⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: OpenVPN has a $0 Free plan vs StrongVPN from $3.97/month on its Annual Plan.
- Best for: OpenVPN for IT teams and self-hosters, StrongVPN for everyday privacy and streaming.
- Key difference: OpenVPN is a protocol and software you run. StrongVPN is a service with ready-made servers.
- Our pick: OpenVPN for most tech-savvy users. It’s free, open source, and fully under your control.
OpenVPN and StrongVPN show up in the same searches.
But they aren’t the same kind of product.
OpenVPN is a free, open-source VPN protocol and software suite.
StrongVPN is a paid VPN service with its own servers.
Here’s the twist: StrongVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol inside its apps.
So the real question is simple. Do you build your own tunnel or rent one?
Overview
This OpenVPN vs StrongVPN comparison covers pricing, security, speed, and ease of use.
We reviewed documentation, pricing pages, and G2 reviews for both tools.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with each one.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end, you’ll know which one fits your setup.
What is OpenVPN?
OpenVPN is an open source VPN protocol first released in 2001.
It builds a secure tunnel for data traffic between a VPN client and server.
Think of it as a custom security protocol built on SSL/TLS.
SSL/TLS is the secure sockets layer family of encryption.
It’s a tool for creating VPN tunnels, not a ready-made VPN service.
It sets up virtual private networks with secure connections for sensitive data.
The OpenVPN company also sells business tools like OpenVPN Access Server.
The firm was once known as OpenVPN Technologies.
Here’s a quick video walkthrough of how OpenVPN works.
OpenVPN
Free, open-source software for private VPN tunnels. Run it on your own server. Paid plans add cloud management for teams.
OpenVPN Pricing
Here’s what OpenVPN costs in 2026. The core software is free.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Testing or small personal setups |
| Growth | $7/month | Small teams needing managed access |
| Enterprise | Custom | Large companies with strict security rules |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: The Free plan lets you test OpenVPN at no cost. No time limit applies.
Money-back guarantee: OpenVPN doesn’t advertise one. Start on the Free plan before you upgrade.
📌 Note: OpenVPN Community Edition is the open-source build, and it’s free. You pay only for managed business tools or your own server hosting.
⚠️ Warning: OpenVPN alone gives you no VPN servers. You must run an OpenVPN server or pay for an OpenVPN compatible service.
Key Benefits of OpenVPN
Here’s what makes OpenVPN worth considering:
- Open-Source Code: Anyone can inspect the code for flaws. A global developer community reviews and patches it.
- TCP or UDP Choice: OpenVPN TCP delivers every packet in order, so it’s reliable but slower. OpenVPN UDP is faster but skips delivery checks.
- Flexible Encryption: It supports encryption algorithms like AES and Blowfish via the OpenSSL library. You choose the encryption ciphers and key lengths.
- Firewall Friendly: It slips through firewalls and NAT gateways with ease. That helps on hotel, school, and office networks.
- Perfect Forward Secrecy: Fresh encryption keys protect each session. One leaked key won’t expose all your past data.
- Runs Almost Everywhere: It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It even runs on Tomato routers and Solaris.
- Scales With You: It handles one remote user or full office links. It also carries IPv4 and IPv6 traffic.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for OpenVPN and worked through the setup on a Windows laptop. Here’s what stood out:
OpenVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community Edition is free and open source
- Choice of TCP or UDP for reliability or speed
- Strong encryption with configurable ciphers
- Handles firewalls and NAT gateways well
- Runs on nearly every operating system
❌ Cons
- Manual configuration is hard for beginners
- Slower than newer protocols like WireGuard
- No built-in server locations for streaming
- Less smooth on mobile devices than on desktop
What is StrongVPN?
StrongVPN is a US-based VPN company running since 2005.
It bundles apps, servers, and support into one subscription.
The network has over 950 servers in 30 countries.
No server uses a virtual location, so each one sits where it claims.
It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP.
Reviewers call it reliable but basic next to bigger names.
This short video shows the app in action.
StrongVPN
Plug-and-play VPN with 12 device slots. Includes 250GB of SugarSync storage. Backed by a 30-day refund window.
StrongVPN Pricing
Here’s what StrongVPN costs in 2026. There are just two plans.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Plan | $3.97/month | Long-term users who want the lowest rate |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99/month | Short trips or testing before committing |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No. StrongVPN has no free trial or free version.
