Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TailScale VS Firezone

Compare TailScale VS Firezone and see what are their differences

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.

Firezone logo Firezone

Firezone is a remote access platform thatโ€™s painless to deploy, easy to manage, and built on WireGuardยฎ to be blazing fast. Best of all it's self-hosted and open-source.
  • TailScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17
  • Firezone Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-30

Use Firezone to manage secure remote access to applications in your private cloud, funnel traffic through a single egress gateway for your team, establish a reverse tunnel to a host behind NAT, or simply ensure that the first hop from your teams' laptops is encrypted when connecting from untrusted cafe and airport WiFi.

product demo

Features:

  • WireGuardยฎ Support - Built on top of the WireGuardยฎ protocol for performance and stability.
  • Web GUI Management - Manage your VPN and firewall server through an intuitive web GUI.
  • Self-Hosted - Deploy on your own hardware or infrastructure in minutes.
  • Single Sign On (SSO) - Authenticate with any identity provider with an OpenID Connect (OIDC) connector.
  • Open-Source - Firezone is distributed under Apache License 2.0. Check it out on Github.
  • TOTP-based MFA - Enforce multi-factor authentication using a time-based one-time password.
  • Observability - Configurable logging of usage activity by peers.
  • Firewall included - Only allow the traffic you need and prevent traffic from going to unwanted hosts.

TailScale

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

Firezone

$ Details
freemium
Platforms
Windows Linux Mac OSX iOS
Release Date
2021 September

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.

Firezone features and specs

  • Users
    Unlimited
  • Devices
    Unlimited
  • Split Tunnel
  • WireGuard

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.

TailScale videos

The Byte - Tailscale Private networks made easy

Firezone videos

Deploy Firezone on AWS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TailScale and Firezone)
VPN
96 96%
4% 4
Security & Privacy
95 95%
5% 5
Cloud VPN
92 92%
8% 8
Localhost Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using TailScale and Firezone. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

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

Firezone Reviews

We have no reviews of Firezone yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TailScale seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 543 times since March 2021. 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.

TailScale mentions (543)

View more

Firezone mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Firezone yet. Tracking of Firezone recommendations started around Jun 2022.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TailScale and Firezone, you can also consider the following products

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

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

Tunnelblick - free software for OpenVPN on OS X and macOS

Netmaker - Netmaker automates mesh VPN's and software-defined networks using WireGuard.

Cisco Anyconnect Secure Mobility Client - Get much more than industry-leading VPN client connectivity. Cisco AnyConnect protects your enterprise resources through a single agent. See how.