Tailscale vs Private Internet Access

Tailscale8.7Visit Private Internet Access8.2Visit

Higher score Tailscale #4 in Vpn Client 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Tailscale

vs

Private Internet Access #8 in Vpn Client 8.2/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 2 features Visit site

• Tailscale fits best

  Teams connecting private networks across clouds

• Private Internet Access fits best

  Budget-conscious users with many devices

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Side by side

Feature	Tailscale 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Private Internet Access 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.2
Ranking	#4 in Vpn Client	#8 in Vpn Client
Best for	Teams connecting private networks across clouds	Budget-conscious users with many devices
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$3.99/mo (best)
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	14 days	7 days
Free trial length	14 days	7 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support	Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Compliance	SOC 2	2FA
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Tailscale 0/2 · Private Internet Access 1/2
Kill switch	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Split tunneling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Simultaneous connections	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
VPN protocols	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Server locations	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Connects private cloud networks through subnet routers and overlay networking Integrates with identity providers including Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and GitHub Offers Terraform and Pulumi integrations alongside clients for major platforms	Unlimited simultaneous connections across supported devices WireGuard, OpenVPN, split tunneling, and a kill switch 91-country network with P2P and streaming-optimized servers
Cons	Personal is limited to 6 users and 3 ACL groups Standard costs $8 per user per month; Premium costs $18 Enterprise uses custom pricing and bundling	No free plan; the 7-day trial is limited to first-time mobile subscribers Monthly billing costs more than the annual plan Port forwarding is available only on selected servers
Our verdict	Tailscale creates encrypted networks connecting users, devices, servers, cloud environments, Kubernetes clusters, and workloads. Its VPN-style connectivity is aimed at teams that need private access across clouds or regions, as well as… Read the review →	Private Internet Access is a subscription VPN for individuals and teams who want encrypted internet traffic, IP address masking, and broad device coverage. Its apps and browser extension support Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Tailscale — where it wins

  • Connects private cloud networks through subnet routers and overlay networking
  • Integrates with identity providers including Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and GitHub
  • Offers Terraform and Pulumi integrations alongside clients for major platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Personal is limited to 6 users and 3 ACL groups
  • Standard costs $8 per user per month; Premium costs $18
  • Enterprise uses custom pricing and bundling

• Private Internet Access — where it wins

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections across supported devices
  • WireGuard, OpenVPN, split tunneling, and a kill switch
  • 91-country network with P2P and streaming-optimized servers

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; the 7-day trial is limited to first-time mobile subscribers
  • Monthly billing costs more than the annual plan
  • Port forwarding is available only on selected servers

• Tailscale8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  Encrypted private networking with subnet routing, access controls, and a free Personal plan.

  Visit TailscaleFull verdict →
• Private Internet Access8.2/10 · 7-day trial

  A feature-rich VPN with broad platform support and low annual pricing.

  Visit siteFull verdict →