Introduction

OpenVPN is an open-source VPN solution used by businesses to secure remote access, site-to-site connectivity, and cloud infrastructure. While the core OpenVPN protocol is free and open-source, OpenVPN Inc. offers commercial products—OpenVPN Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud—that add enterprise features like centralized management, user authentication, and support. Pricing varies significantly based on deployment model (self-hosted vs. cloud), number of concurrent connections, and support tier.

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Evaluating OpenVPN or planning a purchase?

Vendr's pricing analysis agent uses anonymized contract data to show what similar companies typically pay and where negotiation leverage exists—whether you're estimating budget, comparing options, or reviewing a quote. Explore OpenVPN pricing with Vendr.

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This guide combines OpenVPN's published pricing with Vendr's dataset and analysis to break down OpenVPN pricing in 2026, including:

• Transparent pricing by product and connection tier
• What buyers commonly pay for Access Server and Cloud editions
• Hidden costs like support, scaling fees, and infrastructure
• Negotiation levers that work with OpenVPN
• How OpenVPN compares to alternatives like Tailscale, Twingate, and Perimeter 81

Whether you're evaluating OpenVPN for the first time or preparing for renewal, this guide is designed to help you budget accurately and negotiate with clearer market context.

How much does OpenVPN cost in 2026?

OpenVPN's commercial pricing is structured around two main products: OpenVPN Access Server (self-hosted) and OpenVPN Cloud (fully managed SaaS). Costs depend on the number of concurrent VPN connections, deployment model, and whether you purchase perpetual licenses or subscriptions.

OpenVPN Access Server is priced per concurrent connection with perpetual or annual subscription licensing. List pricing starts around $15–$20 per connection per year for small deployments (10–50 connections) and decreases on a per-connection basis as volume increases. Self-hosted deployments also require infrastructure costs (compute, storage, bandwidth) that are not included in the license fee.

OpenVPN Cloud is a SaaS offering priced per user per month, with tiered plans based on features and connection limits. Pricing typically ranges from $8–$15 per user per month depending on the plan and commitment length.

Based on anonymized OpenVPN transactions in Vendr's database:

• Small teams (10–25 connections) typically pay $150–$400 per month for Access Server subscriptions or Cloud Starter plans
• Mid-market deployments (50–200 connections) typically pay $500–$2,000 per month depending on product mix and support tier
• Enterprise contracts (200+ connections, multi-year, premium support) typically range from $2,500–$8,000+ per month

Discounting is common for multi-year commitments, volume purchases, and competitive situations. Vendr data shows that buyers who anchor to budget constraints and reference alternative solutions often achieve 15–30% below list pricing for Access Server and 10–25% off for OpenVPN Cloud annual plans.

What does each OpenVPN product cost?

How much does OpenVPN Access Server cost?

OpenVPN Access Server is a self-hosted VPN solution that organizations deploy on their own infrastructure or cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.). Pricing is based on the number of concurrent VPN connections.

Pricing Structure:

OpenVPN Access Server offers both perpetual licenses and annual subscriptions. Annual subscription pricing typically ranges from $15–$20 per concurrent connection for smaller deployments (10–50 connections), with per-connection costs decreasing for larger volumes. A 50-connection annual subscription lists around $750–$1,000 per year; a 100-connection subscription lists around $1,200–$1,800 per year. Perpetual licenses are available but less common in recent transactions.

Observed Outcomes:

Based on anonymized Access Server deals in Vendr's platform over the past 12 months, buyers with 25–100 connections typically achieved $12–$16 per connection annually after negotiation, particularly when committing to multi-year terms or purchasing during competitive evaluations.

Benchmarking context:

See what similar companies pay for Access Server to understand percentile ranges for your connection tier and contract length, helping you assess whether a given quote reflects typical, above-market, or below-market pricing.

How much does OpenVPN Cloud cost?

OpenVPN Cloud is a fully managed SaaS VPN platform with no infrastructure to maintain. Pricing is per user per month, with tiered plans based on features and connection limits.

