Authelia vs Tailscale: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Authelia and Tailscale side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Authelia
Open-source authentication and authorization server
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Tailscale requires payment)
Tailscale
Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere
Best for you if:
- • You want easy setup
| At a Glance | Authelia | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $8/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Security Identity & Access | Cloud & Infrastructure Security |
Rating | n/a | 4.8/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 5.0 38 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Active user billing: Tailscale charges for any user who connects during a billing period. A contractor who connects once in a month counts as a full active user at $6 or $18. No prorating for partial use |
Choose Authelia or Tailscale?
Choose Authelia if
- You want a fully free tool (Tailscale requires payment)
- You want open source SSO
- You want self-hostable
- You work in security, not cloud & infrastructure
Choose Tailscale if
- You want easy setup
- You want WireGuard based
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not security
In-Depth Analysis
Authelia
Open-source authentication and authorization server
Authelia offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source SSO
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: 2FA support
- Pro: Good documentation
- Pro: Privacy focused
Weaknesses
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Self-managed only
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Maintenance needed
Key features
Tailscale
Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere
Tailscale has made WireGuard-based mesh networking absurdly simple, what used to require manual key exchange, firewall rules, and config files now takes one login.
Watch out
Active user billing: Tailscale charges for any user who connects during a billing period. A contractor who connects once in a month counts as a full active user at $6 or $18. No prorating for partial use
Strengths
- Pro: Easy setup
- Pro: WireGuard based
- Pro: Great free tier
Weaknesses
- Con: Coordination server required
- Con: Learning curve for teams
Key features
Plans and prices: Authelia vs Tailscale
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Authelia |
| authelia.com read Sep 28, 2026 |
| Tailscale |
| tailscale.com/pricing read Nov 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Authelia pricing and Tailscale pricing.
Key Takeaways
Authelia
- Choose if you want open-source authentication and authorization server
Tailscale
- Choose if you want securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Tailscale has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 38 reviews); Authelia has none we can show.
- Tailscale starts at $8/user/mo, billed monthly; Authelia has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Authelia and Tailscale compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Tailscale has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 38 reviews); Authelia has none we can show. Tailscale starts at $8/user/mo, billed monthly; Authelia has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Authelia and Tailscale used for?
Authelia: Open-source authentication and authorization server. Tailscale: Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere.
What does Authelia cost vs Tailscale?
Authelia is free. Tailscale's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $8/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between Authelia and Tailscale?
Authelia's main strength: open source SSO. Tailscale's main strength: easy setup.