Ivanti Connect Secure vs OpenVPN Access Server comparison

Ivanti and OpenVPN are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. Ivanti is ranked #14 with an average rating of 6.7, while OpenVPN is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.7. Ivanti holds a 6.5% mindshare in EIV, compared to OpenVPN’s 12.7% mindshare. Additionally, 78% of Ivanti users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of OpenVPN users who would recommend it.

Ivanti Connect Secure

Read 28 Ivanti Connect Secure reviews

3,254 Views
761 Comparison Views

78% willing to recommend

OpenVPN Access Server

Read 48 OpenVPN Access Server reviews

7,115 Views
1,774 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Ivanti Connect Secure

OpenVPN Access Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 6, 2024

Ivanti Connect Secure and OpenVPN Access Server compete in the VPN market. Ivanti Connect Secure seems to have the upper hand in ease of use and deployment, while OpenVPN Access Server excels in security and customization.

Features: Ivanti Connect Secure offers seamless integration, high reliability, and strong performance stability. OpenVPN Access Server provides extensive customization options, advanced security functionalities, and a comprehensive feature set.

Room for Improvement: Ivanti Connect Secure could improve its reporting tools, address occasional connectivity issues, and enhance analytics. OpenVPN Access Server needs a more intuitive management process, expanded documentation, and better onboarding resources.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ivanti Connect Secure is praised for rapid deployment and responsive customer support. OpenVPN Access Server has a steeper learning curve and longer deployment times but offers comprehensive support once configured.

Pricing and ROI: Ivanti Connect Secure has a competitive setup cost and solid ROI due to its user-friendly nature and reliability. OpenVPN Access Server's higher initial cost is offset by its comprehensive features and customization ability, delivering strong ROI for users needing advanced security.

To learn more, read our detailed Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server

June 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 860,592 peers since 2012

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

14th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (4th)

OpenVPN Access Server

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Ivanti Connect Secure is 6.5%, up from 4.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenVPN Access Server is 12.7%, down from 15.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Johan Derycke

Network Security Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Reliable remote access and tunneling enhance work efficiency, but upgrade processes need improvement

Ivanti needs improvement in its seamless upgrade and migration procedures, particularly with the browser components, which are fragile and sometimes cause issues depending on the Windows version, the browser version, and the different modules being used. On the client side, browser-initiated sessions are complex and require a more robust approach for non-admin users.

Read full review

Bertrand Moutault

Owner at La Poste

An easy-to-use tool with which its users can access networks from home or external locations

Sometimes OpenVPN Access Server is difficult to connect to, and in our company, we don't know why it is difficult. The product may not connect if we lose connection at times. There are certain shortcomings in the product's stability that need improvement. In general, I want to improve the connect connectivity of the solution since I sometimes face stability issues.

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

"Pulse Connect Secure is a stable solution."

"The most robust and reliable feature of Ivanti Connect Secure is the VPN tunneling, using both the Pulse and the Ivanti client."

"It is customer-friendly. It is quite easy for our users to connect. There is also the flexibility of the features."

"The flexibility in their management is great."

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

"What I like the most about Pulse Connect Secure is that it's user-friendly. It's easy to use. You just need to connect, and that's it."

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

"The best feature of Pulse Connect Secure is the good security it provides. It gives a secure connection to your network."

More Ivanti Connect Secure pros

"Security is the most valuable feature."

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

"Provided the easiest UX for our end-users and had the greatest interoperability with all the operating systems we used, including but not limited to: iOS, Android, OS X, Windows, and Linux."

"A valuable feature for us is its ability to see the new Citrix server as a local server within the company. And it allows us to test abroad."

"OpenVPN Access Server provides remote secure access."

"What I appreciate the most about OpenVPN Access Server is that it's very easy to set up."

"The most valuable features of the OpenVPN Access Server are the ease of use and integration with different platforms, such as Android and Windows. I can use the solution on my desktop and mobile devices. Additionally, the solution is secure."

"It is easy to use."

More OpenVPN Access Server pros

Cons

"I don't have any downsides to report about the product at this time."

"An area for improvement in Pulse Connect Secure is the concurrent connections, particularly needing a license if you want to use Pulse Connect Secure with your Microsoft or Windows machine."

"The security mechanisms of Ivanti Connect Secure are very slow to update."

"The stability could be better. There are sometimes bugs in the system."

"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."

"There is room for improvement. I'm concerned about the frequent vulnerabilities identified. As a security product, the number of vulnerabilities is concerning."

