OpenConnect Server vs Tailscale
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
OpenConnect Server
SSL VPN server compatible with AnyConnect clients
VS
Tailscale
Zero-config mesh VPN built on WireGuard
| Feature | OpenConnect Server | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-2.0 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | C | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 600 | ★ 34,934 |
| First released | 2013 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Cisco AnyConnect | ZeroTier |
Why pick each one
Choose OpenConnect Server if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Tailscale if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 34.9k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenConnect Server or Tailscale better?
Tailscale is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenConnect Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are OpenConnect Server and Tailscale free and open-source?
Yes. OpenConnect Server is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Tailscale under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenConnect Server and Tailscale with Docker?
OpenConnect Server: yes. Tailscale: check the project docs for container support.