SoftEther VPN vs Viscosity (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SoftEther VPN grades higher than Viscosity: 2.8 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
SoftEther VPN grades higher on the free plan, features and platforms. Viscosity grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SoftEther VPN
Free multi-protocol VPN server and client from a Japanese university
Viscosity
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once
Which one is for you
Pick SoftEther VPN if
- Fits if you want one server that accepts several VPN protocols
- Works for people who need to bridge networks at the Ethernet layer
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a hosted VPN with provider servers
- Not for you if you want a vendor to call: support is a forum and the community
- Watch out: the news items on the project page are dated 2019
- Watch out: the page lists a 2019 security advisory for the Windows local bridge driver
- Watch out: the project's own client list also includes Windows Mobile, an old platform
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
| 2.8GPASoftEther VPNGood | 2.0GPAViscosityFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree under Apache 2.0, but you run the server yourself. Software that is only free if you host it yourself is a C. | 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 | AFree outright, with no paid plans or caps. | C30-day free trial on Mac and Windows; the page does not say whether a card is needed. |
| Features | BMany protocols on one server, an OpenVPN clone function, Layer-2 Ethernet bridging and an admin tool and API. It covers the whole job of a self-hosted VPN. | 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 | DNo rating on record. You install and configure a server and manage it with admin tools, which is self-hosting. | DYou import or write OpenVPN configurations and can script connections, so it needs technical know-how. |
| Platforms and integrations | AClients for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad, plus an admin API and Amazon EC2 and Azure support. | CMac and Windows desktop only, with OpenVPN and AppleScript as its only listed links. |
| Best for | a self-hosted VPN that speaks many protocols | 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: SoftEther VPN and Viscosity. How we grade
Where they differ
- SoftEther VPN 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
| SoftEther VPN | Viscosity | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $16 one-time, per license |
| Free plan | Freeware and open source under Apache License 2.0; no paid plans. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial for Mac and Windows |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | SoftEther VPN Project (University of Tsukuba) | SparkLabs Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | softether.org | sparklabs.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
SoftEther VPN
- VPN over HTTPS
- SSL-VPN tunneling on HTTPS passes through NATs and firewalls.
- Many protocols on one server
- The server also supports OpenVPN, IPsec, L2TP, MS-SSTP, L2TPv3 and EtherIP, so built-in clients on phones and computers can connect.
- OpenVPN clone function
- A clone of the OpenVPN server lets existing OpenVPN clients connect, which the project pitches as a way to migrate.
- Layer-2 Ethernet bridging
- Supports LAN-to-LAN and cloud-to-LAN bridge VPNs built on an Ethernet-based design.
- Admin tools and API
- Server, client and bridge manuals, a command-line utility, and a JSON-RPC API with an HTML5 admin console.
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
SoftEther VPN
SoftEther VPN$0
Free to download and run yourself; the server runs on Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris and Mac OS X.
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
SoftEther VPN
No public discounts listed.
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, SoftEther VPN or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SoftEther VPN is free, and Viscosity starts at $16 one-time, per license.
Which has a free plan, SoftEther VPN or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only SoftEther VPN has a free plan. Viscosity does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do SoftEther VPN and Viscosity run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only SoftEther VPN 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.