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Tailscale is our best overall pick for teams replacing a legacy VPN or connecting to cloud and on-prem infrastructure. NordLayer is a stronger fit when business access controls matter, while OpenVPN Access Server suits teams that want self-hosted control. We ranked these tools by business fit and the published pricing details, not score alone. Treat starting prices as entry points: some listings leave pricing unavailable, and others flag commitments, connection limits or add-on costs that can change the value.
Quick picksThe shortlist
TailscaleTailscaleBest overall · $8/mo
NordLayerNordLayerBest for access controls · $6/mo
OpenVPN Access ServerOpenVPN Access ServerBest for self-hosting · $70/mo
Proton VPNProton VPNBest for privacy-minded users · $3.49/mo
LogMeIn HamachiLogMeIn HamachiBest for small networks · $4.08/mo
TorGuard Business VPNTorGuard Business VPNBest for dedicated IPs · $44.99/mo
Cisco Secure ClientCisco Secure ClientBest for Cisco shops · Custom- GlobalProtectGlobalProtectBest for Palo Alto shops · Free
SonicWall NetExtenderSonicWall NetExtenderBest for SonicWall estates · Free
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TailscaleTailscale | 7.8 | $8/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| NordLayerNordLayer | 6.8 | $6/mo | No | — |
| OpenVPN Access ServerOpenVPN Access Server | 6.2 | $70/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Proton VPNProton VPN | 7.6 | $3.49/mo | Yes | — |
| LogMeIn HamachiLogMeIn Hamachi | 6.0 | $4.08/mo | Yes | — |
| TorGuard Business VPNTorGuard Business VPN | 5.8 | $44.99/mo | No | — |
| Cisco Secure ClientCisco Secure Client | 5.5 | Custom | No | — |
| GlobalProtectGlobalProtect | 4.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| SonicWall NetExtenderSonicWall NetExtender | 3.5 | Free | Yes | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallTailscaleTailscale
Tailscale is our top pick for teams replacing a legacy VPN or connecting to cloud and on-prem infrastructure. The listing includes a free plan and a starting price of $8, though the published details do not specify billing terms. It is a capable managed VPN alternative, but per-user pricing and reliance on a vendor may not suit every team.
What works
- Free Personal plan for up to six users
- Unlimited user devices on Personal
- Identity-based access for apps and infrastructure
What doesn't
- Standard costs $8 per user/month
- Premium costs $18 per user/month
- Annual rates are not published
- Best for access controlsNordLayerNordLayer
NordLayer is a business-focused option for teams that need VPN access alongside access controls or dedicated gateways. Its listed starting price is $6, but the published description flags minimums and add-on costs; it identifies organizations with 200 or more seats as a fit. Check the requirements and extras against your expected seat count before treating that starting price as your likely cost.
What works
- Encrypted connections with speeds up to 1 Gbps
- Dedicated gateways and site-to-site links
- SSO, MFA, device checks and access rules
What doesn't
- Lite, Core and Premium require at least five users
- Annual prices are listed; monthly rates are not published
- Core and Premium require a $40/month Dedicated IP server
- Best for self-hostingOpenVPN Access ServerOpenVPN Access Server
OpenVPN Access Server fits teams that want self-hosted VPN control and identity-based access policies. The listing includes a free plan limited to two connections and gives a starting price of $70. That makes the free tier useful for a small evaluation, but teams should scrutinize the pricing beyond those two connections before choosing it for broader use.
What works
- Runs on IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware ESXi
- Access policies can use identity, device, and IP
- Supports private tunnels and internet traffic routing
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 2 connections
- Growth is listed at $70/month billed yearly
- Monthly-billing total is not published
- Best for privacy-minded usersProton VPNProton VPN
Proton VPN offers a free tier and broad feature coverage, but its listed $3.49 starting price comes with a 24-month commitment. The published use cases focus on privacy-minded users, households connecting up to 10 devices and existing Proton customers—not business administration. It may suit a small team with simple needs, but check whether the plan fits your work use before switching.
What works
- Free plan includes VPN access at no charge
- Paid plans support up to 10 connected devices
- Paid plans include streaming and P2P
What doesn't
- The $3.49 rate requires 24 months paid upfront
- VPN Plus renews annually at $83.88
- Free plan is limited to one device and medium speed
- Best for small networksLogMeIn HamachiLogMeIn Hamachi
Hamachi is aimed at small personal networks, LAN-like remote access and admins managing virtual networks. Its free plan is listed alongside a $4.08 starting price, and the published description calls out a five-computer cap for small networks. Check the computer limits and connection reports before switching; the listing positions it for basic virtual networking, not as a broad business access platform.
What works
- Free plan supports up to five computers per network
- Supports gateway, hub-and-spoke, and mesh topologies
- Web management and remote network restoration
What doesn't
- Monthly billing prices are not published
- Standard plan is capped at 32 computers per network
- Premium and Multi-Network plans cap computers at 256
- Best for dedicated IPsTorGuard Business VPNTorGuard Business VPN
TorGuard Business VPN is listed for small teams needing dedicated IPs, multiple VPN users or isolated network access. Its starting price is $44.99, but the published description says pricing needs clarification before switching. That leaves less certainty about value than the lower-priced options here. It is worth considering when those specific capabilities matter, but get the cost details first.
