A VPN is something that many of us pay for, especially if you travel abroad frequently or want to access content that's available in other countries.

On paper, a VPN doesn't seem particularly expensive, but looking back over the past year and a half, I realized I'd spent nearly $120 on VPN subscriptions alone.

For the price, I don't think I'm getting enough value. I only spend a handful of days outside my country every year, and for the most part, I trust my home internet connection enough that I don't need a VPN running all the time.

What I really wanted was a way to securely access my devices and services while away, while making my connection appear to come from my home network.

That's when I started using Tailscale. The service's free tier promises to do everything I need without another VPN subscription.

I switched over to see if I could get away with paying nothing, and so far, I haven't looked back.

How I set up Tailscale and stopped paying for a VPN

My home device now handles the VPN job without a monthly fee

Before we get into why Tailscale has worked so well for me (and might for you), let's go through how I set it up at home.

The idea is simple: Whenever I'm traveling, I can route my internet traffic through a device at home, so websites and services see it as if I'm accessing them from home.

The setup previously required devices like a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC, but Tailscale now offers the core functionality on Android, which means you can use a spare Android phone for your setup.

For this, I have a spare Google Pixel 9a lying around, which I use as my exit node. I leave it at home, connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into a charger for the duration of my trip, so I don't have to worry about it running out of battery while I'm away.

This setup essentially works like a VPN. After I select the Pixel 9a as my exit node, all the traffic from the device I'm using while traveling is routed through my phone at home.

That means websites see my home IP address instead of the hotel or airport Wi-Fi I'm connected to, giving me the VPN-like experience without another subscription.

Here's how you can set up something similar:

•                                 Install**Tailscale**on your spare Android phone and sign in. Paid plans are available, but the free tier should be enough for most people.
  

•                                 Open the**Tailscale app**and tap**Connect**.
  

•                                 When connected, tap**Exit Node**and select**Run as exit node**. This allows other devices on your Tailscale network to route their traffic through the Android phone.
  

•                                 Open the **Tailscale admin console in your browser**, find your Android phone under**Machines**, and select it.
  

•                                 Find **Routing Settings**, enable**Use as exit node**, and save your changes.
  

• Install Tailscale on whatever devices you're taking with you and sign in using the same account.
• When connected, select the Android phone you just configured as your exit node. Your internet traffic will now be routed through that device.

And that's pretty much it. You can verify everything is working by checking your public IP address after connecting. It should show the public IP address of your home internet connection, not the network you're currently using.

If you use an Android phone as your exit node, disable battery optimization for Tailscale. Otherwise, Android may restrict the app in the background, which could interfere with the connection.

Tailscale solves almost everything I paid a VPN to do

I get secure remote access and can browse through my home network

Now that we have the geeky setup out of the way, let me explain why this works so well for me. The thing is, I don't only pay for a VPN to keep my connection secure.

That's a big part of it, especially when I'm connected to public Wi-Fi, but I also use one to access content and services as if I'm browsing from my home country.

Tailscale solves that for me, and it does it for free. The connection between my devices is secure, and when everything is properly set up, all I do is open Tailscale on the device I'm traveling with, select my home exit node, and connect.

It takes a few seconds, and there's no recurring subscription cost, which can save you quite a bit of money over time.

I already pay for streaming services at home, so when I'm traveling and want to watch something like a sports game, I connect to my home exit node and open the app I normally use.

Since my traffic is going through my home internet connection, the service sees me as accessing it from home, and I end up saving quite a bit of money.

Tailscale is an underrated setup more people should try

Tailscale is something even a lot of my tech-savvy friends tend to avoid because it sounds way more technical than it actually is.

But after it's set up, you can browse securely from anywhere as if you're still at home, without paying another monthly subscription.

However, this setup isn't for everyone. If you don't have a spare Android phone lying around or don't want to leave a device running at home, a traditional VPN is still the easier option. In that case, you can check out our picks for the best VPNs of 2026.