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Open source StrongDM alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

2 of the 5 StrongDM alternatives we track are open source. Teleport and Tailscale rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

StrongDM has been acquired. Now part of Delinea, according to the StrongDM website.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Teleport logoTeleportFree plan + paid—YesWeb, macOS, Windows +24 of 468.8
2Tailscale logoTailscaleFree plan + paid$8 per user/month (Standard)YesWindows, macOS, Linux +27 of 766.2
  1. Teleport logo

    1. TeleportTop pick

    Best for: Platform teams replacing SSH keys, bastion hosts and VPNs with audited, short-lived access

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, Self-hosted

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from StrongDM

    Open-source alternative using short-lived certificates, which you can self-host or buy as a cloud service.

    Pros

    • Short-lived certificates replace static SSH keys and database passwords
    • Covers SSH, Kubernetes, databases, RDP and web apps in one tool
    • Session recording and access requests built in
    • Open-source code with a self-hostable Community Edition

    Cons

    • Enterprise pricing is only available by contacting sales
    • Self-hosting a cluster takes real setup and upkeep
    • Community Edition lacks many enterprise governance features
    Visit Teleport Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Teleport a good StrongDM alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Nov 4, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days (Enterprise)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026goteleport.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes (Community Edition)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026goteleport.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    Teleport Connect for macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026goteleport.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Tailscale logo

    2. Tailscale

    Best for: Developers, home-labbers and teams who want private access between their own devices

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from StrongDM

    Lightweight mesh VPN with SSH and ACLs for teams that mainly need network-level access.

    Pros

    • Works through NAT and firewalls with almost no setup
    • Generous free plan for personal use
    • Fine-grained access controls and built-in SSH

    Cons

    • Coordination server is hosted unless you run Headscale
    • Not a location-changing VPN by default
    • Team pricing adds up per user
    Visit Tailscale Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tailscale a good StrongDM alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 6 users (Personal)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan users
    Up to 6 users
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Client licence
    BSD-3-Clause
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $8 per user/month (Standard)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $18 per user/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days (Enterprise trial)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tailscale.com(opens source in a new tab)