Tunnelblick vs Viscosity (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Tunnelblick grades higher than Viscosity: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Tunnelblick grades higher on the free plan. Viscosity grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Viscosity
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once
Free trial · from $16 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Tunnelblick if
- Fits if you run a Mac and already have an OpenVPN server or provider
- Works for people who want free, open-source software with no ads
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a VPN service, as it includes no servers
- Not for you if you use Windows, Linux or a phone, as it is Mac only
- Skip it if config files put you off, as you set up each connection yourself
- Watch out: it speaks OpenVPN only, and builds need macOS 13 or later
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
| 2.2GPATunnelblickFair | 2.0GPAViscosityFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree open-source software, against a category where paid plans start near $4 a month, though you still pay for a VPN service to connect to. | 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 under the GNU GPL, with no ads and no cap. | C30-day free trial on Mac and Windows; the page does not say whether a card is needed. |
| Features | DIt does one narrow job, an OpenVPN client, and needs a VPN service or your own server to be of any use. | 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 | DYou add OpenVPN configuration files yourself, so it is a command-line-adjacent job for most people. | DYou import or write OpenVPN configurations and can script connections, so it needs technical know-how. |
| Platforms and integrations | DmacOS only, and the current builds need macOS 13 or later. | CMac and Windows desktop only, with OpenVPN and AppleScript as its only listed links. |
| Best for | an OpenVPN client for the Mac at no cost | 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: Tunnelblick and Viscosity. How we grade
Where they differ
- Tunnelblick is open source, according to its own site.
- Viscosity can be bought with a one-time purchase.
In commonmacOSMenu bar appVPN
At a glance
| Tunnelblick | Viscosity | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $16 one-time, per license |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial for Mac and Windows |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | The Tunnelblick Project | SparkLabs Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | tunnelblick.net | sparklabs.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Tunnelblick
- It is only a client: it does not include servers, so you need a VPN service or your own server.
- Supports OpenVPN only, and runs on macOS only; the current builds need macOS 13 or later.
- The project does not accept donations of money and is maintained by volunteers.
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
Tunnelblick
- OpenVPN client
- Controls OpenVPN connections on macOS and ships with OpenVPN, easy-rsa and the tun/tap drivers, so nothing else needs installing.
- Works with your own configurations
- You add OpenVPN configuration and encryption files from a VPN provider or from a server you run yourself.
- Free software
- Licensed under the GNU GPL version 2. The site states there are no ads, no affiliate marketers and no tracking.
- No logs of IP addresses
- The project says it does not keep logs of your IP address or other usage information, and collects no usage statistics.
- Stable and beta releases
- The downloads page lists a stable and a beta build, both universal for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 13 or later.
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
Tunnelblick
Free$0
Free software under the GNU GPL version 2, with no ads or tracking. You supply the VPN server or service.
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
Tunnelblick
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, Tunnelblick or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Tunnelblick is free, and Viscosity starts at $16 one-time, per license.
Which has a free plan, Tunnelblick or Viscosity?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Tunnelblick has a free plan. Viscosity does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Tunnelblick and Viscosity run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Viscosity lists a Windows app. Both list a macOS app. 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.