We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
It's a split decision.
Choose OpenVPN Access Server for a business VPN you control: it runs on IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, or VMware ESXi and supports identity-, device-, and IP-based policies. Its free tier covers two connections; Growth is listed at $70 per month billed yearly, with $7 per connection/month pricing. Choose Proton VPN for personal privacy, global VPN locations, and streaming: its free plan covers one device, while the $3.49 paid headline rate requires 24 months upfront. These solve different jobs.
01Side by side
| OpenVPN Access Server | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Growth $70/month, billed yearly | Free; paid starts $3.49/month, billed 24 months upfront |
| Free plan | Up to 2 connections; all features; free forever | 1 device; medium speed; 10 randomly selected countries |
| Best for | Business network access with self-managed controls | Personal privacy and accessing the internet globally |
| Core strength | Custom access policies using identity, device, and IP | Encrypted browsing, IP hiding, and no-logs policy |
| Learning curve | Self-hosted setup; ease score 6.5 | Ease score 7; consumer VPN features |
| Integrations / data | IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, VMware ESXi | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries |
| Team / seat costs | $7 per connection/month; custom packages at 2,000+ | Business pricing not published; consumer plans allow 10 devices |
| Support | Growth lists 24/7 technical and priority support | Support terms not published on the vendor's site |
OpenVPN Access Server Choose OpenVPN Access Server if
- You need a self-hosted VPN for business network access.
- You want policies based on identity, device, or IP.
- You need deployment options including Docker or Linux.
Proton VPN Choose Proton VPN if
- You want a VPN for personal browsing privacy.
- You need streaming access from VPN locations.
- You want a free plan for one device.
02Pricing compared
These plans charge for different things: OpenVPN Access Server prices business connections, while Proton VPN prices consumer VPN access and bundles other Proton services. OpenVPN’s Free plan covers up to two connections, includes all features, and is free forever. Growth is listed at $70 per month when billed yearly, with pricing also shown as $7 per connection per month; the monthly-billing total is not published. Growth covers up to 2,000 connections, and larger deployments require custom pricing. Proton Free covers one device. Proton’s displayed $3.49 and $7.99 rates require 24 months upfront; the listed monthly prices are $9.99 for VPN Plus and $12.99 for Proton Unlimited. The pricing page lists annual renewals of $83.88 and $119.88, respectively. Proton VPN for Business pricing is not published.
03Features and depth
OpenVPN Access Server is built for controlled access to a business network. The homepage says it can run on IaaS providers, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V, and VMware ESXi. It supports private tunnels, traffic routing, and customizable policies based on identity, device, and IP. That makes it the closer fit when the requirement is to manage who can reach company resources and where the VPN runs.
Proton VPN is aimed at protecting a person’s internet traffic and changing their apparent location. Proton lists more than 20,000 servers in over 140 countries, plus DNS-level ad, tracker, phishing, and malware blocking. Paid plans include streaming access and support up to 10 devices; the free plan covers one device and servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Proton says its VPN Accelerator can boost speeds by up to 400% and that it follows a no-logs policy. Its business offering is described as a dedicated network security solution, but the published pricing information does not publish its features or price.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published material does not provide setup steps or usability details for either product, so we would not rank their interfaces based on it. The practical difference is the operating model: OpenVPN Access Server is self-hosted, and you choose a deployment environment such as Linux, Docker, or an IaaS provider. That gives a business control over deployment and access policies, but also means planning and managing the server environment.
Proton VPN is presented as a personal VPN service with free and paid plans, making it the more direct fit for someone seeking internet privacy or VPN locations rather than a company-managed access server. Its business plan is listed, but details and pricing are not published on the vendor's site.
Questions people ask
Is OpenVPN Access Server the same kind of VPN as Proton VPN?
No. OpenVPN Access Server is a self-hosted business VPN for private access to company networks and controlled access policies. Proton VPN is primarily presented as a service for encrypting personal internet traffic, hiding an IP address, and connecting through VPN locations. Choose based on the job, not just the VPN label.
Which is better for a company?
OpenVPN Access Server is the clearer fit when a company wants to host its own VPN server and define access using identity, device, or IP policies. Proton lists a separate VPN for Business offering, but the published information gives no pricing or feature details beyond describing it as a dedicated network security solution.
Can I use either product for free?
Both list a free plan. OpenVPN Access Server’s Free plan includes all features for up to two connections and is described as free forever. Proton Free covers one device, with medium speed and servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Those limits serve different needs and are not equivalent.
Which costs less for a small team?
OpenVPN Access Server can be free for up to two connections; Growth is listed at $70 per month billed yearly. Proton Free covers one device, while its paid headline rates require 24 months upfront. Compare the connection or device count you need, and note that OpenVPN’s monthly-billing total is not published.