2 open source alternatives to ExpressVPN
Premium consumer VPN known for streaming reliability. Here are the open source projects real teams use instead — ranked by fit, with honest pros and cons for each.
What people don't love about ExpressVPN
- Among the most expensive consumer VPNs.
- Acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021 — some users reassessed trust.
- Closed-source apps on some platforms until recent audits.
Current ExpressVPN pricing (for reference): From $6.67/month on 12-month plans.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Best for | License | Self-host | Hosted cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WireGuard Modern VPN tunnel protocol with a tiny code base. |
When all you really wanted was an encrypted tunnel you fully control. | GPL-2.0 | ★★☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
|
OpenVPN Community The veteran open source VPN with TLS and broad client support. |
Connecting legacy clients that don't support WireGuard natively. | GPL-2.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Self-host only |
1. WireGuard — When all you really wanted was an encrypted tunnel you fully control.
Modern VPN tunnel protocol with a tiny code base.
Strengths
- Fast, auditable (4k LoC) and shipped in Linux kernel.
- Trivial config once you understand keys and peers.
- Runs on anything from a VPS to a Raspberry Pi.
Weaknesses
- No built-in user management — you manage keys yourself.
- No obfuscation — firewalls can detect and block it.
- You're accountable for the exit IP's reputation.
WireGuard homepage · Source on GitHub · ExpressVPN vs WireGuard →
2. OpenVPN Community — Connecting legacy clients that don't support WireGuard natively.
The veteran open source VPN with TLS and broad client support.
Strengths
- Runs through firewalls via TCP/443 when needed.
- Mature ecosystem of GUIs and Access Server add-ons.
- Flexible auth — certs, user/pass, MFA plugins.
Weaknesses
- Slower than WireGuard on comparable hardware.
- Config is more verbose; cert management is non-trivial.
- Commercial Access Server is a different licence.
OpenVPN Community homepage · Source on GitHub · ExpressVPN vs OpenVPN Community →
Not what you're looking for?
Browse other tools in VPN & Private Networks, or check out open source projects by category on the full category index.
Other SaaS in VPN & Private Networks
Recommended reading
When self-hosting goes wrong: seven failure modes and how to avoid them
An honest retrospective on the ways self-hosted setups break — not in theory, but in practice — and the small habits that prevent most of them.
Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?
Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.
From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook
A week-by-week plan to move one service off SaaS and onto your own server without breaking your team's workflow.