OpenVPN 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 OpenVPN and Tailscale side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, OpenVPN leads on lower entry price; Tailscale leads on higher user rating. 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:
OpenVPN
Open-source VPN protocol and software
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard 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 | OpenVPN | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $7/mo, billed monthly Growth plan | Free plan, paid from $8/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | VPN Security | Cloud & Infrastructure Security |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.5 · Trustpilot 2.7 574 reviews | 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 OpenVPN or Tailscale?
Choose OpenVPN if
- You want industry standard VPN
- You want self-hostable
- Budget matters ($7/mo, billed monthly vs $8/user/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in VPN, not cloud & infrastructure
Choose Tailscale if
- You want easy setup
- You want WireGuard based
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not VPN
In-Depth Analysis
OpenVPN
Open-source VPN protocol and software
OpenVPN offers a very generous entry point with its free Community and Access Server tiers, making it highly accessible.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard VPN
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good security
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Wide compatibility
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex setup
- Con: Performance vs WireGuard
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Manual management
- Con: UI dated
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: OpenVPN vs Tailscale
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN |
| openvpn.net/pricing read Nov 1, 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 OpenVPN pricing and Tailscale pricing.
Key Takeaways
OpenVPN
- Lower entry price: $7/mo, billed monthly vs $8/user/mo, billed monthly
Tailscale
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.3/5
What the data shows
On the data below, OpenVPN leads on lower entry price; Tailscale leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Tailscale has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 574 reviews for OpenVPN, 4.8/5 from 38 reviews for Tailscale).
- OpenVPN has the lower entry price: $7/mo, billed monthly (Growth) against $8/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) for Tailscale.
- 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 OpenVPN and Tailscale compare in 2026?
On the data below, OpenVPN leads on lower entry price; Tailscale leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Tailscale has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 574 reviews for OpenVPN, 4.8/5 from 38 reviews for Tailscale). OpenVPN has the lower entry price: $7/mo, billed monthly (Growth) against $8/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) for Tailscale. Both have a free plan.
What are OpenVPN and Tailscale used for?
OpenVPN: Open-source VPN protocol and software. Tailscale: Securely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere.
What does OpenVPN cost vs Tailscale?
OpenVPN's cheapest paid plan is Growth at $7/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 OpenVPN and Tailscale?
OpenVPN's main strength: industry standard VPN. Tailscale's main strength: easy setup.