OpenVPN CloudConnexa Review
OpenVPN's own commercial offering is unglamorous and dependable, with a real self-hosting path and a free tier that covers small deployments outright.
Review last updated 2026-08-20 · How we rate providers
Scorecard
Pros
- From the team behind the OpenVPN protocol itself, with two decades of deployment history
- Free tier of three concurrent connections, genuinely useful for a small setup
- Access Server option lets you host everything on your own infrastructure
- Site-to-site, IoT and cloud connector support out of the box
Cons
- Interface and terminology are dated compared with newer competitors
- Per-connection licensing confuses buyers used to per-user pricing
- Setup takes longer than Tailscale or Twingate
- US jurisdiction for the hosted service
Privacy, jurisdiction & audits
Who the company answers to legally, what it keeps, and whether anyone independent has checked.
| Legal jurisdiction | United States in the 5 Eyes |
|---|---|
| Logging policy | Not a privacy service; operational logs by design |
| Independent audits | None published |
| Owned by | OpenVPN Inc. |
| RAM-only servers | - |
| Warrant canary | - |
| Anonymous payment | Card / PayPal only |
OpenVPN CloudConnexa plans & pricing
Advertised rates as of August 20, 2026. VPN promo rates normally require the prepaid term shown and renew at the higher rate; proxy pricing falls with volume. Confirm on OpenVPN CloudConnexa's own site before buying.
| Plan | Price | Devices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tierBusiness VPN & ZTNA | Free | 3 | Three concurrent connections free, forever |
| CloudConnexaBusiness VPN & ZTNA | $7.50/user/moper connection, monthly | ||
| Access Server (self-hosted)Business VPN & ZTNA | $1.25/user/moannual per connection | Software you host yourself, licensed per concurrent connection |
Features
Our OpenVPN CloudConnexa review
OpenVPN Inc. develops the protocol that half the industry still runs on, and sells two commercial products: CloudConnexa, a hosted service, and Access Server, software you run on your own machines. Both are licensed per concurrent connection rather than per named user, which trips up buyers expecting seat pricing.
The free tier is unusually generous for a business product: three concurrent connections at no cost, indefinitely. For a two-person company or a home lab needing site-to-site connectivity, that is the whole requirement covered.
Access Server is the reason many organizations choose it. You install it on your own hardware or cloud instance, and no third party operates any part of the path. In regulated environments where a hosted control plane is unacceptable, that is decisive.
The experience is dated. The admin interface uses terminology from a different era of networking, documentation is thorough but dense, and setting up a network takes meaningfully longer than the modern mesh products.
Capability is broad: site-to-site tunnels, IoT device connectivity, cloud connectors, split tunneling, DNS filtering and routing controls that assume you know what a subnet is.
A sound choice for teams that value self-hosting and protocol maturity over polish, and an easy free option for very small deployments.
Notable facts
- Made by the company that develops the OpenVPN protocol
- Free tier covers three concurrent connections permanently
- Access Server can be hosted entirely on your own infrastructure
At a glance
| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Pleasanton, California, US |
| Service types | Business VPN & ZTNA |
| Country coverage | 30 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, WireGuard |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Router |
| Starting price | $1.25/user/mo |
| Free tier | Yes |
| Support | tickets, email, knowledge-base, account manager on larger plans |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CloudConnexa and Access Server?
CloudConnexa is hosted by OpenVPN Inc.; Access Server is software you install and run yourself. Both are licensed per concurrent connection.
Is the free tier really free?
Yes, three concurrent connections at no cost with no time limit, which is enough for a very small team or a home network.
Is it harder to set up than Tailscale?
Yes, noticeably. The trade is more control, self-hosting, and a protocol with two decades of scrutiny behind it.
Bottom line
OpenVPN's own commercial offering is unglamorous and dependable, with a real self-hosting path and a free tier that covers small deployments outright.
Check current OpenVPN CloudConnexa pricing →
