Tailscale alternatives · Remote Desktop
Alternatives to Tailscale with a one-time purchase
The Tailscale listing shows no one-time purchase. 7 of the 85 other remote desktop apps in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Tailscale has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8 per user / month. 5 of them are free or have a free plan.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
How each one differs from Tailscale
- Free plan · from $4.17/mo
Getscreen.me
Browser-based remote access for IT teams, with a free two-device plan
- Getscreen.me starts at $4.17 per technician / month, billed annually, plus a charge per device. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Only Getscreen.me lists a web app.
- Only Getscreen.me lists a browser extension.
- Only Tailscale lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Jump Desktop
Remote desktop with one-time app licences and a per-user team plan
- Jump Desktop starts at $14.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad app); Teams from $7.99 per user / month, yearly. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Only Jump Desktop lists a web app.
- Jump Desktop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Tailscale is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Free trial · from $49 one-time
Radmin
Windows remote control software sold as a one-time license per PC
- Radmin starts at $49 per remote computer, one-time. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Tailscale has a free plan. Radmin does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tailscale lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Radmin can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $10 one-time
LiteManager
Remote desktop software with a free edition and lifetime licenses
- LiteManager starts at $10 per controlled computer, one-time license. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- LiteManager can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Tailscale is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- LiteManager also covers file sharing and remote desktop.
- Free plan · from $119/yr
Xshell
SSH terminal for Windows with session, tab and file managers
- Xshell starts at $119 per user, perpetual, with 1 year of maintenance. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Only Tailscale lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Xshell can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Tailscale is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Free trial · from $119/yr
SecureCRT
SSH, Telnet and serial terminal for Windows, macOS and Linux
- SecureCRT starts at $119 per user, with 1 year of updates. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Tailscale has a free plan. SecureCRT does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tailscale lists an Android app.
- SecureCRT can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Unified Remote
Phone app that works as a remote control for a computer
- Unified Remote starts at $4.99 one-time, per platform. Tailscale starts at $8 per user / month.
- Unified Remote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Tailscale is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Unified Remote also covers remote desktop.
Common questions
Is there an alternative to Tailscale that you buy once?
Yes. Getscreen.me, Jump Desktop, Radmin, LiteManager, Xshell, SecureCRT and Unified Remote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Can you buy Tailscale once instead of subscribing?
The Tailscale listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Nov 12, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these remote desktop apps are free?
Getscreen.me, Jump Desktop, LiteManager, Xshell and Unified Remote are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Tailscale: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.