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OpenVPN Access Server pros and cons

Vendor: OpenVPN
4.2 out of 5
Badge Leader

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

OpenVPN Access Server is open source and affordable, providing cost-effective solutions for small projects.
It supports strong encryption and secure remote access across multiple platforms such as Mac, Windows, and Linux.
The setup is straightforward, allowing easy scalability and configuration, including multi-factor authentication options.
The remote connection stability is reliable, ensuring privacy and cryptography for network communication.
OpenVPN Access Server is advantageous for its adaptability, facilitating simple integration, script writing, and key generation.

CONS

OpenVPN Access Server requires Linux server configuration experience for initial setup.
OpenVPN Access Server experienced connectivity issues and needs improvements in stability and speed.
There are shortcomings in security that need addressing in OpenVPN Access Server.
OpenVPN Access Server's patching, updating, and migrating to newer versions present challenges.
OpenVPN Access Server lacks scalability and compatibility with some additional protocols supported by competitors.
 

OpenVPN Access Server Pros review quotes

ES
Oct 28, 2019
The features I have found to be most valuable are the levels of encryption I can enact and the compression I can apply to improve throughput.
Girraj Godia - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 8, 2025
The best features OpenVPN Access Server offers is whitelisting members in my company who have joined recently; it is really easy to use, and it is really easy to set up OpenVPN Access Server as an internal app.
SK
Jun 30, 2020
There is support for multi-factor authentication.
Learn what your peers think about OpenVPN Access Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
869,832 professionals have used our research since 2012.
BB
Mar 29, 2018
It can securely do remote product updates... just as if it was on our LAN.
it_user847161 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 29, 2018
The compatibility with almost any Linux operating system, and how easy it is to write scripts and generate keys for people to use and log in. I found it easy to deploy quickly.
SeniorSy43b9 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 29, 2018
A valuable feature for us is its ability to see the new Citrix server as a local server within the company. And it allows us to test abroad.
reviewer2711823 - PeerSpot reviewer
May 28, 2025
What I appreciate the most about OpenVPN Access Server is that it's very easy to set up.
GJ
Feb 20, 2023
The most valuable feature is stability.
TH
Aug 22, 2018
Provided the easiest UX for our end-users and had the greatest interoperability with all the operating systems we used, including but not limited to: iOS, Android, OS X, Windows, and Linux.
Afsal Kaniyarakkal - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 4, 2022
The best thing is that it is open source and free of cost.
 

OpenVPN Access Server Cons review quotes

ES
Oct 28, 2019
If there was a Graphical User Interface to help streamline the configuration, I believe OpenVPN would probably venture more into the non-geek realm as it were.
Girraj Godia - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 8, 2025
The plan for OpenVPN Access Server could be improved. When adding new people, better plans for startups would be beneficial.
SK
Jun 30, 2020
The security needs to be improved because it was a complaint that our customers had.
Learn what your peers think about OpenVPN Access Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
869,832 professionals have used our research since 2012.
BB
Mar 29, 2018
They may have this already, but it would be nice to be able to get more notifications if a site drops unexpectedly.
it_user847161 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 29, 2018
If someone's key is not working, or if we had to remove someone's permission from it, or maybe an employee left the company and we had to take their key out, that seemed a little bit more complicated than it had to be.
SeniorSy43b9 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 29, 2018
I would like to see a simpler interface, so that we can make the connection between the local network using the LAN IP.
reviewer2711823 - PeerSpot reviewer
May 28, 2025
There are tasks that require logging onto the server to run commands, which is not intuitive through the UI.
GJ
Feb 20, 2023
There is always room for more security features.
TH
Aug 22, 2018
The upgrade path from older versions was more difficult than we wanted to tackle, so we ran an older version of the software for longer than I wanted. Patching, updating, and migrating to newer versions was a problem for us. That said, we were on a rather old version that I inherited yet it worked rock solid.
Afsal Kaniyarakkal - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 4, 2022
You do need expertise in implementation if you do the initial setup yourself.