OpenVPN vs. NetBird

Ensuring secure and reliable remote access between peers is a critical concern for SMBs and enterprises, especially with the rise of remote work. In this sense, VPNs are a widely adopted solution, offering encrypted private connections to protect data and resources. Traditionally, VPNs use a centralized architecture. However, point-to-point (p2p) network meshes, also called overlay networks, present an alternative to these traditional centralized models.

Two popular VPN solutions are OpenVPN Access Server (OAS) and NetBird. OpenVPN uses a centralized architecture, while NetBird employs a decentralized, point-to-point network mesh. This article will compare these two solutions, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, to help you decide whether NetBird could be an effective alternative to OpenVPN for your organization's needs.

Quick Feature Comparison

TL;DR: OpenVPN and NetBird Killer Features

Self-Hosted Option

OpenVPN Access Server (OAS) offers flexibility in deployment, allowing you to self-host on various platforms such as Linux, cloud providers, virtual machines, and Docker. This versatility ensures that you can integrate OAS into your existing infrastructure with ease.

NetBird similarly supports self-hosting across multiple platforms, including Linux, cloud providers, virtual machines, and Docker. This makes it adaptable to different environments and simplifies deployment processes.

Network Architecture

OpenVPN uses a traditional client-server architecture based on the OpenVPN protocol. This setup centralizes control and management, making monitoring and securing connections from a single point easier. However, it requires more resources to scale effectively, as you need at least one OAS server up and running at each remote location (more on this shortly). Moreover, setting up and managing connections could become increasingly complex and time-consuming as your network grows due to OpenVPN's centralized nature.

NetBird employs a peer-to-peer architecture that encrypts connections using either the userspace or kernel WireGuard protocol. This decentralized approach provides resilience and improves performance since each peer connects directly to the other. Moreover, using the WireGuard protocol, recognized as faster than the OpenVPN protocol, also benefits latency and throughput.

UI/UX and Usability

OpenVPN is easy to set up and use. Its interface is user-friendly, making managing advanced Access Server settings simple.

NetBird is designed with ease of use in mind, making it straightforward to set up and manage. Overall, both platforms offer great usability.

Remote Access

OpenVPN supports SSH and RDP access, facilitating remote management of servers and desktops. Additionally, it enables secure file transfer between peers, ensuring data privacy and integrity during transmission.

NetBird also supports SSH and RDP access, allowing for seamless remote control of devices. It provides secure file transfer between peers, maintaining data security and integrity across the network. NetBird's client agent runs an embedded SSH server and automatically distributes SSH keys through the central coordination server simplifying the process of granting and revoking SSH access to remote servers. NetBird also features an embedded SSH client: netbird ssh <server>.

Access Control

In OpenVPN, access control is managed through its Admin Web UI. Administrators can manage users, configure access permissions, set up user groups, and apply client-specific overrides for detailed control.

NetBird's admin console allows for easy creation and management of groups and policies. The interface is intuitive, making it simple to understand and administer access controls effectively.

NetBird features user and group provisioning from popular identity providers like Google Workspace, Azure, and Okta. The provisioned groups can be used when creating access policies, simplifying the process of managing user access. Moreover, NetBird simplifies onboarding and offboarding of users by reflecting changes in the identity provider in near real-time. This ensures that access permissions are always up-to-date, enhancing security and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Network Routes (subnet routing)

OpenVPN Access Server allows you to configure a VPN network for dynamic IP assignment per instance. This means you can set up multiple private subnets for client access using either NAT or routing. The flexibility to route all client internet traffic through the OAS (acting as an exit node) is a significant feature, ensuring that all data passes through a secure channel. However, each remote location requires its own OAS server, adding complexity to the deployment, especially if you manage multiple remote locations. Moreover, setting up remote devices manually on each remote location access server can be time-consuming and error-prone. Additionally, if you aim for high availability and scalability, using an OAS cluster complicates the configuration further. Each OAS instance must be carefully managed to ensure seamless operation across the network.

NetBird simplifies network management by using distribution groups to automate configuration settings for peer groups. These groups automatically handle routing and exit nodes, reducing the administrative overhead and potential for human error. As mentioned, the use of a peer-to-peer (P2P) mesh architecture allows peers to connect directly to each other, which can significantly improve latency, throughput, and scalability. NetBird supports high availability mode out of the box, meaning it can maintain consistent and reliable network performance without the need for complex configurations. High availability is achieved by using multiple routing peers or groups, ensuring that there are always alternative paths available for data transmission, thus reducing downtime and improving resilience. NetBird’s DNS routes can be used in cases where IPs are dynamic or traffic needs to be routed to a specific public or private domain name. NetBird’s built-in features and automated configuration capabilities make it a robust solution for managing complex network environments.

Kubernetes Support

OpenVPN does not natively provide support for Kubernetes. To integrate OpenVPN OAS with Kubernetes, you need to manually configure StorageClass, Persistent Volume Claim (PVC), the OpenVPN OAS deployment, and the OpenVPN service using YAML files or Helm charts. This process can be complex and time-consuming, especially in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments where managing configurations and ensuring consistency across different platforms adds additional layers of difficulty.