Money-back guarantee: Yes. Subscriptions come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
📌 Note: Every StrongVPN subscription includes 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage. Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, and Alipay.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list the monthly plan at $10.99. They show the annual plan at $69.99. That annual rate reportedly renews at $89.99 after year one. Confirm the final price at checkout.
Key Benefits of StrongVPN
Core StrongVPN features cover privacy, streaming, and storage. Here are the highlights:
- Physical Servers Only: StrongVPN’s servers all sit in their real countries. You always know where your traffic exits.
- 12 Simultaneous Connections: Cover phones, laptops, and a TV on one account. That’s enough for most families.
- Free Cloud Storage: Each plan adds 250GB of SugarSync storage. Few other VPNs bundle backup space.
- Kill Switch and AES-256: The kill switch blocks internet access if the VPN drops. AES-256 encryption guards everything in between.
- SmartDNS for Streaming: SmartDNS unblocks geo-restricted content without slowing you down. It works on devices that can’t run VPN apps.
- Real Human Support: Help comes via live chat, phone, and email. Phone support is rare in the VPN industry.
- P2P on Every Server: Torrenting is allowed on all servers. You don’t need to hunt for special locations.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer subscribed to StrongVPN and used its apps for everyday browsing. Here’s what stood out:
StrongVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Physical servers only, with no virtual locations
- 12 simultaneous connections per account
- 250GB of free cloud storage included
- Live chat, phone, and email support
- Supports WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols
❌ Cons
- Based in the US, a Five Eyes country
- No-logs policy has never been independently audited
- Small server network compared to larger rivals
- No free trial or free version
Feature Comparison
OpenVPN and StrongVPN tackle privacy from opposite ends. Below, we compare nine key features plus pricing.
| Feature | OpenVPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0 (Free plan) | $3.97/month |
| Free Plan | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ready-Made Server Locations | ❌ | ✅ 950+ in 30 countries |
| OpenVPN Protocol | ✅ | ✅ |
| WireGuard Protocol | ❌ | ✅ |
| Site-to-Site Networking | ✅ | ❌ |
| DNS Filtering / SmartDNS | ✅ (business plans) | ✅ |
| Bundled Cloud Storage | ❌ | ✅ 250GB |
| Phone Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best For | IT teams and self-hosters | Everyday privacy and streaming |
1. Secure Remote Access
OpenVPN: OpenVPN Access Server lets staff reach company files from home. Each VPN connection is checked through a public key infrastructure. That’s why IT teams pick it for remote access.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN focuses on personal online security, not office networks. It hides your IP addresses from websites and your internet service provider. It can’t connect you to private networks at work.
2. Protocols & Speed
OpenVPN: OpenVPN is one protocol with two modes. OpenVPN connections run over transmission control protocol for reliability or user datagram protocol for speed. The UDP protocol is usually the better pick for streaming and calls. Like other tunneling protocols, it trades a little speed for safety.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN defaults to WireGuard on most apps. It also offers the open source OpenVPN protocol. Published tests show a 5-7% speed loss on nearby servers. Other reviews report a 20% average drop.
One review measured download and upload speeds at 31% and 13% against base. Streaming showed minimal buffering in tests. Ping suits casual gaming, but latency runs higher than top rivals for competitive play.
⚠️ Warning: Speed depends on distance. Always connect to the server closest to your real location. If speeds dip, try the next closest server.
3. Encryption & Authentication
OpenVPN: OpenVPN supports many encryption protocols through the OpenSSL library. It verifies both sides with certificates, user credentials, and a hash message authentication code. The tls auth option adds an HMAC firewall that drops unsigned packets early.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN uses AES-256 across its apps. It handles keys and certificates for you, with zero setup. You get less control but fewer ways to make mistakes.
This is where OpenVPN offers better security than most VPN protocols. Compared to other VPN protocols like PPTP, it’s far harder to crack. It regularly appears on lists of the safest VPN protocols.
4. Privacy & Logging
OpenVPN: With the self-hosted Community Edition, you run the server. You decide what, if anything, your OpenVPN servers log. No third party sees your browsing activity.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN claims a strict no logging policy. It says it doesn’t store browsing history, timestamps, or IP addresses. The only personal information it keeps is your email and payment information for billing.
It also says it never sells user data to third parties.
