Pricing & Plans FAQ
General questions
When does the new packaging and billing go into effect?
New licensing, pricing, and packaging is effective April 18, 2023.
What is usage-based billing?
Usage-based billing is an evolution of subscription billing where customers pay for their active use, or consumption, of a product or service over a given time period. This model is applied to feature, service, and/or user activity. We think of it as a better way to align the value of Tailscale with how much customers pay for it.
How are monthly active users defined?
Monthly active users (MAU) are users signed into a tailnet who transfer data over the tailnet during the billing cycle.
For example, a user who connects a service on the tailnet, transfers a file, accesses a subnet, uses an exit node, or pings another device on the tailnet is considered active in a billing cycle.
This means that MAU will never be more than all Members in the tailnet, and does not include Suspended, Pending, or Inactive users. It also means that MAU doesn’t count users who only manage configurations for your tailnet via the admin console, such as users who manage billing.
A user can be active in more than one tailnet within a month if they are members of multiple tailnets and transfer data on each of those tailnets during the billing cycle. A user who is a member of multiple tailnets but doesn’t transfer data in one of them will not count as an MAU in that tailnet.
Are there any changes to the Community on GitHub plan?
There are no changes to the Community on GitHub plans but we would encourage you to evaluate our new Free plan as an alternative. The free plan includes nearly everything that Tailscale has to offer for up to 3 users and 100 devices.
You can learn more about plans on the Pricing page.
The Community on GitHub plan is still available to open source projects. Learn more or contact sales.
As an existing customer, will I be forced to move to a new plan?
All Personal Plan customers will be automatically migrated to the new Free plan effective April 18, 2023.
All existing monthly subscription customers can remain on their current plan until at least April 30, 2024.
All Enterprise customers are unaffected.
Can I now add more than one user to my gmail.com-based account?
Yes, you can add additional users to your gmail.com-based account. You can have up to 3 free users in your tailnet, after which you will be billed for additional users who transfer data in your tailnet each month.
How do I upgrade or downgrade to a new plan?
To change your plan, you must be an account Owner, Admin, or Billing admin.
If you are on a monthly subscription plan, Personal, or Personal Pro plan, you can change your plan from the Billing page of the admin console.
If you are on an annual subscription plan, and would like to make any changes, contact sales for assistance.
If I downgrade to Free, what features will I lose?
The Free plan includes nearly everything that Tailscale has to offer, but has restrictions around the number of monthly active users, among others.
You can review a full list of features by plan type on the Pricing page.
What if I need more devices than are available with the number of users I have in my plan?
If you are approaching the limits outlined in your plan, or need to add a large number of devices, contact sales.
I work at an IoT company / I’ve got a different use case. How can I use Tailscale?
Tailscale supports a variety of use cases. If you need help understanding which plan is right for you, contact sales.
As an existing customer, can I still add new users to my Tailscale account / members to my tailnet?
Yes, customers on legacy plans can add and remove users from their Tailscale account & tailnet through at least April 30, 2024.
As an existing customer, can I renew my current plan?
Existing customers can continue to renew their current plans through at least April 30, 2024. For example, if you renew your plan on April 29, 2024 you will remain on that plan through April 29, 2025.
How do device limits work, and do they only apply to connected or active devices?
Device limits are based on the number of provisioned users in your tailnet.
All devices provisioned in your tailnet count toward the total, and device limits are pooled across your account and do not need to be associated with any particular user.
Devices shared with you by other tailnets do not count toward your total.
Billing questions
How does billing for monthly active users work?
Tailscale charges customers at the end of each month. You’ll be billed for the total number of monthly active users on the first day of the following month.
Do I lose my 3 free users (from the Free plan) when I start a paid plan?
No. When you upgrade to a paid plan (other than the Enterprise plan), Tailscale will automatically apply a credit for 3 monthly active users. For example, if you have 10 active users in a month then you will only be billed for 7 of them.
When am I charged and do I receive bills with usage-based billing? If I switch plans or sign up in the middle of the month / out of cycle, when does my billing take effect on the new plan?
Accounts are billed on the 1st of each month. If you sign up for a new plan partway through the month, you’ll pay a prorated amount for that month, and be billed regularly starting in next month’s billing cycle.
If I upgrade or downgrade between usage-based billing plans, when and how will I be billed?
When you upgrade or downgrade between plans on usage-based billing, you’ll be charged at the end of the monthly billing cycle for the number of monthly active users in your tailnet, with the amounts prorated based on the number of days on each plan.
If I migrate from a legacy plan to a new usage-based billing plan, how will I be billed?
When you migrate from a legacy plan to a new usage-based billing plan, your existing subscription will be immediately canceled. The prorated amount for the rest of your subscription will be credited to your account. Your new usage-based billing plan will start immediately, and you’ll be charged a prorated amount for the current month. You will be charged on the normal monthly billing cycle starting with the next month.
I need more predictable billing. Is an annual, credit-based, billing option available?
If you are interested in an annual plan or prepaid bill contact sales.
How does usage-based billing work for annual plans?
For annual plans, you prepay for credits. Your actual usage draws down those prepaid credits every month. 1 credit = 1 monthly active user, so you can easily estimate the number of credits you will need by predicting the number of monthly active users you will have over the course of a year. Annual plans qualify for volume discounts.
Who can modify billing information and update plans for my account?
You must be an Owner, Admin, or Billing admin to modify plans and billing information. Billing information and plans can be updated from the Billing page of the admin console.
Are there any admin roles that don’t require a license?
Yes, an administrative user who does not transfer data does not count as a monthly active user, and is not charged for. You can grant users the role of Billing admin, which is an administrator for your organization’s Tailscale account who can modify pricing and billing plan information. You can learn more at Manage pricing and billing with Billing admin.
