OVPN is a Swedish no-logs VPN service that runs diskless servers on its own hardware. Despite the similar name, it is not the OpenVPN protocol. It suits privacy-minded users who want port forwarding and a provider with a court-tested no-logs record. The main reason people look elsewhere is value, because OVPN charges premium prices for a small network with no free plan. We compared seven privacy VPNs against it on audits, jurisdiction, port forwarding, anonymous payment, speed, streaming and price, using the speed and streaming results from our hands-on reviews of each service.
Searching for the open-source protocol rather than the Swedish provider? Jump to our section on OpenVPN (the protocol) alternatives near the end of this guide.
Quick comparison: OVPN vs the best alternatives
Every service below supports WireGuard, so protocol choice is not the deciding factor. The real differences are audits, port forwarding and how you can pay. Ratings mirror our full review scores.
| Product | Buy | Price/month | Free plan | Jurisdiction | No-logs audit | Port forwarding | Anonymous payment | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Check price → | €5flat (any term) | No | Sweden | Cure53 infrastructure (2024) plus regular app audits | No (removed 2023) | Cash, Monero, Bitcoin | 5 |
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Check price | $3.49(2-year) | Yes (1 device, 10 countries) | Switzerland | Securitum (annual) | Yes (paid, P2P servers, desktop) | Bitcoin or cash via Proton credits | 10 |
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Check price | $5($60/yr) | No | Gibraltar | Cure53 (2019 no-logs, annual security) | No (removed 2023) | Cash, Monero, Bitcoin | 5 |
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Check price | €2.75(3-year) | No | Italy | None | Yes (5 ports) | Crypto incl. Monero (no cash) | 5 |
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Check price | About $3.09-$3.49(2-year) | No | Panama | Deloitte (6th, 2026) | No | Crypto | 10 |
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Check price | About $1.89(3 years + 3 months) | No | US | Deloitte (Dec 2025) | Yes (non-US servers) | Crypto via BitPay | Unlimited |
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Check price | About $4.99(15-month intro) | No (7-day mobile trial) | British Virgin Islands | KPMG (2025) | No (apps) | Bitcoin via BitPay | 10 |
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$4.22(3-year) | No | Sweden (US parent Pango) | None (2020 court ruling only) | Yes (7 ports) | Unclear (cash and Monero dropped 2024) | 4/5/7 by term |
Why look for an OVPN alternative?
OVPN does a lot right, and our OVPN review scores it 7.4/10. Its leak protection is solid: in our tests it showed no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks on Windows or Mac, over IPv4 or IPv6. Its no-logs claim also held up in court: in 2020, Stockholm's Patent and Market Court rejected a demand for OVPN user data after finding no proof that the company stores logs.
The trouble starts with price, since the monthly plan costs $12, the 12-month plan works out to $4.99 a month, and the 36-month plan is only slightly cheaper at $4.22. That feels high for a network of diskless servers in 32 cities. OVPN publishes city counts rather than a server or country total. Depending on how its locations are grouped, the network works out to roughly 90 to 100 servers in about 17 to 29 countries.
There is no free plan and no free trial, and the 10-day money-back guarantee is short. Cancelling also means contacting support, because the account page has no cancel option.
Streaming is mixed. We unblocked Netflix US and UK, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max, but ITVX and TNT Sport failed. BBC iPlayer and Prime Video sometimes refused to connect, even with the streaming setting switched on.
Anonymity has slipped too. US-based Pango bought the company in 2023, and OVPN stopped accepting cash and Monero from 9 February 2024. OVPN still operates from Stockholm, but because its owner is American, its effective jurisdiction depends on whether you count the operator or the parent.
If you mainly need port forwarding on a clean, leak-free connection and its server list covers you, staying with OVPN is reasonable. If you want more servers, cheaper long plans, a free tier or anonymous payment, read on.
1. Mullvad VPN - best like-for-like privacy swap
Mullvad is the closest match to OVPN: another Swedish provider with RAM-only servers and a strict no-logs stance, but with a much longer audit trail. Our Mullvad VPN review rates it 8.5/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
Sign-up took us seconds, because the site issued a random account number and asked for no email or name. We could pay with cash by mail, Monero or Bitcoin, with 10% off for crypto. That is exactly the anonymity OVPN gave up in 2024.
Mullvad also backs its claims with outside checks. These include Cure53's fourth infrastructure audit of Mullvad in 2024 and app audits running from 2018 through the Leviathan Android assessment in 2026. Swedish police visited its office with a search warrant in 2023 and left with no customer data.
On nearby servers we kept about 92 of 95 Mbps, with predictable slowdowns on distant servers in South America and Asia. The price is a flat €5 (about $5.61) a month for any term, with no sales or holiday discounts.
