Which is better, ProtonVPN or OpenVPN?

OpenVPN edges out ProtonVPN based on user ratings across 315 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — ProtonVPN may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between ProtonVPN and OpenVPN?

Key differences between ProtonVPN and OpenVPN include pricing (ProtonVPN starts at $4 vs OpenVPN at $75); target audience (ProtonVPN targets Large Enterprises while OpenVPN serves Freelancers / Consultants). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both ProtonVPN and OpenVPN offer a Free trial?

Neither ProtonVPN nor OpenVPN offers a free trial.

Who are the typical users of ProtonVPN?

ProtonVPN is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is designed for Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of ProtonVPN and OpenVPN?

Pricing for ProtonVPN starts at $4/Month, whereas OpenVPN starts at $75/Month.

What are the best alternatives to ProtonVPN?

Some top alternatives to ProtonVPN include TunnelBear, PureVPN, CyberGhost VPN, IVPN, NordVPN.

What are the best alternatives to OpenVPN?

Some top alternatives to OpenVPN include PureVPN, FastestVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access VPN, PrivateVPN.

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

ProtonVPN

4.3(179 reviews)

Starting at $4 /Month

Large Enterprises
Medium Business

ProtonVPN is the world's most advanced VPN software. Based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is designed for users who wish to maintain their online privacy and security without sacrificing performance. Users can connect to the…

View Pricing Read Reviews

OpenVPN

4.4(315 reviews)

Starting at $75 /Month

Freelancers / Consultants
Large Enterprises

OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access…

View Pricing Read Reviews

OpenVPN leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 315 reviews.

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN — at a glance

Feature	ProtonVPN	OpenVPN
Rating	4.3 / 5	4.4 / 5
Reviews	179	315
Starting price	$4 /Month	$75 /Month
Free trial	No	No
Free version	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
Category	VPN Software	VPN Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API	—	Available
Support modes	Online	Business Hours, Online
Certifications	GDPR	GDPR
Data residency	EU	—

Key differences between ProtonVPN and OpenVPN

Pricing: ProtonVPN starts at $4 /Month, while OpenVPN starts at $75 /Month.
Target audience: ProtonVPN is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while OpenVPN targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
User satisfaction: OpenVPN scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
Deployment: ProtonVPN supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; OpenVPN supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN — find the better fit before you commit.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most VPN Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	ProtonVPN (50) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	OpenVPN (150) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

ProtonVPN

Best VPN for privacy-focused users needing strong security and Swiss jurisdiction.

Choose if

You prioritize military-grade encryption and a strict no-log policy.
You want a VPN headquartered in privacy-friendly Switzerland for legal protection.
You need a simple, low-complexity VPN for small to medium teams or remote workers.

Consider alternatives if

You require extensive global server coverage, especially in Latin America.
You need consistently high speeds on free or lower-tier plans.

OpenVPN

Best for secure, customizable VPNs with strong SSL/TLS encryption.

Choose if

You need secure remote workforce or site-to-site VPN connections.
Your IT team can handle medium complexity setups and configurations.
You want an open-source VPN that supports NAT and firewall traversal.

Consider alternatives if

You require a plug-and-play VPN for non-technical users.
You need extensive built-in compliance and enterprise process management.

ProtonVPN: Best VPN for privacy-focused users needing strong security and Swiss jurisdiction. OpenVPN: Best for secure, customizable VPNs with strong SSL/TLS encryption.

Description	ProtonVPN is the world's most advanced VPN software. Based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is designed for users who wish to maintain their online privacy and security without sacrificing ... Read More about ProtonVPN	OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged ... Read More about OpenVPN
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $4 , Billed Yearly	Starts from $75
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	9.2/10	9.2/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.3 (179)	4.4 (315)
Best Company Size	1-50 employees51-500 employees	Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do ProtonVPN and OpenVPN Compare on Features?

Total Features	7 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote

Compare ProtonVPN and OpenVPN on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	$4 , Billed Yearly	$75
Pricing Plans	Free Get Started 23 servers in 3 countries 1 VPN connection Medium speed Show more + Basic Get Started 350+ servers in 40+ countries 2 VPN connections High speed Show more + Plus Get Started 1200+ servers in 55 countries 10 VPN connections Highest speed (up to 10 Gbps) Show more + Browse all pricing plans	Not Available
Pricing Page
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Freelancers Individuals	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Freelancers Individuals
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Mobile - Windows Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Mobile - Windows Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Not Available	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

HIPAA	✗ No	—
GDPR	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Single Sign-On (SSO)	✗ No	✓ Yes
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Audit Logs	✗ No	✓ Yes
Data Residency	🇪🇺 EU	—

ProtonVPN User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.3 (based on 179 reviews)	4.4 (based on 315 reviews)
Rating Distribution	43 7 0 0 0	102 40 7 1 0
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate ProtonVPN's strong privacy features and security but note limitations in server locations and customer support responsiveness. What buyers like Strong security and encryption Privacy and no-log policy User-friendly design Common complaints Limited server locations Slow customer support	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights OpenVPN's strong security, ease of deployment, and cross-platform compatibility, with some concerns about technical complexity. What buyers like Ease of setup Security and encryption Cross-platform compatibility Common complaints Technical complexity Limited compliance features
Pros and Cons	Military-grade AES-256 encryption and reliable protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec Strict no-log policy backed by Swiss jurisdiction Secure Core feature routing traffic through multiple servers for enhanced privacy Limited server locations compared to competitors, especially in Latin America Free and lower-tier plans have slower speeds and reduced functionality	Simplicity in setup and deployment Robust security with SSL/TLS encryption Compatibility across multiple operating systems and devices May require technical knowledge for optimal configuration Limited out-of-the-box compliance features
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	6 Screenshots	2 Screenshots
Videos	3 Videos	3 Videos

Top Alternatives to ProtonVPN and OpenVPN in 2026

Alternatives	TunnelBear 3.7 PureVPN 4.6 CyberGhost VPN 4.6	PureVPN 4.6 FastestVPN 4 NordVPN 4.3

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, ProtonVPN or OpenVPN?: OpenVPN edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do ProtonVPN and OpenVPN offer a free trial?: Neither ProtonVPN nor OpenVPN currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN?: ProtonVPN starts at $4 /Month. OpenVPN starts at $75 /Month.
What are the top alternatives to ProtonVPN?: Top alternatives to ProtonVPN include TunnelBear, PureVPN, CyberGhost VPN, IVPN, NordVPN.
What are the top alternatives to OpenVPN?: Top alternatives to OpenVPN include PureVPN, FastestVPN, NordVPN, Private Internet Access VPN, PrivateVPN.

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN Comparison

ProtonVPN

OpenVPN

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN — at a glance

Key differences between ProtonVPN and OpenVPN

ProtonVPN vs OpenVPN — find the better fit before you commit.

ProtonVPN

OpenVPN

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How do ProtonVPN and OpenVPN Compare on Features?

Compare ProtonVPN and OpenVPN on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

ProtonVPN User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Top Alternatives to ProtonVPN and OpenVPN in 2026

Related Blogs and Articles for Vpn Software

Frequently asked questions