I’m an existing Tailscale customer on an annual plan - how do I make adjustments to my plan? Can I move to the new usage-based billing plan?
All customers on an annual plan can remain on their existing plan until at least April 30, 2024. During that time, customers can continue to add or remove users. If you’d like to switch to one of our new usage-based billing plans and take advantage of the credit-based system, contact sales.
As a current customer, how can I move to the new usage-based billing model?
If you are an existing customer on a monthly subscription, you can start taking advantage of the new usage-based billing by migrating to one of our new plans via the admin console.
If you are an existing customer who pays annually, contact sales.
As a current customer, if I move to usage-based pricing for a month/time period, can I move back to my original plan (and licensing model)?
If you move to one of our new monthly usage-based plans, you will not be able to revert back to your legacy pricing plan or package.
Do you offer discounts for non-profits or educational institutions?
Not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions are eligible for a 50% discount. Choose your plan on the Billing page of the admin console, then contact us to have the discount applied.
If I’m unable to pay via credit card for a monthly (usage-based) offering, can I complete payment via a wire transfer or ACH?
We have other flexible payment options. Contact sales if you need invoicing.
I’m on a usage-based billing plan - how do I migrate to the Free plan?
The Free plan allows you to have up to 3 users. To downgrade from a usage-based billing plan to Free, you must have 3 or fewer users. Delete any users you no longer need, and then downgrade to the Free plan from the Billing page in the admin console.
Plan comparison questions
Does Tailscale have a free trial?
No, but we have a Free plan that includes nearly everything that Tailscale has to offer for up to 100 devices and up to 3 users. Anyone interested in a trial above and beyond what’s included in our Free plan should contact sales.
What’s included in the Free plan, and what are the limitations?
The Free plan includes nearly everything that Tailscale has to offer for up to 3 users and 100 devices. The Free plan is limited to 3 provisioned users, that is, users that are added to your tailnet. These users must be on the same custom domain that is unaffiliated with other users, that is, it cannot be a @gmail.com account. You can learn more about plans on the Pricing page.
What is included in the Starter plan?
The Starter plan includes the essentials for a VPN replacement. Usage-based billing is built atop the 3-user and 100-device limits of the Free plan; each additional user adds 10 devices. You can learn more about plans on the Pricing page.
What is included in the Premium plan?
The Premium plan includes advanced application networking features, endpoint and posture management, and higher levels of support. Like the Starter plan, it is built atop the Free plan’s limit of 100 devices. However, each additional user adds 20 devices. You can learn more about plans on the Pricing page.
What is included in the Enterprise plan?
The Enterprise plan is fully customizable when it comes to user and device limits. It offers advanced compliance functionality, user and group provisioning, and priority support with response SLAs.
The Enterprise plan offers potentially unlimited users, a customizable number of devices, advanced compliance functionality, user and group provisioning, and priority support with response SLAs. The Enterprise plan also allows for invoicing and annual billing. You can learn more about plans on the Pricing page, or contact sales.
How can I compare what’s included in each plan?
You can review pricing and a full list of features by plan type on the Pricing page.
I’m an existing Tailscale Free plan customer - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
The Free plan now includes nearly everything that Tailscale has to offer. You can add up to 3 users and 100 devices without entering payment info. Devices behind subnet routers still don’t count against your device limit.
I’m an existing Tailscale Personal Pro plan customer - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
There are no changes to the Personal Pro plan.
I’m an existing friend of Tailscale with a free Personal Pro plan - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
As a friend of Tailscale, you can keep using your free Personal Pro plan. There are no changes to the Personal Pro plan.
I’m an existing Tailscale Team plan customer - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
Team plan customers can remain on their existing plan until at least April 30, 2024. During that time, customers can add and remove users, as well as renew their existing plan.
Our new Starter plan, which includes the benefit of usage-based billing, is a good alternative for many customers who are currently on our Team plan. You can learn more about our new plans on the Pricing page.
I’m an existing Tailscale Business plan customer - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
Business plan customers can remain on their existing plan until at least April 30, 2024. During that time, customers can add and remove users, and renew their existing plan.
Our new Premium plan, which includes the benefit of usage-based billing and a wide array of features, is a good alternative for customers who are currently on our Business plan. You can learn more about our new plans on the Pricing page.
I’m an existing Tailscale Enterprise plan customer - what changed for me with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
The Enterprise plan remains unchanged. Should you have questions, contact sales.
I’m an existing Tailscale customer and had additional devices included in my plan limits from sharing nodes - what changed with these device limits with the announcement on April 18, 2023?
The additional device limits remain part of your plan. If you migrate to a new plan with usage-based billing, you will have these additional device limits added to the plan’s device limits.
I’m a new Tailscale customer - but when I try to sign up for Tailscale, I get a notice that my account is unpaid. What do I do?
If you can’t sign up, it’s because someone in your domain is already using Tailscale. If you don’t know who created your account, or need additional assistance, contact sales.
I’m a new Tailscale customer - can I sign up for the Personal Pro plan?
The Personal Pro plan is not available to new users. We encourage you to use the Free plan instead.
I’m a new Tailscale customer - can I sign up for the Community on GitHub plan?
The Community on GitHub plan is still available to open source projects. Learn more or contact sales.
If you’re looking for a way to Tailscale with friends or family, we encourage you to use the Free plan instead.
I’m a customer still on an old plan - how can I see my plan details?
You can find information about the previous plans at Pricing v1 and Pricing v2.
Support questions
What is included in Priority Support?
With Priority Support, requests from Premium and Enterprise customers are prioritized, getting accelerated resolution with a response SLA. You can learn more at Support options.
As an existing customer, can I try a package / features?
The Free plan is likely the best way for you to evaluate a new feature. If you are interested in features that are specific to our paid plans, contact sales.