Tailscale

Tailscale is a mesh VPN client that links your devices into a private network built on top of the WireGuard protocol. Instead of routing traffic through a central VPN server, each device connects directly to the others over encrypted point-to-point tunnels, with NAT traversal handled automatically. Users sign in with an existing identity provider (Google, Microsoft, GitHub, and others) rather than managing separate VPN credentials.

Typical uses include reaching a home computer or NAS remotely, connecting to cloud servers and Kubernetes clusters without exposing them to the public internet, linking CI/CD pipelines to internal resources, and giving distributed teams access to internal services. Administration is handled through a web-based admin console where device access, sharing, and network policy (ACLs) are configured.

The Windows client installs as a background service with a system tray app for connecting, disconnecting, and viewing the devices on your network. It fits both personal use, where a single person links their own devices, and organizational use, where an administrator manages access for multiple employees and shared infrastructure.

Tailscale is best suited to individuals and teams who want secure remote access between devices without operating their own VPN server or opening ports on a router. Organizations with strict on-premises or air-gapped network requirements, or that need a fully self-hosted control plane rather than a hosted admin service, may want to evaluate alternatives such as self-hosted WireGuard or the open-source Headscale control server.