Tailscale vs. NetBird

Zero-trust peer-to-peer VPN solutions are ideal for companies looking to simplify secure remote access. In this sense, Tailscale is renowned for its ability to abstract away the complexity associated with traditional VPNs. However, it may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Enter NetBird, a zero-trust peer-to-peer VPN with innovative features, making it an alternative to Tailscale.

In this comparison, we'll explore how each tool approaches various network administrative tasks, helping you decide which best meets your organization's needs.

Let’s start with an overview of the key features that Tailscale and NetBird have to offer.

TL;DR: Tailscale and NetBird Killer Features


Access Control	Through the JSON policy file using ACL syntax	Through groups and policies that are easy to understand and manage from the admin console.
Activity Logging & Streaming	Detailed network configuration and activity logging. Offers multiple log streaming destinations like ELK, Datadog, S3	Same functionality. Offers multiple log streaming destinations like Datadog, AWS S3 and Firehose
DNS Management	Allows you to access devices using their names instead of IP addresses and set up private DNS servers.	Same functionality but uses distribution groups to apply DNS configuration for easier management.
EDR Integration and Posture Checks	Support CrowdStrike Falcon integration; however, you must edit Tailscale access rules (JSON policy file) to add posture rules.	Also supports CrowdStrike Falcon integration, but the configuration is done using distribution groups.
Enterprise-Level Support	Yes, on the Enterprise plan.	Yes, on the Enterprise plan.
Free Tier / Trial	Free tier, up to 3 users (with public domain) and 100 devices	Free tier, up to 5 users and 100 devices
Network Architecture	Peer-to-Peer via userspace WireGuard	Peer-to-Peer via userspace or kernel WireGuard (Linux)
Network Routes (subnet routing)	Configuring network routes involves enabling IP forwarding on the subnet router device, advertising subnet routes using the Tailscale CLI, approving the subnet route in the Tailscale admin console, and updating access rules in the tailnet policy file to allow communication with the advertised subnets. Supports integration with Mullvad VPN for exit nodes.	NetBird uses distribution and peer groups to apply routing configurations to groups of machines. NetBird doesn’t require route advertising, eliminating the need for peers to manually specify networks they route traffic too. It also offers highly available routes mode out-of-the-box. Doesn’t offer an integration with Mullvad VPN for exit nodes.
Open Source	Only the client agent	Both the client agent and the coordination server
Peer Management	Supports basic operations like editing, deleting, renaming, and displaying machine status/IP. However, it requires editing the JSON policy file using ACL syntax to assign peer permissions.	In addition to performing basic operations like editing, deleting, renaming, and displaying machine status/IP, it also displays the country from which the peer is connected. Offers automated peer configuration with groups.
Pricing Model Differences	Exit nodes are available for all plans. However, for highly available routes, you must subscribe to the Premium ($18 per user per month) or Enterprise plan. The same goes for advanced/custom identity providers.	Highly available routes and exit nodes are available for all plans, including the free tier. The Team plan supports advanced identity providers and groups ($5 per user per month).
Remote Network Access	Supports SSH and RDP access as well as secure file transfer between peers.	Supports SSH and RDP access as well as secure file transfer between peers.
Self-Hosted Coordination Server	No, the coordination server is part of the control plane and is fully managed by Tailscale.	Yes, both SaaS and self-hosted coordination server options are available.
User Authentication	Support popular SSO providers and MFA. However, only the more expensive plans support SSO with custom identity providers. User and group provisioning available in the Enterprise plan.	Support popular SSO providers and MFA in the free plan and advanced identity providers from the Team plan onwards. User and group provisioning available in the Team plan as well.

Peer Management

Tailscale supports basic peer management operations like editing, deleting, renaming, and displaying user status and IP address. However, you need to edit the tailnet policy file using ACL syntax to update peer permissions. This method provides flexibility but involves a steeper learning curve and manual configuration.

