Atlas VPN vs OpenVPN
This comparison is immediately unique because Atlas VPN is permanently shut down.
Service Permanently Discontinued and Unavailable
We recognize that Atlas VPN previously offered competitive pricing and employed highly responsive customer support staff. However, the company has officially confirmed the permanent discontinuation of its VPN service as of April 2024. Overall, you cannot purchase or use this product now, making it effectively unavailable for any modern security needs.
Pros
- Customer support staff were consistently professional, swift, and competent (e.g., Monica, Webster, Emily).
- Historically offered very competitive and low-cost multi-year special offers.
- Proactive technical support sometimes issued quick, no-question refunds when streaming failed to work.
- Support staff were helpful and clearly explained complex issues to non-technical users.
Cons
- The VPN service was permanently discontinued in April 2024.
- Users reported frequent connection failures and highly unreliable performance.
- The essential Kill Switch security feature was reported as non-functional by some customers.
- Had significant issues reliably connecting to major streaming platforms (e.g., UK's ITVX, Channel 5).
Flexible security built for compliance.
We see OpenVPN provides a strong foundation for Zero Trust access, featuring flexible deployment options and robust security controls that meet strict compliance goals like HIPAA and SOC 2. Overall, it is a feature-rich solution economical for businesses, but they must weigh the compliance focus against reported issues related to functional reliability and performance lag.
Pros
- Provides flexible security solutions (CloudConnexa or Access Server).
- Robust Zero Trust features and access controls are implemented.
- Meets strict regulatory compliance standards (HIPAA, SOC 2).
- Feature-rich Free plan is available for up to three seats.
Cons
- External users report serious issues with platform lag and poor UX.
- Setup and onboarding can be difficult and time-consuming.
- Customer support responsiveness is reported as inadequate by users.
- Self-hosted Access Server is considered extremely overpriced by some clients.
AboutAtlas VPN
Atlas VPN has officially confirmed that its service is permanently unavailable. The company discontinued its VPN service in April 2024. 💡 This means that Atlas VPN is no longer accessible to potential new users or existing customers. They also thanked their loyal customers for all their support over the years.
AboutOpenVPN
OpenVPN is a trusted provider of secure networking solutions tailored for small, medium, and enterprise businesses. It's recognized as the #1 Business VPN and is specifically trusted by over 20,000 organizations. This widely used solution provides a protected, encrypted tunnel for sensitive data. It ensures your devices can securely connect to business assets, even when crossing unsecured public networks. The core product is a high-performance, fast-deploying Zero Trust VPN solution. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Operational Status
OpenVPN is fully operational; Atlas VPN is permanently shut down.
Atlas VPN officially ceased all its operations entirely in April 2024. The service is permanently unavailable to both new and former users today. OpenVPN remains fully active and is trusted by over 20,000 global organizations. This difference means OpenVPN is the only viable security option available.
Pricing Model
Atlas VPN offers no pricing; OpenVPN uses a flexible per-seat scaling model.
Atlas VPN historically offered competitive, low-cost multi-year special offers for consumers. Since April 2024, Atlas VPN has zero active plans or available pricing tiers for anyone. OpenVPN offers a robust Free plan providing up to three seats forever. Paid OpenVPN plans start at $11 per seat per month when billed annually. OpenVPN is designed for scaling businesses; Atlas VPN prioritized ultra-low cost for individuals.
Target Audience
Atlas VPN was for consumers; OpenVPN targets regulated enterprises.
Atlas VPN was best suited for very budget-conscious individuals prioritizing low subscription cost. OpenVPN is designed for enterprise-grade security requiring strict industry compliance protocols. OpenVPN meets challenging standards like HIPAA and SOC 2, essential for regulated sectors. Atlas VPN focused on basic security; OpenVPN focuses heavily on ZTNA and corporate access control. OpenVPN is a professional tool built for business IT needs.
Customer Support
Atlas VPN support was highly praised; OpenVPN responsiveness is criticized by users.
Customer support for Atlas VPN was consistently praised as professional, swift, and highly competent by former users. Reviewers specifically mentioned support staff resolving complex billing issues quickly and issuing refunds. OpenVPN's general customer support responsiveness, however, is reported as inadequate by some frustrating users. OpenVPN Enterprise clients receive dedicated 24/7 priority support unavailable to standard users. Historically, Atlas VPN provided excellent non-technical support despite technical shortcomings.
Reliability & Security
Atlas VPN had functional failures; OpenVPN enforces strict Zero Trust controls.
Community feedback reported frequent connection failures and major technical problems with Atlas VPN. Crucially, the vital Kill Switch security feature was reported by users as being non-functional at times. OpenVPN builds a strong foundation using Zero Trust principles and strict identity access controls for users. OpenVPN includes advanced features like content filtering and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS/IPS) in CloudConnexa. Atlas VPN's inconsistent reliability sometimes defeated its own security purpose.
Atlas VPN costs between Not explicitly stated and Not explicitly stated per Not explicitly stated with Not explicitly stated plans: Not explicitly stated at Not explicitly stated.
Currently, we cannot display active pricing plans or subscription details for Atlas VPN. The company has publicly announced that its VPN service has been permanently discontinued.
Service Discontinued
Price: Not explicitly stated Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Not explicitly stated Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features: Not explicitly stated
OpenVPN CloudConnexa costs between Free and Custom per year with 3 plans: Free (up to 3 seats), Growth ($11/seat/month billed annually), and Enterprise (Custom Pricing).
