Firezone 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.
Firezone
Open-source secure remote access platform
VS
OpenConnect Server
SSL VPN server compatible with AnyConnect clients
| Feature | Firezone | OpenConnect Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Elixir | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,103 | ★ 600 |
| First released | 2021 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Cisco AnyConnect, Tailscale | Cisco AnyConnect |
What are Firezone and OpenConnect Server?
Firezone
Firezone is a self-hosted secure remote access platform built on WireGuard, offering zero-trust network access with policy-based controls. It replaces traditional corporate VPNs.
- Zero-trust access policies
- WireGuard under the hood
- SSO integration
- Web admin portal
OpenConnect Server
ocserv is an open-source SSL VPN server that implements the OpenConnect protocol and is compatible with Cisco AnyConnect clients. It supports multiple authentication backends.
- AnyConnect-compatible
- Multiple auth backends
- Low resource use
- Per-user configuration
Firezone vs OpenConnect Server: key differences
Firezone is written in Elixir, while OpenConnect Server is built with C. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Firezone versus GPL-2.0 for OpenConnect Server. OpenConnect Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Firezone. OpenConnect Server is the more established project (first released 2013), while Firezone arrived in 2021. Firezone has the considerably larger community, at 9,103 GitHub stars versus 600.
Why pick each one
Choose Firezone if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Elixir
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
Frequently asked questions
Is Firezone or OpenConnect Server better?
Firezone is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider OpenConnect Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Firezone and OpenConnect Server free and open-source?
Yes. Firezone is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenConnect Server under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Firezone and OpenConnect Server with Docker?
Firezone: yes. OpenConnect Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Firezone or OpenConnect Server?
OpenConnect Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Firezone. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.