Tailscale vs TeamViewer (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Tailscale if

• Fits if you want to reach a home computer, NAS or server from outside without opening ports
• Works for a small team that needs a private link between laptops and servers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to see and control a remote screen, because it only connects devices and needs a separate remote desktop tool
• Not for you if the network is for work and you want it free, as Personal is non-commercial only
• Tight if you need more than 3 ACL groups on the free plan, since Standard at $8 a user raises that to 10
• Pricey if you need just-in-time access or flow logs, which start on Premium at $18 per user a month
• Watch out: the coordination server is closed source, per Tailscale's own open source page

Pick TeamViewer if

• Fits if you're the one the family calls when the computer plays up
• Works for help desks already running ServiceNow, Jira or Intune that can pay $619.99 a year or more

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you're a one-person IT shop, as Business is $619.99 a year for one user
• Skip it if you need to control iPhones or iPads, which only share their screen, and phones need a paid add-on
• Not for you if your use is really work and you want it free, as the free version is personal only
• Tight if you need more than one connection at a time, which Business doesn't allow
• Watch out: prices change by visitor location, and the Remote Access, Premium and Corporate prices couldn't be read in dollars

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.

TeamViewer

• TeamViewer's website shows prices by visitor location and could not be read in US dollars; Remote Access, Premium and Corporate prices are missing here.
• The free version is for personal use only; any business or work use needs a paid licence, which TeamViewer offers to trial for 14 days.
• Licences are billed yearly and cap the number of managed devices and simultaneous connections, e.g. one connection at a time on Business.
• Supporting phones and tablets is a paid add-on; for iPhones and iPads it is screen sharing rather than control.

Tailscale

Private network between devices

Each signed-in device joins a tailnet and can connect to the others directly, so a personal computer or a server can be reached from outside without public-facing ports.

Subnet routers and exit nodes

A subnet router lets devices that cannot run Tailscale be reached through one that can, and an exit node sends internet traffic out through a chosen device.

Tailscale SSH

SSH access to servers is authorized by the same identity and access rules as the rest of the tailnet. Advanced SSH features are on Premium.

Access control with ACL groups

Rules decide which users and tagged resources can reach each other. The number of ACL groups rises from 3 on Personal to 10 on Standard and 300 on Premium.

Admin and identity controls

Paid plans add SCIM user provisioning, MDM configuration and device posture checks; Premium adds just-in-time access, flow logs and log streaming.

Free tier for home use

The Personal plan covers unlimited devices for up to 6 users at no charge, for non-commercial use such as a homelab or a home network.

TeamViewer

Attended and unattended access

Connect to any number of devices when someone at the other end accepts, or to a set number of managed devices without anyone present, depending on the licence.

File transfer and remote printing

Send and queue files between devices and print documents from the remote computer to your local printer.

Wake-on-LAN and black screen

Power on a remote computer, block local keyboard and mouse input, and black out its screen while you work on it.

Session recording and switch sides

Record and replay sessions, and swap who controls whom during a session. Custom branding of support sessions comes with paid licences.

TeamViewer AI

Business includes 25 AI credits a month, one per support session, for AI-guided troubleshooting and written session summaries.

Mobile device support add-on

An add-on to reach and support Android devices and share the screen of iPhones and iPads, alongside desktop-to-desktop connections.

Tailscale

• Personal$0

  Non-commercial use only. Unlimited user devices, up to 6 users, up to 3 ACL groups, up to 50 tagged resources and 1,000 minutes a month for ephemeral resources.

• Standard$8

  per user / month

  Unlimited users, SCIM, up to 10 ACL groups, MDM configuration, device posture integrations and advanced user roles.

• Premium$18

  per user / month

  Up to 300 ACL groups, 10,000 ephemeral minutes a month, just-in-time access, advanced Tailscale SSH, network flow logs and log streaming.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Custom device limits, a custom MSA, custom tailnet subdomains, solutions engineer help and invoice payment. Sold through sales.

TeamViewer

• Free (personal use)$0

  For non-commercial use only: remote help for friends and family and access to your own computers, phones and tablets.

• Business$619.99

  per year, as an in-app purchase in the iOS app

  One licensed user, one connection at a time and up to 200 managed devices, with 25 AI credits a month. Price read on the US App Store.

Tailscale

• Other savings

  Free for open-source projects

  Tailscale's about page says the service is free for open-source projects.

TeamViewer

• Nonprofit

  30% off for nonprofits and education

  Registered nonprofit and educational organizations that apply through TeamViewer's form get a 30% discount.