The Ivanti Connect Secure Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Ivanti Connect Secure in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Ivanti Connect Secure
The Insider’s Guide
Enterprise SSL VPN gateway for secure remote access
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from Ivanti Connect Secure’s own pages.
Made by Ivanti · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Ivanti Connect Secure’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ivanti Connect Secure’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
Ivanti Connect Secure (ICS) is an enterprise VPN gateway for remote access to data center and cloud applications. It runs on the Ivanti Security Appliance as hardware, a virtual appliance or a cloud deployment, with a client for desktop and mobile platforms. It is sold through Ivanti sales with no published prices.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about Ivanti Connect Secure, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No prices are published, you manage the gateway, and central management is a separate product.
- 1
Best for a company VPN with a hardened gateway
Ivanti Connect Secure is a VPN and clientless access gateway that runs on an Ivanti appliance, physical or virtual.
- 2
It runs on 6 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Web.
- 3
Unified secure access client
One client provides remote VPN and local network access on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Android apps on ChromeOS.
- 4
Flexible VPN modes
Supports full Layer 3 VPN, per-app VPN, on-demand and always-on access, lockdown mode and FQDN or IP-based split tunneling.
- 5
Clientless access
Gives browser-based access to published applications and virtual desktops without an installed client.
- 6
A 1.8 GPA, above 6 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
To replace Ivanti Connect Secure you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Ivanti Connect Secure at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Ivanti
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for a company VPN with a hardened gateway
Ivanti Connect Secure is a VPN and clientless access gateway that runs on an Ivanti appliance, physical or virtual. No prices are published, you manage the gateway, and central management is a separate product.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published: the page tells buyers to contact sales, so value sits at C. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial is listed on the product page. |
| Features | B | A unified client, VPN modes, clientless access, endpoint checks and passwordless sign-in cover the core of a company VPN. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. It runs on an appliance you set up and manage, which is an admin job. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and web are listed. The integrations are hosting platforms like ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V, Azure, AWS and Google Cloud. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Ivanti Connect Secure is for
- Fits if you are an IT team that wants a VPN gateway it controls
- Makes sense if you already run virtual appliances on ESXi or Hyper-V
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to manage a gateway, since it runs on a physical or virtual Ivanti appliance
- Watch out: no prices are published and the page directs buyers to contact sales
- Watch out: central management uses a separate product, Ivanti Secure Access Framework
- Tight if you want a trial, as no free plan or trial is listed
Good to know
Good for
- Enterprises that run their own VPN gateways on appliances or cloud
- Organizations needing per-app VPN and clientless access in one product
- Teams that must meet FIPS 140-3 requirements
Worth knowing
- No prices are published; the page directs buyers to contact sales.
- It runs on the Ivanti Security Appliance, physical or virtual, so you manage a gateway.
- Centralized management uses a separate product, Ivanti Secure Access Framework.
- The page lists no free plan or trial.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Ivanti Connect Secure's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No price is published: the page tells buyers to contact sales, so value sits at C.
We could not confirm Ivanti Connect Secure’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. ivanti.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Enterprise SSL VPN gateway for secure remote access. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, vPN.
A unified client, VPN modes, clientless access, endpoint checks and passwordless sign-in cover the core of a company VPN.
- Unified secure access client
- One client provides remote VPN and local network access on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Android apps on ChromeOS.
- Flexible VPN modes
- Supports full Layer 3 VPN, per-app VPN, on-demand and always-on access, lockdown mode and FQDN or IP-based split tunneling.
- Clientless access
- Gives browser-based access to published applications and virtual desktops without an installed client.
- Conditional access and endpoint checks
- Evaluates users and devices against policies on each access attempt and can assess an endpoint before sign-in.
- Passwordless sign-in
- Supports FIDO2 authentication with passkeys, biometrics and PINs.
- Hardened gateway
- ICS 25.x runs on Oracle Linux 9 with SELinux enforcing, a web application firewall and secure boot with TPM support.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- VMware ESXi
- KVM
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- Microsoft Azure
- AWS
- Google Cloud
Ivanti Connect Secure is made by Ivanti.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
Ivanti Connect Secure's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on features (B, above 55 of 85) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Ivanti Connect Secure’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 85
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 85
- BFeaturesAbove 55 of 85
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 85
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Ivanti Connect Secure you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 73 of the 85 other remote desktop apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Reports: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, VMware ESXi, KVM and Microsoft Hyper-V among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Ivanti Connect Secure’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
FortiClient, Zscaler Private Access, Pritunl and Twingate
The 4 tools Ivanti Connect Secure is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
FortiClient
Free plan
Fortinet endpoint agent for VPN, ZTNA and endpoint protection.
- FortiClient has a free plan. Ivanti Connect Secure does not.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists a web app.
- FortiClient also covers malware protection.
- 1.8GPA
Zscaler Private Access
Paid
Zero trust access to private apps without a VPN.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Ivanti Connect Secure also covers reports.
- Zscaler Private Access also covers remote desktop.
- 2.0GPA
Pritunl
Free plan · from $10/mo
Self-hosted open-source VPN server for OpenVPN and WireGuard.
- Pritunl has a free plan. Ivanti Connect Secure does not.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists a web app.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.6GPA
Twingate
Free plan · from $5/mo
Zero trust network access to replace a company VPN.
- Twingate has a free plan. Ivanti Connect Secure does not.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists a web app.
- Only Twingate lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
8
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Ivanti Connect Secure free?
No. Ivanti Connect Secure is a paid product.
What platforms does Ivanti Connect Secure work on?
Ivanti Connect Secure is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Web.
Is Ivanti Connect Secure open source?
Ivanti Connect Secure is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Ivanti Connect Secure integrate with?
Ivanti Connect Secure's listing names VMware ESXi, KVM, Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google Cloud.
Who makes Ivanti Connect Secure?
Ivanti Connect Secure is made by Ivanti.
What are the alternatives to Ivanti Connect Secure?
The closest alternatives to Ivanti Connect Secure in our directory are FortiClient, Zscaler Private Access, Pritunl and Twingate.
How does Ivanti Connect Secure compare with other remote desktop apps?
Ivanti Connect Secure's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 6 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 6.
Could I make my own version of Ivanti Connect Secure?
To replace Ivanti Connect Secure you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Ivanti Connect Secure’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ivanti's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Ivanti. Prices change, so check ivanti.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Ivanti Connect Secure, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ivanti-connect-secure
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Ivanti Connect Secure: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ivanti-connect-secure
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ivanti-connect-secure/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after Ivanti Connect Secure, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Ivanti Connect Secure’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Ivanti Connect Secure is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ivanti. Prices and plans change: check ivanti.com before you buy.