Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TailScale VS ExpressVPN

Compare TailScale VS ExpressVPN 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.

ExpressVPN logo ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the worlds fastest VPN service.
  • TailScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17
  • ExpressVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

TailScale

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

ExpressVPN

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

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.

ExpressVPN features and specs

  • High Speed
    ExpressVPN offers some of the fastest connection speeds available in the VPN market, which is ideal for activities like streaming and gaming.
  • Wide Server Network
    With servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN provides extensive global coverage, allowing users to access content from a wide range of locations.
  • Strong Security
    ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, which is considered military-grade, along with other security protocols to ensure user data remains secure.
  • No-Logs Policy
    The company has a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited to verify that user activities are not tracked or stored.
  • Ease of Use
    The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it a good option for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Reliable Customer Support
    24/7 customer support through live chat and email ensures that any issues or questions can be resolved quickly.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressVPN

  • Price
    ExpressVPN is relatively expensive compared to other VPN providers, which might be a barrier for budget-conscious users.
  • Limited Simultaneous Connections
    Only allows up to 5 simultaneous device connections per subscription, which may not be sufficient for users with multiple devices.
  • No Free Trial
    ExpressVPN does not offer a free trial. While they do provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, some users prefer to try a service without any financial commitment.

TailScale videos

The Byte - Tailscale Private networks made easy

ExpressVPN videos

ExpressVPN review: Is it worth your money?

More videos:

  • Review - ExpressVPN Review 2020 - What Other Reviewers Don't TELL YOU!
  • Review - ExpressVPN Review 2019 - MOST HONEST REVIEW ON YOUTUBE!
  • Tutorial - ExpressVPN Review 2022: How to get HIGHEST Speed??
  • Review - ExpressVPN Review 2022: Pros & Cons - Unbiased VPN Review
  • Review - ExpressVPN Review 2022 🔥 Everything you need to know on Express VPN

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TailScale and ExpressVPN)
VPN
58 58%
42% 42
Security & Privacy
48 48%
52% 52
Cloud VPN
49 49%
51% 51
Localhost Tools
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 TailScale and ExpressVPN

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

ExpressVPN Reviews

The Best Top 10 VPNs for Spotify 2025
ExpressVPN is a popular choice for Spotify users, offering fast and secure connections to its vast network of servers. With a user-friendly interface and 24/7 customer support, ExpressVPN is perfect for music lovers.
Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
ExpressVPN is one of the leading VPN providers in the world. The kill switch or the Network Lock in ExpressVPN ensures there’s no data or IP leak when the VPN tunnel is compromised. Furthermore, this software is carefully engineered to secure user privacy.
Best 5 Psiphon Alternatives in 2023
ExpressVPN is deemed as one of the best VPN services to have ever existed, and we can see why. It offers a reliable and fast connection no matter where you live. With speeds up to 580Mbps and over 3000 servers, ExpressVPN is a pretty good value even at the slightly expensive monthly subscription fee. However, a big downside to ExpressVPN in our opinion is the measly 5 device...
10 Best Hamachi Alternatives for Virtual LAN Gaming
ExpressVpn’s network is SSL secured with 256-bit encryption. This VPN is perfect for those who want to secure their computer, tablet, smartphone, or router in just one click.
Source: techviral.net
The Best NordVPN Alternatives in 2022
ExpressVPN is hands-down on top of the list when it comes to VPN service providers. It features unlimited speed, bandwidth, and server switches — plus best-in-class security and encryption. What’s great about this service is it lets users browse from 160 locations with thousands of servers in 94 countries and offers support for every major operating system such as Windows,...
Source: www.alphr.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TailScale seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 520 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 (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 / 8 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 / 18 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

ExpressVPN mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ExpressVPN yet. Tracking of ExpressVPN recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

NordVPN - NordVPN offers VPN technology that encrypts data twice.

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

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

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel

Hamachi - Hamachi is a VPN service scaled to the unique needs of business owners.