OpenVPN also offers two solutions—CloudConnexa and Access Server—but the most straightforward pricing structure is provided for the cloud-delivered CloudConnexa plans detailed below.
Free
Price: Free forever Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Small teams or testing Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features:
- Up to 3 seats
- Use it free forever
- Instant access to all features
- No credit card required
- Up to 3 seats
- Use it free forever
- Instant access to all features
- No card required
- Pay only for the seats you need
- Automatic volume discounts
- Includes 14-Day Free Trial
- Scale seats up or down on demand
- Custom pricing & volume discounts
- Guided onboarding & POC with solution architects
- Enterprise-grade security & compliance (GDPR, SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA)
- 24/7 priority technical support
Pricing Notes
- Atlas VPN is permanently discontinued as of April 2024 and offers no active pricing plans or subscription tiers.
- OpenVPN offers a robust CloudConnexa Free plan, providing up to three seats forever without requiring a credit card.
- OpenVPN utilizes a flexible per-seat model, allowing businesses to scale seat count up or down immediately.
- The self-hosted OpenVPN Access Server is priced per concurrent connection, starting lower than the managed CloudConnexa plans.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
Community feedback for Atlas VPN is highly polarized, primarily focusing on two extreme points: connection reliability and customer service responsiveness. Many users reported persistent technical problems, including frequent connection failures, a sometimes non-functional Kill Switch, and an inability to reliably stream geo-restricted content, such as certain UK channels 👎.
After the company sale, some customers struggled just to log in, confirming concerns about operational reliability. Conversely, the high quality of the customer support team—with specific members like Monica, Webster, and Emily frequently praised—is a standout positive.
AtlasVPN charged me despite confirming my account cancellation last month, which made me furious. The system error caused a recurring bill. Edit: The problem was resolved quickly without any issues, and I am now satisfied with the outcome.
User feedback on Trustpilot paints a largely negative picture, although this reflects a small sample size of nine reviews. The recurring themes critically focus on reliability and user experience.
Several users describe the platform as "extremely laggy," noting poor UX, especially with the browser authentication process. Functionality is also strongly challenged; one reviewer claimed the platform is fundamentally broken and fails to block expected threats like viruses or DDoS attacks, contradicting its advertising claims.
The user experience for the browser authentication is very poor and complex. It is constantly extremely laggy, which makes daily operations unnecessarily frustrating for mandated users.
Our Verdict
This comparison has a clear and unavoidable winner: OpenVPN. Atlas VPN is currently and permanently discontinued, making OpenVPN the only active commercial choice available today. This dynamic forces users to select the only viable platform for secure remote access. You simply cannot subscribe to Atlas VPN or use its services for any modern security needs. OpenVPN provides a functional, professional-grade product right now. OpenVPN’s superpower is its professional architecture, built for scaling businesses and IT teams. OpenVPN prioritizes robust compliance, helping teams meet complex requirements like HIPAA and SOC 2. It implements Zero Trust Network Access, which strongly protects corporate assets and critical data. Businesses choose OpenVPN when security documentation and regulatory requirements are essential. Before its closure, Atlas VPN's superpower was competitive low pricing paired with exceptionally responsive customer support. Former users praised the quick refunds and competent staff, even while the Atlas VPN connection was unreliable. But OpenVPN provides flexible options, including a forever Free plan for three users, which Atlas VPN can now not match. Atlas VPN offered individual consumer pricing, whereas OpenVPN offers true business scalability. The deciding factor is simple availability, which favors OpenVPN completely. If you need a VPN service today, you must choose OpenVPN or another active product in the market. While some users criticized OpenVPN’s platform lag and difficult setup, it delivers strong, enterprise-level security features. Please do not expect to sign up for Atlas VPN because OpenVPN is the only operational platform here. Choose OpenVPN if you manage a corporate network or need defined access controls for hybrid teams. If Atlas VPN were still running, it would suit highly budget-conscious individuals. Since it is unavailable, OpenVPN wins by default and is strongly recommended for any professional security use case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlas VPN vs OpenVPN: Which service is still operational?
OpenVPN is fully operational, providing active security solutions for businesses worldwide. Atlas VPN is permanently discontinued and officially ceased all operations in April 2024. You cannot subscribe to Atlas VPN today.
Can I still subscribe to an Atlas VPN plan today?
No, Atlas VPN has permanently shut down its service and is no longer trading. You must immediately search for an alternative VPN provider for any security needs. OpenVPN offers active subscription plans and starts with a robust free tier.
Why should a business choose OpenVPN over Atlas VPN?
OpenVPN is designed specifically for business, offering Zero Trust architectures and enterprise compliance features. Atlas VPN was designed for consumers and is fundamentally unavailable for business use. OpenVPN is the only choice providing scalable access controls.
How do OpenVPN's compliance features compare to Atlas VPN's?
OpenVPN meets strict regulatory standards like HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR, essential for regulated businesses. Atlas VPN had no known enterprise-level compliance and is non-operational today. OpenVPN offers verifiable security for sensitive corporate data.
Which received better feedback on customer support: OpenVPN or Atlas VPN?
Historically, Atlas VPN received strong praise for its competent and swift customer support staff. OpenVPN, in contrast, faces user complaints about inadequate responsiveness and laggy technical support. This makes Atlas VPN the historical winner here.
Does OpenVPN offer a free plan like the old Atlas VPN pricing?
The OpenVPN CloudConnexa solution offers a feature-rich Free plan covering up to three users forever. Atlas VPN was known for competitive low pricing but offers no free or paid plans now. OpenVPN lets you test the full platform first.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.