OpenVPN Access Server

Overview

OpenVPN Access Server is business VPN software that organizations host in their own environment to connect users and networks to private resources. It is best suited to IT teams that need centralized access controls and can run a server, virtual appliance, container, or cloud deployment. Its administrative breadth is a strong fit for managed business access, but buyers seeking a provider-hosted service should look elsewhere.

Key features

Access Server combines site-to-site networking with controls that use identity, device, and location context to govern application access and help prevent lateral movement. That makes it more relevant to organizations securing user and network access than to people seeking a personal VPN.

Authentication can use PAM, RADIUS, LDAP, SAML, local, or custom methods. Administrators can assign role-based controls to users and groups and restrict protocols and ports. A Web UI, self-service client UI, CLI, REST API, and automation templates give teams several ways to manage access; this range suits established IT workflows, though it also reflects a product intended for organizational administration.

OpenVPN DCO uses kernel-powered encryption and decryption for near-wire-speed performance. Access Server supports Linux server deployments as well as Docker, VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Kubernetes Helm, CloudFormation, and Terraform. It can also be deployed through cloud marketplaces including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, DigitalOcean, Oracle Cloud, and Vultr. These options give infrastructure teams flexibility, while leaving deployment and hosting in the customer's hands.

OpenVPN Connect supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS clients. The product lists SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance. It also offers SSO, audit logs, and device posture support, adding controls useful to organizations with formal access and security requirements.

Pricing

The Free plan costs free and is free forever, with all features and no credit card required. Its cap of two simultaneous connections makes it a practical way to run a small deployment, but it will not accommodate a larger team at once.

Growth costs $7 a month, billed monthly at $7 per connection per month, and supports up to 2,000 simultaneous connections. The example total is $70 per month billed yearly. This tier provides a clear route beyond the free cap, but per-connection billing means the total rises with concurrent use; larger deployments should compare that cost with Enterprise & IoT.

Enterprise & IoT has custom pricing, with volume discounts based on business requirements and unlimited connections. It is the option for deployments beyond Growth's 2,000-connection ceiling, though buyers must obtain a quote to assess its cost.

A 14-day trial provides access without blocked features or hidden costs and requires five or more connections. Subscriptions can be canceled anytime; unused funds are credited for future usage, with refunds handled by sales.

Platforms

The server is hosted in the customer's environment on Linux, virtual appliances, containers, or public clouds. Supported client platforms are Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS, while the listed platform range also includes Linux and self-hosted deployments.

Who it's for

Access Server suits organizations that want to host their own business VPN, integrate established authentication methods, and apply role-based access, protocol, and port controls. Its free tier works for a two-connection deployment; Growth suits teams that need more concurrent connections and fit within its 2,000-connection limit. It is a weaker fit for buyers who do not want to operate infrastructure or who need predictable costs without connection-based scaling.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The free plan includes all features forever and requires no card, making a small two-connection deployment accessible without a paid commitment.
• Pro: Multiple authentication methods, user- and group-level controls, and protocol and port restrictions support managed access policies.
• Pro: Self-hosting across servers, containers, virtual appliances, and cloud options gives infrastructure teams deployment choice.
• Con: Customers host the service themselves, so it is not the fit for organizations seeking a provider-managed VPN.
• Con: Growth charges $7 per connection per month, so costs increase as concurrent connections grow.
• Con: The free tier's two-simultaneous-connection limit is too small for many team deployments.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, see Business VPN Software.

• NetBird is worth comparing if its free tier of up to five users and 100 machines better matches a small deployment.
• Cloudflare Access may fit teams wanting a free plan for under 50 users or a $7 a month Pay-as-you-go plan.
• GoodAccess offers a free Starter plan for secure internet access and online threat protection for business teams.
• Tailscale is an alternative with a free Personal plan for up to six users and unlimited user devices.
• Twingate has a free Starter plan for up to five users and 50 resources.
• ZeroTier offers a Personal plan for 10 devices, one network, and one network admin.
• Windscribe is a free option with a monthly data allowance rather than a business connection cap.
• OpenVPN CloudConnexa is another OpenVPN product to compare.

Verdict

Choose OpenVPN Access Server if your organization wants a self-hosted business VPN with extensive authentication and administrative controls, and can manage the hosting environment. Its all-feature free tier is a useful entry point, but the two-connection cap and Growth's per-connection billing make scaling cost a central consideration; compare custom-priced Enterprise & IoT or another option if that model does not suit your deployment.