Alternatives
Best OpenVPN alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best OpenVPN alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/openvpn
6 direct alternatives to OpenVPN, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Quick answer
- NordVPN is the top alternative to OpenVPN on our list, followed by ExpressVPN and Mullvad VPN.
- 3 of the 6 alternatives have a free plan, starting with WireGuard.
- Highest rated: Tailscale, 4.8 out of 5 from 38 ratings, Sep 2026.
- 6 alternatives
- 3 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to OpenVPN
NordVPN
#1 Top pickOnline VPN service for privacy
Starting price
From $3.49 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.0 /5 across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more · 18,319 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best overall
ExpressVPN
#2Secure your connection, access global content, and enjoy fast speeds
Starting price
From $3.49 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.6 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 291 ratings, Sep 2026
Mullvad VPN
#3Anonymous VPN with no personal info required
Starting price
From $5 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
3.7 /5 across G2, SourceForge and Trustpilot · 154 ratings, Aug 2026
OpenVPN vs 6 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: $7/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.3 out of 5, from 574 ratings across SourceForge, Trustpilot, G2 and more (574) |
| Price: $3.49/mo | Free plan: No | 4.0 out of 5, from 18,319 ratings across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more (18,319) |
| Price: $3.49/mo | Free plan: No | 4.6 out of 5, from 291 ratings across G2 and Capterra (291) |
| Price: $5/mo | Free plan: No | 3.7 out of 5, from 154 ratings across G2, SourceForge and Trustpilot (154) |
 | Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | 4.4 out of 5, from 17 ratings across G2 and Trustpilot (17) |
 | Price: $8/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.8 out of 5, from 38 ratings across G2 and Capterra (38) |
 | Price: $6.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.3 out of 5, from 5 ratings on G2 (5) |
Why people consider alternatives to OpenVPN
OpenVPN creates secure tunnels between networks. An open-source VPN that's been trusted for years - private networking that's proven reliable. The security is established. The flexibility is high.
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- Pricing at scale as usage or premium tiers add up.
- Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- A specific feature gap you have hit in vpn.
The 6 alternatives below cover the same core job (VPN) with different trade-offs.
OpenVPN by the numbers
Toolradar data: OpenVPN's entry paid plan ($7/mo, billed monthly) ranks #13 of 17 for price among the VPN tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $3.49/mo. As of Nov 2026.
| Metric | OpenVPN | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $7/mo, billed monthly | $3.49/mo | #13 of 17 tools with no stated price unit, verified price |
| Free plan | Yes | 21 of 37 have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 3 tools | 3 | #19 of 37 (joint) |
| User rating | 4.3/5 (across the web, 574 ratings) | 4.3/5 | #12 of 27 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 55 visits | 45 | #12 of 30 tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Visitors most often compare OpenVPN with WireGuard (last 30 days, Nov 2026).
Listed as an alternative to: #20 on 2026-10-16 to #19 on 2026-11-03 (rank among 37 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All VPN data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.
Cite this: Toolradar, “OpenVPN by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
VPN leaderboards from Toolradar data
Toolradar ranks VPN tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Nov 2026.
Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 17 tools with no stated price unit, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CyberGhost VPN | $2.03/mo, billed monthly |
| 2 | IPVanish | $2.19/mo, billed monthly |
| 3 | Surfshark | $2.49/mo, billed monthly |
| 3 | ZoogVPN | $2.49/mo, billed monthly |
| 5 | Bitdefender | $2.50/mo, billed yearly |
Most visited, last 30 days
Distinct visitor sessions on the tool's Toolradar page over the last 30 days, with bots excluded by our analytics. A session counts once however many times it reloads the page.
Counted among 8 tools with 50+ visits.
| # | Tool | Visits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proton VPN | 1,427 visits |
| 2 | Hide.me | 834 visits |
| 3 | Windscribe VPN | 639 visits |
| 4 | Opera | 619 visits |
| 5 | ZoogVPN | 365 visits |
A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 17 of 37 VPN tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. How we compute this. Cite this: Toolradar, “VPN leaderboards”, Nov 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. All VPN statistics.
6 alternatives to OpenVPN
Ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review, plus how directly they replace OpenVPN.
- 1
NordVPN
Paid Battle-tested at scaleOnline VPN service for privacy
4.0 /5 across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more · 18,319 ratings, Sep 2026
From $3.49/mo, billed monthly
- 2
ExpressVPN
Paid Higher rated by usersSecure your connection, access global content, and enjoy fast speeds
4.6 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 291 ratings, Sep 2026
From $3.49/mo, billed monthly
- 3
Mullvad VPN
PaidAnonymous VPN with no personal info required
3.7 /5 across G2, SourceForge and Trustpilot · 154 ratings, Aug 2026
From $5/mo, billed monthly
- 4
WireGuard
100% freeFast, simple, and secure VPN protocol
4.4 /5 across G2 and Trustpilot · 17 ratings, Aug 2026
Free
- 5
Tailscale
Free plan Higher rated by usersSecurely connect your devices like they're on the same network, anywhere
4.8 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 38 ratings, Sep 2026
From $8/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 6
Proton VPN
Free planSwiss privacy protection with unlimited bandwidth
4.3 /5 on G2 · 5 ratings, May 2026
From $6.99/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to OpenVPN?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to OpenVPN are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad VPN. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to OpenVPN?
Yes. WireGuard is 100% free (no paid upgrade path) (Fast, simple, and secure VPN protocol). Freemium tools on this list offer a free tier with paid upgrades; they are not the same as fully free.
Why do people look for OpenVPN alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from OpenVPN: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in vpn. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for OpenVPN versus each alternative.
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