> Documentation index: https://rift.sh/llms.txt

# Rift vs Tailscale

Tailscale connects your machines. Rift syncs and stores the files on them.

### What Tailscale is

Tailscale is a private network between your devices, with identity from the login provider you already use. Its two file features are Taildrop, which sends files between your own devices, and Taildrive, which serves a folder from one device to others. Both are labelled alpha.

### How they differ

Tailscale lets two machines reach each other. It does not sync files and it does not store them. Rift does both and does not need a tailnet.

- Identity
  - Tailscale: A user in your identity provider and a device in one tailnet.
  - Rift: A key that each machine and agent makes for itself. No account.

- Smallest share
  - Tailscale: With Taildrive, a named folder on one device, as read or write, for devices in the same tailnet.
  - Rift: A folder, a subfolder or one file, as read or write.

- Who checks access
  - Tailscale: The tailnet's policy file. The sharing device serves the folder.
  - Rift: Each machine that receives a file checks the grant itself.

- Who can read your files
  - Tailscale: The sharing device and the tailnet devices it serves. Traffic between them is encrypted from device to device, and Tailscale stores no files.
  - Rift: Only the machines you shared with. Rift Cloud holds ciphertext.

- When your machines are off
  - Tailscale: Nothing is available. The sharing device has to be on.
  - Rift: Files stored in Rift Cloud stay available.

### Which to choose

Choose Tailscale when

- You need machines to reach each other privately.
- You want access tied to your company's login provider.
- You need a network, and your files can stay where they are.

Choose Rift when

- Each machine should hold its own copy of the files.
- Files should stay available while the sharing machine is off.
- You share with agents that are not in your tailnet.

### Using them together

Tailscale connects machines, and Rift syncs files.

[Use Rift with Tailscale](https://rift.sh/docs/use-with/tailscale.md)

Based on Tailscale's documentation, read in October 2026. Sources: [Taildrive](https://tailscale.com/kb/1369/taildrive) , [Taildrop](https://tailscale.com/kb/1106/taildrop).