Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs OpenVPN Access Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 14, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
3.3
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway offers cost savings, security, and seamless integration, outperforming competitors for on-premises and cloud connectivity.
Sentiment score
3.0
OpenVPN Access Server enhances remote work efficiency, reduces errors, and offers substantial long-term benefits despite initial costs.
The solution provides significant cost savings, transitioning expenses from CapEx to OpEx.
Infrastructure Architect at a maritime company with 10,001+ employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
3.5
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway's customer support quality varies, with premium service rating higher than basic or outsourced support.
Sentiment score
3.2
OpenVPN Access Server's support is underutilized due to comprehensive online resources and strong community assistance with highly rated technical support.
In a recent incident, I had an issue with the SharePoint API. It relates to documentation, specifically the lack of up-to-date documentation because Microsoft is moving away from the traditional SharePoint REST API to Microsoft Graph.
Head of Digital Engineering, Management Consultant at Stax Inc.
Prioritization of tasks can also be challenging, impacting the timely resolution of problems.
Infrastructure Architect at a maritime company with 10,001+ employees
It was very good, and I would rate it an eight.
Chief Cloud Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
I have not dealt with support or customer service, however, the documentation is good, and I would rate it a seven out of ten.
Service Delivery Manager at CasCom
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.7
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway is scalable and cost-effective, supporting various deployment modes with flexible bandwidth and reliable performance.
Sentiment score
5.8
OpenVPN Access Server scales well, but some users face challenges with hardware limits, OS issues, and network conditions.
The process was very efficient to scale the solution, which supports a high level of scalability.
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
It's not very easy to expand, and it would be beneficial if the process were simpler.
Chief Cloud Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
It does not utilize much memory or CPU on the VM.
Devops Engineer at Emergent
I would give OpenVPN a six out of ten for scalability, as it's usually a single user or single device.
Service Delivery Manager at CasCom
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
6.5
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway is stable and reliable, but some users report setup issues and desire better CI/CD integration.
Sentiment score
4.9
OpenVPN Access Server is stable and reliable, with minimal issues, though some challenges arise during updates or poor configuration.
Azure VPN Gateway is very stable due to reliance on Microsoft's own network.
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway needs better support, stability, security, pricing, documentation, connectivity, mobile integration, and intuitive setup.
Users want a more intuitive OpenVPN Access Server with improved security, scalability, and simpler management and configuration processes.
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway can be improved in security points with stronger encryption.
Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The instructions on how to integrate P2N and P2S type networks into Azure VPN Gateway could be improved, though it is a constantly evolving process.
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
Providing store credit for OpenVPN Access Server through a startup program, similar to YC's program which gives credit to new startups.
Devops Engineer at Emergent
It doesn't matter if it's Windows, Apple, Mac, or Linux - they're all very easy.
Chief Cloud Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
OpenVPN could improve in centralized management.
Service Delivery Manager at CasCom
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway offers competitive pricing, though costs vary due to usage, data transfer, and additional services.
OpenVPN Access Server provides a cost-effective, flexible VPN solution with free community access and reasonable enterprise pricing.
The pricing is somewhat high but acceptable, considering it replaces the need for physical network equipment, leading to cost savings.
Infrastructure Architect at a maritime company with 10,001+ employees
The price of Azure VPN Gateway should be rated five from a purely invoice aspect.
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
The experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for OpenVPN Access Server is really good, not that expensive.
Devops Engineer at Emergent
My experience with pricing is excellent as the pricing is free.
Service Delivery Manager at CasCom
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway provides secure, scalable, and cost-effective networking with seamless Azure integration and multiple encryption protocols.
OpenVPN Access Server offers user-friendly setup, strong security, compatibility, scalability, and efficient remote access across multiple operating systems.
It simplifies the process of deploying a VPN connection, replacing all the physical network elements with a software appliance.
Infrastructure Architect at a maritime company with 10,001+ employees
The primary function of Azure VPN Gateway allows for designing subnets from existing networks, whether they are physical or virtual networks within Azure or other cloud instances.
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
The best features Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway offers are high availability and Azure Monitor and Log Analytics integration, with management handled by Azure so no VM maintenance is required on our end.
Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The most valuable features of OpenVPN are its ease of use, client familiarity, end-user familiarity, operating system integration, and price points.
Service Delivery Manager at CasCom
What I appreciate the most about OpenVPN Access Server is that it's very easy to set up.
Chief Cloud Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
It has been really useful, as we don't have to give access to everyone, and just give access to OpenVPN Access Server, and they are able to access databases or internal websites.
Devops Engineer at Emergent
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway
Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.0
Number of Reviews
28
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
OpenVPN Access Server
Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
52
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway is 5.1%, down from 6.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenVPN Access Server is 13.9%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
OpenVPN Access Server13.9%
Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway5.1%
Other81.0%
Enterprise Infrastructure VPN
 

Featured Reviews

MatsHagberg Olsson2 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Solutions Architect at EQ2 Technology
Designs subnets with high security while navigating evolving integration processes
The primary function of Azure VPN Gateway allows for designing subnets from existing networks, whether they are physical or virtual networks within Azure or other cloud instances. You can configure these networks using IP numbers and connect them using certificates or SaaS strings. It also requires Entra ID for privileged access groups, resulting in high security.
Girraj Godia - PeerSpot reviewer
Devops Engineer at Emergent
Has improved internal app access by allowing secure user onboarding and simplified network whitelisting
The plan for OpenVPN Access Server could be improved. When adding new people, better plans for startups would be beneficial. I'm working in a startup and sometimes people think we should take the enterprise plan or not. If there was a dedicated plan for startups, it would be really helpful. For instance, providing store credit for OpenVPN Access Server through a startup program, similar to YC's program which gives credit to new startups. UI-wise, OpenVPN Access Server is easy to manage, but the overall overview dashboard in the admin portal could be improved. Currently, you have to go through dropdowns to find where to add users or whitelist IPs. Creating an onboarding dashboard where an admin person can find these things easily would be beneficial.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Enterprise Infrastructure VPN solutions are best for your needs.
879,422 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
17%
Comms Service Provider
12%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise14
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business31
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise14
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway?
In Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway, there aren't too many areas for improvement, but the configuration part might be a little tricky. It took some time to get things to work, but once figured out, it b...
What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway?
We work with Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway and the VPN firewalls. We have our local physical firewall infrastructure from Cisco and other companies, but we can't compare those with the virtual networ...
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...
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.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for OpenVPN Access Server?
The experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for OpenVPN Access Server is really good, not that expensive. I am easily able to add new users from the OpenVPN Access Server official websit...
 

Also Known As

MS Azure VPN Gateway
OpenVPN
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Verizon, Amazon, Disney, HP, Microsoft, IBM, Samsung
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs. OpenVPN Access Server and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
879,422 professionals have used our research since 2012.