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# OpenVPN Access Server vs Tailscale Comparison - What are their main differences?

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OpenVPN Access ServerTailscale[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**OpenVPN Access Server**
Free Trial

**Free** 2 Free With One-Time Purchase · Free

**Tailscale**
Free Trial

**Free** 6 Monthly Active Users Per Month · Personal

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**OpenVPN Access Server**
1 month

Based on 87 responses

**Tailscale**
1 month

Based on 9 responses

Return on Investment

**OpenVPN Access Server**
7 months

Based on 78 responses

**Tailscale**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**OpenVPN Access Server**
$$$$$

**Tailscale**
Not enough reviews yet

Average Discount

**OpenVPN Access Server**
9%

**Tailscale**
Not enough reviews yet

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**OpenVPN Access Server**
[
Ease of Use (38)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1369168&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Easy Setup (31)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1368598&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Complex Configuration (16)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1369255&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (15)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1368916&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Tailscale**
[
Ease of Use (8)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1511720&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Device Connectivity (5)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1511793&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Access Issues (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2389371&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2430658&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**OpenVPN Access Server**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_aa32fa23598dc6c153bb17435c1c1d13/activedirectory-domain-controller-for-windows-2016.png "Product Avatar Image")

ActiveDirectory Domain...

](https://www.g2.com/products/activedirectory-domain-controller-for-windows-2016/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_504423766e296a0eeef13491cb738385/aws-cloud-development-kit-aws-cdk.png "Product Avatar Image")

AWS Cloud Development Kit...

](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-cloud-development-kit-aws-cdk/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_f176b4154a751d10150daa67a57b7dc5/azure-active-directory-domain-services.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Azure Active Directory...

](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-active-directory-domain-services/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_0351bad380dd125f64cbb30d209b322c/blackarch.png "Product Avatar Image")

BlackArch

](https://www.g2.com/products/blackarch/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/integrations)

**Tailscale**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_f2737a65f0dea813b21792c5eaee8699/auth0.png "Product Avatar Image")

Auth0

](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_2f6278f37e542a79f9920f2c918ba4e2/cribl-2026-07-02.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")

Cribl

](https://www.g2.com/products/cribl-2026-07-02/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_393746d0cdc8904473bde59b5858158e/datadog.png "Product Avatar Image")

Datadog

](https://www.g2.com/products/datadog/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dd1391a4645e8459903fe21583c920c8/docker-hub.png "Product Avatar Image")

Docker hub

](https://www.g2.com/products/docker-hub/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/integrations)

Screenshots

**OpenVPN Access Server**
 ![OpenVPN Access Server screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1676041/access-server-status.png)

**Tailscale**
 ![Tailscale screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1442071/Admin-Console---ACLs.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**OpenVPN Access Server**

9.2

9.2319

**Tailscale**

9.0

9.024

Ease of Use

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.7

8.7326

**Tailscale**

8.7

8.726

Ease of Setup

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.6

8.6252

**Tailscale**

9.4

9.426

Ease of Admin

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.7

8.7203

**Tailscale**

9.2

9.213

Quality of Support

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.7

8.7245

**Tailscale**

9.2

9.213

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.8

8.8179

**Tailscale**

9.2

9.28

Product Direction (% positive)

**OpenVPN Access Server**

8.6

8.6315

**Tailscale**

10.0

10.020

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Business VPN[Hide 50 FeaturesShow 50 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.2

318

9.0

16

Usage

Multi-Device Usage

9.1

278

9.9(won by 0.8)

16

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Multiple Concurrent Connections

8.8

271

9.8(won by 1.0)

14

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Protocol Choices

8.3(tied score)

271

8.3(tied score)

11

Unlimited Bandwidth

8.7

277

9.7(won by 1.0)

13

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

No Log Storage

7.4

200

8.0(won by 0.6)

11

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Varied Server Locations

7.9

231

9.1(won by 1.2)

11

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Unlimited Server Switches

8.0

226

9.3(won by 1.3)

10

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Event Logs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Miscellaneous

Live Customer Support

7.7

208

8.3(won by 0.6)

7

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Open Source Code

8.1

232

8.9(won by 0.8)

11

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Multiple Payment Methods

7.8

216

8.3(won by 0.5)

5

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

DNS Leak Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web Inspection

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Uptime Reporting

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Language

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Remote Monitoring & Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security Auditing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Remote Access/Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Kill Switch

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Policy Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

VPN Tunneling

Not enough data

Not enough data

No-log VPN

Not enough data

Not enough data

Encryption

Not enough data

Not enough data

Firewalls

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Browsing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Alerts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anonymous Browsing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Login