NetBird supports the same peer management operations but also displays the country with which the peer connects. The entire peer and network management is done using a group-based approach, which helps speed up peer management and configuration. This approach simplifies peer management, making the process more efficient and user-friendly without the need for complex manual adjustments.

Self-Hosted Option

Tailscale offers only the client agent as an open-source component, meaning that you have no control over the backend infrastructure and must rely on Tailscale's servers for peer coordination and management (more on this shortly).

NetBird provides a fully open-source solution, including both the client agent (including iOS and Android apps) and the coordination server. This approach allows users to self-host the entire system, offering greater transparency and control over the entire infrastructure without dependency on a third-party service. That said, NetBird also offers a fully managed coordination server aimed at organizations that prefer the convenience of a SaaS model.

Network Architecture

Tailscale uses a peer-to-peer network architecture facilitated by userspace WireGuard. This setup allows for secure and efficient connections directly between devices without the need for intermediate servers. However, it operates entirely in userspace, which may impact performance compared to kernel implementations.

NetBird employs a peer-to-peer network architecture with the flexibility to use either userspace or kernel WireGuard on Linux. This dual approach provides the benefits of userspace WireGuard's ease of use and the enhanced performance of kernel WireGuard, particularly on Linux systems, allowing for optimized network performance and security.

UI/UX and Usability

Tailscale is designed to be easy to use, but it does have a steeper learning curve compared to NetBird. While the interface is intuitive, setting up and managing connections might require a bit more time and familiarity, especially for users new to VPNs and networking concepts. We'll go into more depth on this when we discuss access control and network routing.

NetBird focuses heavily on user experience, making it exceptionally easy to set up and use. The interface is streamlined, and the onboarding process is straightforward, minimizing the time needed to get started. This emphasis on usability ensures that even those with minimal technical background can quickly configure and manage their VPN connections.

Remote Server Access

Tailscale offers remote network access with support for SSH and RDP access. It provides secure file transfer between peers, ensuring data integrity and privacy.

NetBird, on the other hand, offers the same functionality, with support for secure SSH and RDP access, along with secure file transfer between peers.

Similar to Tailscale, NetBird's client agent runs an embedded SSH server and automatically distributes SSH keys through the central coordination server simplifying the process of granting and revoking SSH access to remote servers.

Tailscale integrates with the local SSH client, whereas NetBird requires using the command netbird ssh <server>, as it has an embedded SSH client.

Access Control

Tailscale manages access control through the ‘tailnet policy file’ using ACL syntax. This file is central for defining user and machine permissions, meaning many routine tasks require modifying it. Although Tailscale provides an online editor within the admin console to adjust these settings, it demands familiarity with ACL syntax and JSON syntax. This complexity introduces a steeper learning curve, making it more challenging for users who are not well-versed in these formats.

NetBird simplifies access control with a more user-friendly approach. Instead of relying on ACL syntax, it uses intuitive UI controls such as buttons and dropdown lists. This visual experience allows admins to manage groups and policies directly from the admin console more easily. Moreover, this approach enhances usability and productivity as it makes routine tasks much easier to perform, especially for those without a technical background.

Network Routes (subnet routing)

Configuring network routes in Tailscale is a multi-step process that requires several configurations across different tools. First, you need to enable IP forwarding on the subnet router device. Then, you must advertise subnet routes using the Tailscale CLI. Once advertised, these routes need to be approved in the Tailscale admin console. Finally, you have to update the access rules in the tailnet policy file to allow communication with the advertised subnets. This process, involving the CLI, admin console, and tailnet policy file, can be cumbersome and requires a good understanding of each component. It is worth mentioning though, that Tailscale supports an integration with Mullvad VPN for exit nodes, which can provide extra privacy and security for internet-bound traffic, a feature that NetBird lacks.

