What is the main difference between OpenVPN and Tailscale?

OpenVPN and Tailscale are both vpn & secure access tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: OpenVPN or Tailscale?

The choice between OpenVPN and Tailscale depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from OpenVPN to Tailscale?

Migration between OpenVPN and Tailscale is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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OpenVPN vs Tailscale

Learn how OpenVPN and Tailscale differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these vpn & secure access tools is best for you.

OpenVPN

Secure remote access VPN solutions with zero trust network access. Self-hosted and cloud-managed options for businesses of all sizes. Trusted by 20,000+ organizations.

Visit OpenVPN Read more

14,783stars+127(+0.9%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
11 hours ago
Repository age
15 years
Version
v2.7.9
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
openvpn/openvpn

Tailscale

Deploy a modern WireGuard-based VPN with zero configuration. Connect devices securely across clouds, VPCs, and on-premises networks without firewall rules.

Visit Tailscale Read more

38,782stars+1,463(+3.9%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
20 hours ago
Repository age
7 years
Version
v1.104.5
License
BSD-3-Clause
Repository
tailscale/tailscale

Detailed Comparison

Both OpenVPN and Tailscale have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Tailscale wins

Community & Popularity

Tailscale leads in popularity with 38,782 stars vs 14,783 stars for OpenVPN. The 162% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, Tailscale has 3,439 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Tailscale wins

Growth Momentum

Tailscale is growing faster, adding 1,463 stars in the last 30 days (+3.9%) against adding 127 stars for OpenVPN (+0.9%). Tailscale is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with OpenVPN last updated 11 hours ago and Tailscale 20 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with Bash, C, Objective-C. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: OpenVPN uses Python, Perl while Tailscale leverages JavaScript, CSS, Typescript, JSX, Golang, Swift, Lua.

OpenVPN wins

Project Maturity

OpenVPN has been in development longer, starting 15 years ago, compared to Tailscale which began 7 years ago. This 7.9-year head start suggests OpenVPN may have more mature features and established processes.

Tailscale wins

Licensing

Tailscale is licensed under BSD-3-Clause, while OpenVPN's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in VPN & Secure Access.

OpenVPN wins

Hosting & Deployment

OpenVPN provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while Tailscale may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.

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