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FastVPN vs OpenVPN

FastVPN and OpenVPN primarily serve entirely different market needs. FastVPN is a consumer tool focused on speed and unblocking streaming content. OpenVPN is a B2B security solution built for compliance and Zero Trust access. This comparison clarifies whether you need anonymity or enterprise-grade control.

FastVPN
FastVPN

Best for: Individual users seeking the lowest initial subscription price for a VPN, Travelers prioritizing guaranteed access to specific 4K streaming platforms

Visit Website FastVPN
OpenVPN
OpenVPN

Best for: Organizations implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) policies, Healthcare or financial firms needing HIPAA/PCI-DSS compliance

Visit Website OpenVPN
FastVPN
FastVPN

Major Trust Issues and Billing Warnings

Ciroapp review
2.1

We note FastVPN offers attractive introductory rates and claims a strong no-log policy supported by a wide server network. However, we cannot overlook the severe and recurring user complaints regarding unauthorized charges and accounts frozen shortly after payment. Overall, we urge extreme caution when considering this provider due to major risks related to service reliability and immediate financial transparency.

Pros

  • Highly competitive introductory pricing rates advertised.
  • Strict no-log policy guarantees user anonymity.
  • Claimed access to a large network of 2700+ servers.
  • Known for fast connection speeds, according to some reports.

Cons

  • Frequent reports of severe unauthorized credit card charges.
  • Accounts may be frozen shortly after paying for the subscription.
  • Customer service allegedly ignores or refuses cancellation requests.
  • Users report requests for government ID verification after purchase.
Pricing
$0.99/month
Free trial
Money-back30 days
Best for
Individual users seeking the lowest initial subscription price for a VPN, Travelers prioritizing guaranteed access to specific 4K streaming platforms, Users focused entirely on securing public Wi-Fi sessions for shopping
OpenVPN
OpenVPN

Flexible security built for compliance.

Ciroapp review
3.4

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.
Pricing
$11/month
Free trial14 days
Money-back
Best for
Organizations implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) policies, Healthcare or financial firms needing HIPAA/PCI-DSS compliance, Teams seeking secure remote access with predictable per-seat scaling
Quick verdict
Choose FastVPN if you are an individual user prioritizing cheap initial costs, anonymity, and seamless 4K streaming access globally
Choose OpenVPN if you need a compliant Zero Trust solution supporting HIPAA or SOC 2 for a remote team of 3-50 professionals

AboutFastVPN

FastVPN is a straightforward way to keep your online life private and secure. Getting started with the service is easier than you might think. Downloading the VPN is one of the simplest ways to protect your data privacy.

It works by ensuring all your Internet traffic is encrypted. This simple step protects your private data, especially when you shop safely on public Wi-Fi. It also gives you the freedom to browse anonymously. We love the strict no-log policy 💡, which guarantees that your online activity is never tracked or logged.

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

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Ease of Use
FastVPN highlights a simple, easy setup process meant for any consumer. OpenVPN users frequently report the setup process is difficult and the UX is laggy.
Feature Set
OpenVPN offers a comprehensive suite of features including ZTNA, IDS/IPS, and flexible deployment models. FastVPN only offers basic encryption and streaming unblocking.
Value for Money
OpenVPN offers a high-value Free plan and predictable per-seat scaling for businesses. FastVPN’s value is undermined by deceptive pricing and poor service reviews.
Security & Compliance
OpenVPN is built on a Zero Trust foundation and meets strict standards like HIPAA and SOC 2. FastVPN's security is simple, lacking enterprise controls.
Consumer Performance
FastVPN is engineered for smooth 4K streaming performance globally. OpenVPN is optimized for secure corporate access, not media delivery.
Overall Trust & Reliability
OpenVPN holds a significantly higher user rating (3.4) and does not face critical billing fraud allegations. FastVPN's reputation is severely damaged (2.1 rating).

