What is Tailscale?

Tailscale is a service that creates a private, secure network between your computers, phones, and servers, no matter where they are located. It works like a virtual private network (VPN) but is set up automatically and runs over the fast WireGuard protocol.

Let's break it down

  • Service: a company that provides the software and the coordination servers you need.
  • Private, secure network: a group of devices that can talk to each other safely, as if they were on the same local LAN.
  • Computers, phones, servers: any device that can run the Tailscale client.
  • No matter where they are located: works across home, office, cloud, or on the road.
  • Virtual private network (VPN): a way to encrypt traffic so only the devices in the network can read it.
  • Set up automatically: you just install the app and log in; Tailscale does the rest.
  • WireGuard protocol: a modern, very fast and secure way to encrypt internet traffic.

Why does it matter?

It lets you connect to your work files, development servers, or home devices from anywhere without dealing with complicated firewall rules or VPN hardware. This means you can work remotely, collaborate securely, and protect your data with minimal effort.

Where is it used?

  • Remote workers accessing internal company tools from home or coffee shops.
  • Developers linking together cloud VMs, local laptops, and test devices for a seamless testing environment.
  • Home automation enthusiasts connecting smart devices, NAS storage, and phones without opening ports to the internet.
  • Small gaming groups creating a low-latency, private LAN for multiplayer sessions.

Good things about it

  • Easy to set up: install, log in, and you’re connected.
  • Fast performance: uses WireGuard, which is lightweight and low-latency.
  • Works through NAT/firewalls: no need to open ports or configure routers.
  • Integrates with existing identity providers (Google, Microsoft, Okta, etc.) for authentication.
  • Cross-platform: clients for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and many cloud platforms.

Not-so-good things

  • Free tier limits: the free plan caps the number of devices and some advanced features.
  • Dependency on Tailscale’s coordination servers: if those services are down, new connections can’t be established.
  • Not a full-featured enterprise VPN: lacks some granular network policies and traffic-shaping tools found in traditional VPN appliances.
  • Requires admin rights on some devices to install the client, which can be a hurdle in locked-down corporate environments.