That said, NetBird offers a much more streamlined and automated approach to network routes through its innovative use of distribution and peer groups. Distribution groups automate the application of configurations (like routing, DNS, etc.) to groups of peers (machines). Peer groups automate the configuration of routing peers and exit nodes, eliminating the need for peers to specify the routes they handle manually. This automation dramatically simplifies the process of setting up and managing network routes. With these groups, admins can easily manage routing configurations without delving into complex CLI commands or modifying policy files. Furthermore, NetBird offers high availability mode out-of-the-box for all plans, ensuring that network routes remain reliable and resilient without additional configuration, while with Tailscale, you need to subscribe to the Premium tier to benefit from this feature.

DNS Management

Tailscale allows you to access devices using their names instead of IP addresses and supports setting up private DNS servers. This simplifies network management, identification, and access.

NetBird offers the same functionality, allowing access to devices by name and the setup of private DNS servers. However, it uses distribution groups to apply DNS configurations, making management easier and intuitive. NetBird supports match domains that allow to route queries to specific nameservers, which is useful for internal DNS configurations that only internal servers can resolve.

User Authentication

Tailscale supports popular SSO providers and MFA, enhancing security and ease of access. However, SSO with custom identity providers is only available in the more expensive plans. Additionally, user and group provisioning is a feature exclusive to the Enterprise plan, which may limit flexibility and increase costs for smaller organizations needing advanced identity management capabilities.

NetBird offers strong user authentication features, supporting popular identity providers with SSO and MFA in the free plan. In the free plan, MFA comes from the identity provider. For example, if you use Google, Microsoft, or GitHub and have MFA configured there, it will be provisioned to NetBird automatically. Advanced identity providers are available from the Team plan onwards, which ensures that robust authentication options are accessible without requiring the highest tier plans. Furthermore, user and group provisioning is available, providing comprehensive identity management across different plan levels, which makes it a more cost-effective and flexible choice for various organizational needs.

Activity Logging & Streaming

Tailscale provides detailed network configuration and activity logging, which is crucial for monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining network security. It supports multiple log streaming destinations, including ELK, Datadog, and S3. This flexibility allows organizations to integrate Tailscale logs with their existing monitoring and analytics tools seamlessly. The broad range of supported destinations gives Tailscale a slight advantage, offering more integration options to suit various logging and monitoring ecosystems.

NetBird also offers comprehensive network configuration and activity logging , which is essential for effective network management and security. It supports log streaming to multiple destinations like Datadog, AWS S3, and Firehose. While this functionality is robust, the fewer log streaming options compared to Tailscale might limit integration flexibility for some users. However, for those using the supported destinations, NetBird provides reliable and efficient logging capabilities.

EDR Integration and Posture Checks

Tailscale supports integration with CrowdStrike Falcon, an essential feature for enhancing endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. This allows organizations to enforce security posture checks, ensuring devices meet security standards before accessing the network. Configuring these posture rules requires editing the Tailscale access rules in the tailnet policy file. This approach, while powerful, necessitates familiarity with the tailnet policy file and ACL syntax, adding complexity to the setup process.

NetBird also supports integration with CrowdStrike Falcon , providing similar EDR capabilities and security posture checks. The configuration is managed through distribution groups, which simplifies the process. By using a more visual and automated approach, NetBird makes it easier to enforce security policies without needing to modify complex configuration files. This user-friendly method ensures that maintaining a secure network is straightforward and less error-prone, making it accessible even to those with less technical expertise. NetBird also supports device security posture checks like OS, running processes checks and contextual checks like geo and network location, ensuring that devices meet security standards before accessing the network.

All in all, Tailscale and NetBird offer support for EDR integration, with differences in the way they are configured that are inherent to the usability philosophy of each.

Pricing Model Differences

Tailscale's exit nodes are available on all plans. However, highly available routes and advanced/custom identity providers require the Premium ($18 per user per month) or Enterprise plan. Enterprise-level support is only available on the Enterprise plan.

NetBird offers highly available routes and exit nodes on all plans, including the free tier. The Team plan ($5 per user per month) supports advanced identity providers and user and group provisioning. Enterprise-level support is also available on the Enterprise plan. This structure provides a better cost-benefit ratio, making advanced features more accessible at lower tiers.