OpenVPN Connect

The Moment You Realise Your Connection Is Truly Private

You’ve just opened a public Wi-Fi network at a coffee shop, and your phone pings with a notification. Instead of worrying about who might be watching, you tap one icon, and within seconds, every packet leaving your device is wrapped in military-grade encryption. That’s the everyday reality with OpenVPN Connect—the official mobile client from the team that literally wrote the OpenVPN protocol. This isn’t a generic VPN app with a flashy interface and hidden fees. It’s a purpose-built tool for anyone who needs verifiable, auditable, and rock-solid encrypted tunnels, whether you’re a sysadmin managing remote access for a hundred employees or a privacy-conscious user connecting to your home server while traveling.

Core Capabilities: More Than Just a Tunnel

OpenVPN Connect gives you direct, uncompromised access to the OpenVPN protocol—the same open-source standard trusted by enterprises, governments, and security researchers worldwide. You aren’t locked into a single vendor’s network. Instead, you bring your own configuration and connect to any OpenVPN-compatible server, from a Raspberry Pi at home to a corporate VPN gateway.

• Dual protocol modes: Choose between OpenVPN UDP for maximum speed and low latency (ideal for streaming and real-time communication) or OpenVPN TCP for environments where firewalls or restrictive networks block UDP traffic. The app handles the handshake and reconnection logic transparently.
• Full .ovpn profile support: Import configuration files directly from your device’s storage, email attachments, or remote URLs. The app parses every directive in the .ovpn file, including custom routes, pushed DNS servers, authentication methods, and advanced options like tls-crypt or tls-auth for pre-shared key protection.
• Certificate and credential management: Manage client certificates, private keys, and CA bundles natively. You can also use username/password authentication, token-based systems, or multi-factor authentication (MFA) setups. The app stores credentials securely in the system keychain, not in plaintext.
• Connection profiles with granular controls: Each profile can be tweaked independently. Set specific DNS servers, enable or disable IPv6, force traffic through the tunnel (full-tunnel or split-tunnel), and define which apps or services bypass the VPN. This is critical for corporate environments where only certain subnets need to be routed through the encrypted tunnel.
• Real-time connection logging: View live OpenVPN log output directly in the app. This is invaluable for debugging connection issues, verifying handshake details, or confirming that your chosen cipher (AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305, etc.) is actually in use.
• Automatic reconnection: The app monitors the underlying network interface. If your connection drops (e.g., switching from Wi-Fi to cellular), OpenVPN Connect automatically re-establishes the tunnel using the last known good configuration, without requiring manual intervention.
• Kill switch protection: When the VPN is active, the app can block all non-VPN traffic. If the tunnel unexpectedly breaks, your device won’t leak data onto an unsecured network. This is a must-have for anyone using public hotspots.

Advanced Features for Power Users

Beyond the basics, OpenVPN Connect exposes a range of technical settings that give you fine-grained control over the connection:

• Custom TLS parameters: Override the default TLS version, specify allowed ciphers, and enforce perfect forward secrecy (PFS) by requiring ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchanges.
• Proxy support: Route the VPN connection through an HTTP, SOCKS5, or even a second VPN proxy. This is useful for bypassing corporate firewalls that only allow outbound HTTP traffic.
• DNS leak prevention: Force all DNS queries to go through the VPN tunnel, even if your ISP or network provider tries to intercept them. You can also push custom DNS servers (like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Quad9) directly from the server configuration.
• Multiple simultaneous profiles: You aren’t limited to one connection at a time. Create separate profiles for work, personal use, and travel, and switch between them instantly without re-entering credentials.
• Widget and quick settings integration: Add a VPN toggle to your notification shade or home screen widget. Connect or disconnect with a single tap, without opening the app.

Feature Snapshot (Quick Scan)

• Native .ovpn import from files or URLs
• UDP/TCP mode selection per profile
• Certificate + MFA authentication support
• Real-time log viewer for debugging
• Automatic reconnect on network change
• Built-in kill switch for leak prevention
• Custom DNS and proxy routing options

Why This App Stands Out in a Crowded Market

Most VPN apps on the App Store are wrappers around a single, proprietary service. They limit you to their server list, their logging policy, and their pricing. OpenVPN Connect flips that model completely. It gives you the raw protocol engine and says, “You bring the server.” This means you can:

• Connect to your own OpenVPN server running on a VPS or home router (no monthly subscription).
• Use any third-party VPN provider that offers .ovpn configuration files (many do, and they’re often cheaper than the big-name apps).
• Verify exactly what encryption is being used by inspecting the OpenVPN logs yourself.
• Integrate with enterprise authentication systems like Active Directory, LDAP, or RADIUS.

The app is also fully open-source, which means the code is publicly auditable. There are no hidden trackers, no analytics SDKs phoning home, and no third-party ad networks. Every byte of traffic is under your control.

Download OpenVPN Connect Now

Limited offer: This is the official OpenVPN mobile client—the only one backed by the OpenVPN project itself. Today only, you can download it for free and start building your own secure tunnels in minutes. Exclusive access for first users: get early access to beta features and direct support from the development team. Don’t trust your data to a black-box VPN service. Take control with OpenVPN Connect.

Heads up: You’ll need a working OpenVPN server to connect to (your own or a provider’s). The app requires an internet connection for initial setup and profile import. Some advanced features like custom proxy routing and multiple simultaneous profiles are available in the latest version. No in-app ads, but some server providers may charge for their service separately. Your mileage may vary on heavily firewalled networks (China, UAE, etc.)—OpenVPN over TCP with port 443 can help, but it’s not guaranteed.