⚠️ Warning: StrongVPN is based in the US, part of the Five Eyes alliance. Its strict no logging policies have never been independently audited.
5. DNS Security
OpenVPN: OpenVPN’s business plans add DNS security and content filtering. They block harmful domains before a page loads. Community Edition users set DNS rules by hand.
StrongVPN: StrongDNS sends lookups through StrongVPN’s own resolvers. That acts as built-in DNS leak protection for your web traffic. We strongly advise running your own leak tests after setup.
6. Streaming & Censorship
OpenVPN: OpenVPN has no streaming servers of its own. Your server has one IP, so unblocking other regions is limited. It does beat restrictive firewalls, which helps on locked-down networks.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN can reach major streaming platforms from abroad. SmartDNS helps on devices like Amazon Fire TV. Services like BBC iPlayer change their blocks often, so results vary.
It also helps you reach news and social sites in censored regions.
7. Servers & Network
OpenVPN: OpenVPN lets you build your own network from scratch. Site-to-site links join whole offices through VPN tunnels. Plugins and scripts extend it for custom setups.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN runs 950+ physical servers in 30 countries. Other VPNs offer more servers and more server locations. P2P transfers are allowed everywhere, and plans don’t list caps on bandwidth usage.
8. Apps & Device Support
OpenVPN: The OpenVPN client runs on most operating systems. Beginners use OpenVPN Connect, while Windows users often prefer the OpenVPN GUI. You install OpenVPN, then import a .ovpn config file.
Most VPN clients support it, and the client software is free. The OpenVPN software also secures IoT devices like cameras and sensors. You don’t need your own server, either. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access ship OpenVPN preconfigured.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN offers native apps for iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, and routers. The Android app lives on the Google Play Store and runs on Chrome OS. Manual setup guides cover other devices StrongVPN has no app for.
There are no browser extensions. Reviews say not all apps offer split tunneling beyond Android devices. Check the settings menu on yours. Turn on the kill switch in the Windows app and Android apps.
9. Cloud & SaaS Protection
OpenVPN: OpenVPN’s business tiers secure access to SaaS applications. You can limit which staff reach which cloud app. That’s zero trust access in practice.
SaaS Protection adds a clear view of who uses each app.
StrongVPN: StrongVPN takes a consumer angle here instead. Each plan includes 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage. That free cloud storage is handy for backing up photos and files.
10. Pricing & Cost
Let’s compare the pricing plans side by side.
| Plan | OpenVPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | ❌ |
| Growth | $7/month | — |
| Annual Plan | — | $3.97/month |
| Monthly Plan | — | $11.99/month |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
OpenVPN: OpenVPN is free if you run your own server. Growth suits teams that want cloud-managed access. Self-hosters still pay for hosting.
StrongVPN: The Annual Plan is the cheapest way in. The Monthly Plan costs about three times more per month. The refund window lowers the risk of trying it.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Zero budget | OpenVPN | Free Community Edition |
| Streaming abroad | StrongVPN | Real servers in 30 countries |
| Remote access for staff | OpenVPN | Access Server and site-to-site links |
| Many family devices | StrongVPN | 12 connections on one account |
| Full control of logs | OpenVPN | You run the server |
| Beginner-friendly setup | StrongVPN | One-tap apps |
💰 Your Budget
OpenVPN costs nothing if you host it yourself. StrongVPN is paid only, with no free tier.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
OpenVPN fits Linux servers, routers, and company networks. StrongVPN fits phones, laptops, and streaming boxes.
🔒 Your Privacy Priorities
If you don’t want to trust any VPN company, host OpenVPN yourself. StrongVPN asks you to trust an unaudited US provider.
🎓 Your Experience Level
New VPN users should start with StrongVPN’s mobile apps. If manual configuration feels fun, OpenVPN gives you more.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
OpenVPN’s Free plan is a no-risk test. StrongVPN has no trial, so lean on its 30-day refund window.
🛟 Support Options
StrongVPN offers live chat, phone, and email. OpenVPN leans on documentation and forums, with ticket help on business plans.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these tools? Here’s what to expect if you switch.
🔄 Switching from OpenVPN to StrongVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- 950+ ready-made servers in 30 countries
- One-tap apps with a kill switch
- 250GB cloud storage and phone support
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Full control over your servers and logs
- Free self-hosted use
- Site-to-site links and access to private networks
📋 How to switch:
- List the devices that use your .ovpn profiles.