Pricing Structure:

OpenVPN Cloud offers three main tiers:

• Starter:

Typically $8–$10 per user per month (billed annually), includes basic VPN access and limited administrative features

• Team:

Typically $12–$15 per user per month (billed annually), adds advanced authentication, logging, and integrations

• Enterprise:

Custom pricing, includes dedicated support, SLA, SSO, and higher connection limits

Monthly billing is available but typically costs 15–20% more than annual plans.

Observed Outcomes:

Based on Vendr transaction data, teams with 10–50 users on annual Team plans typically pay $10–$13 per user per month, while larger deployments (100+ users) on Enterprise plans often negotiate $8–$12 per user per month with multi-year commitments.

Benchmarking context:

Compare your OpenVPN Cloud quote with Vendr to see percentile-based pricing for your user count and how your quote stacks up against similar transactions.

How much does OpenVPN support cost?

OpenVPN offers tiered support packages for Access Server customers. Cloud customers receive support as part of their plan tier.

Pricing Structure:

• Community Support:

Free (forum-based, no SLA)

• Standard Support:

Typically $500–$1,500 per year depending on connection count, includes email support with business-hours response

• Premium Support:

Typically $2,000–$5,000+ per year, includes 24/7 support, faster response times, and dedicated account management for larger deployments

Observed Outcomes:

Vendr data shows that buyers often negotiate bundled support pricing when purchasing multi-year Access Server subscriptions, achieving 10–20% discounts on support fees compared to purchasing support separately.

Benchmarking context:

Get OpenVPN support pricing benchmarks to understand common bundling strategies and pricing patterns, helping you determine when to push for included or discounted support.

What actually drives OpenVPN costs?

Understanding the key cost drivers helps buyers model total cost of ownership and identify negotiation opportunities.

Number of concurrent connections (Access Server) or users (Cloud)

This is the primary pricing dimension. Access Server charges per concurrent VPN connection (not per user), so organizations with many users who connect infrequently can optimize costs by purchasing fewer connections. OpenVPN Cloud charges per user regardless of concurrency.

Deployment model

Self-hosted Access Server requires infrastructure (compute, storage, bandwidth) that adds to total cost. Cloud deployments eliminate infrastructure overhead but typically cost more per user. Vendr data shows that total cost of ownership for Access Server (license + infrastructure + admin time) often exceeds Cloud pricing for teams under 50 users, but Access Server becomes more cost-effective at scale (200+ connections).

Contract length

Multi-year commitments typically unlock 10–25% discounts on both Access Server subscriptions and OpenVPN Cloud. Vendr transaction data shows that buyers who commit to 2–3 year terms often achieve the lower end of pricing ranges.

Support tier

Premium support can add 20–50% to annual costs for Access Server deployments. Buyers should evaluate whether business-critical use cases justify premium SLAs or whether standard support is sufficient.

Feature requirements

Advanced features like SSO, LDAP/AD integration, and multi-factor authentication are included in higher-tier Cloud plans and may require additional configuration or third-party tools for Access Server. Buyers should map feature needs to the most cost-effective product and tier.

What hidden costs and fees should you plan for with OpenVPN?

Beyond the base license or subscription fee, several additional costs can impact total spend.

Infrastructure costs (Access Server only)

Self-hosted Access Server requires compute, storage, and bandwidth. For a 50-connection deployment, infrastructure costs typically range from $100–$300 per month depending on cloud provider, region, and traffic volume. High-bandwidth use cases (video conferencing, large file transfers) can significantly increase egress fees.

Scaling and overage fees

Access Server licenses are hard-capped at the purchased connection limit. Exceeding the limit requires purchasing additional connections, which can create unexpected costs during growth periods. OpenVPN Cloud plans typically allow some overage but may charge $15–$20 per additional user per month for usage above the contracted tier.

Integration and configuration

Integrating OpenVPN with SSO providers, directory services, or security tools may require professional services or internal engineering time. Vendr data shows that buyers often underestimate initial setup costs, which can range from $2,000–$10,000 depending on complexity.

Migration and onboarding

Migrating from another VPN solution or onboarding a large user base can require significant effort. Some buyers negotiate included onboarding hours as part of the initial contract, particularly for Enterprise Cloud deals.

