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Operating Systems · head to head

Arch Linux vs OpenVPN

Arch Linux logo

Arch Linux

Operating Systems

Rolling-release Linux distribution you assemble yourself

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenVPN logo

OpenVPN

Networking

Open source VPN protocol with a commercial Access Server product priced per simultaneous connection

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arch Linux installation and maintenance assume real Linux knowledge; there is no hand-holding by design; OpenVPN open source OpenVPN, while free, requires real technical skill to configure, secure and maintain without the Access Server admin layer
  • They diverge on capability: Arch Linux covers Rolling release, OpenVPN covers Open source core.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arch Linux and OpenVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Arch Linux and OpenVPN differ
AttributeArch LinuxOpenVPN
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOpen source core is free; Access Server billed per simultaneous connection
PlatformsLinux, DesktopLinux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
CategoryOperating SystemsNetworking

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arch Linux

  • Rolling release
  • Minimal base
  • Pacman and the AUR
  • The Arch Wiki

Only in OpenVPN

  • Open source core
  • Access Server admin UI
  • Per-connection licensing
  • Free tier
  • Cross-platform clients

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arch Linux

  • Developers who want current toolchain versions without backportingnot OpenVPN
  • Systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choicenot OpenVPN
  • Learning how a Linux system actually fits togethernot OpenVPN

OpenVPN

  • A technical team wanting a fully free, self-configured VPN server using the open source protocol without any vendor relationshipnot Arch Linux
  • A small business wanting a supported, easier-to-administer VPN server, willing to pay per concurrent connection rather than per employeenot Arch Linux
  • An organisation with more staff than typical concurrent VPN usage, since Access Server bills only active simultaneous connections, not total accountsnot Arch Linux
  • An IoT or large-scale deployment needing custom Enterprise pricing above 2,000 connectionsnot Arch Linux

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arch Linux

  • Installation and maintenance assume real Linux knowledge; there is no hand-holding by design
  • Rolling releases break: an update can require manual intervention, and reading the news before updating is genuinely expected
  • Unsuitable for machines that must simply keep working without attention
  • AUR packages are user-submitted and carry no security review

OpenVPN

  • Open source OpenVPN, while free, requires real technical skill to configure, secure and maintain without the Access Server admin layer
  • Per-connection billing on Access Server means usage spikes, such as an all-hands remote day, can push simultaneous connections over a licensed limit and block new connections until usage drops or the plan is upgraded
  • OpenVPN's traditional hub-and-spoke architecture routes traffic through a central server, unlike mesh VPN tools like Tailscale or NetBird that establish direct peer-to-peer connections where possible, which can add latency
  • Client configuration and certificate management for the open source version is more manual and error-prone than newer VPN tools with zero-config onboarding
  • Access Server pricing above the Growth tier reverts to custom Enterprise quoting, so very large deployments lose the pricing transparency of the lower tiers
  • The protocol's throughput is generally lower than newer kernel-integrated protocols like WireGuard under equivalent conditions, which matters for high-bandwidth use cases

Pricing, plan by plan

Arch Linux

Free
  • Arch LinuxFree
    • Full operating system
    • All updates
    • Community support

OpenVPN

Free
  • Access Server FreeFree
    • Up to 2 simultaneous connections
    • All features included
  • Access Server Growth$7/month
    • Per simultaneous connection beyond the free tier
    • Annual billing
  • Access Server Enterprise/IoT$undefined/month
    • Custom pricing for 2,000+ connections

Which should you pick?

Choose Arch Linux if

  • You need rolling release.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Desktop.
  • You also want minimal base.
Arch Linux review

Choose OpenVPN if

  • You need open source core.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want access server admin ui.
OpenVPN review

Questions people ask

Is Arch Linux or OpenVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Arch Linux starts at Free and OpenVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arch Linux or OpenVPN?
Arch Linux starts at Free and OpenVPN at Free.
Does Arch Linux or OpenVPN run on more platforms?
Arch Linux runs on Linux, Desktop. OpenVPN runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use Arch Linux for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arch Linux best used for?
Arch Linux is most often used for developers who want current toolchain versions without backporting, systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choice, learning how a linux system actually fits together. Of those, developers who want current toolchain versions without backporting and systems where every installed package should be a deliberate choice are not what OpenVPN is typically brought in for.
What can Arch Linux do that OpenVPN cannot?
Arch Linux covers Rolling release, Minimal base, Pacman and the AUR, The Arch Wiki. OpenVPN covers Open source core, Access Server admin UI, Per-connection licensing, Free tier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Arch Linux: Is Arch Linux free?

Yes, entirely free and open source.

OpenVPN: Is OpenVPN free?

The open source protocol and software are free under the GPL; Access Server, the commercial packaged product, charges per simultaneous connection beyond a free 2-connection tier.

Arch Linux: Is Arch good for beginners?

Not as a first Linux system. It assumes you will read documentation and maintain the system yourself, which is the trade it makes deliberately.

OpenVPN: What counts as a connection for billing purposes?

A simultaneously active connected device, not a registered user account or total device count; unlimited accounts and devices can be created but only the licensed number can be connected at once.

Arch Linux: What is the AUR?

The Arch User Repository, a very large collection of user-submitted build scripts. It is why almost anything is installable on Arch, and it carries no security review.

OpenVPN: How does OpenVPN compare with WireGuard-based tools like Tailscale?

OpenVPN uses a traditional hub-and-spoke VPN architecture rather than the mesh, peer-to-peer approach used by newer tools like Tailscale or NetBird.

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