Where it falls short
Mullvad removed port forwarding on 1 July 2023, so seeding, game hosting and self-hosted services get harder. Streaming varied between sessions. In one run Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer loaded on the first try while Max and Hulu failed; in others, Netflix and Disney+ were inconsistent. Support is by email only, split tunneling is missing on macOS and iOS, and it covers five devices.
2. Proton VPN - best free plan and Swiss jurisdiction
Proton VPN is the pick if you want to try a secure, privacy-focused VPN without paying, or prefer Swiss law over a Swedish operator with a US parent. Our Proton VPN review scores it 9.0/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
The free plan covers one device on servers in 10 countries, with no data limits and no ads. Paid VPN Plus opens 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries and keeps port forwarding, which OVPN users will not want to lose.
The built-in profiles made our torrenting setup quick. Port forwarding runs on P2P servers in the Windows, macOS and Linux apps. Nearby servers kept about 90% or more of our baseline speed, distant servers averaged around three-quarters, and the US Netflix library loaded without hopping between servers. Our leak tests for DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC stayed clean across dozens of countries.
Proton publishes annual Securitum no-logs audits, and all its apps have been open source since 2020. VPN Plus costs $9.99 monthly or $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan, then renews at $83.88 a year.
Where it falls short
Port forwarding is limited to desktop apps on paid plans, upload speeds trail NordVPN, and live chat is not 24/7, running roughly 9am to midnight CET.
3. IVPN - best for anonymous sign-up
IVPN follows the same anonymity model as Mullvad, with multi-hop included on every plan. Our IVPN review gives it 7.0/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
Multi-hop on every plan is the standout, and the sign-up is just as private as Mullvad's: IVPN generated an account ID for us with no email or password, and it accepts cash, Monero and Bitcoin. IVPN started with a Cure53 no-logs audit in 2019 and has run annual Cure53 security audits since then. The network spans 41 countries, which is wider than OVPN's footprint.
Our leak tests for DNS and WebRTC passed, and the kill switch held when we switched servers. Nearby WireGuard connections lost only about 5-10% of download speed. Standard costs $6 a month, or $60 a year, which works out to about $5 a month.
In August 2026 a BTCPay Server flaw cost IVPN 0.6168 BTC of its own funds, with no customer data or VPN servers involved.
Where it falls short
Distance hurts, and a US-to-Canada connection dropped about 64% of our download speed. Streaming is inconsistent, port forwarding was removed in September 2023, and picking a server does not connect you until you flip the toggle separately. The price feels high for five devices and no streaming support.
4. AirVPN - best for port forwarding and power users
AirVPN is the strongest choice for OVPN users who depend on open ports. Our AirVPN review rates it 7.2/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
AirVPN supports inbound port forwarding on all servers, and each account can reserve up to five ports. The Eddie client is open source under GPL-3.0 and includes a network-lock kill switch, Tor integration and OpenVPN over SSH or SSL. It runs from Perugia, Italy, with servers in 23 countries. A 3-year plan costs €99, or €2.75 a month, which undercuts OVPN, and the 30-day refund window is three times longer.
Same-country connections stayed fast in our checks, at around 5% speed loss, but long-distance servers lost over half of our baseline download speed.
Where it falls short
Every connect and disconnect in Eddie paused for roughly 10 to 30 seconds. The interface looks dated and servers are named after stars, so finding a location takes longer than with a plain country list. We also saw the kill switch let some unencrypted traffic slip past the tunnel during a reboot. There is no independent no-logs audit, no native iOS app and no live chat.
5. NordVPN - best for streaming and speed
NordVPN fixes OVPN's two weakest areas, network size and streaming, though privacy purists give up some anonymity. Our NordVPN review scores it 9.0/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
On nearby servers we lost only about 4% of download and 7% of upload speed, and 4K streams played with no buffering. Netflix and Hulu unblocked reliably, and so did BBC iPlayer and Prime Video, the two services OVPN sometimes dropped. NordVPN has completed six Deloitte no-logs assurance engagements, the latest announced in February 2026, and it is based in Panama with RAM-only servers.
Pricing moves with promotions and region, so the 2-year plan sits around $3 to $3.50 a month and renewal costs more. You get 10 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Where it falls short
There is no inbound port forwarding, so it is a poor fit if that was your reason for OVPN. Double VPN cut our speed by around 80% and only runs on preset server pairs. Only the Linux app is open source. Live chat opens with a chatbot before a human takes over.
