# OpenVPN Connect vs SSTP Connect

The clearest difference is price: OpenVPN Connect at Free against SSTP Connect's $2.99. OpenVPN Connect also leads on ratings volume (40K vs 1.1K). SSTP Connect's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 45%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and chart position there is nothing between them.

OpenVPN Connect is free to download; SSTP Connect costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for OpenVPN Connect against 4.8 for SSTP Connect. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenVPN Connect has 40K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of OpenVPN Connect's written reviews are positive against 81% of SSTP Connect's.

OpenVPN Connect ships an update every 4 months, SSTP Connect fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenVPN Connect | SSTP Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sstp-connect/id1543667909/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **40K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 44.9% of reviews | **81.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #208 | **#109** |
| Size | 31 MB | 17 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) | [Domosekai Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488582967) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenVPN Connect

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

**Currently charting:** #208 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 ensures continuous verification for every access request, regardless of location.  It requires a compatible OpenVPN business solution to function.

**Highlights:** Secure VPN tunneling, AES-256 encryption & TLS 1.3, MDM-friendly configuration, Device posture checks, Seamless split-tunneling, Kill switch protection, MFA authentication support

**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


### SSTP Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sstp-connect/id1543667909)

**Currently charting:** #109 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app acts as a VPN client supporting SSTP and SoftEther VPN protocols. It offers a simple, private, and secure connection experience using native iOS libraries. Easily import and export connection settings for various server platforms.

**Highlights:** SSTP and SoftEther VPN protocol support, Native iOS libraries for core functions, No ads or analytics, Password and certificate authentication, IPv6 connection support, Easy import/export of connection settings, Static route configuration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well with SSTP and SoftEther VPN
- 🚀 Stable and fast connection
- 💡 Good customization options
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Reliable for remote desktop access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Soft Ether profile corruption issues
- 🐛 Disconnection issues after updates
- 🐛 Unreliable auto-reconnect feature
- 🐛 Softether protocol not working in some cases
- 🐛 Long disconnect time

**Reported bugs**

- Softether protocol not working after updates
- Crashes and freezes when editing/adding profiles
- Compatibility issues with older iOS devices
- Safari issues after disconnecting from VPN
- Connection failures with 'not a valid SSTP server' error

**Requested features**

- Add support for more VPN protocols (PPTP, QUIC, etc.)
- Improve TLS 1.3 support
- Add option to disable TLS 1.2
- Implement unlimited reconnect attempts
- Add widget for quick on/off connection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenVPN Connect free?

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

### Is SSTP Connect free?

SSTP Connect costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenVPN Connect or SSTP Connect?

OpenVPN Connect is rated higher. OpenVPN Connect averages 4.8 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while SSTP Connect averages 4.8 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do OpenVPN Connect or SSTP Connect have ads?

Neither OpenVPN Connect nor SSTP Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenVPN Connect or SSTP Connect?

OpenVPN Connect ships an update every 4 months, and SSTP Connect fortnightly. Most recently, OpenVPN Connect was updated on October 29, 2026 and SSTP Connect on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, OpenVPN Connect or SSTP Connect?

OpenVPN Connect currently peaks at #208 in the App Store charts, and SSTP Connect at #109. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*