Ivanti Connect Secure vs OpenVPN Access Server comparison

Ivanti and OpenVPN are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. Ivanti is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.3, while OpenVPN is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.5. Ivanti holds a 4.9% mindshare in EIV, compared to OpenVPN’s 12.6% mindshare. Additionally, 79% of Ivanti users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of OpenVPN users who would recommend it.

Ivanti Connect Secure

Read 29 Ivanti Connect Secure reviews

4,153 Views
3,364 Comparison Views

79% willing to recommend

OpenVPN Access Server

Read 57 OpenVPN Access Server reviews

8,200 Views
7,954 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Ivanti Connect Secure

OpenVPN Access Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 15, 2026

Ivanti Connect Secure and OpenVPN Access Server are VPN solutions that compete in providing secure remote access. OpenVPN Access Server appears to have an upper hand due to its robust feature set and flexibility, which justifies its costs.

Features: Ivanti Connect Secure offers advanced security measures, seamless application-based access, and robust access control capabilities. OpenVPN Access Server provides flexibility, scalability, and multi-device support, making it appealing for organizations seeking comprehensive VPN functionalities.

Room for Improvement: Ivanti Connect Secure could enhance ease of deployment and reduce complexity for smaller organizations. Enhancing user-friendliness and integrating more seamlessly with non-proprietary systems might also be beneficial. OpenVPN Access Server could improve its pricing model and increase ease of use for users unfamiliar with VPN setups. Better integration options with existing enterprise solutions could enhance its offering.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: OpenVPN Access Server offers straightforward deployment with high-quality customer service, appealing to organizations without dedicated IT resources. Ivanti Connect Secure requires a more complex deployment process, aligning better with larger companies equipped with IT teams for setup and support.

Pricing and ROI: Ivanti Connect Secure has a higher initial setup cost but offers long-term ROI due to its durability in demanding environments. OpenVPN Access Server promises better upfront value with lower setup costs, providing quick ROI for businesses seeking efficient, scalable solutions without a hefty initial investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server

March 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Ivanti Connect Secure

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

13th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (3rd)

OpenVPN Access Server

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Ivanti Connect Secure is 4.9%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenVPN Access Server is 12.6%, down from 14.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
OpenVPN Access Server	12.6%
Ivanti Connect Secure	4.9%
Other	82.5%

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Kaushlendra Singh

Manager - IT Infrastructure and Network at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Provides secure and simple remote access but needs improved reporting capabilities

Ivanti Connect Secure is simple and secure, making it valuable for our organization. Ivanti Connect Secure's access control feature provides global protect, which allows country-wise blocking. There are many access controls available, and policies can be created on a host basis and on the MAC address of assets that will connect. Firewall versions and OS versions can be defined, and only devices meeting these criteria can connect to the VPN. These features are effective, along with MFA. Ivanti Connect Secure is a client-based, agent-based solution, so if the agent is installed, users are able to connect to the network. Ivanti Connect Secure utilizes identity-based LDAP authentication. Ivanti Connect Secure is very effective for remote access for remote workers.

Read full review

Fedir Plotnikov

Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Globant

User management has simplified internal VPN access and now provides clear visibility and control

I do not use any role defining features because it is a really small organization, so it wasn't required, but it is there if needed. I have seen OpenVPN Access Server integrations such as LDAP, RADIUS, PAM, and SAML, but again, due to the size of the company, it wasn't necessary and we didn't have it inside the company. However, it was nice that it is already embedded inside. We haven't used much in terms of integrations with OpenVPN Access Server, so it's hard to say. We only used basic features there. My advice for others looking to implement OpenVPN Access Server is that it is at least worth trying if you need a fast and easy implementation solution without technical overhead and you just need VPN access, which is supported by all operating systems and mobile operating system vendors. It is definitely worth a try. OpenVPN Access Server was purchased directly from the website, not on the AWS marketplace or through a partner purchase. I would rate this product an overall eight out of ten.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Pulse Connect Secure is its ease of use."

