Best OpenVPN alternatives in 2026
5 direct alternatives to OpenVPN, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Why people leave OpenVPN
OpenVPN creates secure tunnels between networks. Open-source VPN that's been trusted for decades—private networking that's proven reliable. The security is established. The flexibility is high. The deployment is understood. Organizations needing VPN infrastructure often deploy …
Common reasons teams switch: pricing as you scale, missing integrations, performance, or a feature gap your team has hit. The alternatives below cover the same core job (encryption) with different trade-offs.
5 alternatives to OpenVPN
Ranked by editorial score and direct relevance to OpenVPN.
- 1
WireGuard
FreeFast and modern VPN protocol
Direct alternativeCompare OpenVPN vs WireGuard → - 2
Tailscale
FreemiumZero config VPN for teams
Direct alternativeCompare OpenVPN vs Tailscale → - 3
Mullvad VPN
PaidPrivacy-focused VPN
Direct alternativeCompare OpenVPN vs Mullvad VPN → - 4
Zeroport
PaidHardware-enforced, non-IP remote access for unparalleled cybersecurity and performance.
Direct alternativeCompare OpenVPN vs Zeroport → - 5
NetBird
FreemiumOpen Source Zero Trust Networking for secure, peer-to-peer connectivity across any platform.
Direct alternativeCompare OpenVPN vs NetBird →
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for OpenVPN versus each alternative.
Still considering OpenVPN?
See the full review, pricing breakdown, and community feedback before you decide.