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Networking · head to head

OpenVPN vs OpenWrt

OpenVPN logo

OpenVPN

Networking

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWrt logo

OpenWrt

Operating Systems

Linux firmware replacement for routers and embedded network devices, with a package manager and writable filesystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OpenVPN open source OpenVPN, while free, requires real technical skill to configure, secure and maintain without the Access Server admin layer; OpenWrt support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenVPN covers Open source core, OpenWrt covers Package manager.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenVPN and OpenWrt actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenVPN and OpenWrt differ
AttributeOpenVPNOpenWrt
Pricing modelOpen source core is free; Access Server billed per simultaneous connectionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidRouters, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways
CategoryNetworkingOperating Systems

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 OpenVPN

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

Only in OpenWrt

  • Package manager
  • LuCI web interface
  • Traffic shaping
  • VPN and DNS
  • VLAN and multi-network
  • OpenWrt One

What people use each for

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

OpenVPN

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

OpenWrt

  • Extending the useful life of an ISP-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updatesnot OpenVPN
  • Separating guest, IoT and work devices onto VLANs on hardware that does not offer it nativelynot OpenVPN
  • Running WireGuard, ad blocking or DNS over TLS at the edge rather than configuring every clientnot OpenVPN
  • Building small industrial or retail gateways where a full Linux distribution is too heavynot OpenVPN

Where each one falls short

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

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

OpenWrt

  • Support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • Flashing can brick a device permanently, and on hardware without a serial console or a recovery bootloader there is no way back.
  • Devices with 4MB or 8MB of flash have been dropped from recent releases, so a lot of older hardware is stuck on unsupported versions with known vulnerabilities.
  • Hardware acceleration for NAT and routing depends on vendor drivers, and enabling traffic shaping frequently cuts a gigabit connection to a fraction of its rated throughput.
  • A sysupgrade keeps your configuration but not your installed packages, so every release upgrade is followed by reinstalling and reconfiguring add-ons by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

OpenWrt

Free
  • OpenWrtFree
    • No licence fee for any device count
    • All packages from the official feeds
    • Community support via forum and wiki

Which should you pick?

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

Choose OpenWrt if

  • You need package manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
  • You also want luci web interface.
OpenWrt review

Questions people ask

Is OpenVPN or OpenWrt better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenVPN starts at Free and OpenWrt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenVPN or OpenWrt?
OpenVPN starts at Free and OpenWrt at Free.
Does OpenVPN or OpenWrt run on more platforms?
OpenVPN runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. OpenWrt runs on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
Can I use OpenVPN for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenVPN best used for?
OpenVPN is most often used for a technical team wanting a fully free, self-configured vpn server using the open source protocol without any vendor relationship, a small business wanting a supported, easier-to-administer vpn server, willing to pay per concurrent connection rather than per employee, an organisation with more staff than typical concurrent vpn usage, since access server bills only active simultaneous connections, not total accounts, an iot or large-scale deployment needing custom enterprise pricing above 2,000 connections. Of those, a technical team wanting a fully free, self-configured vpn server using the open source protocol without any vendor relationship and a small business wanting a supported, easier-to-administer vpn server, willing to pay per concurrent connection rather than per employee are not what OpenWrt is typically brought in for.
What can OpenVPN do that OpenWrt cannot?
OpenVPN covers Open source core, Access Server admin UI, Per-connection licensing, Free tier. OpenWrt covers Package manager, LuCI web interface, Traffic shaping, VPN and DNS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

OpenWrt: How do I know my router is supported?

Check the Table of Hardware for your exact model and revision before buying or flashing. Do not assume that a supported model number means a supported unit; manufacturers change chipsets within a model.

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.

OpenWrt: Is the OpenWrt One worth buying over a used router?

If you are evaluating OpenWrt rather than rescuing hardware you own, yes. It is supported by definition, has an unbrickable boot arrangement, and part of the price funds the project.

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.

OpenWrt: Will flashing void my warranty?

Almost always, and it may also break the ISP remote management your provider relies on for support. Keep the stock firmware image before you start.

OpenWrt: Is opkg still the package manager?

It is in the current stable releases, but development has moved towards apk, so expect package tooling and command syntax to change at the next major release.

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