Viscosity review (2026): is it worth $16?
OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows, bought once
Black Friday: is there a Viscosity sale?
Viscosity report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a paid OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows
Viscosity is an OpenVPN client for Mac and Windows with a connection editor, traffic stats and scripting, at $16 once. It includes no VPN service, supports OpenVPN only, and its license covers free updates for 1.x versions only.
Who Viscosity is for
- 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
Who Viscosity is not for
- 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
Why Viscosity gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$16 once is under a year of the category's middle subscription at $5 a month, though you still pay for a VPN service.
- CFree plan and trial30-day free trial on Mac and Windows; the page does not say whether a card is needed.
- DFeaturesIt 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.
- DEase of useYou import or write OpenVPN configurations and can script connections, so it needs technical know-how.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMac and Windows desktop only, with OpenVPN and AppleScript as its only listed links.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from SparkLabs's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/viscosity#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/viscosity.svg" alt="Viscosity: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Viscosity stands among VPNs
Viscosity's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 9 of the 50 other VPNs we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 43 of 50) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Viscosity’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 43 of 50, level with 7
- CFree plan and trialAbove 25 of 50, level with 9
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 50, level with 1
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 50, level with 5
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 50, level with 2
Keep Viscosity, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Viscosity 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: 36 of the 50 other VPNs grade higher. It costs $16, paid once.
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 and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Viscosity’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.
What is Viscosity?
Viscosity is an OpenVPN client for macOS and Windows from SparkLabs. It imports and edits OpenVPN connections through a graphical interface, shows traffic and connection details, and can be scripted. It is a client only, so you bring your own VPN server or provider.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Viscosity pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Viscosity is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $16 one-time, per license.
- Starts at
- $16 one-time, per license
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial for Mac and Windows
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Viscosity license | $16one-time, per license | One-time purchase with no subscription. Includes email support and free updates for all future 1.x versions. |
Read from sparklabs.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Viscosity before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsVolume discount on multiple licenses
The store says raising the quantity of licenses shows an instant discount at checkout.
Stated on sparklabs.com
Works with
- OpenVPN
- AppleScript
Viscosity alternatives
- Viscosity vs OpenVPN
Free plan · from $7/mo
Common questions
Does Viscosity have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Viscosity is listed for macOS and Windows.
Does Viscosity have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Viscosity is listed for macOS and Windows.
Is Viscosity open source?
Viscosity is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.