Alternatives · VPNs
SoftEther VPN alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded SoftEther VPN alternative is OpenVPN (2.8 GPA). It's also the best free one.
SoftEther VPN compared with 6 alternatives: OpenVPN, WireGuard, Firezone, Outline VPN, Tunnelblick and 1 more.
SoftEther VPN is free to use. 5 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoftEther VPNThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| OpenVPN | Free plan · from $7/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| WireGuard | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Firezone | Free plan · from $50/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Outline VPN | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Tunnelblick | Free | Free | macOS |
| Viscosity | Free trial · from $16 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows |
Price against what you get
SoftEther VPN has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
OpenVPN scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from SoftEther VPN
OpenVPN
Open-source VPN protocol plus business VPN products built on it
- OpenVPN starts at $7 per connection or seat / month, billed annually.
Suits: IT teams giving employees and contractors remote access to company apps
WireGuard
Free, open-source VPN protocol and tunnel software
- WireGuard is free.
Suits: Administrators who want to run their own VPN between machines
Firezone
WireGuard-based zero-trust remote access for teams
- Firezone starts at $50 per seat / year ($5 per seat / month billed monthly).
Suits: Small teams and homelabs on the free plan for up to 6 users
Outline VPN
Open-source software for running your own VPN server
- Outline VPN is free.
Suits: People who want to run their own VPN instead of trusting a provider
Tunnelblick
Free open-source OpenVPN client for macOS
- Tunnelblick is free.
- Tunnelblick lists no Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps, which SoftEther VPN has.
- Tunnelblick also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac users whose employer or VPN provider supplies OpenVPN files
Viscosity
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once
- Viscosity starts at $16 one-time, per license.
- Viscosity has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike SoftEther VPN.
- Viscosity lists no Linux, iOS and Android apps, which SoftEther VPN has.
- Viscosity can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Viscosity also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Mac and Windows users who connect to OpenVPN servers
Limits worth knowing in SoftEther VPN
- It is software to host yourself, not a VPN service with provider servers.
- Clients are listed for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad; the project's own native client list also includes Windows Mobile.
- The project page's news items shown are dated 2019, and the page lists a 2019 security advisory for the Windows local bridge driver.
- Support runs through a project forum and community, not a vendor with paid support.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to SoftEther VPN?
The alternatives to SoftEther VPN in this directory are OpenVPN, WireGuard, Firezone, Outline VPN, Tunnelblick and Viscosity. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with SoftEther VPN.
Is there a free alternative to SoftEther VPN?
Yes. WireGuard, Outline VPN and Tunnelblick are free to use. OpenVPN and Firezone have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Nov 13, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.