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Focus Audience
FastVPN:Consumer/Individual
OpenVPN:Business/Enterprise
Tie
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Compliance Support (HIPAA, SOC 2)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Dedicated Streaming Support (4K)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
FastVPN
Free Plan Available
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Free Trial (Paid Plans)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Money-Back Guarantee
FastVPN:30 days (potential difficulty securing)
OpenVPN:Unused funds credited (not cash back)
FastVPN
Server Count
FastVPN:Over 2700
OpenVPN:Not specified (Global PoPs)
FastVPN
Pricing Model
FastVPN:Subscription (Monthly/Annual)
OpenVPN:Per Seat / Per Connection
Tie
Self-Hosted Deployment
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Advanced Security (IDS/IPS)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
Built-in Two-Factor Auth (2FA)
FastVPN:
OpenVPN:
OpenVPN
No-Log Policy Claim
FastVPN:Strict No-Log Policy
OpenVPN:Focus on compliance (implies required logging)
Tie
User Rating (External)
FastVPN:2.1/5.0
OpenVPN:3.4/5.0
OpenVPN
Support for Mobile Devices
FastVPN:Implied, not detailed
OpenVPN:Universal client support for all OS
OpenVPN
Feature Comparison Summary
3
FastVPN
3
Ties
9
OpenVPN

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Core Focus

FastVPN targets speed and consumer access, while OpenVPN is pure business security.

Tie

FastVPN is marketed toward individuals wanting anonymity and global content access. It specializes in securing public Wi-Fi transactions reliably. FastVPN’s primary goal is achieving internet freedom simply and affordably. OpenVPN is strictly built for modern corporate needs and distributed workforces. It's recognized as a top Business VPN trusted by over 20,000 organizations. OpenVPN focuses entirely on network security and strong compliance goals. This difference means FastVPN is about unblocking entertainment; OpenVPN is about protecting data. Choose based on whether you are maximizing fun or minimizing risk. Corporate users will find FastVPN features insufficient for their needs. OpenVPN offers flexible dual solutions: managed CloudConnexa or self-hosted Access Server.

Security Architecture

OpenVPN uses Zero Trust networking; FastVPN only offers basic traffic encryption.

OpenVPN

FastVPN provides essential encryption to protect all your internet traffic. It guarantees safe shopping when you’re using unprotected public Wi-Fi. FastVPN’s core defense relies on its reliable no-log policy for user privacy. OpenVPN implements a true Zero Trust strategy to enforce least privilege access. This means access is limited based on user identity, device context, and policy rules. CloudConnexa also includes advanced features like content filtering and Intrusion Detection (IDS/IPS). OpenVPN provides a dramatically deeper security foundation required by regulated industries. FastVPN lacks these advanced features crucial for corporate environments. For enterprise-level data protection, OpenVPN is fundamentally the superior product.

Streaming Access

FastVPN offers dedicated 4K streaming access; OpenVPN is not made for streaming media.

FastVPN

FastVPN is explicitly built to unblock popular services like Netflix and Disney+ easily. It boasts custom infrastructure for delivering smooth 4K streaming worldwide. FastVPN focuses heavily on high performance for media consumption globally. OpenVPN is designed for securing network access to private corporate assets only. Consumer streaming media access is not a specific feature or priority. OpenVPN users might not get the geo-unblocking functionality they need. If global media consumption is essential, FastVPN is the clear winner here. OpenVPN does not market itself or optimize its network for personal entertainment use. Individuals prioritize FastVPN for guaranteed worldwide content access.

Pricing Flexibility

OpenVPN scales per-seat, while FastVPN uses deceptive, sharply increasing introductory rates.

OpenVPN

FastVPN’s pricing starts incredibly low ($0.99 for the first month). The full renewal price, however, is dramatically higher—up to eight times the intro cost. FastVPN does not offer a free version to test the service features. OpenVPN offers a robust Free plan providing up to three seats forever. Paid Growth plans start at $11/seat/month, offering predictable, scalable pricing. OpenVPN allows dynamic scaling and provides volume discounts for larger teams. OpenVPN’s structure is transparent and predictable for businesses planning budgets accurately. FastVPN’s value is questionable due to the steep, often unexpected price increases. If you need honest pricing and scalability, OpenVPN is the smarter choice.