Renewal price increases

OpenVPN Cloud renewals have historically included 5–15% annual price increases unless locked in with multi-year terms. Buyers should negotiate renewal caps or multi-year pricing to avoid unexpected increases.

What do companies typically pay for OpenVPN?

Based on anonymized OpenVPN transactions in Vendr's database over the past 12 months:

Small teams (10–25 users/connections)

• Access Server: $1,500–$4,000 per year (annual subscription + standard support)
• Cloud Starter/Team: $1,000–$3,500 per year (annual billing)
• Typical discount: 10–20% off list for annual commitments

Mid-market (50–150 users/connections)

• Access Server: $6,000–$18,000 per year (subscription + support + infrastructure)
• Cloud Team/Enterprise: $8,000–$22,000 per year
• Typical discount: 15–25% off list for multi-year deals or competitive situations

Enterprise (200+ users/connections)

• Access Server: $20,000–$60,000+ per year (multi-year, premium support, high connection counts)
• Cloud Enterprise: $25,000–$80,000+ per year (custom pricing, dedicated support, SLA)
• Typical discount: 20–35% off list for 2–3 year commitments with competitive leverage

Benchmarking context:

These ranges reflect observed outcomes, not list pricing. Get your custom OpenVPN price estimate to see percentile-based benchmarks for your specific scope, showing what similar companies paid and where negotiation opportunities exist.

How do you negotiate OpenVPN pricing?

Based on analysis of anonymized OpenVPN deals in Vendr's dataset, buyers who prepare thoroughly and apply targeted negotiation strategies often achieve meaningfully better pricing than those who accept initial quotes. The strategies below reflect common patterns in successful OpenVPN negotiations.

1. Engage early and establish budget constraints

OpenVPN sales teams have flexibility to discount, particularly for multi-year deals and competitive situations. Buyers who engage 60–90 days before their target start date and anchor to a clear budget range (rather than asking "what's your best price?") typically achieve better outcomes.

Vendr data shows that buyers who reference budget constraints early in the process often receive initial quotes 10–15% lower than buyers who engage late or without a clear budget position.

2. Leverage competitive alternatives

OpenVPN competes with modern zero-trust solutions like Tailscale, Twingate, and Perimeter 81, as well as traditional VPNs like Cisco AnyConnect and Palo Alto GlobalProtect. Buyers who demonstrate active evaluation of alternatives—particularly newer, lower-cost solutions—often unlock additional discounts.

Competitive benchmarks:

In Vendr's dataset, buyers who actively evaluated alternatives often achieved 5–15% better pricing than those negotiating without competitive pressure.

3. Commit to multi-year terms strategically

Multi-year commitments (2–3 years) typically unlock 15–30% discounts compared to annual contracts. However, buyers should negotiate flat renewal pricing or capped annual increases (e.g., 3–5% maximum) to avoid steep price hikes at renewal.

Vendr transaction data shows that buyers who negotiate multi-year deals with renewal caps often achieve total cost savings of 25–40% over the contract lifetime compared to annual renewals with standard price increases.

4. Negotiate support bundling and infrastructure credits

For Access Server buyers, negotiating bundled support (included or heavily discounted) as part of the initial subscription can reduce total cost. Cloud buyers should ask for included onboarding hours or migration assistance to offset setup costs.

Some buyers have successfully negotiated cloud infrastructure credits (AWS, Azure, GCP) as part of Access Server deals, particularly when OpenVPN is motivated to close a deal near quarter-end.

5. Time your negotiation to vendor fiscal cycles

OpenVPN's fiscal year ends in December. Buyers who negotiate in Q4 (October–December) or end of quarter often see more aggressive discounting and concessions as sales teams work to meet targets.

Vendr data shows that deals closed in the final two weeks of a quarter typically achieve 5–15% better pricing than deals closed mid-quarter, all else being equal.

6. Clarify total cost of ownership before committing

For Access Server, buyers should model infrastructure, support, and administrative costs alongside the license fee to understand true TCO. For Cloud, buyers should clarify overage policies, user limits, and renewal terms to avoid unexpected costs.