"Ivanti needs improvement in its seamless upgrade and migration procedures, particularly with the browser components, which are fragile and sometimes cause issues depending on the Windows version, the browser version, and the different modules being used."

"The most valuable features of Pulse Connect Secure are the user-friendly connection and interconnecting."

More Ivanti Connect Secure cons

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

"The stability of the solution could improve."

"The server configuration file needs to be improved, it's the biggest problem in the configuration process."

"I think right now the GUI part of it is locked out behind the pay wall. It could use something that gives it a very basic, minimal, graphic interface for logging in, for the community version. That would probably be a good step forward."

"They may have this already, but it would be nice to be able to get more notifications if a site drops unexpectedly."

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

"OpenVPN does not have the ability to selectively terminate connections."

"The logs should be made easier to read."

More OpenVPN Access Server cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Pulse Connect Secure is expensive."

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

"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."

"Pulse Connect Secure is relatively cost-effective."

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

"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."

"OpenVPN is a free and open-source solution."

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

"With regard to setup cost, pricing and/or licensing, the simple answer is that you'll need to set aside some time to learn it and experiment with it."

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

"The licensing has a fixed pricing."

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

"The Pro Edition has a reasonable price per user."

"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."

More OpenVPN Access Server pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Enterprise Infrastructure VPN solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

18%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Pulse Connect Secure?

From an end-user perspective, the setup phase is easy.

See all answers

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?

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?

My experience with pricing is excellent as the pricing is free.

See all answers

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiClient vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 19% of the time

Ivanti Secure Access vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 18% of the time

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 9% of the time

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

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs Ivanti Connect Secure

Compared 6% of the time

More Ivanti Connect Secure Competitors

Fortinet FortiClient vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 33% of the time

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 11% of the time

SonicWall Netextender vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 8% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 7% of the time

NordLayer vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 3% of the time

More OpenVPN Access Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Ivanti Connect Secure

June 2025

Download Ivanti Connect Secure product report

Buyer's Guide

OpenVPN Access Server

June 2025

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 is a comprehensive VPN solution that enables secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity. It uses the open-source OpenVPN protocol with added encryption and authentication for robust security. The web-based admin interface simplifies setup and centralized management of users, devices, and access controls.

OpenVPN Access Server's ease of setup, comprehensive security features, and professional support make it a viable option for businesses looking to facilitate secure remote access and inter-office connectivity. However, potential users should be mindful of the technical requirements for setup and the possibility of network performance issues in specific scenarios.

Based on over 30 independent peer reviews, OpenVPN garners consistently positive feedback for its stability, security, and free open-source licensing. The most common complaints relate to initial setup complexity and occasional connection drops. Despite these drawbacks, most reviewers highly recommend OpenVPN Access Server due to its robust encryption standards, flexible access options, and scalability across organization sizes.

Versatile Installation and Client Support:

OpenVPN Access Server can be installed on various Linux OS platforms, offering flexibility to adapt to different network environments. This includes popular distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
OpenVPN Access Server supports a comprehensive range of VPN clients, ensuring broad compatibility and user accessibility. This includes clients for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, enabling users to connect securely from various devices.

User Authentication and Security:

OpenVPN Access Server incorporates a built-in user authentication system, which can be managed via a web-based interface. This allows administrators to manage user accounts, passwords, and access permissions easily.
For enhanced security, OpenVPN Access Server supports integration with external authentication systems like PAM, LDAP, RADIUS, and SAML. This allows you to leverage your existing authentication infrastructure for VPN access.
The solution provides the flexibility to implement custom Python programming for advanced authentication methods, catering to specific security requirements.
OpenVPN Access Server utilizes the OpenVPN protocol, renowned for its robust encryption and security. VPN tunnels are secured with TLS authentication, credentials, certificates, and optional MAC address lock, ensuring a high level of protection for data transmission.

Flexible Access Control and Tunneling Options:

OpenVPN Access Server provides comprehensive access control rules, allowing administrators to specify user or group access to IP addresses and subnets. This enables granular control over network access and resource utilization.
OpenVPN Access Server supports both full-tunnel and split-tunnel redirection. Full-tunnel mode routes all VPN client internet traffic through the VPN tunnel, while split-tunnel mode allows selective routing of specific traffic.

OpenVPN offers professional support for Access Server, with a global team of experts available through an online ticket system. This ensures that users have timely access to assistance when needed.

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

June 2025

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: June 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

860,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Ivanti Connect Secure vs. OpenVPN Access Server report.

See our list of best Enterprise Infrastructure VPN vendors.

We monitor all Enterprise Infrastructure VPN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.