Trust and Billing

FastVPN has severe alleged billing issues; OpenVPN offers clearer financial stability.

OpenVPN

FastVPN has frequent, serious reports alleging unauthorized credit card charges. Many users claim their paid accounts were frozen shortly after purchase. The user rating of 2.1 reflects immense community distrust in FastVPN practices. OpenVPN reviews mainly complain about platform lag and difficult setup processes. There are no systemic reports of billing fraud or account freezing affecting OpenVPN users. OpenVPN allows dynamic cancellation, crediting unused funds immediately. The lack of financial trustworthiness makes FastVPN extremely risky for any user. OpenVPN’s operational issues are less severe than FastVPN’s critical financial and service risks. A 30-day guarantee is useless if FastVPN ignores refund requests.

Compliance Goals

OpenVPN meets HIPAA and SOC 2 requirements; FastVPN offers zero compliance guarantees.

OpenVPN

FastVPN makes no claims related to professional regulatory compliance or audits. It is strictly a consumer privacy tool and is unsuitable for regulated data handling. FastVPN cannot be used by healthcare or financial service organizations effectively. OpenVPN is specifically designed to meet HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2 Type 2 requirements. This compliance is essential for organizations dealing with sensitive client data securely. OpenVPN’s strong security controls satisfy mandatory industry standards. If your organization requires any external compliance certification, you must choose OpenVPN. FastVPN completely lacks the necessary architecture to support these requirements properly. OpenVPN is mandated for businesses in highly regulated sectors.

FastVPN Pricing
$0.99/mo

FastVPN costs between $0.99 and $7.88 per month with two plans: 1-year plan at $12.00 and Monthly plan at $0.99/month.

Here is a simple breakdown of the current plan structure.

1-year plan

Price: $1.00 per month (Billed $12.00 upfront annually) Refund Policy: 30-day money-back guarantee Other Features:

  • Initial 65% discount included
  • Renews annually at $34.56
  • Access to 2700+ servers in 100+ locations
Free trial
Money-back
Yes
Pricing types (AI)
Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription
1-year plan
Monthly: 1.00 · Yearly: 12.00
  • Billed annually at $12.00 initial rate
  • Renews annually at $34.56
  • Initial 65% discount
Monthly plan
Monthly: 0.99
  • Billed monthly at $0.99 initial rate
  • Renews monthly at $7.88
  • Initial 87% discount
FastVPN pricing screenshot
View FastVPNView FastVPN pricing
OpenVPN Pricing
$11/mo

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 Best For: Small teams or testing Other Features:

  • Up to 3 seats
  • Use it free forever
  • Instant access to all features
  • No credit card required
Free trial
Yes
Money-back
Pricing types (AI)
Free plan, Free trial, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Per seat pricing
Free
Yearly: Free
  • Up to 3 seats
  • Use it free forever
  • Instant access to all features
  • No card required
3 Seats maximum
Growth
Monthly: Price your plan · Yearly: $11/seat/month (billed annually)
  • Pay only for the seats you need
  • Automatic volume discounts
  • Includes 14-Day Free Trial
  • Scale seats up or down on demand
Enterprise
Monthly: Custom pricing · Yearly: Custom pricing
  • Custom pricing & volume discounts
  • Guided onboarding & POC with solution architects
  • Enterprise-grade security & compliance (GDPR, SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA)
  • 24/7 priority technical support
500+ Seats or IoT
OpenVPN pricing screenshot
View OpenVPNView OpenVPN pricing

Pricing Notes

Context that may affect total cost of ownership.
  • FastVPN uses steep introductory discounts but renewal prices increase severely for both plans.
  • OpenVPN offers a robust Free plan for up to three seats forever without needing a credit card.
  • OpenVPN's pricing is transparently structured per-seat for accurate business scaling.
  • FastVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, unlike OpenVPN, which credits unused subscription funds.