Buyers who request detailed cost breakdowns and negotiate caps on overage fees or flexible user scaling often avoid budget surprises during the contract term.

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Negotiation Intelligence

These insights are based on anonymized OpenVPN deals in Vendr's dataset across a wide range of company sizes and contract structures. Buyers can explore these insights directly using Vendr's free pricing and negotiation tools:

• Pricing benchmarks: See what similar companies pay for OpenVPN — target price ranges, percentiles, and comparable deals for your specific scope
• Competitive context: Compare OpenVPN to alternatives with Vendr — how OpenVPN pricing stacks up against Tailscale, Twingate, Perimeter 81, and other VPN solutions for similar requirements
• Negotiation guidance: Get OpenVPN negotiation playbooks — supplier-specific strategies, timing leverage, and framing by deal type (new purchase vs. renewal)

 

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How does OpenVPN compare to competitors?

OpenVPN competes with both traditional VPN solutions and modern zero-trust network access (ZTNA) platforms. Pricing varies significantly based on deployment model, feature set, and scale.

OpenVPN vs. Tailscale

Pricing comparison

 

Pricing notes

• Tailscale is typically 20–40% less expensive than OpenVPN Cloud for small to mid-sized teams, particularly at the 25–100 user range
• OpenVPN Access Server can be more cost-effective than Tailscale at very large scale (500+ connections) if infrastructure costs are optimized, but requires more administrative overhead
• Based on Vendr transaction data, both vendors commonly negotiate 15–30% below list pricing for multi-year commitments or competitive situations
• In Vendr's dataset, buyers evaluating both solutions often use competitive pricing as leverage to achieve 5–15% additional discounts from their preferred vendor

OpenVPN vs. Twingate

Pricing comparison

 

Pricing notes

• Twingate and OpenVPN Cloud are competitively priced at small scale (under 50 users), with Twingate often 5–15% higher at list pricing but comparable after negotiation
• At larger scale (100+ users), Twingate is often 10–20% less expensive than OpenVPN Cloud, particularly for multi-year deals
• Vendr data shows that buyers evaluating both solutions often use Twingate pricing as leverage to negotiate OpenVPN discounts, and vice versa, achieving 5–15% better outcomes than single-vendor negotiations
• Twingate's zero-trust architecture and modern UX are often cited as differentiators, but OpenVPN's maturity and open-source foundation appeal to security-conscious buyers

OpenVPN vs. Perimeter 81

Pricing comparison

 

Pricing notes

• Perimeter 81 is typically 20–40% more expensive than OpenVPN Cloud at comparable user counts, reflecting its broader SASE/zero-trust feature set
• OpenVPN is often positioned as a cost-effective alternative for buyers who need basic VPN functionality without advanced SASE features
• In observed Vendr transactions, buyers who evaluate both solutions often negotiate 15–25% discounts from Perimeter 81 by referencing OpenVPN's lower pricing
• Perimeter 81's bundled firewall-as-a-service and ZTNA features can justify the premium for buyers consolidating multiple security tools, but buyers with simpler requirements often find OpenVPN more cost-effective

OpenVPN vs. Cisco AnyConnect

Pricing comparison

 

Pricing notes

• Cisco AnyConnect is typically 40–80% more expensive than OpenVPN Cloud for comparable user counts, reflecting Cisco's enterprise positioning and bundled security features
• OpenVPN is often evaluated as a cost-effective alternative by buyers looking to reduce VPN costs or move away from Cisco's ecosystem
• Vendr data shows that buyers migrating from Cisco AnyConnect to OpenVPN often achieve 50–70% total cost reduction when factoring in licensing, support, and infrastructure
• In Vendr's dataset, buyers who reference OpenVPN pricing during Cisco negotiations often secure 10–20% additional discounts from Cisco to retain the business

OpenVPN pricing FAQs

Finance & Procurement FAQs

What discounts are available for OpenVPN?

