OpenVPN Connect (Client) Alternatives 2026 - Top Competitors Ranked

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OpenVPN Connect (Client)

VPN Reliable Enterprise Grade Robust Nordlayer Mesh VPN Protocol Standard

While not a native mesh solution, the OpenVPN Connect client remains a ubiquitous and reliable tool for remote access. Its strength lies in its flexibility, supporting various protocols and being compatible with nearly every VPN server setup globally. It is the fallback choice when a specific mesh s...

8.2 Great

apps Top OpenVPN Connect (Client) Alternatives

The top alternative to OpenVPN Connect (Client) in 2026 is NetBird with a score of 9.5/10, followed by Proton VPN Mesh (9.4) and OpenVPN Connect (8.6).

NetBird

NetBird is a powerful, open-source mesh networking solution built on WireGuard. Its key strength lies in its ability to...

Security Wireguard Self Hosted P2p

9.5 Brilliant

Proton VPN Mesh

For users whose absolute top priority is privacy, Proton VPN Mesh offers a highly secure, decentralized networking layer...

Security Privacy Open Source Switzerland

9.4 Excellent

OpenVPN Connect

OpenVPN Connect is a software client designed for establishing encrypted virtual private network (VPN) connections. It s...

Mobile Official Desktop VPN Client

8.6 Great

NordLayer Mesh VPN

NordLayer aims to provide an integrated, user-friendly mesh VPN experience, often integrating directly with compatible r...

Business Security All In One User Friendly

8.5 Great

StrongSwan IPsec

For organizations requiring adherence to decades-old, highly standardized protocols, StrongSwan implementing IPsec remai...

Security Complex Legacy Enterprise

8.5 Great

OpenVPN Connect (Advanced Configuration)

While often used for client-server setups, advanced OpenVPN deployments can be configured to achieve mesh-like connectiv...

Security Enterprise Advanced Flexible

8.5 Great

Tunnelblick

Tunnelblick is an open source VPN client designed for macOS. It facilitates secure internet connections by utilizing Ope...

Open Source Macos Desktop VPN Client

8.2 Great

SecureMesh Pro

SecureMesh Pro is a comprehensive mesh VPN solution built for medium to large businesses seeking robust network segmenta...

Security Zero Trust Nordlayer Mesh VPN Mesh VPN

8.1 Great

ExpressVPN for Business

ExpressVPN's business offering provides a highly reliable, managed mesh solution for companies that prioritize uptime an...

Business Reliable Easy Setup Corporate

7.9 Good

Cloudflare Tunnel (Argo Tunnel)

While not a traditional VPN, Cloudflare Tunnel is a revolutionary way to expose internal services securely without openi...

Zero Trust Mesh Nordlayer Mesh VPN Edge Security

7.8 Good

OpenVPN Community Edition

The classic, highly flexible open-source VPN solution. OpenVPN is renowned for its battle-tested stability and its abili...

Software Community Open Source Flexible

7.8 Good

GRE Tunneling

Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a tunneling protocol used to encapsulate a network layer protocol within another....

Advanced Protocol Networking Nordlayer Mesh VPN

7.8 Good

Citadel Mesh Network

Citadel Mesh Network offers a cloud-native mesh VPN solution designed for modern businesses embracing digital transforma...

Security Cloud Native Nordlayer Mesh VPN Mesh VPN

7.7 Good

IPsec VPN Solutions (Router Based)

For organizations with dedicated hardware, setting up a mesh using standard IPsec protocols on dedicated routers (like t...

Hardware Enterprise Manual Protocol Standard

7.6 Good

PIA VPN (Advanced Mesh)

This represents the advanced configuration of PIA's mesh features, targeting users who need to combine its customization...

Privacy Customization Technical Mesh

7.4 Good

OpenVPN (Client)

The generic OpenVPN client setup, when not using the dedicated Connect application, offers immense flexibility. It is th...

Flexible Protocol Standard Nordlayer Mesh VPN

7.4 Good

IPsec VPN (Router Based)

For users with advanced networking hardware (like high-end routers or dedicated gateways), setting up a mesh using nativ...

Hardware Enterprise Advanced Protocol Standard

7.3 Good

Zyxel SecuExtender

Zyxel SecuExtender is a proprietary virtual private network client software developed by Zyxel Communications for enterp...