"I can safely say this is one of the best solutions I have seen for VPN access. It can achieve what other vendors may not be able to. This product will train you about exactly what an SSL should be. You can leverage it to do whatever you wish, the way you wish to do it. This is the solution if you want a perfectly scalable product for your enterprise that can help your mobile users and integrate with the latest technologies."

"The most valuable features of Pulse Connect Secure are multi-factor authentications, and VPNs and SSL VPNs we are using."

"The new UI that they are providing right now is very good."

"My company decided to use Pulse Connect Secure because it had all the required security features, it was easy to connect to it, and it's a standard solution in the market."

"Ivanti Connect Secure is simple and secure, making it valuable for our organization."

"Integration with third party RADIUS Server for OTP Password (secondary)."

"This solution enables secure connections for our engineers to work from home or other locations."

More Ivanti Connect Secure pros

"It is open source and therefore affordable for small projects."

"It allows us to give access to our office network in a safe and secure way to users, no matter which computing platform they use. "

"It was very easy to set up users."

"The most valuable thing about OpenVPN Access Server is its ease of use."

"It is very easy to look at the quality of the connection and the bandwidth and do an investigation if there are problems on the network."

"The solution is user-friendly and easy to implement."

"Provides privacy and cryptography for my network communication."

"I have found the stability to be good."

More OpenVPN Access Server pros

Cons

"Pulse Secure and Juniper are very expensive in their license cost. That's a drawback of this solution."

"This solution normally works but at times, we have had trouble with connectivity."

"At the moment, Pulse Connect Secure is a pretty good solution, and I don't see any issues with it. Currently, I'm not aware of a new or additional feature that's needed in Pulse Connect Secure, but it would be good if the team could look at how the speed of connection could be increased. Though it's quite seamless and I didn't face any problem with the speed, it would be better to improve the speed and keep going forward, especially as the industry's changing and people would love connections to be a lot faster."

"The product's price is an area where improvements are required."

"Currently, I'm not aware of a new or additional feature that's needed in Pulse Connect Secure, but it would be good if the team could look at how the speed of connection could be increased."

"Pulse Connect Secure could improve the reporting, it is lacking in detail and should take the report automatically."

"I would like the solution to be more secure and compatible. It also needs to improve integration with other systems."

"User experience and after-sales support could be better. For example, over the last couple of years, when this COVID scenario was going on, there were multiple attacks on these types of solutions. SQL has been attacked numerous times, and there were a lot of vulnerabilities, and our customers had to update and upgrade the devices every two weeks or every month. This was a headache. It could also be more scalable."

More Ivanti Connect Secure cons

"There was one annoying feature where we had to disable and enable the user. I cannot remember what it was exactly, but I think it was for a password lockout. It would be nice if there was a checkbox, or something, in the web interface to allow you to unlock a user whose password was locked."

"There is always room for more security features."

"It could include a configuration wizard so that users who do not follow instructions well can configure a connection."

"I would like to see a GUI or Web UI to manage users. Today these features are in the Pro Edition or are done by scripts."

"The interface could be a little bit better in future iterations."

"We occasionally have internet issues which affect stability."

"It would be nice with all these features, if they could send some examples of each one; just small sample scripts to look at and say, "Oh okay, I could expand on this." That would help us a lot."

"I would like to see continued advanced security implementation."

More OpenVPN Access Server cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is quite nominal. We pay on a yearly basis."

"I rate the product price a six to seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

"The cost of the product is high, but worth it because of the utility and great product support."

"The price of Pulse Connect Secure is expensive."

"Pulse Connect Secure is relatively cost-effective."

"The pricing for Pulse Connect Secure is not low and not high, so it's good. It's a six out of ten for me, price-wise."

"A license is required for you to use Pulse Connect Secure, but I'm not aware of how much it costs."

"OpenVPN Access Server is a cheap corporate solution."

"The product's pricing is good value, definitely. It is one of the best features, I would say. Evaluate the product before seeing which type of licensing is good for you. I think there is a good evaluation method available for OpenVPN, so you can just evaluate if it meets your needs. Then go forward with the right licensing policy."

