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Open-source VPN protocol and software

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Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge
446 reviews tracked·2 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Entry price

From $5/mo (free plan available)

Biggest pro

Industry standard VPN

Biggest con

Complex setup

TL;DR - OpenVPN

  • OpenVPN is an open-source VPN solution for secure remote access
  • It creates encrypted tunnels for private network connectivity
  • Community Edition free, Access Server from $180/year
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.6/5 across review platforms

What is OpenVPN?

Editorial review
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 OpenVPN for reliable tunneling.

Available on: Web, Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Industry standard VPN
  • Self-hostable
  • Good security
  • Open source
  • Wide compatibility

Cons

  • Complex setup
  • Performance vs WireGuard
  • Learning curve
  • Manual management
  • UI dated

Ratings Across the Web

4.6(446 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

VPN protocolSSL/TLSCross-platformAccess ServerCommunityOpen source

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Community

Free

Self-hosted

  • Open source
  • Self-managed
  • Community support
  • Basic features

Access Server

Free

2 free connections

  • 2 VPN connections
  • Admin portal
  • Cloud deployment
  • Basic support

Cloud

$7/per connection/month

Managed VPN

  • Fully managed
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global regions
  • 24/7 support

Connect

$5/per connection/month

Business VPN

  • Cyber Shield
  • SSO integration
  • Policy management
  • Dedicated support

How OpenVPN's pricing compares

At $5/mo, OpenVPN is mid-range of its 5 direct competitors ($3.39 to $5/mo across the set).

Entry paid plan, monthly.

Reviews

4.6/5

Across 446 verified user reviews on G2, SourceForge, Capterra

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Best OpenVPN Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

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OpenVPN FAQ

Is OpenVPN free?

The Community Edition is free and open source. OpenVPN Access Server, which adds management features, starts at $180/year for 10 connections.

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is the industry-standard open source VPN protocol and software. It provides secure remote access and has been battle-tested for over 20 years.

OpenVPN vs WireGuard?

OpenVPN is more established with broader compatibility. WireGuard is newer, faster, and simpler. Both are secure. WireGuard is gaining popularity for its performance.

Source: openvpn.net

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