Enterprise Remote Access VPN Client Ipsec

6.3 Fair

Tailscale Subnet Router

This is an advanced feature within Tailscale that allows a node to act as a gateway for an entire subnet (e.g., an entir...

Advanced VPN Alternative Mesh Router

6.0 Fair

SSTP

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) was Microsoft's proprietary solution, utilizing SSL/TLS ports, which provided go...

Legacy Microsoft Nordlayer Mesh VPN

4.7 Poor

summarize Quick Comparison Summary

Alternative	Score	vs OpenVPN Connect...	Action
NetBird VPN Security Wireguard Self Hosted	9.5 Brilliant	+1.3	Compare
Proton VPN Mesh VPN Security Privacy Open Source	9.4 Excellent	+1.2	Compare
OpenVPN Connect VPN Mobile Official Desktop	8.6 Great	+0.4	Compare
NordLayer Mesh VPN VPN Business Security All In One	8.5 Great	+0.3	Compare
StrongSwan IPsec VPN Security Complex Legacy	8.5 Great	+0.3	Compare
OpenVPN Connect (Advanced Configuration) VPN Security Enterprise Advanced	8.5 Great	+0.3	Compare
Tunnelblick VPN Open Source Macos Desktop	8.2 Great	Same	Compare
SecureMesh Pro VPN Security Zero Trust Nordlayer Mesh VPN	8.1 Great	-0.1	Compare
ExpressVPN for Business VPN Business Reliable Easy Setup	7.9 Good	-0.3	Compare
Cloudflare Tunnel (Argo Tunnel) VPN Zero Trust Mesh Nordlayer Mesh VPN	7.8 Good	-0.4	Compare

See all VPN ranked by score

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help Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client)?

The top alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client) in 2026 include NetBird, Proton VPN Mesh, OpenVPN Connect, NordLayer Mesh VPN, StrongSwan IPsec. Each offers unique features and is objectively scored on Lunoo to help you compare.

How does OpenVPN Connect (Client) compare to its competitors?

Our AI-powered comparison system analyzes features, pricing, user reviews, and expert opinions to provide objective scores. OpenVPN Connect (Client) scores 8.2/10. Click any alternative above to see a detailed side-by-side comparison.

Is OpenVPN Connect (Client) worth it in 2026?

OpenVPN Connect (Client) scores 8.2/10 on Lunoo, making it a highly-rated option in the VPN category. However, alternatives like NetBird may better suit specific needs.

What is the best free alternative to OpenVPN Connect (Client)?

Several alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client) offer free plans or free tiers. Check the alternatives listed above and visit their websites to compare pricing and free options.

Why should I switch from OpenVPN Connect (Client)?

Common reasons users look for OpenVPN Connect (Client) alternatives include pricing, specific feature gaps, better integration needs, or simply exploring newer options. Our objective scoring helps you compare without bias.

How many alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client) are there?

Lunoo currently lists 20 scored alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client) in the VPN category, ranked by our AI-powered evaluation system.

Which OpenVPN Connect (Client) alternative has the highest rating?

NetBird currently holds the highest rating among OpenVPN Connect (Client) alternatives with a score of 9.5/10.

Can I use NetBird instead of OpenVPN Connect (Client)?

NetBird is one of the top-rated alternatives to OpenVPN Connect (Client). While they serve similar purposes in the VPN space, each has distinct strengths. Use our comparison tool above for a detailed side-by-side analysis.

What is the cheapest alternative to OpenVPN Connect (Client)?

Pricing varies among OpenVPN Connect (Client) alternatives. We recommend checking each alternative's website for current pricing. Many options in the VPN category offer free tiers or competitive pricing.

How are OpenVPN Connect (Client) alternatives ranked on Lunoo?

Lunoo uses an AI-powered scoring system that analyzes category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, recency, and value to provide 0 to 10 scores. Rankings are updated continuously.

OpenVPN Connect (Client) vs NetBird: which is better?

OpenVPN Connect (Client) scores 8.2/10 while NetBird scores 9.5/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

OpenVPN Connect (Client) vs Proton VPN Mesh: which is better?

OpenVPN Connect (Client) scores 8.2/10 while Proton VPN Mesh scores 9.4/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

OpenVPN Connect (Client) vs OpenVPN Connect: which is better?

OpenVPN Connect (Client) scores 8.2/10 while OpenVPN Connect scores 8.6/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

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