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SoftEther VPN vs OpenVPN Access Server: catalog facts
SoftEther VPN	OpenVPN Access Server
Free Free and open source under the Apache license.	Freemium Free for two simultaneous VPN connections; more connections need a paid plan.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Linux, Self-hosted
Multi-protocol server covering many VPN setups SSL-VPN that passes through restrictive firewalls	Runs entirely on your own server or cloud account Many authentication options including LDAP, RADIUS and SAML with TOTP
Configuration has many options and a learning curve Documentation site looks dated	Proprietary, unlike the OpenVPN Community edition Aimed at businesses, with paid plans for more users
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Open source	Closed source
License: Apache-2.0	License: Proprietary
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.