Pritunl vs Teleport (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Teleport grades higher than Pritunl: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Pritunl grades higher on the free plan. Teleport grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pritunl
Self-hosted open-source VPN server for OpenVPN and WireGuard
Teleport
Identity-based access to servers, databases and Kubernetes
Which one is for you
Pick Pritunl if
- Fits if you can run a Linux server and want your own VPN with no per-user fee
- Works for teams that sign in through Okta, Google Workspace or Duo
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as the install page lists Linux distributions only
- Pricey if you need SSO, failover or site-to-site links, which need Enterprise at $70 per host a month
- Watch out: servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also have to run
- Too light for phones without extra work, as the Pritunl Client covers macOS, Windows and Linux only
Pick Teleport if
- Fits if you run servers and clusters and want audited, short-lived access to them
- Works for engineering teams happy to self-host the Community Edition
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to remotely control desktops, as it targets infrastructure access
- Watch out: Enterprise pricing isn't published and the pricing page asks for a form
- Watch out: FIPS support and strict-compliance features need a paid Enterprise licence
- Tight if you lack ops staff, as the Community Edition must be deployed and maintained by you
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAPritunlFair | 2.2GPATeleportFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree only if you host it yourself, which needs a server, so it sits at C. Premium is $10 per host a month and Enterprise $70. | CEnterprise has no published price, so value can't be judged and sits at C. Community Edition is free but you run it yourself, which needs a server. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe Community edition is free for one host with unlimited servers, users and devices, and needs no registration or card. | CCommunity Edition is free and open source, but you deploy and maintain it. Enterprise has a 14-day trial. |
| Features | COpenVPN and WireGuard clients, a REST API and plugins are listed, but single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links are Enterprise only. | BInfrastructure access, just-in-time access, machine identity, audit and governance and a desktop client cover the core of the job. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You install the server on Linux and run MongoDB, which is a command-line job. | DNo store rating on record. You deploy and operate the cluster and wire it to your identity provider. |
| Platforms and integrations | CClient apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, with SSO through Okta, Google Workspace and others. Other devices use OpenVPN profiles. | BWeb, Windows, Mac and Linux with the Teleport Connect desktop client, plus GitHub, Slack and Kubernetes. No phone apps are listed. |
| Best for | a self-run VPN server for companies | secure access to servers and infrastructure |
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: Pritunl and Teleport. How we grade
Where they differ
- Pritunl also covers vPN.
At a glance
| Pritunl | Teleport | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $10 per host / month | Not published |
| Free plan | Community edition: free for a single host, with unlimited servers, users and devices. | Community Edition is free and open source; you deploy and run it yourself. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day trial of Teleport Enterprise |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Pritunl, Inc. | Gravitational Inc. |
| Price read from | pritunl.com | goteleport.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Pritunl
- You install and run the server yourself; the install page lists Linux distributions only.
- Single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links need Enterprise at $70 per host per month.
- Servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also need to run.
- The Pritunl Client is available for macOS, Windows and Linux only; other devices use OpenVPN profiles.
Teleport
- Enterprise pricing is not published; the pricing page asks for a form to get a quote.
- FIPS support and strict-compliance features need a paid Enterprise license.
- Community Edition must be deployed and maintained by you.
- It is aimed at infrastructure access, not remote control of employee desktops.
Key features
Pritunl
- OpenVPN and WireGuard clients
- The server accepts any OpenVPN client, and the Pritunl Client for macOS, Windows and Linux handles both OpenVPN and WireGuard.
- Site-to-site links
- Pritunl Link joins networks over WireGuard or IPsec, with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Oracle Cloud and Hetzner named on the homepage.
- Single sign-on
- Enterprise supports SAML, Google, Duo Security and RADIUS; the SSO page also lists Okta and OneLogin.
- Failover and replication
- Servers share state through MongoDB and run as equal peers, so clients move to another node if one fails.
- Device authentication
- TPM and Apple Secure Enclave device authentication is offered, along with TOTP and push two-step sign-in.
- REST API and plugins
- A REST API automates user and server management, and a Python plugin system supports custom authentication.
Teleport
- Access to infrastructure
- Connects to SSH and Windows servers, Kubernetes clusters, databases and internal apps through one access layer.
- Just-in-time access
- Privileges are ephemeral and expire, with access requests used to grant them, instead of standing credentials.
- Machine and workload identity
- Automated services can connect to protected resources using certificate-based identity instead of long-lived secrets.
- Agent and MCP access control
- The vendor says identity and access control extend to AI agents and MCP tooling.
- Audit and governance
- The platform lists access governance and compliance, with policies and audits managed in one place.
- Teleport Connect desktop client
- The docs describe a desktop client for macOS, Linux and Windows, alongside a web UI and the tsh command line.
Plans
Pritunl
Community$0
Free for a single host with unlimited VPN servers, users and devices. You host it yourself.
Premium$10
per host / month
Single host. Adds port forwarding, gateway links, Chromebook support, configuration sync and email user keys.
Enterprise$70
per host / month
Everything in Premium plus single sign-on, automatic failover, replicated servers and site-to-site links.
Teleport
Community Edition$0
Free and open source, self-hosted. The docs say editions differ in features, deployment options and support.
EnterpriseCustom
Cloud or self-hosted. Price on request from sales; the site says it is based on active users and protected resources.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pritunl or Teleport?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pritunl starts at $10 per host / month, and Teleport publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, Pritunl or Teleport?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Pritunl and Teleport have a free plan.
Which platforms do Pritunl and Teleport run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Teleport lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux 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.