Pricing Head-to-Head

Who offers better value at a glance.
Cheaper starting price
FastVPN
Free trial available
OpenVPN
Refund policy
FastVPN
Pricing models variety
OpenVPN
Overall pricing winner
It's a tie

User Reviews

What users are saying about these tools
Reviews Winner
OpenVPN
FastVPN
2.10 reviews

External reviews for FastVPN are polarized, showing a stark contrast between older positive experiences and severe recent complaints. A small segment of users praised the service for being very fast, user-friendly, and highly affordable, noting decent server availability and helpful support for specific site issues.

However, the dominant recent feedback highlights critical issues related to billing and service reliability. Users frequently allege unauthorized credit card charges, sometimes for unexpectedly large sums like $225.60, even when auto-renewal was disabled.

Student H.
· Trustpilot
5.0 / 5

I’ve used Fast VPN for about two weeks now. It’s incredibly fast; while other VPNs take half an hour to connect, this took less than 10 seconds. You also get to pick the location for the fastest server, which is a big help.

No reviews yet.
OpenVPN
3.40 reviews

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.

Emily S.
· Trustpilot
1.0 / 5

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.

No reviews yet.
AI conclusion
OpenVPN holds a significantly higher average user rating (3.4) than FastVPN (2.1). FastVPN sentiment is dominated by severe reports of unauthorized charges and fraud. Users find OpenVPN functional for security but often complain about lag and poor user interface.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and overall fit.

The choice between FastVPN and OpenVPN is essentially consumer convenience versus business credibility. FastVPN is solely aimed at individual users; OpenVPN is strictly for the corporate world. You must determine if anonymity or strict regulatory security is your goal. FastVPN excels at speed, offering 4K streaming access globally via 2700 servers. It provides the security individuals need for browsing and securing public Wi-Fi transactions. However, FastVPN also carries a major financial risk due to severe, recurring billing fraud complaints. OpenVPN's strength is its robust, uncompromising security architecture, essential for businesses. It implements Zero Trust solutions that help meet strict HIPAA and SOC 2 compliance goals. OpenVPN provides flexible deployment options, catering to diverse enterprise needs easily. The deciding factor should be trust and reliability for longevity. OpenVPN offers stability, transparent pricing, and robust features necessary for professional use. FastVPN’s fundamental reputation is dangerously low due to its problematic financial practices and service interruptions. Choose OpenVPN if security, regulatory compliance, or team scalability is required. Only consider FastVPN if you need a cheap, short-term solution for personal streaming and accept the serious billing risks involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OpenVPN truly free, or is FastVPN cheaper long-term?

OpenVPN offers a functional Free plan for up to three users, which is free forever. FastVPN has a lower introductory price but its renewal price jumps significantly. OpenVPN is cheaper if you need to secure a small team indefinitely.

Which VPN is better for streaming 4K video content?

FastVPN is the clear winner for media consumers right now. FastVPN is designed specifically to unblock and deliver smooth 4K streaming worldwide. OpenVPN focuses on corporate access and does not prioritize consumer streaming needs.

Does FastVPN support Zero Trust architecture like OpenVPN?

No, FastVPN does not support Zero Trust networking principles at all. OpenVPN is built around ZTNA, enforcing least privilege access rigorously. You must choose OpenVPN for advanced identity and device-based security controls.

What is the biggest risk when subscribing to FastVPN?

The largest risk with FastVPN is related to billing fraud and unauthorized charges. Users frequently report accounts being frozen shortly after paying a subscription. OpenVPN does not have these systemic financial reliability issues.

Can OpenVPN be used by an individual who only needs VPN access?

Yes, OpenVPN can be used by individuals needing strong security, possibly via the Access Server connection. However, FastVPN is optimized and priced much better for solo consumer use cases. OpenVPN’s features mainly help small and large businesses.

How does the pricing model for FastVPN contrast with OpenVPN?

FastVPN uses a simple subscription model with heavy initial discounts. OpenVPN uses a flexible per-seat or per-connection model suitable for scaling teams. OpenVPN costs fluctuate based on active employee usage rather than fixed tiers.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.