Tailscale vs. ZeroTier: A Comparison of Two Modern VPN Solutions

Tailscale vs. ZeroTier: A Comparison of Two Modern VPN Solutions

In today’s ever-connected world, securely accessing remote devices, whether for personal or professional use, has become essential. Traditional VPNs often come with significant configuration overhead, tricky firewall setups, or limited flexibility. However, newer solutions like Tailscale and ZeroTier aim to simplify the process while providing robust, decentralized connectivity. Let's explore both, comparing their core features, ease of use, and how they handle different networking needs.

What Are Tailscale and ZeroTier?

Both Tailscale and ZeroTier are modern VPN solutions designed to make private networking simpler and more user-friendly. They allow devices to communicate as if they are on the same local network, no matter where they are in the world. However, their underlying approaches and features differ.

Tailscale

Tailscale is built on top of the WireGuard protocol, offering a peer-to-peer VPN mesh network with a focus on ease of use. By abstracting the complexities of VPN setup, Tailscale allows users to create secure private networks with minimal configuration, even behind firewalls or NAT (Network Address Translation).

Key Features:

• WireGuard Under the Hood: Tailscale uses the highly regarded WireGuard protocol, known for its lightweight nature and cryptographic strength.
• Easy Setup and Use: Tailscale's primary selling point is its user-friendly nature. With a simple install and authentication process (typically via an OAuth provider like Google or Microsoft), users can have a fully functional private network within minutes.
• Automatic NAT Traversal: Tailscale handles NAT traversal using the DERP relay network, meaning no complex port forwarding or firewall rules are necessary.
• Zero Trust Networking: Tailscale integrates with your identity provider to establish identity-based access controls, reducing reliance on a central VPN server.
• Split Tunneling: You can easily configure split tunneling, allowing you to route only certain traffic through the VPN while maintaining direct access to the rest of the internet.

ZeroTier

ZeroTier, on the other hand, provides a more versatile platform that acts as both a VPN and a virtual Ethernet switch. It offers more flexibility in network configurations but with slightly more complexity than Tailscale.

Key Features:

• Flexible Networking: ZeroTier acts as a full Layer 2 (Ethernet) network, meaning you can create highly customizable virtual networks, including bridging, VLANs, and multicast traffic.
• Decentralized Architecture: ZeroTier’s decentralized network approach removes the need for centralized servers. You can even host your own controller for complete control over your network.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: ZeroTier works on nearly every platform, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and even network appliances like routers.
• Advanced Network Control: You can assign IPs, configure NAT, set up routing, and even run local traffic directly between devices with advanced customization options.
• Public and Private Networks: ZeroTier offers both public and private networks, allowing users to choose their preferred level of openness or isolation.

Comparison: Tailscale vs. ZeroTier

1. Ease of Use

• Tailscale is designed with simplicity in mind. The entire setup process takes a few minutes, and once installed, devices appear automatically in your dashboard. There’s no need to manually manage IP addresses or routing unless you want to. Tailscale is ideal for users who want quick, hassle-free private networking.
• ZeroTier offers more customization but at the cost of simplicity. While setting up a basic network isn’t difficult, configuring advanced features like VLANs or custom routing may require more networking knowledge.

2. Underlying Technology

• Tailscale leverages WireGuard, providing the performance and security benefits of this lightweight VPN protocol. WireGuard’s cryptographic design offers faster speeds and fewer vulnerabilities compared to traditional VPN protocols.
• ZeroTier uses its own custom protocol, which operates at Layer 2. This makes it more flexible for use cases that need advanced networking features like bridging or full mesh networks.

3. Network Performance

• Tailscale is optimized for speed and simplicity. Since it uses WireGuard, it benefits from low overhead and fast encryption/decryption, which generally results in better performance compared to other VPN protocols.
• ZeroTier is also performant, but due to its broader scope of features, it may introduce more overhead, especially when used in complex networking setups. For basic setups, however, performance differences are often negligible.

4. Use Cases

• Tailscale excels in scenarios where you need secure access to remote devices or internal services without much configuration. It’s perfect for remote teams needing access to internal company services, personal use to connect home devices, or small businesses seeking a secure private network.
• ZeroTier is a better fit for users who need complex networking capabilities, such as running an extended virtual LAN over multiple locations, connecting cloud resources across different regions, or building multi-tenant environments with isolated network segments.

5. Security

• Tailscale inherits the security benefits of WireGuard, which is well-audited and highly regarded for its minimal attack surface. It also integrates with identity providers (e.g., Google, Microsoft) to simplify access management.
• ZeroTier has robust encryption and security features, but since it operates at Layer 2, you have more flexibility to handle security policies. It requires a more hands-on approach for advanced security setups.

6. Pricing

• Tailscale offers a free plan for personal use, which is quite generous, including up to 100 devices in their network. Paid plans add features like centralized ACLs (Access Control Lists) and support for larger teams.
• ZeroTier is open-source, and for basic usage, it’s free. There are paid plans available that offer premium features, such as additional nodes and professional support.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Tailscale if you prioritize simplicity, performance, and easy setup. It’s perfect for users who want a secure, low-maintenance VPN solution without needing advanced networking features.
• Choose ZeroTier if you need greater flexibility and advanced networking capabilities. For users who are comfortable with networking concepts and need more control over their virtual networks, ZeroTier is a fantastic option.

Conclusion

Both Tailscale and ZeroTier are powerful tools for creating private networks. Tailscale shines in its simplicity, leveraging WireGuard’s strengths to provide a fast and secure VPN without the complexity of traditional setups. ZeroTier, with its Layer 2 capabilities, offers more customization and control, making it a favorite for advanced users and more intricate networking needs.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific use case. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use solution that "just works," Tailscale is likely the better option. If you need advanced network control and are comfortable with a bit more complexity, ZeroTier offers unparalleled flexibility.