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Updated today · Independent Analysis
CyberArk vs Tailscale
Capability Overview
CyberArkvs Tailscale
4.4G2-0.2 vs Tailscale
Only in CyberArk
- ✦ Privileged Access Management (PAM)
- ✦ Credential Vaulting
- ✦ Session Recording & Monitoring
From $2/mo(cheaper)8000+ users · est. 1999
Tailscalevs CyberArk
4.6G2+0.2 vs CyberArk
Only in Tailscale
- ✦ WireGuard-based Mesh VPN
- ✦ Zero Trust Network Access
- ✦ SSO/SAML Integration
✓ Free planFrom $8/mo(pricier)10k+ users · est. 2019
Quick VerdictIndependent Analysis
CyberArk and Tailscale are both Identity & Access Management tools. CyberArk starts at $2/mo, Tailscale at $8/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose CyberArk vs Tailscale
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Scenario: Vault-Based Credential Rotation Without Application
CyberArk
Vault-Based Credential Rotation Without Application Code Changes
CyberArk's Central Policy Manager rotates privileged credentials on a schedule and injects fresh passwords into applications via the CyberArk SDK, eliminating hardcoded credentials from application configs.
Tailscale
Zero-Config Remote SSH Without Port Forwarding
Tailscale meshes devices using WireGuard via DERP relays, enabling SSH access to on-prem servers from anywhere without opening firewall ports or maintaining a VPN gateway.
CyberArk Unique Strength
Just-In-Time Ephemeral Admin Sessions via PAM
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager creates time-bounded admin accounts for production access and terminates them after the session ends, leaving no permanent privileged credentials in the directory.
→ Choose CyberArk if this scenario applies to you. Tailscale doesn't offer a comparable solution.
CyberArk Unique Strength
Dynamic Secret Retrieval for DevOps Pipelines
CyberArk Secrets Manager replaces hardcoded API keys in CI/CD pipelines with dynamic secret retrieval, reducing the average secret rotation cycle from quarterly manual updates to per-build automatic delivery.
→ Choose CyberArk if this scenario applies to you. Tailscale doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Tailscale Unique Strength
ACL-Controlled Access Between Cloud VPCs and Offices
Tailscale ACLs define which devices and users can reach which services using tag-based policy, replacing complex AWS security group rules with human-readable access policy files checked into git.
→ Choose Tailscale if this scenario applies to you. CyberArk doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Tailscale Unique Strength
Subnet Router for Legacy Network Integration
Tailscale subnet routers expose CIDR ranges of on-prem networks to the tailnet, giving WireGuard-encrypted access to devices that cannot run the Tailscale client directly.
→ Choose Tailscale if this scenario applies to you. CyberArk doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified Jul 2, 2026
CyberArk starts at $2/movs $8/mo
CyberArk Plans
Paid plans only
Single Sign-On
$2/user/moBest for: This plan offers essential single sign on capabilities for streamlined user access
- ✓Single Sign-On (SSO)
- ✓Policy-based provisioning
- ✓Secure web sessions
- ✓Application access
View on vendor site
MOST POPULARAdaptive MFA
$3/user/moBest for: Enhance security with multi factor authentication that adapts to user context
- ✓Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- ✓Adaptive authentication policies
- ✓Risk-based authentication
- ✓Contextual access
View on vendor site
Identity Lifecycle Management
$4/user/moBest for: Automate user provisioning, deprovisioning, and access changes across your organization
- ✓User provisioning and deprovisioning
- ✓Access certification
- ✓Automated identity workflows
- ✓Role-based access control
View on vendor site
Workforce Password Management
$5/user/moBest for: Securely store and manage employee passwords with robust password vaulting features
- ✓Secure password storage
- ✓Automated password rotation
- ✓Password vaulting
- ✓Browser extensions
View on vendor site
Identity Compliance
$5/user/moBest for: Ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness for identity related access
- ✓Compliance reporting
- ✓Audit trails
- ✓Access reviews
- ✓Policy enforcement
View on vendor site
CyberArk Identity
Contact SalesBest for: This custom plan provides a comprehensive suite of identity security solutions tailored to enterprise needs
- ✓Single Sign-On
- ✓Multi-Factor Authentication
- ✓Lifecycle Management
- ✓Workforce Password Management
- ✓Identity Compliance
View on vendor site
Tailscale Plans
Free tier available
Personal
FreeBest for: Individuals securely connecting devices/servers
- ✓Unlimited user devices
- ✓Up to 6 users
- ✓Up to 3 ACL groups
- ✓Up to 50 tagged resources to start
- ✓1,000 mins per month for ephemeral resources
View on vendor site
MOST POPULARStandard
$8/user/moBest for: Teams adopting Tailscale as secure connectivity
- ✓Everything in Personal, plus
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Deploy users and groups with SCIM
- ✓Up to 10 ACL groups
- ✓1,000 mins per month for ephemeral resources
View on vendor site
Premium
