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Most buyers should pick OpenVPN Access Server.
Pick OpenVPN Access Server if you need a self-hosted business VPN and want published entry pricing: it has a free tier for up to two connections, then Growth is listed at $7 per connection/month billed yearly. Choose Appgate SDP for enterprise or government zero-trust access, direct routing, and cloaked infrastructure—but expect a custom quote, with seat and usage limits unpublished. These products solve different access problems, so price alone does not settle the fit.
01Side by side
| Appgate SDP | OpenVPN Access Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote; monthly and annual rates not published. | $7 per connection/month, billed yearly; $70 monthly total shown. |
| Free plan | No free plan listed. | Free forever for up to two connections. |
| Best for | Enterprise and government zero-trust network access. | Businesses wanting a self-hosted remote-access VPN. |
| Core strength | Direct-routed access and cloaked infrastructure. | Self-hosting plus identity-, device-, and IP-based policies. |
| Learning curve | Review ease-of-use score: 5/10; learning curve unreported. | Review ease-of-use score: 6.5/10; learning curve unreported. |
| Integrations/data | API-first interoperability; integration details not published. | Runs on IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware ESXi. |
| Team/seat costs | Custom quote; seat and usage limits unpublished. | Growth covers up to 2,000 connections; Enterprise custom-priced. |
| Support | Support terms not published. | Growth lists 24/7 technical and priority support. |
Appgate SDP Choose Appgate SDP if
- You need enterprise or government zero-trust network access.
- Direct-routed access without cloud detours is a priority.
- You want cloaked infrastructure and can request custom pricing.
OpenVPN Access Server Choose OpenVPN Access Server if
- You want a self-hosted business VPN with deployment flexibility.
- A free tier for up to two connections fits your needs.
- You want published per-connection pricing and listed support terms.
02Pricing compared
OpenVPN Access Server has the clearer entry price. Its pricing page lists a free tier for up to two connections, with all features and no card required. Growth is listed at $70 per month billed yearly, described as $7 per connection/month, and supports up to 2,000 connections. The monthly-billing total is not published. Enterprise & IoT pricing is custom.
Appgate SDP has no published monthly or annual rate. Its standard licensing is custom-quoted, and seat and usage limits are not published. That makes a direct cost comparison impossible before requesting a quote. OpenVPN is easier to budget at the low end, but teams should check how connection counts and larger custom packages affect their total. The products solve different access problems, so the lower published entry price does not establish which is the better fit.
03Features and depth
Appgate SDP is positioned as enterprise and government zero-trust network access. Its stated features include direct-routed access that avoids cloud detours, cloaked infrastructure that stays invisible until trust is validated, and dynamic access that adapts to changes in networks, devices and requirements. The company also describes an API-first framework and continuous compliance visibility. These are aimed at controlling access to enterprise environments, rather than simply providing a business VPN.
OpenVPN Access Server is a self-hosted VPN server. The product page lists deployment on IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V and VMware ESXi, plus private tunnels and traffic routing. Administrators can set access policies using identity, device and IP. That gives teams deployment control and customizable access rules, but its published feature set is framed around VPN access and policy enforcement. Appgate emphasizes zero-trust access and cloaking; OpenVPN emphasizes self-hosted VPN infrastructure. Choose based on the access model you need, not a feature-count contest.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Neither product’s published material gives a detailed setup process or a measured learning curve, so we would not call either one easy based on these claims alone. OpenVPN lists several hosting options, including Linux, Docker, IaaS, Hyper-V and VMware ESXi. That flexibility means teams need to choose and manage a deployment environment.
Appgate describes an API-first platform for enterprise and government use, but its published pricing information does not publish seat or usage limits, and the product summary does not detail onboarding steps. OpenVPN Growth lists 24/7 technical support and a dedicated account manager; Enterprise & IoT lists guided onboarding and a proof of concept. Confirm which support applies to your proposed deployment and quote before switching.
Questions people ask
How does Appgate work?
Appgate describes SDP as zero-trust network access for enterprise and government environments. Its stated approach includes direct-routed access, infrastructure that remains cloaked until trust is validated, and access that can adapt to changing networks and devices. The published material does not detail its setup steps or exact policy workflow.
Is OpenVPN safe and secure?
OpenVPN Access Server is described as a self-hosted VPN with private tunnels and access policies based on identity, device and IP. Those features support controlled remote access, but a feature list alone cannot establish that a particular deployment is secure. Review configuration, access rules and operational requirements before relying on it.
Is OpenVPN Access Server free?
It has a free plan for small teams, listed as free forever with up to two connections, all features and no card required. For more connections, Growth is listed at $7 per connection/month billed yearly, with a limit of up to 2,000 connections. Enterprise & IoT pricing is custom.
What does Appgate sell?
Appgate sells a zero-trust network access platform, including Appgate SDP, for enterprises and government agencies. Its stated capabilities include direct-routed access, cloaked infrastructure, dynamic access and compliance visibility. Pricing is custom-quoted; published seat limits and usage limits are not available on the vendor's site.