OpenVPN CloudConnexa

Overview

OpenVPN CloudConnexa is a cloud-managed service for connecting users, devices and networks through an overlay network. It suits organizations that want centralized administration and granular access policies alongside VPN connectivity. Its seat-based plans and required Internet Gateway for internet access are important fit considerations.

The service supports OpenVPN and IPsec, site-to-site networking, and split tunneling. Its overlay has no default internet connection, so organizations needing internet access through the network must provide an Internet Gateway. OpenVPN says more than 20,000 organizations use CloudConnexa.

Each active user or connector consumes one seat, which makes the free plan’s five-seat ceiling a practical constraint for larger teams. CloudConnexa is fully cloud-based and managed by OpenVPN rather than deployed as customer-managed infrastructure.

For broader comparisons, see Business VPN Software and Zero Trust Network Access Software.

Key features

Central administration and security

A unified console supports centralized management and granular access policies; the administration control level is advanced. Web filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, and threat defense provide security controls beyond connectivity. The pricing page lists SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001.

Identity, networking and integrations

LDAP and SAML are available on Essential, while Premium adds SCIM and multiple authentication methods. OpenVPN and IPsec support, site-to-site networking and split tunneling give teams several ways to connect users and networks. The public API and Terraform support suit teams automating administration; application sharing with other CloudConnexa accounts is included in paid plans.

Platforms and support

CloudConnexa supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and ChromeOS, with web administration and an API. Technical support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week; Essential includes 24/7 priority support.

Pricing

CloudConnexa uses a freemium, per-seat model. Each active user or connector uses one seat, so account for both when estimating the paid footprint.

• Starter: Five seats, with no credit card required. It is a sensible starting point for a small deployment, but the five-seat cap limits its use as a larger team’s ongoing plan.
• Essential: $7 a month per seat, with a total of $70/month billed yearly shown and an annual discount available. It includes a 14-day free trial, LDAP and SAML, IPsec support, SIEM log streaming, public API, application sharing and 24/7 priority support. This tier fits teams that need those core integrations and administration features.
• Premium: $9.50 a month per seat, with a total of $95/month billed yearly shown and an annual discount available. It includes a 14-day trial, SCIM, multiple authentication methods, increased log retention, increased network limits, increased access controls and 99.9% uptime. The higher tier is aimed at organizations needing stronger provisioning and greater limits.
• Enterprise & IoT: Custom pricing based on business requirements, with custom usage thresholds, a named account contact, guided onboarding and proof of concept. It is suited to requirements that do not fit the standard tiers.

Essential and Premium can be tried free for 14 days. Automatic charging occurs only if a payment method was entered. Check the yearly billed totals alongside the per-seat prices when budgeting.

Platforms

Supported client platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and ChromeOS. Web administration and API access are also supported.

Who it's for

CloudConnexa is a fit for organizations connecting staff, devices and sites that want cloud-managed networking, advanced centralized controls and plan-based identity and security features. Teams automating configuration can make use of the public API and Terraform support. It is less suitable when internet access through the overlay is expected without a separate Internet Gateway, or when the five-seat free tier is too small and per-seat costs do not suit the budget.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Centralized, granular administration. A unified console and advanced control level help teams manage access policies centrally.
• Pros: Multiple network and identity options. OpenVPN and IPsec, site-to-site networking, split tunneling, and plan-dependent LDAP, SAML and SCIM support cover varied deployment needs.
• Pros: Security controls and operational support. Web filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, threat defense, and 24/7 technical support strengthen its organizational focus.
• Cons: Internet access needs an extra component. The overlay has no default internet connection; an Internet Gateway is required.
• Cons: Seat use includes connectors. Active users and connectors both consume seats, so deployments with many connectors can use capacity beyond their human-user count.
• Cons: The free tier is small. Its five-seat limit makes it a limited option for larger teams.

Alternatives

• OpenVPN Access Server is worth considering for a self-hosted option; its free plan allows up to two connections and includes all features.
• NetBird may suit a small deployment seeking a free allowance of up to five users and 100 machines, or a self-hosted platform.
• Cloudflare Access offers a free plan for under 50 users, making it an option to compare for a larger no-cost user allowance.
• GoodAccess is another freemium option with a free Starter plan for secure internet access and online threat protection for business teams.
• Tailscale has a free Personal plan for up to six users and unlimited user devices, which may fit a small personal deployment.
• Twingate offers a free Starter plan for up to five users and 50 resources, with split tunneling and conditional access controls.
• ZeroTier is an alternative to compare for a personal network allowance of 10 devices, one network and one network administrator.
• Windscribe is a freemium alternative whose free plan provides 2 GB per month without a confirmed email or 10 GB/month across 10 countries.

Verdict

Choose CloudConnexa if your organization needs cloud-managed connections with centralized, granular administration and can budget by active user and connector. Its strongest case is the combination of network connectivity, security controls and plan-dependent identity and automation options. Look elsewhere if you need internet access through the overlay without an Internet Gateway or a larger free-seat allowance.