Alternatives to SoftEther VPN

An open-source multi-protocol VPN server and client for remote access and site-to-site networking. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as SoftEther VPN.

  • OpenVPN Community

    The VPN protocol and client that has been the default for two decades, and still runs on everything.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand line

    OpenVPN Community is a single-protocol GPL-2.0 VPN supported by nearly every router and provider, with mobile clients, but server configuration is complex.

  • Pritunl

    A self-hosted VPN server for OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPsec, managed through a web interface.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    Pritunl manages OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPsec servers through a web interface and adds multi-cloud site-to-site links, instead of SoftEther's own SSL-VPN.

  • strongSwan

    An open-source IPsec VPN implementation using the IKEv2 and IKEv1 key exchange protocols.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidSelf-hostedCommand line

    strongSwan focuses on standards-based IPsec with a thorough IKEv2 implementation and Android support, configured through files and the command line.

  • OpenVPN Access Server

    A self-hosted business VPN server with a web admin interface, free for two simultaneous connections.

    FreemiumProprietaryLinuxSelf-hosted

    OpenVPN Access Server adds a web admin panel and LDAP, RADIUS and SAML authentication, but is proprietary, Linux only and free for two connections.

  • ocserv

    An open-source Linux SSL VPN server compatible with OpenConnect and AnyConnect clients.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    ocserv is a Linux-only SSL VPN server for OpenConnect and AnyConnect clients, with Radius, OpenID Connect and Kerberos authentication.

  • Libreswan

    A free IPsec and IKE VPN implementation for Linux, FreeBSD and macOS.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    Libreswan provides standards-based IPsec with IKEv1 and IKEv2 on Linux, FreeBSD and macOS, with no graphical interface and no Windows support.

  • WireGuard

    A small, fast VPN protocol and set of official clients that connect two machines by exchanging public keys.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand line

    WireGuard replaces the multi-protocol server with a small, auditable protocol using public-key exchange, but peers need tunnel addresses configured by hand or another tool.

  • WireGuard Easy

    A Docker image that runs a WireGuard VPN server with a web interface for managing clients.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    WireGuard Easy runs a WireGuard server with a web interface in one Docker container on Linux, simpler but without multi-protocol or site-to-site features.

Also worth comparing

These listings name SoftEther VPN as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Algo VPN

    Ansible scripts that stand up a personal WireGuard and IPsec VPN.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    SoftEther VPN is a multi-protocol server and client with SSL-VPN, dynamic DNS and NAT traversal, but its many options bring a learning curve instead of fixed defaults.

  • AmneziaVPN

    Sets up your own VPN server on a machine you rent, then connects to it, with obfuscated protocols for networks that block ordinary VPNs.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    SoftEther VPN is a multi-protocol server with SSL-VPN that gets through restrictive firewalls, but you configure it yourself and its many options carry a learning curve.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.