Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

SoftEther VPN vs Tailscale

SoftEther VPN

softether.org

Tailscale

tailscale.com

Side by side

FigureSoftEther VPNTailscale
Price fromFree$1/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial—Yes
Open source—Yes
Web—Yes
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
iOSYesYes
AndroidYesYes
APIYesYes
Self-hostedYesYes
Plans published18
Spec score · Business VPN Software8.3 (#35)9.4 (#5)
Spec score · Virtual Private Network Software8.1 (#25)8.8 (#11)
Spec score · Connectivity Solutions8.2 (#14)8.8 (#8)
Founded20132019
Free planYesYes
ProductSoftEther VPN is open-source, cross-platform, multiprotocol VPN software distributed under the Apache License 2.0.Tailscale describes itself as a zero-config VPN that works with almost anything.
SupportUsers can ask questions on the official forum, where project members say they will respond; posting requires registration and login.Tailscale provides documentation, a support request form, community channels, and plan-dependent support levels; Premium lists priority support.

Plans

SoftEther VPN

  • SoftEther VPNFree

SoftEther VPN pricing →

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

Tailscale pricing →

In their own words

SoftEther VPN

SoftEther VPN has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit softether.org

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.

Visit tailscale.com