Based on anonymized OpenVPN transactions in Vendr's platform over the past 12 months:

• Multi-year commitments (2–3 years):

Buyers typically achieve 15–30% off list pricing for both Access Server and Cloud

• Volume purchases (100+ connections/users):

Per-unit pricing often decreases by 10–25% compared to smaller deployments

• Competitive evaluations:

Buyers actively evaluating alternatives like Tailscale, Twingate, or Perimeter 81 often unlock additional 5–15% discounts

• Quarter-end/year-end timing:

Deals closed in the final weeks of Q4 or end of quarter typically see 5–15% better pricing than mid-quarter deals

Vendr's dataset shows that buyers who combine multiple levers—multi-year commitment, competitive pressure, and strategic timing—often achieve total discounts of 25–40% off list pricing.

Benchmarking context:

See OpenVPN discount benchmarks with Vendr to understand percentile ranges for discounts by deal size, contract length, and timing for your specific situation.

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How much does OpenVPN cost for a team of 50 users?

Based on Vendr transaction data for 50-user deployments:

OpenVPN Cloud (Team or Enterprise plan):

• List pricing: $7,200–$9,000 per year (annual billing)
• Negotiated pricing:

Buyers typically pay $5,500–$7,500 per year after negotiation, particularly with multi-year commitments

OpenVPN Access Server (50 concurrent connections):

• List pricing: $750–$1,200 per year (subscription only)
• Total cost (subscription + infrastructure + support):

Typically $3,000–$6,000 per year depending on infrastructure costs and support tier

• Negotiated pricing:

Buyers often achieve $2,500–$5,000 per year total cost with bundled support and optimized infrastructure

Benchmarking context:

Get a custom price estimate for your 50-user deployment to see percentile-based benchmarks and how your quote compares to similar deals.

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What is the typical contract length for OpenVPN?

Based on Vendr transaction data:

• Annual contracts:

Most common for initial purchases and small teams (under 25 users); typically 60–70% of deals

• 2-year contracts:

Common for mid-market buyers (50–150 users) seeking discounts; typically 20–25% of deals

• 3-year contracts:

Less common but used by enterprise buyers to maximize discounts and lock in pricing; typically 5–10% of deals

Buyers who commit to multi-year terms typically achieve 15–30% lower annual costs compared to annual contracts, but should negotiate renewal caps or flat renewal pricing to avoid steep increases at the end of the term.

Negotiation guidance:

Explore OpenVPN contract structures with Vendr for specific strategies on structuring multi-year deals, including renewal protection clauses and exit terms.

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Does OpenVPN offer discounts for nonprofits or educational institutions?

Yes. OpenVPN offers discounted pricing for qualified nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, though the discount structure is not publicly documented.

Based on Vendr transaction data:

• Nonprofits:

Typically receive 20–40% off standard list pricing for both Access Server and Cloud, depending on organization size and mission

• Educational institutions:

Often receive 25–50% off list pricing, particularly for Access Server deployments used in research or administrative functions

Buyers should request nonprofit/education pricing early in the process and provide documentation (501(c)(3) status, .edu domain, etc.) to qualify.

Benchmarking context:

See nonprofit and education pricing benchmarks to understand typical discount levels for qualified organizations and negotiate effectively.

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What are the payment terms for OpenVPN?

Based on Vendr transaction data:

• Annual prepayment:

Most common payment structure; typically required for discounted pricing

• Monthly billing:

Available for Cloud plans but typically costs 15–20% more annually than prepaid annual plans

• Multi-year prepayment:

Some buyers negotiate additional 5–10% discounts for full prepayment of 2–3 year contracts

• Quarterly or semi-annual billing:

Occasionally available for larger enterprise deals but less common

Buyers with budget constraints should ask about annual billing with quarterly invoicing or ramp deals that start with lower pricing in Year 1 and increase in subsequent years.

Negotiation guidance:

Model OpenVPN payment structures with Vendr to understand cost trade-offs between prepayment discounts and cash flow flexibility.

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How does OpenVPN pricing change at renewal?

Based on anonymized OpenVPN renewal transactions in Vendr's database:

• Cloud renewals:

Typically include 5–15% annual price increases unless locked in with multi-year terms or renewal caps

• Access Server renewals:

Price increases are less common for subscription renewals but may occur if moving to a higher support tier or adding connections

• Negotiated renewal caps:

Buyers who negotiate flat renewal pricing or capped increases (e.g., 3–5% maximum) during the initial contract often avoid steep renewal hikes

Vendr data shows that buyers who proactively renegotiate 60–90 days before renewal and reference competitive alternatives often achieve renewal pricing at or below their current rate, particularly if they commit to multi-year extensions.

