The Best vs. the Rest: OpenVPN Alternatives & Comparison
Curious how OpenVPN stacks up? Let's dive in.
The #1 Business VPN
Trusted by 20,000+ organizations for over two decades.
The #1 Business VPNThe Clear Choice: OpenVPN vs. Others
Simple Administration
 | Tailscale | Perimeter 81 | Twingate | NordLayer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration wizards |  Yes |  No | No | Yes | No |
| Connection visibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DNS log | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit log | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SIEM integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Performance & Availability
| Tailscale | Perimeter 81 | Twingate | NordLayer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-mesh topology | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Multi-region | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kernel-level encryption support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Network Security
| Tailscale | Perimeter 81 | Twingate | NordLayer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in IDS/IPS | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Built-in content filtering | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DNS security | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Network Access Controls
| Tailscale | Perimeter 81 | Twingate | NordLayer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device posture enforcement (ZTNA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Location-based access (ZTNA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Identity-based access (ZTNA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-factor authentication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in certificate management | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Application micro-segmentation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Identity provider integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Simplified Routing
| Tailscale | Perimeter 81 | Twingate | NordLayer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routing using domain names (IP overlap resolution) | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Split-tunneling using domain names | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Backed by enterprise-grade security
SOC 2 Type 2
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
HIPAA Compliant
GDPR CompliantVPN showdown: see why we lead the pack
Tailscale
Tailscale is a modern VPN service built on top of the WireGuard protocol, designed to make secure networking effortless for teams and individuals. Rather than acting as a traditional VPN that routes all traffic through a central server, Tailscale creates a mesh network that connects your devices directly using peer-to-peer communication wherever possible. It simplifies network configuration by handling NAT traversal, key management, and device discovery automatically. | Tailscale | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy configuration | Yes | Yes |
| Scalable | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic key rotation | Yes | Yes |
| Peer-to-peer by default | No | Yes |
| Based on end-to-end open source | Yes | No |
| Flexible server configuration | Yes | No |
| Multiple use cases | Yes | No |
| Unlimited free tier | Yes | No |
| Native support for IPv6 | Yes | Yes |
Key Features
Get Started for Free- Zero-config setup: Automatically handles firewall rules, NAT traversal, and endpoint discovery without complex configuration.
- Device-level access control: ACLs allow admins to control which users and devices can communicate.
- Single sign-on (SSO) integration: Supports SSO with major identity providers (like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Okta, etc.).
- MagicDNS: Provides DNS resolution for devices in your network, making it easy to reach devices by name instead of IP.
- Mesh networking: Enables peer-to-peer connections, minimizing latency and avoiding centralized bottlenecks.
- Multi-platform support: Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and devices like Raspberry Pi and Synology NAS.
How to choose the right solution for you
Secure connections for every use case.
Assessing security requirements
You'll need to make sure that any new platform meets your existing security and compliance requirements while also fitting into your current tech stack. OpenVPN offers APIs in Access Server and CloudConnexa and is focused on helping you stay in compliance.
Performance needs
Staying secure doesn't need to come at the cost of your network speed or performance with OpenVPN DCO. In fact, OpenVPN has shown significant performance gains compared to competitors like Wireguard.
Budget considerations
Often, the final decision for network security decisions comes down to cost. OpenVPN offers flexibility to scale up and down as your business grows, and starts at $7 per month, per connection. Check out our OpenVPN Pricing for more information.Learn more about all OpenVPN capabilities.
Two solutions — one goal
Self-hosted or cloud-delivered: We've got your network security covered.
Self-hosted
Access Server
Access Server gives you complete control over your security architecture with customizable access policies and private tunneling.
Deploy on IaaS providers, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware ESXi- Get started fast with a ready-to-use templates
- Protect your data by routing internet traffic through the Access Server
- Enforce access policies with identity, device, and IP verification
Cloud-delivered
CloudConnexa®
Connect your applications, private networks, workforce, and IoT devices — without complex, hard-to-scale hardware or self-managed server software.
- Enforce security with a full suite of Zero Trust controls
- Connect networks seamlessly using OpenVPN or IPsec
- Enhance protection with content filtering and IDS/IPS
- Simplify routing with domain-based traffic rules
OpenVPN — benefits at a glance
Ease of Use and Setup with Fast Speeds
Whether you choose Access Server or CloudConnexa, implementation is fast and easy. In most cases, you'll be up and running in under an hour. Plus, with OpenVPN Data Channel Offload (DCO), network speeds remain fast.
Security and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Enforcing Zero Trust has never been easier with encrypted tunneling and continuously verified security controls to ensure access is granted only from trusted locations, to authorized and compliant devices.
Superior Network Visibility
With Access Visibility and DNS Log, you'll gain unparalleled visibility into application access and unusual web activity, boost Zero Trust efforts, and eliminate security blindspots.
Multiple Supported Authentication Protocols
Access Server and CloudConnexa allow you to use your preferred sign-in methods, with options to automate and secure your devices with MFA and other authentication protocols.Ready to take control of your infrastructure?
Our Technical Support team is available 24/7 to guide you through every step of set-up and configuration. But we doubt you'll need us.Frequently asked questions
Backed by enterprise-grade security
Classified by more than 400 reviewers of G2.com.