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Networking · head to head

OpenVPN vs Pop!_OS

OpenVPN logo

OpenVPN

Networking

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pop!_OS logo

Pop!_OS

Operating Systems

Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tuned for developers and GPU work

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; Pop!_OS built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
  • They diverge on capability: OpenVPN covers Open source core, Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenVPN and Pop!_OS actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenVPN and Pop!_OS differ
AttributeOpenVPNPop!_OS
Pricing modelOpen source core is free; Access Server billed per simultaneous connectionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidLinux, Desktop
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 Pop!_OS

  • NVIDIA ISO
  • Auto-tiling
  • Pop!_Shop
  • Ubuntu base

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 Pop!_OS
  • A small business wanting a supported, easier-to-administer VPN server, willing to pay per concurrent connection rather than per employeenot Pop!_OS
  • An organisation with more staff than typical concurrent VPN usage, since Access Server bills only active simultaneous connections, not total accountsnot Pop!_OS
  • An IoT or large-scale deployment needing custom Enterprise pricing above 2,000 connectionsnot Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS

  • Machine learning and graphics work needing NVIDIA drivers that work on first bootnot OpenVPN
  • Developers who want tiling without configuring a window managernot OpenVPN
  • System76 hardware, which it is built aroundnot 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

Pop!_OS

  • Built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
  • Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages lag current upstream
  • A smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, and releases have sometimes slipped well behind the Ubuntu base
  • The COSMIC desktop rewrite has been a long transition with the older GNOME-based version in maintenance

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

Pop!_OS

Free
  • Pop!_OSFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

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 Pop!_OS if

  • You need nvidia iso.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Desktop.
  • You also want auto-tiling.
Pop!_OS review

Questions people ask

Is OpenVPN or Pop!_OS better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenVPN starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenVPN or Pop!_OS?
OpenVPN starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free.
Does OpenVPN or Pop!_OS run on more platforms?
OpenVPN runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Pop!_OS runs on Linux, Desktop.
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 Pop!_OS is typically brought in for.
What can OpenVPN do that Pop!_OS cannot?
OpenVPN covers Open source core, Access Server admin UI, Per-connection licensing, Free tier. Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO, Auto-tiling, Pop!_Shop, Ubuntu base.

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.

Pop!_OS: Is Pop!_OS free?

Yes, free and open source. System76 funds it through hardware sales.

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.

Pop!_OS: Why is there a separate NVIDIA download?

It ships with the proprietary GPU drivers already installed and working, which removes the most common first-day failure on Linux for GPU work.

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.

Pop!_OS: Is it just Ubuntu?

It is based on Ubuntu LTS and uses its repositories, with a different desktop, tiling, an NVIDIA image and System76 tuning on top.

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