When it comes to technology, open-source technologies viewed as a more open approach towards building products. While many would argue that proprietary technologies are better, both have their pros and cons. Read on as we give a brief OpenVPN review and is go through the best VPN for OpenVPN available.
Open-source means that whenever a software is released, people have the right to modify its source code.
But when it comes to OpenVPN technology, it’s recognized as one of the leading VPN protocols in the world – and its open-source. In fact, open source nature is part of its success. Being open-source means that anyone with sufficient knowledge can make or suggest alterations.
Since OpenVPN is built to serve as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) encryption protocol, security is paramount. In the event that a flaw is discovered, the community can react to it and fix it quickly.
As an authority that actively tests and reviews VPN services, we thought it best to compile a list of best VPNs that utilize the OpenVPN standard. The implementation may varies between each VPN but the end result determines how secure a VPN is. Our list here should provide insight on the leaded VPN services in the market.
Best VPN OpenVPN 2019
Here’s a review of the best VPN for openvpn:
1. FastestVPN
The first VPN for OpenVPN on our list is FastestVPN. This is a relatively new VPN compared to others on our list but that doesn’t take away anything from Fastest VPN. In fact, the reason why this is on our list VPN for OpenVPN is because it’s worth being on it.
FastestVPN operates out of the Cayman Islands. Regular readers and avid VPN industry followers would recognize why this is a plus in favor of FastestVPN. The Five Eyes, for example, is an alliance whose primary function is to spy on its people. The alliance actively monitors data and shares signal intelligence. The group comprises of United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
When it comes to features, FastestVPN doesn’t hold back in delivering a list that you’d usually find in the more established VPN services. It utilizes the military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to secure internet traffic. Ad-Block and Malware Protection ensures that those annoying ads and pops do not interfere with a seamless browsing experience.
The only apparent drawback is that it offers far less VPN servers than the competition. Though the list of 150+ high-speed servers worldwide covers the top geographic locations. FastestVPN is built on the OpenVPN protocol, but can also manually setup it, as well as choose between other VPN protocols.
Should you find yourself unsatisfied with this VPN for OpenVPN, FastestVPN offers 7-day money-back guarantee.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most-praised VPN for OpenVPN services in the market and for good reason. It delivers unprecedented quality that only few have managed to match. ExpressVPN boasts one of the largest VPN networks with a staggering figure of 2000+ servers in 148 locations in 94 countries worldwide.
It uses the AES 256-bit encryption to secure internet traffic, while the Kill Switch features prevents your IP address from leaking in the event connection to the VPN server is lost temporarily. In fact, ExpressVPN’s implementations of OpenVPN is one of the strongest we’ve seen. On top of the solid OpenVPN implementation, you get DNS leak protection.
Customers can rest easy knowing that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The period is certainly much better than what many other VPNs offers.
3. CyberGhost
CyberGhost reserves a spot on our list as one of the oldest and reliable VPN services. What’s immediately noticeable about CyberGhost is the theme that is also instantly recognizable along with the “ghost” mascot.
The VPN for OpenVPN service touts its encryption technology as being able to work with any device. Whether you use a device like iPhone with IKEv2 encryption or Rasperberry Pi with OpenVPN, CyberGhost ensures a secure connection. And on top, you get the highly-reliable AES 256-bit which is most effective when using public Wi-Fi hotspots. Choose from notable VPN protocols for best compatibility with devices.
When it comes to global coverage, this VPN for OpenVPN earns a respectable second position on our list. It has 3000 VPN servers scattered around the world in more than 60 countries. It ensures consistent performance during peak traffic.
This VPN for OpenVPN service also comes with a strict no-logs policy. So all your internet activities are safe from any sort of server-side logging.
You can tell a VPN is confident in its service when it offers a lengthy refund period. CyberGhost comes with unlimited bandwidth and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
4. NordVPN
If we were to point out one feature of this VPN for OpenVPN which stands out the most then it would be the global server coverage. As of right now, NordVPN has a staggering network of 5190 servers in 62 countries. That’s the highest number of servers of any VPN in the marker!
What it translates to is a smooth and consistent experience even during high traffic. You almost forget about your experience lagging in terms of speed.
This VPN for OpenVPN supports Onion Over VPN. This adds the Onion network as a secondary layer on top of NordVPN’s protection so you get even tighter security. And speaking of security, NordVPN doesn’t lag behind, it offers the same AES 256-bit encryption as other VPNs on our list.
A strict no-logs policy governs this VPN for OpenVPN’s operation. Because it’s based in Panama, you can take comfort they’re not being regulated by the government. With NordVPN, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee in case the service doesn’t live up to your expectations, though that’s unlikely.
5. IPVanish
The last one our list, but certainly not the worst, is IPVanish. This VPN for OpenVPN offers 1100+ servers which are placed in 60+ countries. While that number feels lower than some others, IPVanish has a strong reputation that you should take seriously.
When you connect with IPVanish, you secure your internet traffic with AES 256-bit encryption which prevents snooping by hackers and government. And yes, it does support the OpenVPN protocol, as well as IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols.
We talked about IPVanish not having as many servers as its competition, but the next feature makes up for it. Regardless of the package, you get the ability to secure up to 10 devices simultaneously with IPVanish. Run up to 10 devices simultaneously with this VPN for OpenVPN without a problem.
The VPN provider guarantees a 7-day refund period and 24/7 customer support.
What is OpenVPN?
