Aruba Remote Access Points vs OpenVPN Access Server comparison

Aruba Remote Access Points vs. OpenVPN Access Server

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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

Aruba Remote Access Points

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

8th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

OpenVPN Access Server

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Aruba Remote Access Points is 1.2%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenVPN Access Server is 13.3%, down from 14.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
OpenVPN Access Server	13.3%
Aruba Remote Access Points	1.2%
Other	85.5%

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Theesula Majuwanagamage

Head Of ELV and ICT at Intec Systems Solution Pvt Ltd

Efficient Setup and Strong Performance Highlight Versatile Capabilities

In terms of areas for improvement in Aruba Remote Access Points, when planning for the customer's end, you need to highlight the precautions against EMF emissions and environmental emissions, as well as power management limitations. If the user is in one direction and you're transmitting everywhere, that's not good power management. Currently, all access points provide the same power requirement to the client, but we should explore what extra mile we can go. We are facing energy crises and climate issues, along with GHG and SDGs protocols. If we highlight the alignment with these protocols, it can enhance the product quality as an environmentally friendly option. Apart from that, service-wise, every unit is the same. Users can only distinguish those requirements using spectrum analyzers; otherwise, minor data delays of one or two seconds do not matter, but for high-security or high-speed needs, it becomes significant.

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Emmanuel Chebukati

DevSecOps Engineer at a tech company with 51-200 employees

Secure remote access has protected diverse users while access controls provide precise permissions

The user interface of OpenVPN Access Server is good but can be improved. I would prefer to see it become more intuitive. I use Twingate as an alternative, and in Twingate, you see resources, while in OpenVPN Access Server, those would be IP addresses. You get to see dashboards and access views of who can access a particular resource or subnet. You can see who can access what resources from the user view, but you can also see the reverse, which is which resource can be accessed by what users. That reverse view would be a nice addition to have in a dashboard. Additionally, access logs associated with that resource would be helpful, so it would be beneficial to have different views for the same content. Beyond the positive aspects, I would like to see improvements in OpenVPN Access Server. Twingate offers a different approach to the same problem by moving more towards resource-specific resources and fine-grained zero-trust access, as opposed to entire subnets and entire networks. I would prefer to see views on resources. In the same way that we can define subnets, perhaps we could have views that describe what this particular subnet does and what this particular resource does. Then we can assign those resources and subnets to individual users and groups. It is more about granularizing the resources that can be accessed rather than simply bundling them under subnets or a list of subnets, which is the current approach. Apart from that, I would like to see UI enhancements in OpenVPN Access Server in the future. Making it more modern would be beneficial.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It’s very light."

"It provides good Spectrum Analysis and troubleshooting."

"Aruba works well in large spaces, especially for manufacturing. That's when you start seeing the effectiveness of Aruba."

"The tool's most valuable features are its ease of configuration and deployment."

"We deploy ClearPass from Aruba in our company on VMware, which integrates well and works without issues."

"Once configured and operational, they tend to function reliably, with few reported issues from clients or customers."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is experienced by those working at home since they get a secure Wi-Fi connection."

"It is a very stable tool."

More Aruba Remote Access Points pros

"I have found the stability to be good."

"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."

"I have set the default routes to the VPN server so that all traffic is encrypted."

"It can scale well."

"OpenVPN Access Server is cheap, and we get to use it ourselves. It is also a stable solution."

"The most valuable features of OpenVPN are its ease of use, client familiarity, end-user familiarity, operating system integration, and price points."

"The features I have found to be most valuable are the levels of encryption I can enact and the compression I can apply to improve throughput."

"I like that it's free."

More OpenVPN Access Server pros

Cons

"One thing that would be beneficial is for the Aruba Central mobile app to work more effectively. Currently, it does not function as expected when I really need it."

"The product needs an increased level of security for the end user."

"In terms of areas for improvement in Aruba Remote Access Points, when planning for the customer's end, you need to highlight the precautions against EMF emissions and environmental emissions, as well as power management limitations."

"I don't really have any critiques at this time."

"I would rate stability as five out of ten. Sometimes it is stable, and sometimes it is not."

"The solution's technical support has some shortcomings that need improvement."

"It would help if the remote APs had some kind of SoHo environment with built-in firewall features. That way it could connect directly in a client-to-site type of environment, or a site-to-site VPN environment. That way users could have a complete office setup without coming to the private cloud."

"Our difficulty with Aruba is that the product and the license are two different items. So, if we are adding an access point, we have to pay for two items. We have to pay to add the access point in the controller and we have to pay for the license."

More Aruba Remote Access Points cons

"There are certain shortcomings in the product's stability that need improvement."

"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."

"The connections could be faster and more stable."

"They should make the solution more secure by adding some firewall functionalities."

"One improvement I would like to see in OpenVPN is better adaptability in certain geographical areas."

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

"The logs should be made easier to read."

"The security needs to be improved because it was a complaint that our customers had."

More OpenVPN Access Server cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Aruba Remote Access Points could be better. It is a little expensive."

"Price-wise, Aruba Remote Access Points is in the middle, so my rating for its pricing is three out of five."

"Aruba pricing is not very high. They offer competitive pricing for what they provide."

"You require no separate licensing to convert an access point to RAP."

"In terms of pricing, we've found Aruba's offerings to be very competitive."

"Aruba Remote Access Points' pricing is good and affordable."

"There are no other expenses than standard licenses for the product."

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

"OpenVPN is an open-source solution. If the solution is used for personal use it is free. For non-personal use, the solution can be expensive."

"OpenVPN Access Server is free and open source."

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

"I don't need to pay for its license since it is an open-source tool."

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

"At one point I had to purchase addition connection licenses. I was very pleased with the pricing and licensing; so much easier than navigating the confusing jungle of Microsoft and Cisco licensing and pricing. That alone made the product a delight to manage."

"It is free, you buy support."

More OpenVPN Access Server pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

19%

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

12%

University

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	8

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	34
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	15

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Remote Access Points?

This solution is widely adopted and involves both technology and non-technical devices. It is robust, except in cases of significant power outages.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Remote Access Points?

We do not use Zero Touch Provisioning with Aruba Remote Access Points because the Aruba device being expensive compared to cheaper Cisco options holds us back.

What needs improvement with Aruba Remote Access Points?

The device requires reconfiguration if we use a standalone setup because the battery fault leads to all configurations resetting. This is a significant area for improvement, especially when the dev...

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?

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.

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Product Reports

Aruba Remote Access Points

Download Aruba Remote Access Points product report

OpenVPN Access Server

Download OpenVPN Access Server product report

Also Known As

Aruba RAP

OpenVPN

Overview

emote APs connect to a controllerusing Extended Authentication and Internet Protocol Security (XAuth/IPSec). AP control and 802.11 data traffic are carried through this tunnel. Secure Remote Access Point Service extends the corporate office to the remote site. Remote users can use the same features as corporate office users. For example, voice over IP (VoIP) applications can be extended to remote sites while the servers and the PBX remain secure in the corporate office.

Secure Remote Access Point Service can also be used to secure control traffic between an AP and the controllerin a corporate environment. In this case, both the AP and controllerare in the company’s private address space.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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

Trafford Metropolitan Borough

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

Aruba Remote Access Points vs. OpenVPN Access Server