What works
- Starter tier lists 5 users and 1 dedicated IP
- Higher tiers add users and dedicated IPs
- Unlimited speeds and bandwidth are listed
What doesn't
- Starting price conflicts: $32.99 versus $44.99 monthly
- Annual-billing prices are not published
- Custom router hardware pricing is not published
- Best for Cisco shopsCisco Secure ClientCisco Secure Client
Cisco Secure Client is most relevant to organizations already using Cisco VPN headends or teams seeking modular Cisco endpoint software. No starting price is listed; the published description says buyers should be comfortable requesting a custom quote. That makes cost comparison harder, so it is a cautious pick for Cisco environments rather than a default choice for teams shopping across vendors.
What works
- Reddit commenters describe a single client for Cisco endpoint modules.
- Modules can reportedly be installed or removed as needed.
- One Meraki commenter says split tunneling is easier.
What doesn't
- Prices are quote-only; monthly and annual rates are not published.
- Advantage and Premier have 25-user minimums in published pricing data.
- VPN Only starts at 25 concurrent connections in published pricing data.
- Best for Palo Alto shops
GlobalProtectGlobalProtect
GlobalProtect is a possible fit for organizations with Palo Alto firewalls that need basic Windows or macOS VPN access. The listing includes a free plan but gives no starting price, and the published description flags unclear pricing and rough user reports. We would keep it on the shortlist for existing Palo Alto customers, but verify the cost and user experience before committing.
What works
- Basic VPN access is included with Palo Alto firewalls
- Supports Windows and macOS for basic access
- Subscription features are available per firewall appliance
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual prices are not published
- Capacity depends on the firewall appliance
- Reddit users report setup can be difficult
- Best for SonicWall estatesSonicWall NetExtenderSonicWall NetExtender
SonicWall NetExtender makes the most sense for teams already running SonicWall firewalls and SSL VPN. The listing notes a free plan but no starting price, and the published description warns about unclear pricing and client issues. It is a narrow fit: consider it if it matches your existing setup and your IT staff can handle troubleshooting, not as a first-choice standalone option.
What works
- Some Reddit users report it works from China.
- A Linux user reports profile fields for server, port, username, domain, and trustCert.
- One commenter says SonicWall support provided a patched build for a known issue.
What doesn't
- SonicWall’s the vendor's homepage does not describe NetExtender’s features.
- No NetExtender starting price or plan details are published.
- A Reddit user calls the Linux client problematic.
03How we chose
We weigh published pricing and plan limits first, then use product documentation to check what each tool says it supports and what administrators must configure. We also consider Reddit sentiment as anecdotal context, not proof of performance or security. Price, user caps, and features count only when the published published material states them; missing details should be marked not published, not estimated. No hands-on testing, benchmarks, or screenshots are claimed here. The published material names the products but includes no pricing pages, docs, or Reddit posts, so product-specific comparisons remain unverified.
04Choose the connection model before comparing prices
Start with the job the VPN needs to do. Connecting individual employees to company resources is not the same requirement as connecting office networks, managing remote access, or protecting traffic from employee devices. The tools on this page should not be treated as interchangeable just because they are grouped under business VPN software.
Write down who needs access, what they need to reach, which devices they use, and who will manage accounts and permissions. Then check each product’s documentation for those exact requirements. Look for deployment steps, supported platforms, access controls, and any infrastructure your team must supply. If documentation does not answer a requirement, treat it as unconfirmed and ask the vendor before buying. A lower listed price is not a saving if the product does not fit the connection model or adds administrative work you cannot support.
05Compare total cost and operational limits
Compare the price for the users and setup you actually need, not just the entry price. Check whether pricing is per user, device, server, or another unit; whether billing changes by term; and whether a plan has user, connection, or administrative limits. If a pricing page does not publish a limit or cost, record it as not published and request a quote rather than guessing.
Also account for the work around the subscription: deployment, account provisioning, access changes, troubleshooting, and offboarding. Ask who owns those tasks and whether your existing team can handle them. Review the documentation for setup requirements and confirm that the product supports your devices and operating systems. Use Reddit comments as leads for questions to investigate, not as a substitute for current plan details or vendor documentation. Recheck prices and limits before signing; they can change.
Questions people ask
What should a business VPN comparison include?
Compare the connection model, supported devices, access controls, setup requirements, published price, plan limits, and administrative workload. Check product documentation against your use case. Mark costs or limits that are not published as unknown, and confirm them with the vendor before making a decision.
Are all business VPN products interchangeable?
No. Products grouped under business VPN software may address different connection needs. Decide whether you need employee access to company resources, connections between networks, or another setup. Verify the intended use and requirements in each product’s documentation before comparing plans.
How should we compare VPN pricing when costs are not public?
Do not estimate unpublished prices. Ask the vendor for a quote based on your user count, devices, deployment needs, and billing term. Compare written quotes alongside any published limits, and confirm whether the quoted plan includes the capabilities your team requires.
Should Reddit reviews determine which business VPN we buy?
Treat Reddit comments as anecdotal signals, not verified statements about current features, pricing, or security. Use them to identify questions worth checking, then confirm answers in current product documentation or directly with the vendor before purchasing.