6. Private Internet Access - best budget pick with port forwarding
Private Internet Access is the cheapest way to keep port forwarding after leaving OVPN. Our PIA review rates it 8.4/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
When we torrented with port forwarding enabled, the slowdown was only about 4%. Speed loss stayed small overall, at about 4% on local servers and 18% internationally. PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections and offers NextGen servers in 104 countries. Its third Deloitte no-logs assurance was completed in December 2025, and the apps are open source.
PIA rotates its long-term deal, so the cheapest rate changes month to month; recently it was $1.89 a month for 3 years plus 3 months. The 1-year plan is $3.99 a month ($47.88 billed), and the monthly plan is $11.95.
Where it falls short
Port forwarding works on all servers except US locations, and the forwarded port changed every time we reconnected. Streaming is weak, since US and UK Netflix no longer unblock. PIA is based in the US, and auto-renewal is on by default. Mobile uploads were also noticeably slower, at about 70% of baseline.
7. ExpressVPN - best for ease of use
ExpressVPN trades OVPN's power-user extras for the most user-friendly apps in this roundup. Our ExpressVPN review scores it 8.8/10.
Why pick it over OVPN
The app is one large connect button and a recommended Smart Location, with little to configure. On a gigabit line, Lightway held roughly 450 to 720 Mbps on US and UK servers. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video and Hulu unblocked across many regions. When a server timed out during our checks, Network Lock fired correctly. Live chat answered in under a minute. A KPMG assessment of ExpressVPN's privacy claims was published in 2025.
The intro price changes often; recently Basic cost $4.99 a month for the first 15 months, with 10 devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Where it falls short
The main sticker shock is the renewal, when Basic jumps to $99.95 a year. Power users will also miss Double VPN, Tor-over-VPN servers, a dedicated P2P category and port forwarding in the apps.
Which OVPN alternative should you choose?
Start with the reason you are leaving OVPN, because no single provider fixes everything.
If you want the same privacy model with stronger proof, choose Mullvad. If you want to test a VPN for free, Proton VPN is the only pick here with a full free plan. For the most anonymous sign-up, IVPN and Mullvad both skip the email and take cash.
If port forwarding is non-negotiable, AirVPN gives you reserved ports on every server, while PIA does it for less money outside the US. Our guide to VPNs with port forwarding covers more options.
For streaming and raw speed, NordVPN is the safest bet, and if you just want an app that works without tuning, choose ExpressVPN.
Two more names are worth a look: we cover AzireVPN, another Swedish provider, in our AzireVPN review, and Windscribe in our Windscribe review.
How we picked and tested these alternatives
We started from OVPN's strengths and asked which providers match or beat them on privacy and security features, then checked price, network size and streaming. Our criteria were published no-logs audits, jurisdiction and ownership, port forwarding, anonymous payment and sign-up, device limits, refund terms, and app quality on Windows, macOS and mobile.
We measured how much download speed we kept on nearby servers, and on distant ones where we could, and we ran DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leak tests on OVPN, Proton VPN and IVPN. We tried streaming on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video and Hulu, and we set up port forwarding where a provider offered it. We also noted how fast support replied.
We only call a provider audited when a published report exists, and each rating in this guide mirrors the score in our full review of that service.
Looking for OpenVPN (the protocol) alternatives instead?
If you landed here looking for the protocol, OpenVPN is open-source tunneling software rather than a VPN provider. It provides encrypted connections between a client and a server, and many VPN services, including several above, still support it. Our explainer on what OpenVPN is covers how it works.
The OpenVPN software itself, including the Connect client and Access Server for organizations that need user management, comes from the OpenVPN project.
The most common protocol alternative is WireGuard, which uses a smaller codebase and modern encryption. Our WireGuard vs OpenVPN comparison explains the trade-offs. For private access to devices across a network without running your own server, Tailscale builds a mesh on top of WireGuard; see our Tailscale vs OpenVPN breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to OVPN?
Is there a free alternative to OVPN?
Is OVPN the same as OpenVPN?
Which OVPN alternative supports port forwarding?
Why do people switch from OVPN?
Final verdict
Mullvad is the best OVPN alternative for most people. It keeps the Swedish no-logs approach, adds a long audit history and still lets you sign up and pay anonymously.
Every switch costs you something, so weigh the trade-off before you move. Mullvad and IVPN both dropped port forwarding in 2023, Proton VPN forwards ports only in its desktop apps, AirVPN has no independent no-logs audit, and PIA is a US company that forwards no ports on its US servers. NordVPN and ExpressVPN give you bigger networks and stronger streaming, but you give up open ports and the no-email, cash-paid sign-up that drew many people to OVPN in the first place.
If port forwarding on a leak-free connection is why you chose OVPN and its city list covers where you connect, stay put. Otherwise, move to Mullvad, and use Proton VPN's free plan first if you want to try a switch without paying.
