What is the main difference between OpenVPN and Pangolin?

OpenVPN and Pangolin are both vpn & secure access tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: OpenVPN or Pangolin?

The choice between OpenVPN and Pangolin depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from OpenVPN to Pangolin?

Migration between OpenVPN and Pangolin is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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OpenVPN vs Pangolin

Learn how OpenVPN and Pangolin differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these vpn & secure access tools is best for you.

OpenVPN

Secure remote access VPN solutions with zero trust network access. Self-hosted and cloud-managed options for businesses of all sizes. Trusted by 20,000+ organizations.

Visit OpenVPN Read more

14,400stars+137(+1%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
10 hours ago
Repository age
14 years
Version
v2.7.6
Repository
openvpn/openvpn

Pangolin

Deploy zero trust access to infrastructure, self-hosted apps, and SaaS tools in days. Identity-aware security with seamless user experience.

Visit Pangolin Read more

22,383stars+593(+2.7%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
9 hours ago
Repository age
2 years
Version
1.21.1
License
AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
fosrl/pangolin

Detailed Comparison

Pangolin appears to have several advantages over OpenVPN, particularly in popularity, growth, licensing and features. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Pangolin wins

Community & Popularity

Pangolin leads in popularity with 22,383 stars vs 14,400 stars for OpenVPN. The 55% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, OpenVPN has 3,383 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Pangolin wins

Growth Momentum

Pangolin is growing faster, adding 593 stars in the last 30 days (+2.7%) against adding 137 stars for OpenVPN (+1%). Pangolin is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with OpenVPN last updated 10 hours ago and Pangolin 9 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with Bash, Python. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: OpenVPN uses C, Objective-C, Perl while Pangolin leverages JavaScript, CSS, Typescript, JSX, Next.js, Golang.

OpenVPN wins

Project Maturity

OpenVPN has been in development longer, starting 14 years ago, compared to Pangolin which began 2 years ago. This 12.6-year head start suggests OpenVPN may have more mature features and established processes.

Pangolin wins

Licensing

Pangolin is licensed under AGPL-3.0, while OpenVPN's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in VPN & Secure Access. However, they also have distinct specializations: Pangolin extends into VPN & Secure Tunnels.

Pangolin wins

Hosting & Deployment

Pangolin provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while OpenVPN may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.

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