On the other hand, NetBird offers native support for Kubernetes, making it easier to deploy and manage. NetBird’s agent can be deployed as a sidecar, a proxy, or a network router within Kubernetes clusters. This native integration simplifies the deployment process and enhances the ease of managing network configurations across different environments. By leveraging NetBird’s built-in capabilities, you can reduce the time and effort required to set up secure connections and manage network traffic, providing a clear advantage over OpenVPN OAS.

DNS Management

OpenVPN enables DNS management by allowing access to devices using their names instead of IP addresses and supports setting up private DNS servers. However, clients must use the same DNS servers as the Access Server host and connect to the Internet through the Access Server. For split-tunneling scenarios, you must manually configure DNS resolution zones so clients can resolve internal domains using the DNS servers pushed by the OpenVPN Access Server. This setup can be complex and requires a good understanding of DNS configurations.

Similar to OpenVPN, NetBird simplifies DNS management by allowing users to access devices using their names and setting up private DNS servers. However, it leverages distribution groups to apply DNS settings, making management more straightforward. This automation reduces the need for manual configurations, ensuring that DNS settings are consistently applied across all clients. This approach enhances ease of use and lowers the chances of configuration errors, streamlining network administration. NetBird supports match domains that allow to route queries to specific nameservers, which is useful for internal DNS configurations that only internal servers can resolve.

Peer Management

OpenVPN allows detailed peer management by enabling administrators to assign specific VPN configurations to each user. This includes static IP addresses, access control rules, and DNS settings. While this level of customization offers flexibility, it can be time-consuming and requires careful management to ensure consistency and security across the network.

NetBird streamlines peer management through automated peer configuration using groups. This automation simplifies the process, reducing the administrative overhead, minimizing the risk of errors, and making it easier to scale and maintain the network. Besides basic information, NetBird also displays the geographical location of the connected machines. NetBird supports automated deployment with infrastructure-as-code software like Ansible, Cloudformation or Terraform through pre-authentication setup keys .

User Authentication

OpenVPN uses local authentication (username and password) by default but also supports LDAP, RADIUS, SAML, and PAM for more advanced authentication setups. However, it lacks built-in user and group provisioning, which means administrators need to handle these tasks manually, potentially increasing administrative effort and complexity.

NetBird supports popular SSO providers and multi-factor authentication (MFA) out of the box, even in the free plan. From the Team plan onwards, it includes advanced identity provider integrations and user and group provisioning . This makes it easier to manage users and maintain security, reducing the administrative burden and enhancing scalability.

Activity Logging & Streaming

For the OpenVPN Access Server, you can access activity logs directly through the OAS Admin Web UI, allowing for convenient querying and viewing them. Additionally, logs can be manually accessed by opening the file located at /var/log/openvpnas.log. However, if you require log streaming, this process requires manual configuration, which may involve setting up scripts or using third-party tools to forward logs to your desired destination.

NetBird provides detailed network configuration and activity logging out of the box. It also supports seamless integration with multiple log streaming services, including Datadog, AWS S3, and Firehose. This built-in flexibility allows you to easily direct logs to your preferred monitoring and storage solutions without additional manual setup, ensuring comprehensive and accessible log management.

EDR Integration and Posture Checks

OpenVPN lacks direct integration with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions. For device posture checks, you need to connect it with your identity provider or use an API to create custom authentication logic. This approach requires additional setup and development efforts, which may involve writing scripts or utilizing third-party tools to ensure devices meet specific security criteria before accessing the network.

NetBird, on the other hand, offers built-in support for integrating with CrowdStrike Falcon, a leading EDR solution. This integration is managed through distribution groups, simplifying the configuration process. By leveraging CrowdStrike Falcon, NetBird can provide enhanced security features, such as continuous monitoring and threat detection, without the need for extensive manual setup or custom development. NetBird also supports device security posture checks like OS, running processes checks and contextual checks like geo and network location, ensuring that devices meet security standards before accessing the network.

Pricing Model Differences

OpenVPN Access Server uses a pricing model based on active connections rather than users. For example, the Growth plan offers 5 active connections for $11 per month. This model can be advantageous for organizations where multiple users share a few concurrent connections, such as a small team with part-time remote workers. In this scenario, OAS's pricing can be more cost-effective, as you only pay for the active connections needed, not the total number of users.

NetBird, however, charges $5 per user per month under the Team plan , which includes unlimited users and support for advanced identity providers and groups. All plans, including the free tier, offer highly available routes and exit nodes. This model benefits organizations with a large number of users who need individual access, such as a growing startup where each employee requires secure access. Here, NetBird's per-user pricing ensures predictable costs and scalable security without worrying about the number of concurrent connections.

OpenVPN vs. NetBird: Which VPN Solution is Best for Your Business?

Both OpenVPN and NetBird offer robust, open-source VPN solutions with self-hosting options on various platforms. They provide intuitive user interfaces and strong remote network access and access control features. OpenVPN's centralized architecture and manual configuration requirements suit businesses needing a traditional setup, while NetBird's peer-to-peer mesh architecture and automated settings offer convenience and scalability. In this regard, NetBird may be an alternative to OpenVPN if you prefer a more modern, automated approach.

Ultimately, each tool excels in different areas, leaving you to choose the best fit for your business needs based on architecture preferences, ease of configuration, and specific security requirements.