"It is an open-source solution, so we don't pay for anything."

"The price point is fantastic since it is free."

"It is free, you buy support."

"Open VPN Access Server is open-source and free of charge."

"OpenVPN Access Server was free for students. I don't know if you have to pay for an advanced version."

"One of the valuable features of OpenVPN is that it is free for a single user."

More OpenVPN Access Server pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Financial Services Firm

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	19

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	36
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	16

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Pulse Connect Secure?

Ivanti has always been known to be pricey, making it a rather high-cost solution.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Pulse Connect Secure?

The reporting capabilities of Ivanti Connect Secure are not strong; the format is simple, and obtaining a detailed report is difficult and requires manual work. Regarding points for improvement, th...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Pulse Connect Secure?

Ivanti Connect Secure is used for both applications and for the RDP of our server.

See all answers

How does Fortinet FortiClient compare with Open VPN Access Server?

Fortinet FortiClient is a feature-rich solution that is easy to use and deploy without sacrificing safety and security. It has a very fast connection rate and has a built-in VPN. With this solution...

See all answers

What do you like most about OpenVPN Access Server?

OpenVPN Access Server is a simple and easy-to-use solution that I can use myself without anybody's help.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for OpenVPN Access Server?

I find it not cost-effective. It is not worth the money from a pricing perspective. However, it is a good investment for security and company information security. It is a good investment overall.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 7% of the time

Citrix Gateway vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 6% of the time

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 6% of the time

SonicWall SMA vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 5% of the time

More Ivanti Connect Secure Competitors

Fortinet FortiClient vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 14% of the time

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 6% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 6% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 5% of the time

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 5% of the time

More OpenVPN Access Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Ivanti Connect Secure

March 2026

Download Ivanti Connect Secure product report

Buyer's Guide

OpenVPN Access Server

March 2026

Download OpenVPN Access Server product report

Also Known As

Pulse Connect Secure

OpenVPN

Overview

Ivanti Connect Secure provides a seamless, cost-effective SSL VPN solution for remote and mobile users from any web-enabled device to corporate resources— anytime, anywhere.

Ivanti

OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise provides secure, scalable remote access with strong encryption and cross-platform compatibility, leveraging open-source flexibility for cost-effectiveness. It's ideal for connecting remote workers, maintaining privacy, and securing network communications.

OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise is renowned for its ease of setup and adaptability, supporting Linux and different operating systems, which ensures robust security and seamless integration across network scenarios. With features like two-factor authentication and customizable installers, it emphasizes privacy and remote connectivity. While it offers robust documentation and community support, there are challenges with user management due to the lack of a simple GUI. Users note stability issues under heavy traffic, and improvements in security features and configuration automation are desired. Despite these areas for enhancement, it remains a reliable choice for secure remote access.

What are the key features?

Easy Setup: Hassle-free installation process facilitates quick deployment
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Supports Linux and different operating systems for widespread utility
Strong Encryption: Secures data with advanced encryption technologies
Two-Factor Authentication: Enhances security through additional authentication layer
Customizable Installers: Allows personalized installation process to suit organizational preferences

What benefits and ROI should users seek?

Cost-Effectiveness: Open-source nature reduces licensing costs
User-Friendliness: Comprehensive documentation and community support ease the implementation
Scalability: Adapts to growing connectivity and bandwidth needs
Enhanced Security: Provides secure access to network resources and data

In industries such as finance and healthcare, OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise secures sensitive data while enabling remote access across LANs and VPCs. It's utilized for encrypted traffic protection, facilitating site-to-site VPNs, and connecting mobile workers securely, thus maintaining data integrity in interoffice communications and IoT platforms.

OpenVPN

Sample Customers

Axcient, Baloise Group, Cygate, Catholic University of America, Datec Inc, Revlon, Santa Monica Networks, 7-Eleven

Verizon, Amazon, Disney, HP, Microsoft, IBM, Samsung

Buyer's Guide

Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server

March 2026

Free Report: Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server

Find out what your peers are saying about Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.

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