The Tunnelblick Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tunnelblick 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.
Tunnelblick
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source OpenVPN client for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Tunnelblick’s own pages.
Made by The Tunnelblick Project · 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 Tunnelblick’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tunnelblick’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
2.2
GPA, above 15 of the 50 other VPNs we grade
Tunnelblick is a free, open-source macOS application for connecting to OpenVPN servers. It does not sell VPN service of its own: you add the configuration files from your own server or from a VPN provider. The app bundles OpenVPN and the drivers it needs.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Tunnelblick, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is only a client, so you must bring your own server or provider's config files, and it speaks OpenVPN on macOS and nothing else.
- 1
Best for an OpenVPN client for the Mac at no cost
Tunnelblick is a free, open-source Mac app for connecting to OpenVPN servers, with no ads or tracking.
- 2
It is free
Tunnelblick has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
OpenVPN client
Controls OpenVPN connections on macOS and ships with OpenVPN, easy-rsa and the tun/tap drivers, so nothing else needs installing.
- 5
Works with your own configurations
You add OpenVPN configuration and encryption files from a VPN provider or from a server you run yourself.
- 6
Free software
Licensed under the GNU GPL version 2. The site states there are no ads, no affiliate marketers and no tracking.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 15 of 50
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Tunnelblick is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Tunnelblick at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- The Tunnelblick Project
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for an OpenVPN client for the Mac at no cost
Tunnelblick is a free, open-source Mac app for connecting to OpenVPN servers, with no ads or tracking. It is only a client, so you must bring your own server or provider's config files, and it speaks OpenVPN on macOS and nothing else.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright under the GNU GPL, with no ads and no cap. |
| Features | D | It does one narrow job, an OpenVPN client, and needs a VPN service or your own server to be of any use. |
| Ease of use | D | You add OpenVPN configuration files yourself, so it is a command-line-adjacent job for most people. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | macOS only, and the current builds need macOS 13 or later. |
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 Tunnelblick is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users whose employer or VPN provider supplies OpenVPN files
- People running their own OpenVPN server
- Those who want open-source software with no account
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Tunnelblick is free to use.
Free outright under the GNU GPL, with no ads and no cap.
Free
$0
Free software under the GNU GPL version 2, with no ads or tracking. You supply the VPN server or service.
Read from tunnelblick.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free open-source OpenVPN client for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, menu bar app, vPN.
It does one narrow job, an OpenVPN client, and needs a VPN service or your own server to be of any use.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- OpenVPN
Tunnelblick is made by The Tunnelblick Project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
15/50
Other VPNs it is graded above
Tunnelblick's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 15 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 43 of 50) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Tunnelblick has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tunnelblick’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 43 of 50
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 50
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 50
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Tunnelblick is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
Tunnelblick is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 29 of the 50 other VPNs grade higher.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Tunnelblick’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
OpenVPN, Viscosity, WireGuard and SoftEther VPN
The 4 tools Tunnelblick is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
OpenVPN
Free plan · from $7/mo
Open-source VPN protocol plus business VPN products built on it.
- Only OpenVPN lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- OpenVPN is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Tunnelblick also covers menu bar app.
- 2.0GPA
Viscosity
Free trial · from $16 one-time
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once.
- Tunnelblick has a free plan. Viscosity does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Viscosity lists a Windows app.
- Tunnelblick is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
WireGuard
Free
Free, open-source VPN protocol and tunnel software.
- Only WireGuard lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Tunnelblick also covers menu bar app.
- 2.8GPA
SoftEther VPN
Free
Free multi-protocol VPN server and client from a Japanese university.
- Only SoftEther VPN lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- SoftEther VPN is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Tunnelblick also covers menu bar app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Tunnelblick free?
Yes. Tunnelblick is free to use.
How much does Tunnelblick cost?
Tunnelblick lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Tunnelblick work on?
Tunnelblick is available on macOS.
Does Tunnelblick have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tunnelblick is listed for macOS.
Does Tunnelblick have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Tunnelblick is listed for macOS.
Is Tunnelblick open source?
Yes. Tunnelblick is open source, according to its own site.
What does Tunnelblick integrate with?
Tunnelblick's listing names OpenVPN. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Tunnelblick?
Tunnelblick is made by The Tunnelblick Project.
What are the alternatives to Tunnelblick?
The closest alternatives to Tunnelblick in our directory are OpenVPN, Viscosity, WireGuard and SoftEther VPN.
How does Tunnelblick compare with other VPNs?
Tunnelblick's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 15 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 6.
Is Tunnelblick good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tunnelblick A for value for money. Tunnelblick has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Tunnelblick?
Tunnelblick is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tunnelblick’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 The Tunnelblick Project'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 The Tunnelblick Project. Prices change, so check tunnelblick.net 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
- Tunnelblick, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tunnelblick
- 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, "Tunnelblick: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tunnelblick
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tunnelblick/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Tunnelblick, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 VPNs we grade, compared
- Cloudflare WARP Insider's GuideFree Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier3.2 GPA
- Ultrasurf Insider's GuideFree censorship-circumvention VPN from UltraReach3.2 GPA
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 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 Tunnelblick’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. Tunnelblick is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Tunnelblick Project. Prices and plans change: check tunnelblick.net before you buy.