Benchmarking context:

Get OpenVPN renewal strategies from Vendr for supplier-specific approaches to avoiding price increases and leveraging renewal timing for better terms.

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Product FAQs

What's the difference between OpenVPN Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud?

OpenVPN Access Server is a self-hosted VPN solution that you deploy and manage on your own infrastructure (on-premises, AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.). You control the server, configuration, and data, but are responsible for infrastructure costs, maintenance, and updates. Pricing is based on concurrent VPN connections.

OpenVPN Cloud is a fully managed SaaS VPN platform. OpenVPN handles infrastructure, updates, and maintenance. Pricing is per user per month with tiered plans based on features. Cloud is simpler to deploy and manage but offers less control over infrastructure and configuration.

Key trade-offs:

• Access Server:

Better for buyers who need full control, have existing infrastructure, or require very high connection counts (200+)

• Cloud:

Better for buyers who want simplicity, faster deployment, and predictable SaaS pricing without infrastructure overhead

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What features are included in each OpenVPN Cloud tier?

Starter:

Basic VPN access, limited administrative controls, standard encryption, up to 3 simultaneous connections per user

Team:

Everything in Starter plus advanced authentication (LDAP/AD, RADIUS), detailed logging and reporting, API access, up to 6 simultaneous connections per user

Enterprise:

Everything in Team plus SSO (SAML, OIDC), dedicated support, SLA, custom connection limits, priority feature requests, advanced security controls

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Can I mix OpenVPN Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud in the same deployment?

Yes, but it requires separate licensing and management. Some organizations use Access Server for site-to-site VPN or high-bandwidth use cases and OpenVPN Cloud for remote user access. However, managing two separate systems adds complexity. Buyers should evaluate whether a single solution (Access Server or Cloud) can meet all requirements before splitting deployments.

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Does OpenVPN support SSO and multi-factor authentication?

OpenVPN Cloud:

SSO (SAML, OIDC) is available in the Enterprise tier. MFA is supported across all tiers via integrations with third-party providers (Duo, Okta, etc.).

OpenVPN Access Server:

Supports LDAP/AD authentication and can integrate with third-party MFA solutions, but SSO requires additional configuration and may need plugins or custom scripting.

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What is the maximum number of connections or users OpenVPN supports?

OpenVPN Access Server:

No hard technical limit; scalability depends on your infrastructure. Deployments with 500–1,000+ concurrent connections are common in enterprise environments with properly sized servers.

OpenVPN Cloud:

Supports thousands of users per organization. Enterprise plans offer custom connection limits and dedicated infrastructure for very large deployments.

Summary Takeaways: OpenVPN Pricing in 2026

Based on analysis of anonymized OpenVPN deals in Vendr's dataset, buyers who clearly define their requirements, understand total cost drivers, and apply targeted negotiation strategies often achieve meaningfully better pricing than those who accept initial quotes.

Key takeaways:

• OpenVPN offers two main products with different pricing models—understanding total cost of ownership is critical for comparing Access Server and Cloud
• Multi-year commitments, competitive evaluations, and strategic timing are the most effective negotiation levers
• Buyers should benchmark their quotes against recent market data to understand whether they're receiving fair pricing
• Total cost considerations extend beyond license fees to include infrastructure, support, and scaling costs

Regardless of platform choice, the most important step is clearly defining requirements, understanding total cost drivers, and benchmarking pricing against comparable deals before committing.

 

Vendr's pricing and negotiation tools analyze anonymized transaction data to surface percentile-based benchmarks, competitive comparisons, and observed negotiation patterns, helping buyers assess how a given OpenVPN quote compares to recent market outcomes for similar scope.

 

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This guide is updated regularly to reflect recent OpenVPN pricing and negotiation trends. Consider revisiting it ahead of any new purchase or renewal to account for changing market conditions. Last updated: February 2026.