GoodAccess vs OpenVPN
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Quick verdict: Pick GoodAccess for a fast, hardware-free managed cloud VPN; pick OpenVPN if you want self-hosting control, broader integrations, and proven enterprise scale.
Best for: Small and midsize businesses that want secure remote access without hardware or VPN specialists, Companies with remote or hybrid workers connecting over public or unsecured Wi-Fi
Read the full GoodAccess reviewBest for: Businesses securing remote and hybrid employees, IT teams that want full control through a self-hosted VPN server
Read the full OpenVPN reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
GoodAccess vs OpenVPN: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose GoodAccess if
- You want secure remote access live in about 10 minutes, no hardware.
- You need static IP whitelisting, 2FA, and threat blocking bundled together.
- Your team prefers a fully managed cloud VPN with guided onboarding support.
Choose OpenVPN if
- You want to self-host on your own cloud, Docker, or Linux.
- You need 24/7 support and SAML, LDAP, or SCIM from the first paid tier.
- You're planning for large scale, IoT devices, or long audit-log retention.
GoodAccess vs OpenVPN: pros and cons
GoodAccess
GoodAccess gives small and midsize teams dedicated cloud VPN gateways with static IPs, threat blocking, and Zero Trust options, all without hardware — though costs climb past the headline rate with a 5-user minimum, $49 per gateway, and thin independent reviews. Overall, it's a solid, recommendable pick for teams that want secure remote access fast.
Pros
- Dedicated VPN gateways with unique static IPs from 35+ locations, each running at 1 Gbps with unlimited data — the IP can be whitelisted so your systems aren't visible to the public internet, and no hardware is required.
- Deployment is claimed to take under 10 minutes, with built-in control-panel walkthroughs, included onboarding support, and a 14-day free trial of all premium features that requires no credit card.
- Threat Blocker automatically filters phishing, malware, ransomware, and botnet domains at the connection level, so remote workers on public Wi-Fi get protection without a separate tool.
Cons
- Paid plans require a 5-user minimum, so solo users or very small teams either overpay or must settle for the limited free Starter plan.
- Each dedicated gateway adds $49/month on top of per-user fees, which multiplies quickly for organizations connecting offices or teams across multiple regions.
- Role-based access cards and the Branch/Cloud Connector are locked behind Premium ($11 per user/month) or Enterprise — Essential lacks them, forcing an upgrade for teams that need granular access control.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN gives you two ways in: run Access Server yourself for full control, or let CloudConnexa handle the servers. It's trusted by 20,000-plus organizations, includes compliance credentials, and offers a real free tier. Costs climb per seat, though, and key integrations sit behind the $7 plan. Overall, it's a solid pick for businesses that want security without lock-in.
Pros
- Two deployment paths in one product — self-hosted Access Server on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, or VMware ESXi, or the fully managed CloudConnexa service with zero server upkeep
- Zero Trust access controls verify user identity, device, and IP address on every connection, with least-privilege rules so users only reach the resources their jobs require
- Compliance credentials are built in — SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, HIPAA, and GDPR support — which speeds up auditor and regulatory questions for healthcare and financial firms
Cons
- Per-connection pricing scales up quickly for large workforces — a company with hundreds of users should model total costs against unlimited-seat competitors before committing
- Self-hosting Access Server requires real technical skill, including server management on your chosen cloud or hardware; CloudConnexa avoids this but removes the control self-hosters want
- The free Starter tier is tight — 1 device per user, only 2 Connectors, 10 applications, and just 7 days of log retention, which limits real-world testing for compliance use cases
GoodAccess and OpenVPN in detail
GoodAccess
GoodAccess is a cloud-delivered business VPN built for small and midsize companies. It gives your team secure remote access to systems, apps, and private networks through dedicated gateways in 35+ locations.
Everything runs as SaaS, so there's no hardware to manage. Native apps cover Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS.
Standout features
- Your own gateway, live in minutes
- Protection built into every connection
- One control panel for your whole network
- Fast access that fits how people work
- Access control that scales with you
Use cases
- Secure remote work on any network
- Lock down sensitive systems
- Chase compliance without hardware
- One network for sites and clouds
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is a business VPN platform built on Zero Trust principles. It comes in two forms.
Access Server is self-hosted software you run on your own cloud or hardware. CloudConnexa is a managed, cloud-delivered service with no server upkeep.
Standout features
- Zero Trust access, built in
- Self-hosted control or fully managed
- Encrypted tunnels that travel with your data
- Connect from anywhere, on any device
- Admin that doesn't slow you down
Use cases
- Secure Remote and Hybrid Work
- Connect Offices, IoT, and Cloud Apps
- Meet Healthcare and Finance Compliance
- Self-Host or Go Fully Managed
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | GoodAccess | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | $7/mo Essential · per user | $7/mo Essential · per user |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes 1 device per user, 2 Connectors, 10 applications, 10 IP Services, 2 Access Groups, 7-day log retention |
| Free trial | 14 days | Yes |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | — | — |
| Pricing model | Per user | Per user |
| Cost for 1 user | Free Starter plan, billed annually | Free Starter plan, billed annually |
| Cost for 5 users | $35/mo Essential plan, billed monthly | $35/mo Essential plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 10 users | $70/mo Essential plan, billed monthly | $70/mo Essential plan, billed monthly |
| Cost for 25 users | $175/mo Essential plan, billed monthly | $175/mo Essential plan, billed monthly |
| Plans | 4 | 4 |
| Prices checked | Vendor page checked Sep 30, 2026 | Checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| Price history | Tracking prices since Sep 8, 2026. No price change detected yet. | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
For 5 users (billed monthly), GoodAccess and OpenVPN both cost $35/mo.
- For 1 user (billed annually), GoodAccess and OpenVPN both cost $0/mo.
- For 10 users (billed monthly), GoodAccess and OpenVPN both cost $70/mo.
- For 25 users (billed monthly), GoodAccess and OpenVPN both cost $175/mo.
- Both tools have a free plan.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.
More comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is easier to set up?
GoodAccess promises deployment in about 10 minutes with onboarding help. OpenVPN's managed CloudConnexa is simple too, but self-hosting Access Server takes real technical skill.