Outline VPN vs Tailscale
Outline VPN
getoutline.org
Tailscale
tailscale.comSide by side
| Figure | Outline VPN | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $1/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Spec score · Virtual Private Network Software | 8.3 (#20) | 8.8 (#11) |
| Spec score · Business VPN Software | 8.2 (#39) | 9.4 (#5) |
| Encryption | Outline says it encrypts device-to-server communications using the AEAD 256-bit Chacha2020 IETF Poly 1305 cipher. | Tailscale says its WireGuard-based connections are end-to-end encrypted and that it cannot read users’ traffic. |
| Founded | 2018 | 2019 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Outline directs users to its Help Center for technical help and provides a contact link for additional assistance. | Tailscale provides documentation, a support request form, community channels, and plan-dependent support levels; Premium lists priority support. |
| What it does | Outline lets people create, run, and share access to their own VPN server. | Tailscale is an identity-based secure-connectivity platform built on WireGuard that links teams, clouds, CI/CD, IoT, Kubernetes, AI workloads and personal devices. |
Plans
Tailscale
- PersonalFree
- Standard$8 a month
- Premium$18 a month
- Additional tagged resources$1 a month
- Add more tagged resources$1 a month
- Mullvad$5 a month
- Mullvad add-on$5 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Outline VPN
Outline VPN has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Tailscale
Tailscale is a zero-config VPN for connecting users and devices across a network. It uses WireGuard to form low-latency peer-to-peer connections, which Tailscale says are end-to-end encrypted so it cannot read users’ traffic. Administrators can use access control lists to specify which users may connect to which devices. Supported identity providers handle authentication, and SCIM supports user and group provisioning. Monitoring features include configuration audit logs, network flow logs, webhooks, and log streaming to SIEM partners. Device posture information can be used in connectivity rules. Taildrop transfers files between devices, while node sharing lets users share a node without exposing it to the public internet. The service runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Personal is free forever for non-commercial use and supports up to six users; Standard costs $8 per user per month. Premium costs $18 per user per month and includes priority support.