Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenVPN VS VeraCrypt

Compare OpenVPN VS VeraCrypt and see what are their differences

OpenVPN logo OpenVPN

OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

VeraCrypt logo VeraCrypt

VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.
  • OpenVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • VeraCrypt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

OpenVPN features and specs

  • Security
    OpenVPN uses robust encryption standards like AES-256, providing a high level of security for data transmission.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, OpenVPN allows users to verify its code for vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency and reliability.
  • Flexibility
    OpenVPN can run on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering extensive compatibility.
  • Customizability
    Users can configure OpenVPN according to their specific needs, allowing advanced network setups and policies.
  • Performance
    OpenVPN offers strong performance with efficient handling of large data transmissions and support for high and stable speeds.
  • Community Support
    A large and active community provides ample resources, including tutorials, forums, and user support.
  • Cost
    As a free and open-source solution, OpenVPN significantly reduces the cost compared to many commercial VPN offerings.

Possible disadvantages of OpenVPN

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up OpenVPN can be complex and may require technical expertise, particularly for advanced configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    OpenVPN can be resource-intensive compared to some other VPN protocols, potentially impacting the performance of older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Client Software
    The official OpenVPN client software has a less user-friendly interface compared to some commercial VPNs, possibly deterring less tech-savvy users.
  • Mobile Experience
    Although OpenVPN supports mobile devices, the user experience on mobile can be less streamlined compared to desktop environments.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    New users may find the initial learning curve steep due to the multitude of configuration options and the need for understanding networking concepts.
  • Support
    While community support is strong, there may not be as much immediate or personalized support as found with some commercial VPN services.

VeraCrypt features and specs

  • Open Source
    VeraCrypt is open source, meaning its source code is publicly available. This allows for transparency, community review, and auditing by security experts.
  • Strong Encryption
    VeraCrypt supports a variety of strong encryption algorithms such as AES, Serpent, and Twofish, providing robust protection for your data.
  • Cross-Platform
    VeraCrypt is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring compatibility across different desktop environments.
  • Hidden Volumes
    VeraCrypt allows the creation of hidden volumes within an encrypted container, providing an additional layer of plausible deniability.
  • No Backdoors
    As an open-source project, VeraCrypt has no hidden backdoors, ensuring that no unauthorized parties can access your encrypted data.

Possible disadvantages of VeraCrypt

  • Performance Overhead
    Encrypting and decrypting data on-the-fly can introduce performance overhead, potentially slowing down system performance, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Complexity
    VeraCrypt's advanced features and settings can be overwhelming for novice users, requiring a certain level of technical knowledge to use effectively.
  • Lack of Cloud Integration
    VeraCrypt does not offer built-in cloud storage integration, making it less convenient for users who rely on cloud services for data storage.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, VeraCrypt's support is limited to community forums and documentation, lacking the professional support options available with commercial encryption solutions.
  • No Mobile App
    VeraCrypt does not have a dedicated mobile application, limiting its usability to desktop and laptop environments.

Analysis of OpenVPN

Overall verdict

  • OpenVPN is generally regarded as a good option for both personal and enterprise-level VPN needs. Its strong encryption, adaptability, and community support make it a preferred choice for those who need secure and reliable virtual private network services.

Why this product is good

  • OpenVPN is considered a reliable and secure VPN solution due to its strong encryption standards, open-source nature, and flexibility. It supports a variety of operating systems and devices, and can be configured to meet different security requirements. Its open-source nature allows the community to inspect, modify, and enhance the code, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement. Additionally, it offers robust support for different authentication methods and network configurations.

Recommended for

  • Individuals seeking enhanced online privacy and security.
  • Businesses looking for a scalable and secure VPN solution.
  • IT professionals who require customizable and flexible VPN configurations.
  • Users who prefer open-source software with an active development community.

Analysis of VeraCrypt

Overall verdict

  • VeraCrypt is highly recommended for users who require robust encryption solutions for protecting sensitive data. However, as with any encryption tool, users must understand its setup and use to ensure the maximum security benefits.

Why this product is good

  • VeraCrypt is generally considered a good encryption tool due to its strong security features, open-source nature, and ability to encrypt entire drives and partitions. It builds upon the popular TrueCrypt software, improving on the vulnerabilities and offering enhanced security for data protection. Users appreciate its flexibility and the additional security measures it provides, such as plausible deniability and pre-boot authentication.

