OpenVPN CloudConnexa

Overview

OpenVPN CloudConnexa is a cloud-managed service for connecting users, devices and sites through an overlay network. It is best suited to organizations that need centrally managed access, identity controls and site-to-site networking. Its breadth is a strength, but the five-seat free tier and required Internet Gateway for internet access shape whether it fits.

OpenVPN manages the service, which supports a hybrid access model and OpenVPN and IPsec protocols. A unified console brings administration and granular access policies together; OpenVPN says more than 20,000 organizations use CloudConnexa. The overlay has no default internet connection, so organizations needing that traffic to pass through it must provide an Internet Gateway. Split tunneling is supported.

Seat use is worth tracking: each active user or connector consumes one seat. Paid plans include application sharing with other CloudConnexa accounts.

Key features

Administration and security

The central console and advanced administration controls suit teams that need to manage access across users, connectors and sites. Security features include web filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, and threat defense. The pricing page lists SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001. These controls make CloudConnexa a substantial managed-access option, though the plan tier determines which identity and logging capabilities are included.

Identity, logging and automation

LDAP and SAML are included with Essential; Premium adds SCIM and multiple authentication methods. Essential also includes SIEM log streaming and a public API, while Premium adds increased log retention. Terraform infrastructure-as-code is listed, and technical support is available 24/7; Essential includes 24/7 priority support.

Network connections

OpenVPN and IPsec support, site-to-site networking and split tunneling cover several common ways to connect private resources and users. The Internet Gateway requirement is an important qualification: CloudConnexa's overlay alone does not provide general internet access.

Pricing

CloudConnexa uses seat-based pricing, with each active user or connector consuming one seat. The free Starter plan includes five seats, requires no credit card and has no stated price. That cap makes it useful for a small evaluation or very small deployment, but it leaves little room for a larger team.

• Essential: $7 a month per seat, with a page total of $70/month billed yearly and an annual discount available. It includes a 14-day free trial, LDAP and SAML, IPsec support, SIEM log streaming, public API, application sharing and 24/7 priority support. This is the paid entry point for teams that need those features; the yearly total is a material commitment compared with the free tier.
• Premium: $9.50 a month per seat, with a page total of $95/month billed yearly and an annual discount available. It includes a 14-day trial, SCIM, multiple authentication methods, increased log retention, increased network limits and access controls, and 99.9% uptime. It is the stronger fit when those additional controls and limits matter; teams that do not need them may prefer Essential.
• Enterprise & IoT: Custom pricing based on business requirements. Custom usage thresholds, a named account contact, guided onboarding and proof of concept make this the tier for deployments needing tailored terms and support.

Essential and Premium can be tried free for 14 days. Automatic charging occurs only if a payment method was entered.

Platforms

CloudConnexa supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and ChromeOS, with web administration and an API. This covers the major desktop and mobile platforms while providing administrative access through the web and programmatic integration.

Who it's for

CloudConnexa fits organizations connecting remote users and sites that value centralized policy management, identity integrations and security controls without managing the service infrastructure themselves. It is less suitable when the requirement is a default internet connection through the overlay, or when a team will quickly outgrow five free seats but cannot justify per-seat paid plans or an Internet Gateway.

Pros and cons

• Pro: OpenVPN and IPsec, site-to-site networking and split tunneling give teams multiple supported connection patterns.
• Pro: Centralized administration, granular policies, security controls and plan-dependent identity options bring access management into one managed service.
• Pro: The five-seat Starter plan requires no credit card, and paid trials do not charge automatically unless a payment method was entered.
• Con: The free tier stops at five seats, and each active user or connector uses a seat, so connector-heavy deployments can consume capacity quickly.
• Con: Internet access through the overlay requires an Internet Gateway; the service does not provide a default connection.
• Con: SCIM and multiple authentication methods are reserved for Premium, while Essential and Premium prices are presented alongside yearly totals.

Alternatives

For a different approach to managed access or network security, consider these alternatives:

• Cloudflare Access offers a free plan under 50 users and a $7 a month Pay-as-you-go plan; consider it when that free user allowance is the deciding factor.
• Twingate has a free Starter plan for up to five users and 50 resources, with peer-to-peer connections, split tunneling and conditional access; consider it when those stated free-tier limits and capabilities match your needs.
• NetBird offers a free tier for up to five users and 100 machines, with a Team plan at €6 per user per month; consider it when that user-and-machine allowance is a better fit.
• Pomerium has a Personal Free plan for 10 users, 10 routes, five policies and two service accounts; consider it when those caps suit the deployment.
• Cloudflare Gateway has a free plan for 50 users with up to 24 hours of standard log retention; consider it when those free-plan limits are the priority.
• Bowtie Private Access is another option with a free plan.
• Sangfor EasyConnect is a paid alternative with pricing available by contacting Sangfor.
• Zscaler Private Access is a paid alternative with no free plan.

Browse Business VPN Software or Zero Trust Network Access Software to compare more options.

Verdict

Choose OpenVPN CloudConnexa if your organization needs cloud-managed connections across users and sites, backed by centralized access controls and a broad security feature set. Its strongest case is the combination of network connectivity and administration in one service. Look elsewhere if the five-seat free plan is too small, the per-seat paid tiers do not fit your budget, or you need internet access without providing an Internet Gateway.