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Networking · head to head

Domotz vs OpenVPN

Domotz logo

Domotz

Networking

Network monitoring for MSPs and IT teams priced per managed device or per collector, with published rates

From
On request
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

  • Only OpenVPN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Domotz the Managed Device Plan bills in bundles of ten, so a network with, for example, eleven devices to manage pays for twenty rather than a precise count; 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: Domotz covers Device discovery and monitoring, OpenVPN covers Open source core.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Domotz and OpenVPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Domotz and OpenVPN differ
AttributeDomotzOpenVPN
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer collector or per managed device per monthOpen source core is free; Access Server billed per simultaneous connection
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Networking).

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 Domotz

  • Device discovery and monitoring
  • Remote access without VPN
  • Two published pricing models
  • Automated alerting
  • MSP client segregation

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.

Domotz

  • An MSP with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devicesnot OpenVPN
  • An IT integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector feenot OpenVPN
  • A field services or retail IT team needing remote access to branch equipment without configuring VPN tunnels to each sitenot OpenVPN
  • A team wanting a directly comparable public price against Auvik before starting a sales conversation with either vendornot OpenVPN

OpenVPN

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

Where each one falls short

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

Domotz

  • The Managed Device Plan bills in bundles of ten, so a network with, for example, eleven devices to manage pays for twenty rather than a precise count
  • The Collector Plan gives full access per collector regardless of device count monitored by that collector, which can be inefficient for a site with very few devices relative to the flat $35 fee
  • As a SaaS platform, ongoing monitoring depends on the local Collector maintaining connectivity to Domotz's cloud, so a site-level outage that also cuts collector connectivity limits remote visibility exactly when it is needed
  • Feature depth for large enterprise NOC-style operations is narrower than platforms built for that scale, since Domotz's roadmap centres on MSP and integrator use cases
  • Remote access without VPN configuration is convenient but depends on Domotz's own relay infrastructure remaining available and trusted, which is a different security posture than a customer-controlled VPN
  • Volume and annual discounts exist but the specific discount schedule is not fully published, so very large deployments still benefit from negotiating directly rather than relying on the list price

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

Domotz

On request
  • Collector Plan$35/month
    • Full platform access on every device that collector monitors
  • Managed Device Plan$1.5/month
    • Billed in bundles of 10 devices
    • All non-managed devices on the network discovered at no extra cost

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 Domotz if

  • You need device discovery and monitoring.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want remote access without vpn.
Domotz 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 Domotz or OpenVPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Domotz starts at On request and OpenVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Domotz or OpenVPN?
OpenVPN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Domotz and Free for OpenVPN.
Does Domotz or OpenVPN run on more platforms?
Domotz runs on Web, iOS, Android. OpenVPN runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use OpenVPN for free?
Yes. OpenVPN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Domotz starts at On request.
What is Domotz best used for?
Domotz is most often used for an msp with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devices, an it integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector fee, a field services or retail it team needing remote access to branch equipment without configuring vpn tunnels to each site, a team wanting a directly comparable public price against auvik before starting a sales conversation with either vendor. Of those, an msp with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devices and an it integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector fee are not what OpenVPN is typically brought in for.
What can Domotz do that OpenVPN cannot?
Domotz covers Device discovery and monitoring, Remote access without VPN, Two published pricing models, Automated alerting. OpenVPN covers Open source core, Access Server admin UI, Per-connection licensing, Free tier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Domotz: Is pricing based on networks, sites or devices?

Devices. Domotz states explicitly there are no per-site, per-network or per-user charges.

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.

Domotz: What is the difference between the two plans?

The Collector Plan is a flat $35/month per collector with full access to everything that collector monitors; the Managed Device Plan is $1.50/month per device, billed in bundles of ten.

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.

Domotz: Is there a free trial?

Yes, a 14-day free trial is offered.

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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