OpenVPN is one of the notable VPN protocols leading the industry presently. Its popularity comes from the fact that not only does it provide solid security, it’s also open-source. What that means is that anyone can improve upon it. VPN services implementing their own security can use OpenVPN and build on it.
It uses the OpenSSL library to encrypt and authenticate your internet traffic. It relies on the military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, and also flexible so that it works on any platform out there.
It should be noted that OpenVPN itself is not a VPN client but rather a protocol through which your device makes a secure connection. It can be implemented in a VPN client, just like the ones in our VPN for OpenVPN list.
Why OpenVPN over other protocols?
OpenVPN is not the only VPN protocol – there are more. You have L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol), SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol), IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2), and PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol). While all of them try to bridge a secure connection, not all of them are equal. Some prioritize speed over security, and some the other way around.
The reason why OpenVPN is so popular is that it hits the balance between both. And on top of that, it works on all major platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, and even mobile operating systems.
Advantages of Open Source OpenVPN
The “Open” in OpenVPN comes from the open-source nature of the protocol. Open-source is a type of license that grants anyone the right to play around with the source code. Where proprietary pieces of code are protected by copyright laws, open-source lets anyone modify the code.
OpenVPN is an active part of the VPN community. Anyone can take the source code and test it for vulnerabilities and suggest modifications, or even improve upon it. This gives it an edge over other VPN protocols like L2TP (Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol) which was developed by Microsoft and Cisco.
VPN tunnels OpenVPN
A “tunnel” in a virtual space is much like the physical one. Imagine a train entering a tunnel and a person observing this scene from afar. As soon as the train enters the tunnel, it’s walled-off from the surrounding. The person observing this scene cannot see the state of the train while it’s inside.
Similarly, VPNs create a tunnel to protect internet traffic. It’s encrypted from the world, and no one, not even the ISP (Internet Service Provider) can snoop on your online activity. VPN server assumes the responsibility of redirecting your internet server.
Is OpenVPN Secure and Safe to Use?
OpenVPN is widely regarded as one of the safest VPN protocols. It uses the SSL library paired with AES 256-bit encryption. It’s also customizable which is why it’s the preferred protocol on which many VPNs are based on.
Because OpenVPN is customizable and can be implemented manually, it’s strongly advised that inexperienced users don’t.
OpenVPN SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Encryption)
Like we mentioned, OpenVPN uses the OpenSSL It’s a library basically consisting of methods on how to encrypt your communication. It ensures that two devices can share information without others listening in. OpenSSL itself is an implementation of the SSL and TLS protocols.
OpenVPN Ciphers
Encryption is a method of securing your securing by scrambling it into an unreadable format. The job of encryption data is handled by a cipher. The stronger the cipher, the stronger the encryption, and the tougher it is to crack into it.
The most commonly used cipher today is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). Although it’s available in 128-encryption, the VPNs we listed here utilize the 256-bit encryption. It’s secure enough that it’s referred to as “military-grade” because even the government uses it to secure its data. That speaks volumes about its capability to secure your data.
Setting up OpenVPN
There’s more than one way to setup OpenVPN, let’s take a look.
Custom OpenVPN Clients
The first method is simply subscribing to a VPN. The VPN providers we have listed here all feature OpenVPN protocol.
Open Source OpenVPN Clients
OpenVPN can be setup manually through open-source clients which are distributed for free. The developers of OpenVPN themselves have a client which you can use, but don’t expect to see the number of features we listed earlier; Kill Switch, for example.
OpenVPN Compatibility
The advantage of using OpenVPN over other protocols is that it provides compatibility with all platforms.
OpenVPN VPN for Android
OpenVPN works flawlessly with Android. Head over to the Google Play Store and download the OpenVPN app. Then follow the guide on OpenVPN’s website to set it up. The easiest way is to choose from the five custom clients we listed.
OpenVPN for iPhone
iPhones use the LT2P protocol by default. Your first choice should be to use the custom clients to switch to OpenVPN. Secondly, the OpenVPN Connect app is available on the App Store.
OpenVPN for Windows
OpenVPN Connect client is available for Windows. But the best way is still through a custom client which provides an easy-to-use interface for switching to OpenVPN.
OpenVPN for Mac
Similar to Windows, the OpenVPN Connect client works on macOS. Alternatively, Tunnelbrick is a client made exclusively for OSX and macOS.
Using an OpenVPN Router
Many of the VPNs, especially the ones on our list, allow you to setup VPN directly in the Router. While the setup to configure VPN router is a bit complicated then result gives tremendous convenient. Because VPN is working on a Router level, any device you connect to the network is automatically protected by VPN.
What Can I Do with an OpenVPN VPN?
With OpenVPN running on your device, you get complete internet freedom. VPN provides the ability to stream any geo-restricted content, visit any blocked website, and protect your data against theft.
A VPN server assumes control of your internet traffic. Any online activity that you do cannot be seen by the ISP. This also prevents snooping by the ISP who could be working on government orders. As a result of using a private IP address, spoofing your location bypasses any geo-restriction you face.
And, of course, with encryption you’re protected against hackers.
Conclusion: VPN for OpenVPN
OpenVPN is widely regarded as the most popular VPN protocol, and for good reason. It comes security without sacrificing much speed. And above all, it can be implemented in almost every major platform out there.
Every VPN service listed in the article is one of the best in the VPN business. You can pick either one of them with eyes closed knowing that OpenVPN is supported on all of them.