$18/user/moBest for: Organizations with advanced compliance + heavy ephemeral + AI security (most popular)
- ✓Everything in Standard, plus
- ✓Up to 300 ACL groups
- ✓10,000 mins per month for ephemeral resources
- ✓Just-in-time access to resources
- ✓Advanced Tailscale SSH
View on vendor site
Enterprise
Contact SalesBest for: Enterprises running full platform + PAM + AI security + CI/CD + Edge/IoT
- ✓Everything in Premium, plus
- ✓Custom device quantities and limits
- ✓Solutions Engineer consultation and implementation assistance
- ✓Custom MSA & SLAs
- ✓Premium support with dedicated professional services
View on vendor site
Capability Breakdown
8 differences found across 15 standardized features
Feature
CyberArk
Tailscale
SAML 2.0
✓
✗
Passwordless Auth
✓
✗
Privileged Access (PAM)
✓
✗
Developer SDK
✗
✓
LDAP / AD Sync
✓
✗
Adaptive Authentication
✓
✗
Workforce IAM
✓
✗
VPN Replacement
✗
✓
Total (raw)
16
16
CyberArk Features
- •Privileged Access Management (PAM)
- •Credential Vaulting
- •Session Recording & Monitoring
- •Just-in-Time Access
- •Secrets Management
- •Endpoint Privilege Management
- •Cloud Entitlements
- •DevSecOps Integration
- •SAML/OIDC
- •SCIM
- •Risk-Based Authentication
- •Threat Analytics
- •Audit Logs
- •SaaS & On-Prem Deployment
- •API Security
- •Zero Standing Privilege
Tailscale Features
- •WireGuard-based Mesh VPN
- •Zero Trust Network Access
- •SSO/SAML Integration
- •Device Posture Checks
- •Access Control Lists (ACLs)
- •Subnet Routing
- •Exit Nodes
- •MagicDNS
- •Funnel (Public Endpoints)
- •Multi-Platform Support
- •Audit Logs
- •SCIM User Sync
- •Kubernetes Operator
- •GitHub Actions Integration
- •Split Tunneling
- •IPv6 Support
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
Pros
- +Gold standard for privileged access management
- +Strong session recording and threat analytics
- +Deep compliance certifications (FedRAMP, SOC 2, etc.)
- +Extensive integration with security tools
Cons
- −One area for improvement is the complexity of learning how to use the software for new users.
- −Room for improvement for CyberArk Identity might be on the support side, as they constantly improve with new features and remove r
- −Integration or deployment is extremely difficult for CyberArk Identity.
- −Something they could improve is the management of multifactor authentication.
- −Some areas experience slowness based on the workload.
Pros
- +Sets up a flat, private network in minutes using existing SSO
- +MagicDNS provides automatic, human-readable hostnames for devices
- +NAT traversal connects devices behind firewalls without configuration
- +Access Control Lists (ACLs) offer granular, identity-based security
Cons
- −Control plane is SaaS-only; not fully self-hostable (vs. Headscale)
- −Relies on third-party identity providers; no built-in user management
- −Performance can degrade if forced to use slower DERP relay servers
- −Advanced ACL policy authoring can have a steep learning curve
- −Lacks granular application-level access controls of some ZTNA tools
At a Glance
User Rating
4.4/5vs4.6/5
CyberArk
Tailscale
▲
Starting Price
$2/movs$8/mo
CyberArk
Tailscale
▲
Feature Count
16 featuresvs16 features
CyberArk
Tailscale
User Base
8Kvs10
CyberArk
▲
Tailscale
CyberArk · Price & Data SyncLast verified: July 2, 2026 · CE-IAM-2026W23-7BFFED · ✓ Pricing updated May 30, 2026
Tailscale · Price & Data SyncLast verified: July 2, 2026 · CE-IAM-2026W26-C32383 · ✓ Pricing updated Jun 5, 2026
Recent Price History
Tailscale
Tailscale removed the "Starter" plan
Plan removed · Jun 5, 2026
Tailscale
Tailscale raised "Premium" from $18/mo to $20/mo (+11%)
Price change · Jun 5, 2026
Tailscale
Tailscale added a new "Standard" plan at $7/user/mo
Plan added · Jun 5, 2026
CyberArk
CyberArk added a new "Identity Compliance" plan at $5/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
CyberArk
CyberArk added a new "Workforce Password Management" plan at $5/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
CyberArk
CyberArk added a new "Identity Lifecycle Management" plan at $4/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
CyberArk
CyberArk added a new "Adaptive MFA" plan at $3/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
CyberArk
CyberArk added a new "Single Sign-On" plan at $2/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Tailscale
Tailscale added a new "Personal" plan at $0/mo (Free)
Plan added · May 29, 2026
Tailscale
Tailscale removed the "Free" plan
Plan removed · May 29, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Comparisons
CyberArkfrom $2/mo
TailscaleFree · from $8/moSources & Data Trail · CyberArk
- 1.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 2.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.4/5 · 71 reviews
- 3.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.5/5
- 4.TrustRadius·TrustRadius verified reviews
- 5.PeerSpot·PeerSpot enterprise peer reviews
Sources & Data Trail · Tailscale
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-07-02)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 3.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.6/5 · 31 reviews
- 4.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.8/5
- 5.PeerSpot·PeerSpot enterprise peer reviews