PacketFabric vs Tailscale

PacketFabric is a web and API network-services platform for on-demand cloud access, Internet connectivity, and point-to-point links. Its hybrid cloud service offers hosted and dedicated connections from hundreds of data centers to cloud and SaaS providers, at 50Mbps to 100Gbps. PacketFabric describes a private optical network exceeding 65 Tbps, while each network port supports up to 4,000 virtual circuits. Listed partners include AWS Direct Connect, Google Cloud Interconnect, Azure ExpressRoute, IBM Direct Link, Oracle FastConnect, Salesforce Express Connect, Markley, and Webair. Customers can provision services, including Internet Exchange connections, through a self-service portal or automate them with a standards-based REST API and Terraform provider. The service supports multicloud connectivity, infrastructure as code, VPN management, and network monitoring. Cloud connectivity requires a physical cross-connect between customer equipment and the access port. Dedicated connections also need a cloud-provider LOA and may take several days. Pricing is handled in the portal, with terms from month-to-month to 36 months.

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.