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Is Tailscale Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Best Developer VPN
Tailscale: Makes VPNs feel like magic instead of a chore.
Rating★ 4.7/5
Starting price$5/user/mo
Best forDev teams needing secure access to inter
CategoryCybersecurity
Who Tailscale Is Worth It For
- ✓Dev teams needing secure access to internal services
- ✓Ridiculously easy setup
- ✓Generous free tier
- ✓WireGuard performance
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for consumer vpn use cases
- ✕Requires Tailscale on all devices
- ✕Not a traditional VPN replacement
- ✕Enterprise features are new
Is Tailscale Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free (3 users, 100 devices) |
| Starter | $5/user/mo |
| Pro | $18/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How Tailscale Compares
| Tailscale | 1Password | Bitwarden | Wiz | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/user/mo | $2.99/mo (individual) | $10/year (premium) | Free |
| Rating | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.5 |
| Verdict | Best Team Password Manager | Best Free Password Manager | Best Cloud Security | |
| Free Tier | ✓ |
AICores Verdict on Tailscale
Makes VPNs feel like magic instead of a chore. The free tier is incredibly generous. Once you use Tailscale, traditional VPNs feel like torture.
AICores Editorial Review
Reviewed by AICores Editorial Team
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tailscale worth the money?▼
Makes VPNs feel like magic instead of a chore. The free tier is incredibly generous. Once you use Tailscale, traditional VPNs feel like torture.
Is there a free version of Tailscale?▼
Yes, Tailscale offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $5/user/mo and include additional features and capacity.
What are the best alternatives to Tailscale?▼
1Password, Bitwarden, Wiz are the top alternatives. 1Password is best for development teams managing passwords and secrets and has a 4.7 star rating.
Who should NOT use Tailscale?▼
Tailscale is not ideal for consumer vpn use cases. Common drawbacks include: Requires Tailscale on all devices. Not a traditional VPN replacement.
Compare Tailscale head-to-head
See how Tailscale stacks up against the top alternatives.
Tailscale vs 1Password→