identity, user groups, and device posture attributes. | Utilizes OpenVPN protocol and OpenSSL for encryption, with many user-definable options. Requires configuration knowledge to set up a preferred level of encryption. Certificate management is done using a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Offers role-based access controls with only partial capabilities for location context and device posture attributes. | Utilizes OpenVPN protocol and SSL/TLS for encryption. Offers role-based access controls with location context policy and device posture attributes. |
| Pricing | Per user Free for personal use and open-source Paid for enterprise |
Per connection Free for 2 or 3 connections, or fully self-hosted Paid for enterprise |
Per connection Free for 2 or 3 connections Paid for enterprise |
Get these features and more with Tailscale
End-to-end encryption
direct peer-to-peer connections between devices that are end-to-end encrypted. Tailscale does not, and cannot, inspect your traffic.
Identity-based access controls
Define which users should have access to which services based on existing user identities, as well as groups, services, and subnet ranges.
Infrastructure-agnostic overlay network
Tailscale creates an overlay network using your existing network, which means it can be incrementally deployed without the use of any new hardware.
Connect to anything
From on-prem to cloud, site-to-site, cloud-to-cloud, and cluster-to-cluster.
Runs on everything
Runs on VMs, containers, functions, and even inside your applications. Available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ARM and more.
Flexible topology
Mesh-capable with subnet routers to connect existing subnets, VPCs, or embedded devices to your network.
Frequently asked questions
Over 9,000 Engineering & IT teams use Tailscale’s networking software to secure their work from anywhere, reduce developer disruption, and protect critical infrastructure. Want to learn more? Read our frequently asked questions, or talk to a member of our team.
How can Tailscale benefit a DevOps team?
Tailscale’s unified, identity-based network simplifies team collaboration and management across cloud and on-premises environments.
The Kubernetes operator connects clusters with infrastructure while keeping services off the public internet. It integrates with Infrastructure-as-Code tools like Terraform, Pulumi, and Ansible for automated network configuration and deployment.
The WireGuard protocol ensures end-to-end encrypted connections without exposing sensitive ports to the open internet.
Tailscale SSH automates key rotation and integrates with identity providers, including Google Workspace and Okta, for access management.
Learn more about Tailscale for DevOps.
OpenVPN lets teams create separate overlay private networks to isolate development access from production environments.
Uses APIs and Terraform for secure connectivity.
Supports SSO with SAML and LDAP for user authentication and access management.
How can Tailscale benefit an IT team?
Tailscale offers a zero-configuration VPN with secure remote access and a Zero Trust solution.
Identity provider integrations enable rapid deployment and centralized access control, reducing support tickets through direct, reliable connections.
Granular ACLs enable role-based access policies.
Integrations with MDM support device security and posture checking.
Tailscale supports logging to SIEM systems for network visibility and compliance.
Learn more about Tailscale for IT.
OpenVPN’s access server securely connects remote or hybrid workforces, including laptops, desktops, servers, networks and IoT and IIoT devices, to company networks and applications.
Encrypts connections using protocols such as AES-256 to protect sensitive information from interception.
Granular control options for hosting your own VPN server.
How can Tailscale benefit a security team?
Tailscale enforces least-privileged access policies through an adaptive policy engine requiring explicit permissions for users, devices, and workloads.
SCIM, SSO, and MFA enable dynamic management of user authentication and group lifecycle.
Device security is supported with posture checks and integrations like Crowdstrike for endpoint detection and response (EDR).
SSH session recording and streaming of audit and network flow logs to SIEM systems provide visibility into activity.
Learn more about Tailscale for Security.
OpenVPN can limit internet access by locking down servers with the exception of trusted domains.
Restrict access to sites, but allow conditional access to Bitbucket and GitHub based on network compliance.
Allows listing for Split Tunneling for SaaS (with Access Server).
Pricing that works for everyone
For teams or organizations looking for an easy-to-use, secure, legacy VPN replacement.
For companies who need service and resource level authentication and access control.
For companies who need advanced integrations, compliance and support for access control at scale.