The comparison at a glance
As documented by NordVPN and Tailscale on 30 October 2026.
| Item | NordVPN Meshnet | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; no subscription needed [2] | Personal plan free [6] |
| Device or user limit | Up to 10 own devices and 50 external devices [1] | Up to 6 users, unlimited user devices [6] |
| Route all traffic via home | Yes, traffic routing; host must be Windows, Linux or direct-download macOS [3] | Exit nodes on all plans; Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, tvOS [7] |
| Reach other home devices | Local network permission on the host [3] | Subnet routers; GL.iNet can advertise LAN subnets [8] |
| Approval step | Permissions per linked device [3] | Admin must allow a device as exit node [7] |
| GL.iNet router support | Not mentioned in GL.iNet docs [8] | Firmware 4.2+, beta, Beryl AX supported [8] |
| Protocol | NordLynx [1] | WireGuard-based [8] |
What each does for a traveler
Both tools build an encrypted network between your own devices so a laptop in a hotel can reach a home computer, NAS or camera without opening ports. Meshnet describes direct, end-to-end encrypted connections using NordVPN's NordLynx protocol. [1] Tailscale is WireGuard-based, as GL.iNet's documentation notes. [8]
The second job is making your traffic appear to come from home, for banking or region-locked services. Meshnet calls this traffic routing: a client uses a host device's public IP address, and the host acts as a VPN server. [3] Tailscale calls the host an exit node and says exit nodes are available on all plans. [7]
Limits and free terms
Meshnet's documentation says it is free and needs no subscription, and that it scales to 10 of your own devices plus up to 50 external devices; anyone you link must have a registered NordVPN account. [1][2]
Tailscale's Personal plan lists up to 6 users and unlimited user devices. Exit nodes count as tagged resources, and the plan includes up to 50 tagged resources to start, with extras listed at $1 per month each. [6] A couple with a home desktop, a NAS, two laptops and two phones fits either tool's free terms.
Who can be the exit at home
This matters if your always-on home device is a Mac mini, an Apple TV or a phone. Meshnet's routing host must be Windows, Linux, or the direct-download macOS app; the App Store macOS version cannot host. Clients can be Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux and Android TV. [3]
Tailscale lists Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS and tvOS as exit-node platforms, with a note that Android, macOS and Windows exit nodes have performance and userspace limitations. Both ends need Tailscale 1.20 or later, and an Owner, Admin or Network admin must approve the exit node. [7]
Both vendors flag the same risk in different words: Meshnet warns that activity routed through your host uses your public IP and that a host could see your DNS queries. [3] Only route devices you trust.
Travel router support
GL.iNet documents Tailscale on routers running firmware 4.2 or later, including the Beryl AX (GL-MT3000), Slate AX and Flint 2, with the feature labelled beta. On the router you can choose a Custom Exit Node so every device behind it exits through your home machine, advertise LAN subnets, and on 4.9 or later run the router itself as an exit node. GL.iNet advises against running Tailscale alongside its WireGuard or OpenVPN clients because of routing conflicts. [8]
GL.iNet's Tailscale page does not mention Meshnet. [8] NordVPN's Meshnet documentation index lists a guide to turning a Linux device into a VPN router using Meshnet traffic routing, which is a project rather than a router setting. [5] If you want a travel router that sends a TV stick or console through home, Tailscale is the documented route.
Current status of Meshnet
NordVPN announced in August 2025 that it would end Meshnet by 1 December 2025, citing limited adoption and maintenance costs. CyberInsider reported on 30 September 2025 that NordVPN reversed that decision after user pushback, saying it will not be discontinuing Meshnet and plans to open-source the project. [10]
The Meshnet documentation we read on 30 October 2026, including its overview, setup and linking pages, carries no shutdown notice and describes Meshnet as free. [2][4] NordVPN's general features list still includes Meshnet. [9] Because the feature was once scheduled for closure, check NordVPN's own Meshnet pages before you build a remote-access setup around it.
Who fits each
Based on the documentation above.
- Meshnet fits: NordVPN users who want home access from laptops and phones with no extra account, and who have a Windows, Linux or direct-download Mac at home to act as host.
- Tailscale fits: travelers using a GL.iNet router, households with an Apple TV or Linux box as the exit, and anyone who needs to reach non-Tailscale devices through a subnet router.
- Skip both if: you only need privacy on hotel Wi-Fi, not home access; a commercial VPN is the simpler tool.
Questions before you decide
Is NordVPN Meshnet free?
Yes. NordVPN's Meshnet documentation says Meshnet is free, so no subscription is needed. People you link from other accounts need a registered NordVPN account to join.
How many devices can each connect?
Meshnet's documentation says it can accommodate up to 10 of your own devices and up to 50 external devices. Tailscale's Personal plan lists up to 6 users with unlimited user devices.
Can either run on a GL.iNet travel router?
GL.iNet documents Tailscale on firmware 4.2 or later, including the Beryl AX, with options to use a custom exit node and to advertise LAN subnets. It is labelled beta. The GL.iNet Tailscale page does not mention Meshnet, and NordVPN's Meshnet router guide covers turning a Linux device into a VPN router.
Is Meshnet being shut down?
Not as of 30 October 2026. NordVPN announced in August 2025 that Meshnet would end on 1 December 2025, then reversed that decision after user pushback, as CyberInsider reported on 30 September 2025. The Meshnet documentation we read carries no discontinuation notice and still describes Meshnet as free.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- NordVPN Meshnet docs: Meshnet explained Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Meshnet docs: Linking devices in Meshnet Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Meshnet docs: Routing traffic in Meshnet Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Meshnet docs: How to start using Meshnet Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Meshnet documentation index Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Tailscale pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Tailscale docs: Exit nodes Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet docs: Tailscale Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordVPN Support: What features does NordVPN have? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CyberInsider: NordVPN reverses decision to shut down Meshnet after community pushback (30 September 2025) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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