Recently, many friends have been asking me about the differences between SoftEther VPN and OpenVPN and how to choose between them. The answer is not complicated—it all comes down to your specific use case. VPNs have become essential for securing data transmission, and among the many VPN software options available, SoftEther VPN and OpenVPN are two of the most popular choices. Particularly, SoftEther VPN has gained increasing attention in recent years.
So, how are these two VPN solutions different? Which one is better suited for your needs? Let’s dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
What Are SoftEther VPN and OpenVPN?
SoftEther VPN: An open-source VPN software developed by the University of Tsukuba in Japan. It supports multiple protocols, offers high performance, and is user-friendly, making it suitable for complex network environments. (You can click here to read another article I wrote about SoftEther.)
OpenVPN: A widely-used open-source VPN solution focused on security and stability. It uses the SSL/TLS protocol to establish encrypted tunnels and is commonly adopted for enterprise and personal network security.
While both can be used to build VPNs, they differ significantly in features, performance, usability, and more.
| Feature | SoftEther VPN | OpenVPN |
| Protocol Support | Supports multiple protocols (OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec, MS-SSTP, EtherIP, etc.) | Only supports the custom OpenVPN protocol |
| Performance | High performance, faster speeds (optimized TCP/IP stack) | Good performance but generally slower than SoftEther |
| Cross-Platform | Multi-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, etc.) | Also multi-platform supported |
| Encryption | High security encryption (AES, etc., depending on the protocol) | High security encryption (AES, etc.) |
| Ease of Use | Slightly complex setup, but very flexible and powerful due to multi-protocol support | Relatively easier to set up but less flexible |
| Compatibility | Compatible with many VPN protocols, offering broad applicability | Primarily compatible with OpenVPN protocol |
| Open-Source | Open-source and free to use | Open-source with wide community support |
| Best for | Enterprise-level deployment or users needing multi-protocol environments | Personal VPNs or users preferring simple setups |
| Stability | Highly stable, suitable for high-traffic environments | Also stable, but may require configuration tweaks |
Doesn't this comparison make them seem quite similar? Haha.
SoftEther VPN vs. OpenVPN: A Detailed Comparison
1. Protocol Support
One of the standout features of SoftEther VPN is its support for multiple protocols:
It supports SSL-VPN (its proprietary protocol), L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN (in compatibility mode), Microsoft SSTP, and more.
This flexibility allows SoftEther VPN to adapt to nearly any network environment, even replacing traditional VPN services.
In contrast, OpenVPN only supports its proprietary OpenVPN protocol. While limited to one protocol, its single-protocol focus allows for better optimization.
Takeaway: If you need multiple protocols for a complex environment, choose SoftEther VPN. If you only need OpenVPN’s protocol, OpenVPN is a leaner choice.
2. Performance and Speed
SoftEther VPN excels in performance optimization:
It uses multithreading and UDP acceleration to significantly boost transfer speeds.
It performs particularly well in cross-border networks, with lower latency and higher efficiency.
OpenVPN is slightly slower, especially in high-bandwidth or complex network scenarios, due to its reliance on single-threaded processing and encryption overhead.
Takeaway: If speed is a priority, SoftEther VPN is the better choice.
3. Security Both solutions prioritize security:
SoftEther VPN: Supports AES-256 encryption, firewall traversal, two-factor authentication, and dynamic key exchange.
OpenVPN: Offers mature AES-256 encryption and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) with dynamic key exchange. It has been thoroughly vetted by the community and is considered an industry-standard for security.
Takeaway: Both are highly secure. SoftEther VPN emphasizes flexibility, while OpenVPN benefits from its maturity and extensive community validation.
4. Usability SoftEther VPN is impressively user-friendly:
It provides a graphical user interface (GUI), making installation and configuration straightforward—especially on Windows.
It’s ideal for beginners or those unfamiliar with command-line tools.
OpenVPN relies primarily on command-line configurations, which can be challenging for less technical users. However, experienced users can enjoy greater customization options, and third-party tools can simplify management.
Takeaway: If you want simplicity, go for SoftEther VPN. If you’re willing to invest time in learning, OpenVPN offers more customization potential.
5. Cross-Platform Support
SoftEther VPN: Supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Solaris.
OpenVPN: Covers major platforms like Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS but doesn’t support Solaris.
Takeaway: SoftEther VPN has broader platform compatibility, while OpenVPN meets most users’ needs.
6. Community and Support
OpenVPN’s community is highly active, providing extensive documentation and support resources. Issues can be resolved efficiently thanks to its large user base.
SoftEther VPN’s community is smaller, and its updates are less frequent than OpenVPN’s.
Takeaway: If you need robust community support and long-term maintenance, OpenVPN is the better option.
How They Perform in NAT Traversal Scenarios
NAT traversal is a key application for VPNs. Here’s how the two solutions compare:
SoftEther VPN Advantages
Supports multiple protocols, making it highly adaptable to complex networks.
Unique firewall traversal techniques allow it to bypass strict network restrictions.
The graphical interface simplifies deployment for NAT traversal scenarios.
OpenVPN Advantages
Traffic obfuscation features allow it to disguise data as HTTPS traffic, bypassing firewalls.
Lightweight design makes it ideal for stable, long-term operation.
A wealth of community resources helps quickly address NAT traversal challenges.
Takeaway: SoftEther VPN is better for beginners or quick deployments, while OpenVPN stands out for its stability and professional-grade capabilities.
Final Thoughts: How to Choose?
Choose SoftEther VPN if you:
Need high performance and fast transmission speeds.
Require support for multiple protocols and a graphical interface.
Need to traverse complex network environments.
Choose OpenVPN if you:
Want a mature, reliable open-source solution.
Need strong community support.
Prefer a leaner, highly stable tool.
In conclusion, if you’re setting up a commercial-scale environment, OpenVPN remains the go-to choice for its comprehensive support and reliability (less chance of blame when issues arise). On the other hand, SoftEther VPN is a flexible powerhouse that simplifies many challenges, making it ideal for smaller, more dynamic use cases.
Stay tuned—I’ll soon be publishing a detailed comparison chart with specific performance data. Make sure to follow this post for updates!
My Experience Sharing: I've recently been frequently traveling back and forth between California and China. To be honest, I feel that the internet undersea fiber cables aren’t very stable—sometimes there’s severe packet loss and high latency. However, my work requires remote desktop access (since I run a DELL T430 server at home—it’s quite power-hungry, but I truly need it). In this scenario, I chose SoftEther VPN, and my experience can be summed up in one sentence: it’s incredibly stable! My remote desktop stays connected for extended periods, sometimes over ten days without disconnecting. Additionally, the SoftEther VPN Windows client is very user-friendly and easy to install.