Netmaker 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 Netmaker and Tailscale side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Tailscale leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall 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:
Netmaker
WireGuard network management platform
Best for you if:
- • You want open source VPN
Tailscale
Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere
Best for you if:
- • You want easy setup
| At a Glance | Netmaker | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $38/mo, billed monthly Team plan | Free plan, paid from $8/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Cloud & Infrastructure VPN | 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 Netmaker or Tailscale?
Choose Netmaker if
- You want open source VPN
- You want WireGuard based
Choose Tailscale if
- You want easy setup
- You want WireGuard based
- Budget matters ($8/user/mo, billed monthly vs $38/mo, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
Netmaker
WireGuard network management platform
Netmaker offers a generous free Community tier for self-hosters, providing unlimited usage for core networking.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source VPN
- Pro: WireGuard based
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good UI
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Documentation improving
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Tailscale alternative
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: Netmaker vs Tailscale
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Netmaker |
| netmaker.io/pricing read Oct 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 Netmaker pricing and Tailscale pricing.
Key Takeaways
Netmaker
- Choose if you want WireGuard network management platform
Tailscale
- Lower entry price: $8/user/mo, billed monthly vs $38/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Tailscale leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Tailscale has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 38 reviews); Netmaker has none we can show.
- Tailscale has the lower entry price: $8/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $38/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Netmaker.
- 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 Netmaker and Tailscale compare in 2026?
On the data below, Tailscale leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Tailscale has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 38 reviews); Netmaker has none we can show. Tailscale has the lower entry price: $8/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $38/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Netmaker. Both have a free plan.
What are Netmaker and Tailscale used for?
Netmaker: WireGuard network management platform. Tailscale: Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere.
What does Netmaker cost vs Tailscale?
Netmaker's cheapest paid plan is Team at $38/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. 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 Netmaker and Tailscale?
Netmaker's main strength: open source VPN. Tailscale's main strength: easy setup.