OpenVPN vs. WireGuard vs. Tailscale: Which VPN to Choose?

Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 by Adam Kimbrough

When setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for secure communication, you might encounter three popular options: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Tailscale. At first glance, it might seem like these three are all the same type of solution, but there are critical distinctions between them. OpenVPN and Wireguard are VPN protocols, while Tailscale is an overlay network (a networking service built on top of WireGuard). Understanding the difference between these technologies is essential when deciding which one is right for you.

Let’s explore the differences and help you decide how each one fits into the VPN landscape.

OpenVPN and Wireguard: VPN Protocols

As VPN protocols, OpenVPN and Wireguard define the rules and encryption methods for creating secure tunnels for your internet traffic. They are widely used in both commercial and self-hosted VPN setups.

OpenVPN: A Veteran VPN Protocol

OpenVPN has been around since 2001 and has become a go-to protcol for many VPN services and self-hosted VPNs. OpenVPN uses SSL/TLS for encryption, which makes it highly secure and adaptable to different use cases.

Key Features

• Encryption: Offers robust SSL encryption (AES, Blowfish, Camellia, ChaCha20, Poly1305, DES, Triple DES, GOST 28147-89, SM4)
• Compatibility: Available on nearly every major operating system including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
• Configuration Flexibility: Very flexible but requires manual setup for routing, user management, and network configurations
• Performance: Slower compared to more modern protocols, especially under high-bandwidth conditions

While OpenVPN offers strong security and reliability, its performance limitations and complex setup have made it less appealing for those seeking speed and simplicity.

WireGuard: The Modern VPN Protocol

WireGuard, released in 2020, is a much newer protocol designed to be simpler, faster, and more secure than OpenVPN. It’s rapidly gaining popularity due to its minimalistic codebase and ease of deployment.

Key Features

• Speed and Efficiency: Outperforms OpenVPN in throughput and latency, making it ideal for tasks requiring high-speed connections like video streaming or gaming
• Security: Uses cutting-edge encryption algorithm (ChaCha20), and its lean codebase (~4000 lines versus OpenVPN’s ~70,000 lines) makes it easier to audit and maintain
• Simplicity: Easy to configure, particlarly for self-hosted setups on GL.iNet routers

However, WireGuard’s simplicity can also be limiting. For example, it requires you to handle network configuration, such as port forwarding, and may not work well in environments where Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) prevents external access to your home network.

Tailscale: A Layer on Top of WireGuard

Tailscale is not a VPN protocol like OpenVPN or WireGuard. Instead, it is a networking service that uses WireGuard as its underlying protocol to provide easy, secure, and private networking across devices. Tailscale simplifies the process of building a VPN by automating much of the configuration that you’d have to do manually with WireGuard.

Key Features

• WireGuard-based: Uses WireGuard to create encrypted tunnels but it adds its own management layer on top, automating configuration and making it easier to use.
• NAT Traversal: Handles NAT traversal automatically, meaning it can connect devices even if both sides of the connection are behind CGNAT or firewalls, without needing port forwarding
• DERP Relay Servers: When peer-to-peer connections aren’t possible (e.g., due to restrictive NAT), Tailscale uses its DERP relay servers to route traffic. However, these servers introduce latency and are bandwidth-throttled, making them less ideal for high-performance needs.
• Exit Node Functionality: Tailscale allows you to set any device on the network as an exit node. This means that traffic from other devices can route through this exit node, effecitvely working like a VPN server for those clients. This is particularly useful when you need to tunnel traffic through a specific location (e.g., for accessing geo-restricted content).
• Ease of Use: No worry about port forwarding, IP addresses, or managing a dynamic DNS service—Tailscale handels all of that for you.
• No Server Management: No need to run your own VPN server. Simply install the client on each device and connect them into a secure network.

Tailscale is ideal for users who want simplicity and automatic configuration, especially when dealing with networks where traditional VPN protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN would struggle to connect due to NAT or firewall restrictions.

Why use Wireguard or OpenVPN Instead of Tailscale?

While Tailscale’s easy of use is appealing, there are scenarios where using the underlying WireGuard protocol directly, or even OpenVPN, makes more sense:

1. Full Control: With WireGuard or OpenVPN, you have complete control over your VPN setup. You manage the server, the ports, the DNS settings, and the routing rules. This is ideal if you need to customize your VPN for specific security or performance needs or you are troubleshooting to make it compatible with a second VPN (ex. corporate VPN).
2. Avoid 3rd Parties: Tailscale, while secure, routes traffic through its own coordination servers (DERP servers) when direct peer-to-peer. connections aren’t possible. With WireGuard or OpenVPN, you avoid relying on third-party infrastructure. Note: you can use Headscale as an Tailscale alternative which is nearly the same except it is fully self-hosted and does not use Tailscale’s coordination servers.
3. Business Use Without Free Tier Limits: Tailscale’s free tier limits the number of devices and users you can connect. If you’re running a business and need to connect many users or devices, using WireGuard directly might be more cost-effective.

When to Use Tailscale Instead of Wireguard or OpenVPN?

Tailscale shines in environments where simplicity and ease of setup are paramount, or where network conditions make it difficult to establish a direct connection with WireGuard or OpenVPN.

1. No Port Forwarding: If you’re delaing with CGNAT or firewalls that prevent port forarding, Tailscale’s automatic NAT traversal and use of public DERP relay servers make it a better option.
2. Seamless User Management: Tailscale integrates with single sign-on (SSO) services, making it much easier to manage users in a corporate or family setting. You don’t have to deal with managing individual credentials, as you would with OpenVPN or WireGuard.
3. Less Technical Overhead: For users who want a VPN without the hassle of configuring ports.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right VPN Solution

• OpenVPN is a tried-and-tested protocol with excellent security, but it has inferior performance and can be combersome to setup.
• WireGuard offers the best performance and simplicity foru sers who have control over their network environment and can configure port forwarding.
• Tailscale builds on WireGuard’s strong foundation but offers an easier, more user-friendly VPN solution, particuarly for users dealing with CGNAT or complex network setups. With GL.iNet routers, you can quickly set up both WireGuard and Tailscale, making either choice easy to implement, depending on your needs.

OpenVPN vs. WireGuard vs. Tailscale: Quick Comparison

*This speed was measured in a laboratory under ideal network conditions and represents the maximum rate achievable. The actual speed may vary depending on your specific network environment.