OpenVPN vs Viscosity (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OpenVPN grades higher than Viscosity: 2.8 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
OpenVPN grades higher on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms. Viscosity grades higher on value for money.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
OpenVPN
Open-source VPN protocol plus business VPN products built on it
Viscosity
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once
Which one is for you
Pick OpenVPN if
- Fits if you need a few people to reach company apps and networks
- Works for teams who want to host the VPN themselves
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a consumer VPN with a server list, as these are business products
- Tight if you outgrow 2 connections on Access Server Free or 5 seats on Starter
- Pricey if you need SAML, SIEM log streaming and a public API, which start on Essential at $7 a seat
- Watch out: SCIM, longer log retention and the 99.9% uptime SLA are Premium or Enterprise only
- Watch out: Access Server refunds go through sales, and unused funds are credited when you cancel
Pick Viscosity if
- Fits if you use OpenVPN on both a Mac and Windows and want a tidy client
- Works for admins who want scripting and deployment bundles
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a VPN service, as it has no servers
- Skip it if you use Linux or a phone, as it runs on Mac and Windows only
- Watch out: a license includes free updates for 1.x versions only, and upgrades are sold separately
- Skip it if OpenVPN is not your protocol, as it supports nothing else
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAOpenVPNGood | 2.0GPAViscosityFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$7 a seat a month yearly on Essential and $9.50 on Premium. Those sit between the middle and the dearer quarter of a category that runs $3.99 to $8, and the 10-seat example costs $70 a month. | A$16 once is under a year of the category's middle subscription at $5 a month, though you still pay for a VPN service. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe community edition is free, Access Server is free for 2 connections and CloudConnexa Starter is free for 5 seats. One person or a very small team could live on that. | C30-day free trial on Mac and Windows; the page does not say whether a card is needed. |
| Features | BSelf-hosted or cloud, identity and device policies, content filtering, IDS/IPS and an open-source edition. It covers the whole job of remote access, with some parts on dearer plans. | DIt does a narrow job, an OpenVPN client, and needs a VPN server or provider to be of any use, even with its scripting and split DNS. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Setup means connecting a server or a cloud account to your identity provider and apps. | DYou import or write OpenVPN configurations and can script connections, so it needs technical know-how. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and ChromeOS, plus a public API on Essential and hooks into Azure, Docker, VMware and Hyper-V. | CMac and Windows desktop only, with OpenVPN and AppleScript as its only listed links. |
| Best for | remote access for staff, hosted by you or by them | a paid OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: OpenVPN and Viscosity. How we grade
Where they differ
- OpenVPN is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Viscosity can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Viscosity also covers menu bar app.
At a glance
| OpenVPN | Viscosity | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $7 per connection or seat / month, billed annually | $16 one-time, per license |
| Free plan | Open-source community edition; Access Server free for 2 connections; CloudConnexa Starter free for 5 seats. | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of paid plans; Access Server's trial needs a credit card, and the free plans do not. | 30-day free trial for Mac and Windows |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | OpenVPN Inc. | SparkLabs Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | openvpn.net | sparklabs.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
OpenVPN
- The pages read show the yearly-billed price only; a monthly price for Access Server was not displayed, and CloudConnexa advertises up to 20% off for annual billing.
- Access Server Free stops at 2 simultaneous connections, and Growth at 2,000; larger deployments are Enterprise with custom pricing.
- CloudConnexa's SCIM, longer log retention and 99.9% uptime SLA are on Premium or Enterprise only.
- Refunds on Access Server subscriptions go through sales; unused funds are credited to the account when you cancel.
Viscosity
- It is only a client and includes no servers or VPN service.
- Supports OpenVPN, and runs on macOS and Windows only.
- A license includes free updates for 1.x versions only; the store lists upgrades separately.
Key features
OpenVPN
- Self-hosted Access Server
- Runs on cloud IaaS, Docker, Linux, Hyper-V or VMware ESXi, with per-user and per-group access and SSO plus MFA.
- Cloud-delivered CloudConnexa
- Connects users to apps across offices and clouds from one console with no VPN servers to run, using OpenVPN or IPsec.
- Identity and device policies
- CloudConnexa sets access policies based on identity, device posture and location, with logs for audits.
- Content filtering
- CloudConnexa includes DNS filtering and IDS/IPS on every plan, and blocks known malicious sites.
- Open-source community edition
- The free OpenVPN community edition has Windows installers and source archives.
Viscosity
- Connection editor
- Create or edit OpenVPN connections without writing configuration by hand, including multi-factor authentication settings, with advanced commands for experts.
- Full and split DNS
- Send every DNS lookup to the VPN's servers, or only lookups for chosen domains.
- Traffic statistics
- A menu overview of connections plus a details window with a traffic graph and network and encryption information.
- Scripting and automation
- Control the app with AppleScript or VBScript, and run custom scripts when a connection changes state.
- Obfuscation and simultaneous connections
- Works with an Obfsproxy server to get past networks that block VPNs, and can hold several VPN connections open at once.
- Deployment bundles
- Organizations can bundle the app with preset settings and connections to hand to their users.
Plans
OpenVPN
Community edition$0
Open-source OpenVPN that you download and host yourself, with Windows installers and source archives.
Access Server Free$0
Self-hosted, up to 2 simultaneous connections, all features. New sign-ups start with a 14-day trial of up to 100 connections.
Access Server Growth$7
per connection / month, billed annually
Self-hosted, up to 2,000 simultaneous connections, priced per connection with volume discounts; the page's example is 10 connections at $70 a month.
CloudConnexa Starter$0
Cloud-delivered, 5 seats included, with access policies, DNS filtering and IDS/IPS.
CloudConnexa Essential$7
per seat / month, billed annually
Adds LDAP and SAML, IPsec support, log streaming to a SIEM, a public API and 24-7 priority support. The page's example is 10 seats at $70 a month.
CloudConnexa Premium$9.50
per seat / month, billed annually
Adds SCIM, multiple authentication methods, longer log retention, a dedicated account manager and a 99.9% uptime SLA. The page's example is 10 seats at $95 a month.
Viscosity
Viscosity license$16
one-time, per license
One-time purchase with no subscription. Includes email support and free updates for all future 1.x versions.
Ways to pay less
OpenVPN
- Annual discount
Up to 20% off CloudConnexa with annual billing
The CloudConnexa pricing page offers an annual discount of up to 20%; the prices shown there are the annual ones.
Viscosity
- Other savings
Volume discount on multiple licenses
The store says raising the quantity of licenses shows an instant discount at checkout.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, OpenVPN or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OpenVPN starts at $7 per connection or seat / month, billed annually, and Viscosity starts at $16 one-time, per license.
Which has a free plan, OpenVPN or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only OpenVPN has a free plan. Viscosity does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do OpenVPN and Viscosity run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only OpenVPN lists Linux, iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.