- Buy a StrongVPN plan and install the apps.
- Pick WireGuard or OpenVPN in the app and connect.
🔄 Switching from StrongVPN to OpenVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Open-source code you can inspect
- No subscription with Community Edition
- Business tools like zero trust and DNS filtering
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Ready-made server locations
- SmartDNS and streaming support
- Live chat and phone help
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel within 30 days if you want a refund.
- Set up an OpenVPN server or Access Server.
- Install OpenVPN Connect and import your profile.
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on individual users and small teams. We didn’t test large Access Server rollouts, Enterprise pricing, or router installs. Speed figures come from third-party tests, and your own internet connection will change results. Our notes reflect the September 2026 versions of both products. For more detail, read our full StrongVPN review.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | OpenVPN |
| 🔐 Security & Transparency | OpenVPN |
| 🛠️ Flexibility & Control | OpenVPN |
| 🏢 Business Use | OpenVPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | StrongVPN |
| 🌍 Server Network | StrongVPN |
| 📺 Streaming | StrongVPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | OpenVPN |
🏆 WINNER: OPENVPN
OpenVPN wins 4 out of 7 categories.
Best for: IT teams, self-hosters, privacy purists
OpenVPN and StrongVPN solve different problems. OpenVPN is an open source VPN protocol and software you control. StrongVPN rents you servers and apps.
StrongVPN is a good VPN for people who just want to stay safe online. It protects your online activity on public Wi-Fi from other users. Its security features cover the basics well. With 12 device slots and phone support, it’s a strong VPN pick for busy households.
Still, OpenVPN wins on cost, transparency, and flexibility. Is OpenVPN safe? Yes, and you can read the code yourself. In 2026, it remains the protocol most VPN providers build on.
More of OpenVPN Compared
Here’s how OpenVPN stacks up against popular VPN services:
OpenVPN wins on: free self-hosting, fully auditable code, site-to-site office links
NordVPN wins on: a huge ready-made server list, audited no-logs claims, one-tap streaming apps
OpenVPN wins on: no subscription needed, custom cipher choices, remote access for staff
ExpressVPN wins on: polished beginner apps, its own Lightway protocol, broad streaming support
OpenVPN vs ProtonVPN
OpenVPN wins on: runs on hardware you own, zero trust access tools, DNS content filtering
ProtonVPN wins on: a free plan with real servers, Swiss privacy law, Secure Core routing
OpenVPN vs Surfshark
OpenVPN wins on: no third-party trust required, IoT and SaaS protection, an Enterprise tier
Surfshark wins on: unlimited device connections, a built-in ad blocker, simple setup
More of StrongVPN Compared
StrongVPN is dependable but basic. Here’s how it fares against the best VPNs in its price range:
StrongVPN wins on: phone support, bundled SugarSync storage, physical-only servers
NordVPN wins on: independent audits, a far larger network, a Panama base outside Five Eyes
StrongVPN wins on: a lower entry price, 12 device slots, free backup space
ExpressVPN wins on: audited apps and servers, more server countries, a non-US jurisdiction
StrongVPN vs Private Internet Access
StrongVPN wins on: human phone support, cloud storage, no virtual servers
Private Internet Access wins on: open-source apps, unlimited devices, a no-logs claim tested in court
StrongVPN wins on: only physical servers, simple two-plan pricing, phone help
PureVPN wins on: cheaper long-term plans, audited no-logs claims, a wider server spread
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenVPN free?
Yes. The Community Edition is free and open source. Business tools cost extra, with Growth at $7/month and custom Enterprise pricing. Self-hosters may also pay for a server.
Is it safe to use OpenVPN?
Yes. It uses SSL/TLS, strong encryption, and certificate checks. Its open code gets constant community review. Weak manual settings, like outdated ciphers, are the main risk.
What is the difference between VPN and OpenVPN?
A VPN is a service or network that hides your traffic. OpenVPN is one protocol that builds the tunnel. Many providers, including StrongVPN, use it inside their apps.
What is StrongVPN?
It’s a US-based VPN service running since 2005. It has 950+ physical servers in 30 countries and a kill switch. Plans include 250GB of SugarSync storage.
How many devices can you have on StrongVPN?
You can connect up to 12 devices at once on one account. Router setup guides let one router protect even more devices at home.
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