SHSelfHostIndex

Algo VPN vs OpenConnect Server

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AL Algo VPN Set up a personal IPsec and WireGuard VPN in minutes VS OP OpenConnect Server SSL VPN server compatible with AnyConnect clients
FeatureAlgo VPNOpenConnect Server
CategoryRemote Access & VPNRemote Access & VPN
LicenseAGPL-3.0GPL-2.0
LanguagePythonC
Setup difficultyEasyHard
Min. RAM256 MB128 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, sourcebare-metal, docker
GitHub stars★ 30,350★ 600
First released20162013
ReplacesNordVPNCisco AnyConnect

Why pick each one

Choose Algo VPN if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Mature project with 30.4k GitHub stars
  • Written in Python
Algo VPN details

Choose OpenConnect Server if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in C
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
OpenConnect Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Algo VPN or OpenConnect Server better?

Algo VPN is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenConnect Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Algo VPN and OpenConnect Server free and open-source?

Yes. Algo VPN is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and OpenConnect Server under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Algo VPN and OpenConnect Server with Docker?

Algo VPN: check the project docs for container support. OpenConnect Server: yes.

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