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Updated today · Independent Analysis
Microsoft Entra ID vs Tailscale
Capability Overview
Microsoft Entra IDvs Tailscale
4.5G2-0.1 vs Tailscale
Only in Microsoft Entra ID
- ✦ Single Sign-On (SSO)
- ✦ Multi-Factor Authentication
- ✦ Conditional Access
✓ Free planFrom $6/mo(cheaper)600M+ users · est. 2010
Tailscalevs Microsoft Entra ID
4.6G2+0.1 vs Microsoft Entra ID
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
Microsoft Entra ID and Tailscale are both Identity & Access Management tools. Microsoft Entra ID starts at $6/mo, Tailscale at $8/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose Microsoft Entra ID vs Tailscale
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Scenario: Conditional Access Policies Enforcing Device
Microsoft Entra ID
Conditional Access Policies Enforcing Device Compliance
Microsoft Entra Conditional Access blocks access to Microsoft 365 from non-Intune-enrolled devices, enforcing that every accessing device meets security baselines without per-app VPN configuration.
Tailscale
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.
Microsoft Entra ID Unique Strength
Just-In-Time Admin Access via Privileged Identity Management
Entra PIM requires eligible admins to activate privileged roles for a time-bounded window with MFA and justification, eliminating standing admin access that attackers target with credential attacks.
→ Choose Microsoft Entra ID if this scenario applies to you. Tailscale doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Microsoft Entra ID Unique Strength
Cross-Tenant External Collaboration via B2B Direct Connect
Entra B2B Direct Connect lets partner organization employees access shared Teams channels and apps with their own corporate credentials, removing the guest account sprawl from traditional B2B invitation flows.
→ Choose Microsoft Entra ID if this scenario applies to you. Tailscale doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Tailscale Unique Strength
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.
→ Choose Tailscale if this scenario applies to you. Microsoft Entra ID 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. Microsoft Entra ID doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified Jul 2, 2026
Microsoft Entra ID Plans
Free tier available
Free
FreeBest for: Ideal for basic identity and access management needs
- ✓Basic user management
- ✓Directory synchronization
- ✓Security defaults with multi-factor authentication (MFA) via Authenticator only
- ✓Single Sign-On (SSO) across SaaS apps
- ✓Self-service password changes for cloud users
View on vendor site
MOST POPULARMicrosoft Entra ID P1
$6/user/momonthlyor$72/yr
Best for: Enterprise (M365 E3) and SMB (M365 BP)
- ✓Conditional Access with policy-based granular control
- ✓Phone call and SMS as MFA second factors
- ✓Self-service password reset (SSPR) with password writeback to on-premises Active Directory
- ✓Application Proxy for on-premises app access
- ✓Automated user and group provisioning to SaaS apps
View on vendor site
Microsoft Entra ID P2
$9/user/momonthlyor$108/yr
Best for: Enterprise (M365 E5)
- ✓Risk-based Conditional Access
- ✓Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
- ✓Identity Protection
- ✓Access reviews
- ✓Complete Identity Governance
View on vendor site
Microsoft Entra Suite
$12/user/momonthlyor$144/yr
Best for: Full Zero Trust identity + network access suite
- ✓Combines network access, identity protection, governance, and identity verification solutions
- ✓Includes ID Protection
- ✓Includes full ID Governance
- ✓Includes Internet Access
- ✓Includes Private Access
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
Microsoft Entra ID
Tailscale
SAML 2.0
✓
✗
SCIM Provisioning
✓
✗
Passwordless Auth
✓
✗
Privileged Access (PAM)
✓
✗
LDAP / AD Sync
✓
✗
Adaptive Authentication
✓
✗
Workforce IAM
✓
✗
VPN Replacement
✗
✓
Total (raw)
16
16
Microsoft Entra ID Features
- •Single Sign-On (SSO)
- •Multi-Factor Authentication
- •Conditional Access
- •Privileged Identity Management
- •Identity Protection
- •B2B Collaboration
- •B2C Identity
- •Hybrid Identity (AD Connect)
- •SAML/OIDC/OAuth2
- •SCIM Provisioning
- •Access Reviews
- •Entitlement Management
- •Passwordless Authentication
- •Risk-Based Policies
- •Audit Logs
- •Microsoft 365 Integration
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
- +Best value for Microsoft 365 shops
- +Privileged Identity Management built in P2
- +Massive scale and global reliability
- +Comprehensive hybrid identity support
Cons
- −There is one feature that I do not prefer.
- −I can provide examples of what Microsoft should improve now.
- −Microsoft can improve Microsoft Entra ID Governance by expanding in the ID space, typically by offering a full lifecycle managemen
- −Microsoft Entra ID Governance is relatively new, and some features require more development.
- −There are some areas where improvements are necessary.
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
4.5/5vs4.6/5
Microsoft Entra ID
Tailscale
▲
Starting Price
$6/movs$8/mo
Microsoft Entra ID
Tailscale
▲
Feature Count
16 featuresvs16 features
Microsoft Entra ID
Tailscale
User Base
600.0Mvs10
Microsoft Entra ID
▲
Tailscale
Microsoft Entra ID · Price & Data SyncLast verified: July 2, 2026 · CE-IAM-2026W23-7746FC · ✓ 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
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID removed the "Plan 1" plan
Plan removed · May 30, 2026
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID removed the "Plan 2" plan
Plan removed · May 30, 2026
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID added a new "Microsoft Entra ID P2" plan at $9/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID added a new "Microsoft Entra Suite" plan at $12/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID added a new "Microsoft Entra ID P1" plan at $6/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
Microsoft Entra IDFree · from $6/mo
TailscaleFree · from $8/moSources & Data Trail · Microsoft Entra ID
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-07-02)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
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Sources & Data Trail · Tailscale
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- 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