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anomaly/Malware Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rules-Based Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Ad Blocker

Not enough data

Not enough data

Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

IP Masking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Geo-spoofing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Storage Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Performance Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Show 1 feature category with incomplete data

Network Security[Hide 40 FeaturesShow 40 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Penetration Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Virus

Not enough data

Not enough data

Vulnerability Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Remote Monitoring & Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

VPN

Not enough data

Not enough data

Behavior Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Patch Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Event Logs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anomaly/Malware Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

DNS Leak Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Server Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network Provisioning

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Email Alerts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security Auditing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Detection System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Firewalls

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Spam

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Response

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Risk Alerts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Loss Prevention

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Prevention System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Login

Not enough data

Not enough data

Policy Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![OpenVPN Access Server](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/9ba874f2444831eb6c18655245ec9751/openvpn-access-server.svg "OpenVPN Access Server")](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews)

OpenVPN Access Server

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

47.1%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

42.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

10.0%

[![Tailscale](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/638b7d9cdf5a93f8c05084c4f70c794a/tailscale.svg "Tailscale")](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews)

Tailscale

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

65.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

31.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

3.4%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

47.1%

65.5%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

42.9%

31.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

10.0%

3.4%

Reviewers' Industry

[![OpenVPN Access Server](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/9ba874f2444831eb6c18655245ec9751/openvpn-access-server.svg "OpenVPN Access Server")](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews)
OpenVPN Access Server

Information Technology and Services

17.4%

Computer Software

15.7%

Consumer Services

7.2%

Financial Services

4.3%

Computer & Network Security

3.8%

Other

51.6%

[![Tailscale](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/638b7d9cdf5a93f8c05084c4f70c794a/tailscale.svg "Tailscale")](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews)
Tailscale

Information Technology and Services

24.1%

Computer Software

24.1%

Computer & Network Security

10.3%

Higher Education

6.9%

Telecommunications

3.4%

Other

31.0%

FAQs

## OpenVPN Access Server vs Tailscale FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 15, 2026

### What is the difference between Tailscale vs OpenVPN Access Server?

Tailscale stands out for its higher Ease of Setup and Quality of Support scores, while OpenVPN Access Server is more widely reviewed and shares similar strengths in ease of use.

| [Tailscale](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews) | [OpenVPN Access Server](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.6/5 (32 reviews) | 4.5/5 (358 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 9.3 | 8.6 |
| 9.3 | 8.7 |
| Ease of Use (8 all-time mentions) | Ease of Use (36 all-time mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server compare?

Tailscale is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to OpenVPN Access Server.

- **Tailscale:** In recent reviews, several users highlight that the free tier is sufficient for small business needs, but note that costs can rise quickly as user count increases.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Reviewers frequently mention that while the solution is cost-effective for small deployments, pricing can become a concern as the number of users grows, and some consider it expensive compared to alternatives.
- **Switching-reason:** Recent Tailscale reviewers cite switching from OpenVPN due to easier setup and lower ongoing management effort.

### What are the best alternatives to Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server?

The top 3 alternatives to Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server are Netgate pfSense, Twingate, and OpenVPN CloudConnexa.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Tailscale](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews) | 4.6/5 (32) | Small-Business | Free tier praised for small teams; costs rise with user count | Ease of Use |
| [OpenVPN Access Server](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews) | 4.5/5 (358) | Small-Business | Cost-effective for small deployments; can be expensive at scale | Ease of Use |
| [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) | 4.7/5 (326) | Small-Business | — | Comprehensive firewall and VPN features |
| [Twingate](https://www.g2.com/products/twingate/reviews) | 4.6/5 (78) | Mid-Market | — | Zero trust network access |
| [OpenVPN CloudConnexa](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-cloudconnexa/reviews) | 4.6/5 (130) | Small-Business | — | Cloud-based VPN management |

### Which Business VPN features should I prioritize when comparing Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server?

Buyers comparing Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server should prioritize Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, Security, Integrations, and Pricing.

- **Ease of Setup:** Tailscale scores 9.3, OpenVPN Access Server 8.6.
- **Quality of Support:** Tailscale scores 9.3, OpenVPN Access Server 8.7.
- **Security:** Security is cited as a strength in 4 Tailscale reviews and 27 OpenVPN Access Server reviews.
- **Integrations:** OpenVPN Access Server has 10 all-time integration mentions, including Android.
- **Pricing:** Recent reviews for both products mention pricing as a consideration, with Tailscale's free tier praised for small teams and OpenVPN Access Server noted as cost-effective for small deployments but expensive at scale.

### What are the pros and cons of Tailscale vs OpenVPN Access Server?

Tailscale's headline strength is ease of setup and use, while OpenVPN Access Server is recognized for its robust security and broad compatibility.

