Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Portmap.io VS TailScale

Compare Portmap.io VS TailScale and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Portmap.io logo Portmap.io

Expose your local PC to Internet from behind firewall and without real IP address

TailScale logo TailScale

Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.
  • Portmap.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-24
  • TailScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Portmap.io

Website
portmap.io
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

TailScale

$ Details
Release Date
2019 January
Startup details
Country
Canada
State
Ontario
City
Toronto
Founder(s)
Avery Pennarun
Employees
10 - 19

Portmap.io features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Portmap.io offers a simple interface that makes it easy for users to set up port forwarding without needing advanced networking knowledge.
  • Flexibility
    The service supports multiple tunneling protocols including OpenVPN and SSH, providing versatility depending on user needs.
  • Cost-effective
    Portmap.io offers both free and paid plans, allowing users to choose a service level that fits their budget while still providing essential features.
  • Compatibility
    The service is compatible with various operating systems, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • No Need for Static IP
    Users can access their internal services over the internet without requiring a static IP address.

Possible disadvantages of Portmap.io

  • Limited Bandwidth
    The free plan has bandwidth limitations that may not be suitable for high-traffic applications.
  • Security Concerns
    Using port forwarding services can introduce security risks if not properly configured or if the service has vulnerabilities.
  • Reliability
    As with many online services, there can be downtime or maintenance periods which may affect service availability.
  • Dependency on Third-party Service
    Relying on an external service for port forwarding can be a disadvantage if the service experiences issues or discontinues.
  • Configuration Limits
    Advanced users might find the configuration options somewhat limited compared to setting up port forwarding manually on their own networks.

TailScale features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    TailScale is easy to set up and configure. It provides a user-friendly interface and automates many complex networking tasks, making it accessible even for those with limited networking knowledge.
  • Security
    TailScale uses WireGuard for its underlying encryption, providing strong security for data transmitted across the network. End-to-end encryption ensures that your data remains safe from interception.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    TailScale supports a wide range of operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing for seamless integration across various devices and platforms.
  • Scalability
    TailScale can easily scale from small to large networks, making it suitable for both individual use and enterprise-level deployments.
  • NAT Traversal
    TailScale provides automatic NAT traversal, which simplifies the process of connecting devices behind different routers and firewalls without requiring complex port forwarding rules.

Possible disadvantages of TailScale

  • Dependency on TailScale's Infrastructure
    Using TailScale requires reliance on their central coordination servers for initial connection setup and identity management. This could be a concern if the service experiences downtime or other issues.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since TailScale routes initial connection metadata through their servers, some users may have privacy concerns, especially in highly sensitive environments.
  • Cost
    While TailScale offers a free tier, advanced features and larger-scale deployment options can be costly, potentially making it less suitable for budget-conscious users.
  • Limited Advanced Configuration
    TailScale's simplicity can be a downside for advanced users who require granular control and configuration options that go beyond what TailScale's interface offers.
  • Proprietary Software
    TailScale is a commercial product with proprietary elements, which might not appeal to open-source enthusiasts or organizations that prefer fully open-source solutions.

Analysis of Portmap.io

Overall verdict

  • Portmap.io is generally considered a good tool for its ease of use, reliability, and features such as SSL support and a user-friendly interface. However, users should be aware of potential security risks when exposing local services to the public internet.

Why this product is good

  • Portmap.io is a popular choice for users looking to expose local servers to the internet without dealing with complex network configurations like port forwarding. It provides a straightforward solution for developers wanting to test, share, or access services remotely.

Recommended for

    Developers, system administrators, and hobbyists who need to access local services remotely or those testing webhooks and other remote internet applications.

Analysis of TailScale

Overall verdict

  • Tailscale is highly regarded among users looking for a secure, reliable, and simple way to connect devices over the internet. Its straightforward approach to VPN management makes it a good choice for both personal and professional use cases. The integration with identity providers also streamlines user management, enhancing its appeal for business environments.

Why this product is good

  • Tailscale is often praised for its simplicity, security, and ease of use when managing VPNs. It allows users to connect devices in different locations and networks quickly without much configuration hassle. Tailscale leverages the WireGuard protocol, known for its speed and robust encryption, making the connections both fast and secure. Additionally, Tailscale's use of identity-based access control and multi-factor authentication enhances its security features. Its ability to traverse NAT and firewalls seamlessly is another advantage, reducing the setup complexity found in traditional VPN solutions.

Recommended for

  • Individuals needing secure remote access to personal devices.
  • Small teams and startups seeking a user-friendly VPN solution without complex infrastructure.
  • Businesses looking for scalable VPN solutions with support for user identity integration.
  • Developers and IT professionals needing secure remote access to internal tools and services.

Portmap.io videos

Port Forward without Router using portmap.io

More videos:

  • Review - portmap.io portforwarding with Android FUD RAT live practical hindi
  • Review - NJRAT LimeRAT Portmap.io - free port forwarding solution NJRAT LimeRAT

TailScale videos

The Byte - Tailscale Private networks made easy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Portmap.io and TailScale)
Localhost Tools
100 100%
0% 0
VPN
0 0%
100% 100
Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Portmap.io and TailScale. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Portmap.io and TailScale

Portmap.io Reviews

  1. WORST SERVICE i ever see

    Did not worked at all. No VPN connections, NO ssh connections... Did not work at all. No option to connect. Not working in my country and "No refund" :(

    I got fooled with such fake service. NOT RECOMMENDING. use ngrok instead. Better for 800% that this

    🏁 Competitors: Simple Port Forwarding
    👎 Cons:    Design|Price|Pricing|Ssh|Not working|Fake

TailScale Reviews

  1. Raoul Steadman

    They make the already great wireguard even better! Installation and configuration is a breeze, can easily connect to machines behind firewall(s) without altering anything.

    Definitely made life easier.


7 Ngrok Alternatives & Competitors for App Tunneling, Free & Paid
Tailscale allows you to create a secure virtual private network between your servers, computers, and cloud instances using the WireGuard protocol from a binary executable.
Source: onboardbase.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TailScale seems to be a lot more popular than Portmap.io. While we know about 521 links to TailScale, we've tracked only 34 mentions of Portmap.io. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Portmap.io mentions (34)

  • How do hackers hide their ip in reverse shells?
    I once used portmap.io for reverse shell in ethical hacking classes. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • OpenVPNnot working and i dont know what to do
    So I use portmap.io for OpenVPN like I saw in tutorials but I found out it is not working because my ip didn't change when I looked up what my ip was. Source: about 2 years ago
  • SSH into a personal computer in Jio Network using public IP
    I have a personal computer in the Jio Network at my home and I want to access it using ssh from another network. But in order to port forward my router I am stuck since Jio uses CGNAT if I am not mistaken and there is no use if I portforward. What other solutions do I have? I tried using portmap.io but I couldnt configure ssh in it (I dont want to use openVPN) so what other options do I have? Source: over 2 years ago
  • port forwarding/tunneling
    I'm basically looking for a free version of https://portmap.io/ -- they will do this, but custom domains are $4/month. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • port triggering to replace port forwarding
    I would recommend trying again with port forwarding, or some other solution like this: https://portmap.io/ which is a kind of reverse tunnel made for situations like yours. That site has a free tier which allows a single forward. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

TailScale mentions (521)

  • Golang for FFI Flutter Plugins
    But I only saw the usability of Go as an alternative to Python for scripting/CLI application development, and obviously for backend development. Especially when it comes to gRPC (but that's a story for another time). I never looked at Go as an option for the development of FFI Flutter plugins, until sometime last year, I got acquainted with Tailscale. Tailscale has built its products around Go, including mobile... - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • The Umbrel OS for home-lab, self-hosted tech solutions
    For example, the home networking, personal VPN, we may use Tailscale. https://tailscale.com/ which is also listed on the Umbrel App Store. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How I made my Home Server accessible outside my home
    Here then comes VPN (Virtual Private Network) which is basically establishes a protected network connection when using public networks. I already have relevant experiences with this one as some of my previous projects involves private repositories that can only be accessed by connecting into the client's VPN. There are many solutions for this specific use case like WireGuard, but in this particular blog, I chose... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Optimizing My Dev Workflow in 2025
    I had 2 old laptops sitting around, both 10 years old. I turned both into a home server. Installed Ubuntu Server, set up Docker, and now I run all my containers remotely. With Tailscale, I can securely connect to it like it's on the same network. This way, my MacBook doesn't have to run MongoDB, Redis, or RabbitMQ anymore. That alone freed up a lot of memory. I can even run other services like HomeAssistant,... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Again self-hosting! on k3s
    Then I wanted to add Tailscle which besides being a "best in class VPN" for the homelabbers, allows you to add k8s services directly into your tailnet. What does it mean? The Tailscale operator allows you to access your k8s applications only when you are logged into your private Network (tailnet), with the usage of your domain for ended with ts.net. You can configure it in two ways on the resource side, with... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Portmap.io and TailScale, you can also consider the following products

ngrok - ngrok enables secure introspectable tunnels to localhost webhook development tool and debugging tool.

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

localhost.run - Instantly share your localhost environment!

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

sish - An open source serveo/ngrok alternative. HTTP(S)/WS(S)/TCP Tunnels to localhost using only SSH.

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel