Surfshark
Surfshark is a comprehensive security suite providing a virtual private network, antivirus, and data leak detection tools to protect your digital identity and ensure private internet access across all devices.
Tailscale
Tailscale is a zero-config VPN software that creates secure mesh networks between your devices and cloud resources using the WireGuard protocol to simplify remote access and internal connectivity.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Surfshark | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Website | surfshark.com | tailscale.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $15.45/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2018 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Vilnius, Lithuania | Toronto, Canada |
Overview
Surfshark
Surfshark is a versatile security platform designed to keep your online activities private and your devices protected from digital threats. You can encrypt your internet connection with a high-speed VPN, browse without annoying ads or trackers, and secure your personal data from being sold to third parties. It allows you to change your virtual location to access content globally while maintaining fast connection speeds for streaming and gaming.
Beyond just a VPN, you can use the suite to scan your devices for malware and receive real-time alerts if your email or credit card information appears in data breaches. The software is built for households and power users alike, offering the unique benefit of connecting an unlimited number of devices simultaneously under a single account. Whether you are working from a coffee shop or securing your home network, you get a unified interface to manage your digital safety.
Tailscale
Tailscale makes creating a secure network between your computers, servers, and cloud instances as easy as installing an app. It builds a private mesh network—called a tailnet—that connects your devices directly to each other using the WireGuard protocol. This means you can access your home office computer from a coffee shop or connect to a private database in the cloud without managing complex firewall rules or centralized VPN gateways.
You can manage identity and access through your existing providers like Google, Microsoft 365, or GitHub, ensuring that only authorized users can reach your sensitive resources. It handles the difficult parts of networking, like NAT traversal and key rotation, automatically in the background. Whether you are a developer connecting to a local test environment or an enterprise securing thousands of endpoints, it provides a stable, encrypted connection that works across any provider or location.
Overview
Surfshark Features
- Unlimited Device Support Connect and protect every device in your household simultaneously without ever worrying about hitting a connection limit.
- CleanWeb Ad Blocker Block annoying ads, trackers, and malicious links before they load so you can browse faster and safer.
- Bypasser Split-Tunneling Choose specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN connection while keeping the rest of your traffic encrypted.
- Kill Switch Protection Ensure your sensitive data never leaks by automatically cutting your internet access if the VPN connection drops.
- Dynamic MultiHop Route your traffic through two different servers at once to double your encryption and hide your digital footprint.
- Camouflage Mode Hide the fact that you are using a VPN from your internet provider so your traffic looks like regular browsing.
- Real-time Breach Alerts Get notified immediately if your passwords, emails, or personal IDs appear in known database leaks or breaches.
- Private Search Engine Search the web in complete privacy without ads or your search history being tracked or stored by anyone.
Tailscale Features
- Zero-Config Mesh VPN. Connect your devices directly to one another without manual port forwarding or complex firewall rules.
- Single Sign-On Integration. Use your existing identity providers like Google, Microsoft 365, or Okta to authenticate users and devices.
- MagicDNS. Access your devices using short, easy-to-remember names instead of tracking changing IP addresses across your network.
- Tailscale SSH. Manage SSH access to your servers using your tailnet identity instead of distributing and rotating static SSH keys.
- Split DNS. Configure specific DNS servers for different domains so your internal queries stay private while public traffic flows normally.
- Exit Nodes. Route all your internet traffic through a specific trusted device on your network to stay secure on public Wi-Fi.
- Subnet Routers. Expose entire existing networks to your tailnet so you can access legacy devices that cannot run the software.
- Access Control Lists. Define granular security policies in code to restrict which users can access specific devices or ports.
Pricing Comparison
Surfshark Pricing
- Secure VPN
- Unlimited devices
- Ad and cookie pop-up blocker
- Two-factor authentication
- 24/7 customer support
- High-speed 10Gbps servers
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- 24/7 antivirus protection
- Webcam protection
- Real-time credit card alerts
- Personal data breach alerts
- Private search engine
Tailscale Pricing
- Up to 3 users
- Up to 100 devices
- MagicDNS
- Tailscale SSH
- Community support
- Admin console access
- Everything in Personal, plus:
- Up to 10 users included
- User & group management
- Basic access control lists
- Email support
- 1 identity provider
Pros & Cons
Surfshark
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections for all your devices
- Very competitive pricing on two-year subscription plans
- Clean and modern interface is easy to navigate
- Fast connection speeds suitable for 4K streaming
- Effective at bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming platforms
Cons
- Monthly subscription price is significantly higher
- Customer support response times can vary occasionally
- Static IP addresses require an additional monthly fee
Tailscale
Pros
- Extremely simple setup process for all devices
- Reliable connectivity even behind strict firewalls
- Generous free tier for personal projects
- Minimal impact on system performance and battery
- Seamless integration with existing identity providers
Cons
- Requires a third-party identity provider login
- Limited advanced routing features for complex setups
- Mobile app can occasionally drain battery
- Admin console lacks some deep auditing logs