- **Tailscale strengths:** Ease of Use (8 all-time mentions), Device Connectivity (5), Easy Installation (4), Security (4), User Interface (3), Deployment Ease (2), Documentation (2).
- **Tailscale trade-offs:** Access Issues (3), Expensive (2), Complex Configuration (1), Connectivity Issues (1), Firewall Issues (1).
- **OpenVPN Access Server strengths:** Ease of Use (36), Easy Setup (31), Security (27), Easy Installation (22), VPN Services (20), Customer Support (14), Secure Access (13), Integrations (10), Cross-Platform Compatibility (8).
- **OpenVPN Access Server trade-offs:** Complex Configuration (16), Expensive (15), Lack of Features (9), VPN Issues (6).

### Is Tailscale or OpenVPN Access Server better for small businesses?

Tailscale is the better fit for small businesses, with a higher Ease of Setup score and strong small-business reviewer sentiment.

- **Tailscale:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers highlight its easy setup, free tier suitability, and rapid onboarding for small teams.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers note its cost-effectiveness for small deployments and broad compatibility, but mention that complexity and pricing can increase with scale.

### Which Business VPN platform has better integrations?

OpenVPN Access Server is favored for integrations, with more reviewer-cited integration mentions than Tailscale.

- **Tailscale:** Recent reviews mention integration with PFSENSE and AWS, but no all-time integration counts are supplied.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Android integration is cited in 12 all-time reviews, and reviewers mention compatibility with a wide range of operating systems and identity providers.

### How do Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server compare on customer support?

Tailscale and OpenVPN Access Server are rated in near-parity for Quality of Support, with Tailscale at 9.3 and OpenVPN Access Server at 8.7, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **Tailscale:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and helpful, with several citing positive experiences and productive feedback sessions.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Many reviewers highlight strong support, noting helpful, patient, and knowledgeable staff, with 14 all-time mentions of customer support as a strength.

### Which is easier to implement, Tailscale or OpenVPN Access Server?

Tailscale leads on Ease of Setup with a 0.7-point advantage over OpenVPN Access Server, making it easier to implement according to reviewer scores.

- **Tailscale:** Reviewers consistently praise its fast, straightforward setup, with many citing successful onboarding in under 15 minutes and minimal configuration required.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Reviewers note that setup is generally easy and the web interface is intuitive, but some mention that advanced configurations can require command-line access and more technical knowledge.

### Which product has better Unlimited Bandwidth?

OpenVPN Access Server is most frequently cited for Unlimited Bandwidth among both products.

- **Tailscale:** No all-time mention count or feature-specific score for Unlimited Bandwidth is supplied.
- **OpenVPN Access Server:** Reviewers explicitly mention unlimited bandwidth as a key benefit, with recent reviews highlighting stable connections and no drop in download speed when connecting to servers.

Alternatives

**OpenVPN Access Server Alternatives**

 ![Netgate pfSense](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f4469990cc8ea128d45e4ab41bf45ef3/netgate-pfsense.svg "Netgate pfSense")

[
Netgate pfSense
](/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews)

 ![Check Point SASE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/64ff8da1b6e6ffabf4336ae2510e8e3e/check-point-sase.svg "Check Point SASE")

[
Check Point SASE
](/products/check-point-sase/reviews)

 ![Absolute Secure Access](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1077feba3bc1c85783d7d4d346b88fd1/absolute-secure-access.svg "Absolute Secure Access")

[
Absolute Secure Access
](/products/absolute-secure-access/reviews)

 ![Cisco Secure Client](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_41e58e0642c6443cb8450f1243ebcdab/cisco-secure-client.jpeg "Cisco Secure Client")

[
Cisco Secure Client
](/products/cisco-secure-client/reviews)

**Tailscale Alternatives**

 ![Twingate](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/4b993c31c59e3d51739c62f2cadf0cea/twingate.svg "Twingate")

[
Twingate
](/products/twingate/reviews)

 ![OpenVPN CloudConnexa](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/9ba874f2444831eb6c18655245ec9751/openvpn-cloudconnexa.svg "OpenVPN CloudConnexa")

[
OpenVPN CloudConnexa
](/products/openvpn-cloudconnexa/reviews)

 ![Check Point SASE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/64ff8da1b6e6ffabf4336ae2510e8e3e/check-point-sase.svg "Check Point SASE")

[
Check Point SASE
](/products/check-point-sase/reviews)

 ![Netgate pfSense](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f4469990cc8ea128d45e4ab41bf45ef3/netgate-pfsense.svg "Netgate pfSense")

[
Netgate pfSense
](/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews)