OpenVPN Access Server vs SonicWall Netextender comparison

OpenVPN and SonicWall are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. OpenVPN is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.9, while SonicWall is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.0. OpenVPN holds a 13.9% mindshare in EIV, compared to SonicWall’s 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of OpenVPN users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 70% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

OpenVPN Access Server

Read 52 OpenVPN Access Server reviews

6,981 Views
6,702 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

SonicWall Netextender

Read 14 SonicWall Netextender reviews

2,514 Views
2,514 Comparison Views

70% willing to recommend

OpenVPN Access Server

SonicWall Netextender

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 14, 2025

OpenVPN Access Server and SonicWall Netextender compete in the VPN software category. While OpenVPN Access Server offers a more cost-effective open-source solution, SonicWall Netextender provides enhanced security through integration with Microsoft Identity Management.

Features: OpenVPN Access Server is prized for its ease of setup and management, excellent community support, and cross-platform versatility. Its open-source nature keeps costs low for small projects, and it includes two-factor authentication for enhanced security. SonicWall Netextender is noted for its stability and scalability, SSL encryption, and integration with Microsoft Identity Management, which adds robust security features like two-factor authentication.

Room for Improvement: OpenVPN Access Server could enhance its user interface, simplify server configuration, and improve security and performance. Challenges with connectivity and the absence of an official Linux client are also noted. SonicWall Netextender could benefit from a more user-friendly interface, reduced bandwidth usage, and better technical support. The solution has been criticized for its connectivity and setup process, suggesting a need for improved software engineering and support responsiveness.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: OpenVPN Access Server offers diverse deployment options, including public and private clouds, accommodating various infrastructures. Although many users find the setup straightforward, some require technical expertise for initial configuration. SonicWall Netextender supports mainly on-premises deployments with available hybrid options. While generally well-received, their technical support sees some users preferring to resolve issues through online resources.

Pricing and ROI: OpenVPN Access Server is praised for its affordability due to its open-source model, offering flexible licensing options. It is considered to provide a good return on investment despite challenges in direct ROI measurement. SonicWall Netextender provides competitive pricing but involves additional licensing costs as the number of users increases. Its pricing is seen as fair, especially with bundled firewall options offering added value.

To learn more, read our detailed OpenVPN Access Server vs. SonicWall Netextender Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

OpenVPN Access Server vs. SonicWall Netextender

December 2025

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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

OpenVPN Access Server

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SonicWall Netextender

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

13th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of OpenVPN Access Server is 13.9%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Netextender is 3.3%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
OpenVPN Access Server	13.9%
SonicWall Netextender	3.3%
Other	82.8%

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Girraj Godia

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.

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Rich Darress

Chief Operating Officer at Darress Tech

Has provided secure remote access to multiple client networks with consistent performance

When buying the appliance itself, there is one downside that isn't exclusive to SonicWall. When you apply all the security settings, many people have one gig connections for internet ISP. If you're bringing in a one gig connection, you have to have a more robust SonicWall to handle that throughput with all your security settings turned on. It gets pretty pricey upfront if you're bringing in a one gig connection. If the customer starts with a two, three, four, or 500 meg connection and has a small unit, they have to replace the whole box when upgrading to a gig, so scalability there is atrocious. However, this issue exists with pretty much any appliance.

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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

"The initial setup was easy."

"The compatibility with almost any Linux operating system, and how easy it is to write scripts and generate keys for people to use and log in. I found it easy to deploy quickly."

"OpenVPN Access Server allows us to establish a secure connection to an IP address that would otherwise be inaccessible without using a VPN."

"I like that it's easy to use, easy to download, and not hard to manage."

"OpenVPN Access Server met that need well."

"Its most valuable feature is that it is open source."

"I would recommend this solution to other people."

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

More OpenVPN Access Server pros

"NetExtender works very well. I never had an issue with it, and it has been working well for me. In terms of management, you have good control over the destination. You can use NetExtender to set the policy and the static route for a client. You can modify it based on what your client needs or can access. You have good control over routing."

"The product has two-factor authentication."

"Employees can have access to the network from home."

"The SSL-VPN encryption has been fantastic for my organization's data confidentiality and integrity; we've done extensive testing with third-party cybersecurity testing while connected and it has passed with flying colors."

"I found nothing of value in this solution."

"The best features of the SonicWall Netextender were its ease of use."

"It can support multifactor authentication. Also, it is a very basic application."

"The initial setup is pretty straightforward."

More SonicWall Netextender pros

Cons

"This solution should improve the connection speed and the user interface. The stability of this solution should be improved as well."

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

"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."

"Open VPN Access Server could be more user-friendly."

"The stability of the OpenVPN Access Server has room for improvement."

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

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

"I want the tool to be faster. We have experienced connectivity issues while using OpenVPN and FortiClient."

More OpenVPN Access Server cons

"Right now, you have to load each license on to an appliance. You can't pool across multiple appliances. So, you end up having to do a lot of administrative work to recover if an internet provider goes down, and you cannot leverage it as easily into a DR solution."

"If the customer starts with a two, three, four, or 500 meg connection and has a small unit, they have to replace the whole box when upgrading to a gig, so scalability there is atrocious."

"In future releases, introductions of AI features would be really helpful."

"The solution takes up a lot of bandwidth."

"The Netextender application itself doesn't really look pretty, however, we can still use it. We don't care what it looks like. That said, if they did a cosmetic update, that would be fine."

"There must be a multi-factor authentication enabled or integrated by default with it in order to be integrated with NetExtender."

"Sometimes you can get bounced around through the departments until you find the right one. Sometimes if you don't have the most current support contract or your license is out of date, they won't even talk to you."

"The only concern I do have is with the zero trust, and the solution is not coping with the newer technologies as much as it needs to do on that particular factor."

More SonicWall Netextender cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"OpenVPN Access Server is free and open source."

"The licensing has a fixed pricing."

"Begin with the community version and upgrade to paid one if the need arises."

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

"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."

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

"The solution is free of cost."

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

More OpenVPN Access Server pricing and cost advice

"Compared to others, it is cheaper. When we compare it with Palo Alto, Check Point, or Fortinet, it is a little cheaper."

"The price of SonicWall Netextender is reasonable. Whether it's a small shop with only five users or a larger operation with 130 users, we have received no complaints or objections regarding cost from any of the clients we are looking to deploy it with."

"The solution is cheap itself, not too costly."

"Cost wise, it would be a few hundred dollars for the base appliance with the first five clients. Then from there, your cost per seat depends on how many you're getting. It's a one-time cost, and then you have a few hundred dollars a year for the maintenance contract once you get the one-time seat costs out of the way."

"After a certain number of users, you require extra licensing."

"You have to pay for its license. There are some other companies that provide a VPN client for free. When you buy NetExtender, its license is available for one, three, or five years."

"The solution has a pretty good price."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	31
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	14

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

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...

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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.

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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...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Netextender?

The pricing for my experience with the setup cost and licensing of SonicWall Netextender is fair. The Netextender itself has no cost. It's the SSL licensing that is attached to the SonicWall. It us...

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What needs improvement with SonicWall Netextender?

SonicWall Netextender has not helped with compliance, as it is not applicable for what I'm doing. I've put several feature requests in over the years and they've implemented them all, so it current...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SonicWall Netextender?

Getting to local resources on a customer's network is my main use case with SonicWall Netextender or SonicWall SSL-VPN. As a managed service provider, all my customers have SonicWalls and I get int...

See all answers

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiClient vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 18% of the time

Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 7% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 6% of the time

Ivanti Connect Secure vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs OpenVPN Access Server

Compared 5% of the time

More OpenVPN Access Server Competitors

SonicWall Connect Tunnel vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 16% of the time

SonicWall SMA vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 10% of the time

Fortinet FortiClient vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 10% of the time

SonicWall Mobile Connect vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) vs SonicWall Netextender

Compared 7% of the time

More SonicWall Netextender Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

OpenVPN Access Server

January 2026

Download OpenVPN Access Server product report

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Netextender

January 2026

Download SonicWall Netextender product report

Also Known As

OpenVPN

No data available

Overview

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

SonicWall Netextender provides secure remote access, supporting remote work with valuable features like two-factor authentication, low latency, and integration with Microsoft identity management.

SonicWall Netextender facilitates secure client-to-site VPN connections for remote staff, integrating seamlessly with Microsoft identity management and using existing credentials like Active Directory. Its cost-effectiveness and detailed documentation attract enterprises in sectors such as insurance, healthcare, and education. Despite excellent control over routing, the intuitive setup could be improved, with users experiencing performance and licensing flexibility issues, especially with multi-factor authentication. While integration with SAML ensures seamless authentication, high bandwidth consumption and the outdated interface are mentioned for enhancement. Overall, SonicWall Netextender supports remote file transfers and access to Microsoft 365 portals, although additional features like automatic connection on startup and AI integration would address current user demands.

What features does SonicWall Netextender offer?

Remote Work Support: Facilitates secure connections for remote staff
Integration with Microsoft Identity Management: Connects effortlessly using existing credentials
Two-Factor Authentication: Enhances security during remote access
Low Latency and High Stability: Ensures uninterrupted remote connections
Cost-effectiveness: Attracts organizations with budget-friendly options

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Secure Access: Reliable protection for remote file transfers
Ease of Setup: Quick deployment with minimal IT disruption
Flexible Integration: Utilizes existing credentials for seamless user experience
Documentation: Comprehensive guides for efficient setup and use

Enterprises from insurance, healthcare, and education sectors benefit from SonicWall Netextender by enabling secure remote or hybrid work. Companies facilitate efficient management of remote work, providing access to corporate resources from any location. Challenges include the authentication setup, but its support for remote access to Microsoft 365 and secure file transfers offer substantial utility for these industries.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

OpenVPN Access Server vs. SonicWall Netextender

December 2025

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