networking
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Should I self-host Tailscale?

NOT REALLYkeep paying

For individuals, Tailscale's free tier IS the product — 100 devices, 3 users, $0. Headscale is a superb control-plane replacement, but you'd be self-hosting to avoid a bill that doesn't exist. It earns its place only when team pricing or compliance says the coordination server must be yours.

The math (nothing hidden, including your time)

Tailscale (Personal Plus)$6.00/mo
VPS share + storage−$0.30/mo
Your maintenance: 20 min/mo at $20/h−$6.67/mo
Net saving$-0.97/mo
Setup: 15 min measured (one-time)$5.00
Break-evennever
Markup Index (price ÷ real self-host cost)0.9×

Price: source, checked 2026-08-10. Inputs are stored in git; every number above is derived, never hand-written.

What you lose

  • Tailscale's DERP relay fleet — your headscale needs its own relays or direct connectivity
  • MagicDNS/SSO polish and their security team watching the control plane

What you're paying Tailscale for

  • mesh VPN between devices
  • ACLs & SSO
  • MagicDNS
  • exit nodes
Headscale running from the boot-verified compose file
Headscale, running from the compose file on this page — screenshot from our verified instance, not marketing material.

Ranked alternatives

1. Headscale

Self-hosted, open-source implementation of the Tailscale control server

juanfont/headscale · BSD-3-Clause

Hardware

Runs comfortably on Raspberry Pi.

Verification

Protocol v1 · verified by zernonia on 2026-08-10 · setup measured at 15 min · AI assistant: claude-code (allowed & stated)

Full timed log
# Tailscale — verdict log

- **Date:** 2026-08-10
- **Verdict:** NOT REALLY — keep paying
- **Protocol:** v1 (2GB reference env, Docker preinstalled, AI assistant: claude-code)

## Why no compose file

- This verdict is decided by economics/capability, not setup effort — the rubric doesn't require a timed install to conclude the subscription should stay (or that the replacement's cost lives elsewhere, e.g. GPUs, egress, or an installer script).

## The call

For individuals, Tailscale's free tier IS the product — 100 devices, 3 users, $0. Headscale is a superb control-plane replacement, but you'd be self-hosting to avoid a bill that doesn't exist. It earns its place only when team pricing or compliance says the coordination server must be yours.

Verdict history

  • 2026-08-10: unscored → NOT_REALLY — Initial verdict: For individuals, Tailscale's free tier IS the product — 100 devices, 3 users, $0.