OpenVPN Cloud or Access Server

Access Server or OpenVPN Cloud, which solution is right for your business?

Summary A self-hosted software VPN server. A networking service in the cloud that does not require infrastructure.
Overview A software VPN server that is installed on a private network. OpenVPN clients on user devices such as computers and smartphones and other networks (for site-to-site) connect to the VPN server to become part of the VPN Server’s private network. An OpenVPN networking service in the cloud with worldwide Regions. Private networks and servers are networked together just by connecting to one of the worldwide Regions.

They connect using software VPN clients called Connectors.

User on devices such as computers and smartphones use OpenVPN Connect Client to connect to the Region closest to them to get access to the private networks and services.
Server infrastructure required Yes No
Number of free connections offered 2 3 (Use of Connector consumes one connection)
Built-in Authentication
  • LDAP
  • LDAPS
  • RADIUS
  • PAM
  • SAML 2.0
  • LDAP with directory server on private network
MFA Google Authenticator is integrated by default while others like Duo and LastPass can be added with plugins Uses email and Authenticator Application
Operating System Support

Access Server can be installed on:

  • Ubuntu
  • RedHat
  • Debian
  • CentOS
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Virtual Appliances: Hyper-V, VMware ESXi

Connector (client) can be installed on:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux (CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Redhat, Ubuntu)
Cloud Marketplace Availability

Quick Launch: AWS

Cloud Marketplaces: AWS, Azure, GCP, Digital Ocean, Oracle

Quick Launch: AWS, Azure
Responsible party for scaling and geographic reach Customer OpenVPN Inc
Joint responsibility for network operations No Yes (SLA available)
Must open ports in network firewall for incoming connections Yes No
Syslog Yes No
Works in air-gapped networks Yes No
Built-in DNS-based content filtering No Yes
Steering specific traffic within the VPN tunnel (per-domain VPN) No Yes
Private networks can have overlapping IP address ranges No Yes
Create Account for Two Free Connections Get Started with OpenVPN Cloud