OpenVPN Access Server vs F5 BIG-IP APM

OAOpenVPN Access Server9.2Visit F5 BIG-IP APM8.9Visit

Higher score OA OpenVPN Access Server #2 in Business VPN Software 9.2/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit OpenVPN

vs

F5 BIG-IP APM #4 in Business VPN Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit F5

• OpenVPN Access Server fits best

  Organizations needing full-featured self-hosted VPN

• F5 BIG-IP APM fits best

  Enterprises needing hybrid VPN and application access

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Side by side

Feature	OAOpenVPN Access Server 9.2/10 Visit ↗	F5 BIG-IP APM 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.9
Ranking	#2 in Business VPN Software	#4 in Business VPN Software
Best for	Organizations needing full-featured self-hosted VPN	Enterprises needing hybrid VPN and application access
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$7/unit/mo	Pricing on request
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms	Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7	Phone, Tickets, Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA	SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations	17 integrations	10 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Enterprise
Features OpenVPN Access Server 3/4 · F5 BIG-IP APM 4/4
SSO / SCIM	✓	✓
Device posture	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Site-to-site networking	✓	✓
Audit logs	✓	✓
Specs
Admin control level	Enterprise	Advanced
Access model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Supported platforms	Linux server; Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS clients; Docker; VMware ESXi; Microsoft Hyper-V; AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, DigitalOcean, Oracle Cloud, and Vultr	web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Our review
Pros	Remote-access and site-to-site VPN support Extensive authentication and role-based access controls Self-hosting, cloud deployment, clustering, and REST API support	Combines SSL, per-application, and site-to-site IPsec VPN access Supports SSO, MFA, federation, and endpoint security checks Connects with Azure AD, Okta, Intune, Splunk, and BIG-IQ
Cons	Free plan supports only 2 simultaneous connections Growth licensing is based on simultaneous connections Enterprise & IoT pricing is custom	Contact-sales purchasing can slow initial budget comparison Broad deployment options may require specialized administration Focused on enterprise access needs rather than simple VPN use
Our verdict	OpenVPN Access Server is a self-hosted business VPN for organizations that need remote access to private networks and resources. It runs on Linux servers, virtual machines, containers, on-premises infrastructure, or public clouds, with… Read the review →	F5 BIG-IP APM is an access management proxy for securing application, network, cloud, and API access. It is designed for enterprises that need both traditional VPN connectivity and identity-aware access to specific applications. The… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenVPN Access Server — where it wins

  • Remote-access and site-to-site VPN support
  • Extensive authentication and role-based access controls
  • Self-hosting, cloud deployment, clustering, and REST API support

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan supports only 2 simultaneous connections
  • Growth licensing is based on simultaneous connections
  • Enterprise & IoT pricing is custom

• F5 BIG-IP APM — where it wins

  • Combines SSL, per-application, and site-to-site IPsec VPN access
  • Supports SSO, MFA, federation, and endpoint security checks
  • Connects with Azure AD, Okta, Intune, Splunk, and BIG-IQ

  Where it doesn't

  • Contact-sales purchasing can slow initial budget comparison
  • Broad deployment options may require specialized administration
  • Focused on enterprise access needs rather than simple VPN use

• OAOpenVPN Access Server9.2/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A flexible self-hosted VPN for organizations needing deep access and authentication controls.

  Visit OpenVPNFull verdict →
• F5 BIG-IP APM8.9/10 · Pricing on request

  Enterprise access control combining VPN connectivity with identity-aware application access.

  Visit F5Full verdict →