Recommended for

  • Individuals handling sensitive or confidential data
  • Organizations needing to secure proprietary information
  • Privacy-conscious users who want to ensure data protection on personal devices
  • IT professionals seeking reliable encryption for disk partitions and external drives

OpenVPN videos

OpenVPN Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to setup OpenVPN on Windows | macOS | Android | iOS - Smart DNS Proxy

VeraCrypt videos

The Complete VeraCrypt Encryption Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Veracrypt Get Started Guide: Encryption Made Easy
  • Review - FLOSS Weekly 340: VeraCrypt

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenVPN and VeraCrypt)
VPN
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
59 59%
41% 41
Encryption
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud VPN
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenVPN and VeraCrypt

OpenVPN Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source software application that provides virtual private network (VPN) services. It allows the creation of secure network connections over the internet, using a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. OpenVPN is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls, providing users with the ability to securely...
Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
OpenVPN is a virtual private network system used to create trusted end-to-end connection configuration and remote access services. As with any other VPN service, OpenVPN also has its own drawbacks. For instance, its inability to bypass particular proxy servers and complexities in user journeys lead to less user-friendliness. Therefore, we will be discussing a few...
6 Types of VPN Protocols, Compared: Which is the Best to Use?
In most cases, OpenVPN or WireGuard will be your best bet. PPTP is a protocol we don’t recommend using because of its relatively low-level encryption. However, you could try this protocol when privacy and security are not your highest priorities, such as for unblocking streams. If OpenVPN is not supported or does not work well for whatever reason, you could consider using...
Source: vpnoverview.com
OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which protocol is best?
OpenVPN was first released in May 2001. Although the PPTP protocol had been around for five years already at this point, OpenVPN became popular because it offered stronger encryption without too much of a drop in speed. Over the years, vulnerabilities were patched and new clients were developed that brought OpenVPN support to a greater range of devices. This previously...
9 Best NordVPN Alternatives You Must Use In 2022
The next alternative to NordVPN on our list is OpenVPN. OpenVPN allows you to establish a point-to-point secure connection between your device and the Internet. It is a flexible VPN solution that can cater to business needs as well.
Source: wethegeek.com

VeraCrypt Reviews

6 TrueCrypt Alternatives for Reliable Data Encryption
VeraCrypt owners built the tool from an earlier TrueCrypt fork, but more recent releases broke with the TrueCrypt volume format, which means the encryption software cannot open existing TrueCrypt encrypted files. Built with the same features and interface as TrueCrypt—which significantly reduces onboarding time—the software was improved with increased iterations per...
Best encryption software of 2020 : Free, paid and business tools and services
Best encryption software tools(Image credit: Folder Lock)1. Folder LockVISIT WEBSITEFree to download basic versionEffective personal encryptionMainly mobile oriented(Image credit: AxCrypt)2. AxCryptVISIT WEBSITEStrong encryption for personal useFree version availableMainly mobile-oriented(Image credit: CryptoExpert)3. CryptoExpertVISIT WEBSITEUses multiple encryption...
Best Disk Encryption Software – the 5 top tools to secure your data
VeraCrypt is a fork of TrueCrypt and is widely considered its successor. It performs all of the same functions as TrueCrypt and then some. VeraCrypt adds security to the algorithms used for system and partitions encryption. These improvements make it immune to new developments in brute-force attacks, according to developers. You can find a full list of improvements and...
5 Best TrueCrypt Alternatives - Open source encryption apps
A notable feature of VeraCrypt is that any file, for example, an innocent-looking photo file, can be used as the container for a VeraCrypt volume. Even more notable is its hidden volume feature which provides plausible deniability. It does this by hiding an encrypted volume inside another VeraCrypt volume in such a way that, if the correct precautions are taken, it is...
Source: proprivacy.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenVPN seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 40 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenVPN mentions (40)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2023)
    OpenVPN is hiring! https://openvpn.net/ C++ Developer in the United States. Full-time| Fully remote| Flexible work schedules Link to look at vacancy details and apply:. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Are there any work arounds for the Netflix new "household" system?
    How you connect to your modem will depend on the device you are using, but for windows laptops as an example you download the OpenVPN program and input your modem details there, much like you would any other vpn service. I think there would be some guides on youtube. https://openvpn.net/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can i use PFSense to control incoming user connections (without a vpn?)
    I just started playing with CloudConnexa for remotely managing my second pFSense. Really nice and is free for up to 3 concurrent users. https://openvpn.net. Can also self-host OpenVPN access server with a free 2 concurrent license. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is the 7spotlight Markle family interview airing now? Is anyone watching and can provide comment? 👀📺
    If anyone is being blocked check out free OpenVPN. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a sysadmin to block only some packets from a VPN connection ?
    I too haven't used the client-nat directive in some years (I currently implement 1:1 NAT with pfsense to access my network because I'm too lazy to change the networks subnet from the default) so I decided to retest and it does appear that OpenVPN Connect clients do not properly support the client-nat directive but the traditional OpenVPN server/clients still do. I've just tested this on OpenVPN 2.6.3 Server,... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

VeraCrypt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of VeraCrypt yet. Tracking of VeraCrypt recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenVPN and VeraCrypt, you can also consider the following products

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

Cryptomator - When it comes to saving your files on a cloud server, it is important to ensure the security of those files. Keeping your delicate files out of the wrong hands can save you a lot of time and hassle. Read more about Cryptomator.

Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.

Microsoft BitLocker - BitLocker is a full disk encryption feature included with Windows Vista and later.

Psiphon - Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

Axcrypt - AxCrypt - Password Protect Files With Strong Encryption. AxCrypt is the leading open source file encryption software for Windows.