# OpenVPN Connect vs Fair VPN

The clearest difference is rating: OpenVPN Connect at 4.8 against Fair VPN's 4.2. OpenVPN Connect also leads on ratings volume (40K vs 1.4K) and chart position (#160 vs unranked). Fair VPN's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (55% vs 45%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

OpenVPN Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenVPN Connect has 40K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of OpenVPN Connect's written reviews are positive against 55% of Fair VPN's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

OpenVPN Connect ships an update every 4 months, Fair VPN monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenVPN Connect | Fair VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981/reviews)** | [4.2 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fair-vpn/id1533873488/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **40K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | 44.9% of reviews | **54.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#160** | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OpenVPN Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/590379984) | [UltraReach Internet Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533873490) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenVPN Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981)

**Currently charting:** #160 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

This official client app provides secure remote access to internal networks and cloud resources using a zero-trust VPN protocol. It requires a compatible VPN server or service and offers robust encryption and authentication methods for businesses.

**Highlights:** Secure VPN tunneling with OpenVPN protocol, AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.3 support, MDM-friendly global configuration, Device posture checks, Seamless split-tunneling and auto-reconnect, Kill switch for fail-safe protection, IPv6 and DNS leak protection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable VPN connection
- 🔒 Secure and trustworthy VPN client
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🌟 Excellent customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues and disconnects
- 🔋 Drains battery life
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🤔 Confusing setup process for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen issue after app update
- Profiles not working after app update
- Inability to connect to home network after update
- Slow performance and intermittent connectivity

**Requested features**

- Add support for Elliptic Curve Crypto
- Improve profile management and editing
- Integrate with iOS Files app for easier configuration
- Implement automatic reconnect and kill switch features


### Fair VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fair-vpn/id1533873488)

A free VPN client supporting advanced protocols like v2ray, shadowsocks, and trojan. It allows users to add configurations via link or QR code, test server latency, and browse content from sponsors.

**Highlights:** Supports v2ray, shadowsocks, trojan protocols, Add VPN config by link or QR code, Test and sort VPN latency, Browser with swipe navigation, Push notifications for updates

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Simple and user-friendly
- 💡 Innovative features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues
- 🔋 Battery drain
- ⚠️ Unreliable connections

**Reported bugs**

- Immediate disconnection on M1 Macs
- Incompatibility with certain apps (e.g., Clubhouse)
- Subscription links not working

**Requested features**

- Add subscription link update option
- Support for more protocols (e.g., SSTP, KCP)
- Batch management of configurations
- Customizable settings (e.g., sort by ping, favorite servers)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenVPN Connect free?

OpenVPN Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Fair VPN free?

Fair VPN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenVPN Connect or Fair VPN?

OpenVPN Connect is rated higher. OpenVPN Connect averages 4.8 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while Fair VPN averages 4.2 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do OpenVPN Connect or Fair VPN have ads?

Neither OpenVPN Connect nor Fair VPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenVPN Connect or Fair VPN?

OpenVPN Connect ships an update every 4 months, and Fair VPN monthly. Most recently, OpenVPN Connect was updated on November 8, 2026 and Fair VPN on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*