Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Psiphon VS TailScale

Compare Psiphon VS TailScale and see what are their differences

Psiphon logo Psiphon

Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

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.
  • Psiphon Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-16
  • TailScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Psiphon

Website
psiphon.ca
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

Psiphon features and specs

  • Open Source
    Psiphon is an open-source tool, allowing security experts and users to examine the code for vulnerabilities or backdoors.
  • Easy to Use
    Psiphon offers a user-friendly interface which makes it accessible for people who are not tech-savvy.
  • Multiple Platform Support
    It is available for Windows, Android, and iOS, which makes it versatile and usable across different devices.
  • Effective Censorship Circumvention
    Psiphon is effective at bypassing various forms of internet censorship, making it popular in regions with heavy internet restrictions.
  • Free Version Available
    Psiphon offers a free version with basic features, making it accessible to users without financial means.
  • Automatic Protocol Selection
    Psiphon automatically selects the best available protocol to ensure users can bypass censorship effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Psiphon

  • Speed Limitations
    The free version has limited speed, which may not be suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming or gaming.
  • Data Usage Logging
    Psiphon logs some data usage information on their servers. While not personal data, this could still be a concern for privacy-focused users.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version contains ads, which may interrupt the user experience or turn off potential users.
  • Not a Full VPN
    Psiphon is primarily a circumvention tool rather than a full-fledged VPN, lacking some security features found in dedicated VPN services.
  • Limited Server Locations
    Psiphon has fewer server locations compared to leading VPNs, which may affect connection speeds and access to geographically restricted content.

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.

Psiphon videos

Psiphon 3 Review!

More videos:

  • Review - UNLIMITED INTERNET NEW SET UP PSIPHON PRO VPN WORKING TO ALL NETWORK

TailScale videos

The Byte - Tailscale Private networks made easy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Psiphon and TailScale)
VPN
44 44%
56% 56
Cloud VPN
65 65%
35% 35
Security & Privacy
46 46%
54% 54
Security
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Psiphon Reviews

Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Psiphon is free and open-source software that is compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android devices.
Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
Why, when Psiphon is already deemed as one of the best VPNs out there, would you want to look for alternatives? There could honestly be a million reasons why you might not be satisfied with a specific service but when it comes to choosing a good VPN client, it all boils down to speed, privacy, and pricing. While Psiphon is known for offering top-tier security and good...
Turbo VPN Alternatives – Best Free VPN Apps For Android in 2022
If we talk about the features, Psiphon Pro has a global network featuring thousands of servers and diverse entry points. You don’t need to register any account or link your debit card; just download the app, and you can connect for free.
Source: techviral.net
10 Best Free Android VPN Apps For Your Smartphone In 2021
Psiphon Pro is an open-source, peer-reviewed and trustworthy VPN Android app, which will open access to everything on the Internet. Unlike other VPN apps for Android, Psiphon gives users options like always-on VPN and excludes selected apps from using VPN. By using these features you can always turn-on VPN by default and omit apps like banking and other payment apps by...
Source: techlog360.com
8 Best Turbo VPN Alternatives for Android and iOS
Psiphon Pro is one of the most transparent and secure VPNs out there, hence it’s a suitable alternative to Turbo VPN. It started as a proxy system at the University of Toronto, but now has evolved into a full-fledged VPN. The best part is that it’s completely open-source and does not log any user data, unlike Turbo VPN. Psiphon Pro utilizes multiple technologies like...
Source: beebom.com

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 Psiphon. While we know about 520 links to TailScale, we've tracked only 27 mentions of Psiphon. 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.

Psiphon mentions (27)

  • Fortiguard workaround?
    These should be able bypass FortiGuard. Speeds will be slow though. 1. Psiphon. 2. Your Freedom VPN. 3. Puffin Browser. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Mullvad is completely blocked in Russia
    Psiphon should work and it is free but they have limits on speed. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Youtube slow buffering in Converge
    Free: https://psiphon.ca/ Paid: Too many to list here. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What is a cheaper/easier method for VPN Torrenting?
    I have Xfinity and I've been using this for years after I saw ppl talk about it on my site's forums. The devs are always updating it weekly. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Bypassing University Internet Restrictions for Legal Purposes (to access my homeservers/raspberry Pis/VPS)
    The only thing that has worked for me so far is Psiphon VPN (https://psiphon.ca/), which has allowed me to access the normally blocked websites. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I'm interested in finding out if there's a way to replicate it. Thanks in advance for any answers or advice. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

TailScale mentions (520)

  • 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 / 9 days 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 / 20 days 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 / about 1 month 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 / about 1 month ago
  • Ask HN: What is the most secure way of baby monitoring?
    I dunno if the CIA would trust them but I like Amcrest cameras https://amcrest.com/ because they have a wide range of different price points and capabilities. Use these with software like https://zoneminder.com/ which you could run on a cheap Linux box. For secure access use https://tailscale.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

Windscribe - Windscribe is a desktop application and browser extension that work together to block ads and trackers, restore access to blocked content and help you safeguard your privacy online.

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel

Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.