OpenVPN vs openvpn-install
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A script that sets up your own OpenVPN server on common Linux distributions and manages client profiles.
Open source · MIT
A script that sets up your own OpenVPN server on a Linux machine in about a minute.
The short answer
Choose OpenVPN if you need…
- People who want their own VPN server on a Linux VPS or home machine
- Users who need OpenVPN specifically, for example where UDP is blocked and TCP is required
- Admins who want scripted client management through the CLI with JSON output
- People comfortable running a root shell script on a server they control
Choose openvpn-install if you need…
- People who want their own VPN server on a Linux machine they control
- Users who have not set up OpenVPN before and want a guided setup
- Anyone who needs to add or remove VPN users later with the same script
Side-by-side
| OpenVPN | openvpn-install | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 16.2k | 20.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | See the README | See the README |
| Main language | Shell | Shell |
| Last code update | 35 days ago | 44 days ago |
What each one is
OpenVPN
This is a shell script that installs and configures an OpenVPN server on a Linux machine you control, such as a VPS, a dedicated server, or a home computer. Once it is running, you generate a client configuration file for each device you want to connect, so that traffic from those devices is sent encrypted through your server. It also offers commands to revoke clients, renew certificates, and see who is connected.
openvpn-install
This is a shell script that installs and configures an OpenVPN server on supported Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, CentOS and Fedora. It is designed for a 'road warrior' setup, where you connect your own devices to a VPN from anywhere. Running it again lets you add users, remove them, or uninstall OpenVPN.
Best for
OpenVPN
- People who want their own VPN server on a Linux VPS or home machine
- Users who need OpenVPN specifically, for example where UDP is blocked and TCP is required
- Admins who want scripted client management through the CLI with JSON output
- People comfortable running a root shell script on a server they control
openvpn-install
- People who want their own VPN server on a Linux machine they control
- Users who have not set up OpenVPN before and want a guided setup
- Anyone who needs to add or remove VPN users later with the same script
Strengths
OpenVPN
- Covers many Linux distributions, and the README lists the tested versions and architecture
- Includes both an interactive menu and a CLI for automation
- Supports client revocation that disconnects connected clients via the management interface
openvpn-install
- Short guided setup aimed at people new to OpenVPN
- Covers several common Linux distributions
- MIT license and a simple, single-script design
Not ideal for
OpenVPN
- People who want a plug-and-play consumer VPN app with no server to manage, since this requires you to run and maintain a server
- People on non-Linux or non-systemd systems, since the README says the script requires systemd and supports only listed distributions
- Users who want the simplest modern option, since the README points to wireguard-install as the newer choice for most use cases
openvpn-install
- People without a Linux server or VPS, since the script must run on one (the README suggests renting a VPS)
- Users on unsupported systems, because the README lists only the named distributions
- Anyone wanting a WireGuard setup, since the README points to a separate wireguard-install project for that
Trade-offs
OpenVPN
- The README says the script is only regularly tested on amd64 and on the listed distributions, and API compatibility between versions is not guaranteed
- Requires root access and the TUN module, so it needs a server where you have that control
- OpenVPN is described as older than WireGuard and not as simple or fast for most uses
openvpn-install
- Requires a Linux server you can administer, and the script changes system configuration
- The README is brief and does not detail the security choices or the resulting configuration
- The install command downloads and runs a script from a short link, so you should review it first
Getting started
OpenVPN
Download the script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/angristan/openvpn-install/master/openvpn-install.shMake it executable
chmod +x openvpn-install.shopenvpn-install
Download and run the installer (from README)
wget https://git.io/vpn -O openvpn-install.sh && bash openvpn-install.shFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between OpenVPN and openvpn-install?
OpenVPN: A script that sets up your own OpenVPN server on common Linux distributions and manages client profiles. openvpn-install: A script that sets up your own OpenVPN server on a Linux machine in about a minute. OpenVPN suits people who want their own vpn server on a linux vps or home machine, while openvpn-install suits people who want their own vpn server on a linux machine they control.
Are OpenVPN and openvpn-install free?
OpenVPN: Free and open source. openvpn-install: Free and open source.
Is OpenVPN or openvpn-install more popular?
openvpn-install has more GitHub stars (20.7k) than OpenVPN (16.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to OpenVPN and openvpn-install?
Other options people compare them with include WireGuard installer.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.