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Alternatives · Remote Desktop

Tailscale alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Tailscale alternative for most people is RustDesk (3.0 GPA), third in our ranking of remote desktop apps. It's also the best free one.

Tailscale compared with 6 alternatives: ZeroTier, NoMachine, RustDesk, MeshCentral, TeamViewer and 1 more.

Tailscale has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8 per user / month. 5 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Tailscale sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
TailscaleThis toolFree plan · from $8/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
ZeroTierFree plan · from $18/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
NoMachineFree trial · from $24.50/yrTrial onlyWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
RustDeskFree plan · from $11.88/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
MeshCentralFreeFreeWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
TeamViewerFree plan · from $619.99/yrYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
MoonlightFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

Tailscale starts at $8 a month for each person and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 6 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

TeamViewer scores higher without starting lower. NoMachine, MeshCentral and Moonlight start lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessTailscaleZeroTierNoMachineRustDeskMeshCentralTeamViewer

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of remote desktop apps, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Tailscale

  1. ZeroTier

    Peer-to-peer virtual networks for devices, servers and sites

    • ZeroTier starts at $18 per month for 10 devices.

    Suits: Hobbyists linking a few home devices at no cost

    ZeroTier vs TailscaleZeroTier pricing and details

  2. NoMachine

    Self-hosted remote desktop sold as yearly server subscriptions

    • NoMachine starts at $24.50 per year (Personal Edition, one computer).
    • NoMachine has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Tailscale.
    • NoMachine also lists a web app.
    • NoMachine is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • NoMachine also covers remote desktop.

    Suits: Reaching your own home or office computer over your own network

    NoMachine vs TailscaleNoMachine pricing and details

  3. RustDesk

    Open-source remote desktop you can run on your own server

    • RustDesk starts at $11.88 per month, billed annually (Individual Server Pro, self-hosted).
    • RustDesk also lists a web app.
    • RustDesk is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • RustDesk also covers remote desktop.
    • RustDesk does not cover vPN, which Tailscale does.

    Suits: People who want a free remote desktop app for their own computers

    RustDesk vs TailscaleRustDesk pricing and details

  4. MeshCentral

    Self-hosted open-source remote device management site

    • MeshCentral is free.
    • MeshCentral also lists a web app.
    • MeshCentral lists no iOS and Android apps, which Tailscale has.
    • MeshCentral is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • MeshCentral also covers remote desktop.

    Suits: IT admins who want to host their own device management

    MeshCentral vs TailscaleMeshCentral pricing and details

  5. TeamViewer

    Remote access and IT support, free for personal use only

    • TeamViewer starts at $619.99 per year (Business, as an in-app purchase on the US App Store).
    • TeamViewer also lists a web app.
    • TeamViewer also covers remote desktop.
    • TeamViewer does not cover vPN, which Tailscale does.

    Suits: Helping friends and family with computer problems at no cost

    TeamViewer vs TailscaleTeamViewer pricing and details

  6. Moonlight

    Open-source client for streaming PC games to other devices

    • Moonlight is free.
    • Moonlight also covers remote desktop.
    • Moonlight does not cover vPN, which Tailscale does.

    Suits: Gamers streaming from a home PC to a phone, TV or laptop

    Moonlight vs TailscaleMoonlight pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Tailscale

  • Tailscale connects devices into a network; it does not show a remote screen by itself, so desktop access still needs a remote desktop or VNC program running over it.
  • The Personal plan is for non-commercial use only, and a tailnet on a company domain is treated as business use.
  • Just-in-time access, network flow logs and log streaming need Premium at $18 per user / month.
  • Tailscale's open source page says the clients and relay servers are open source but the coordination server is closed source; Headscale is a separate community-built alternative.
Tailscale pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Tailscale?

The alternatives to Tailscale in this directory are ZeroTier, NoMachine, RustDesk, MeshCentral, TeamViewer and Moonlight. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Tailscale.

Is there a free alternative to Tailscale?

Yes. MeshCentral and Moonlight are free to use. ZeroTier, RustDesk and TeamViewer have a free plan alongside paid ones.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.