View all VPN & Zero Trust Access Alternatives
Best Free Alternatives to Cisco Secure Client (formerly AnyConnect)
Stop paying $4 - $15 per user/yr. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: VPN & Zero Trust AccessVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
WireGuard
FREEBest for Speed & Modern Crypto
Why we like it
Extremely lightweight and fast; uses state-of-the-art cryptography; much smaller codebase than IPsec/SSL, making it easier to audit; native support in the Linux kernel.
Keep in mind
Lacks the built-in enterprise GUI, posture checks, and 2FA integration out of the box (requires shells like Tailscale or NetBird).
Tailscale
FREEBest for Mesh VPN & Ease of Use
Why we like it
Built on WireGuard; sets up a zero-config mesh network in minutes; works behind NAT without port forwarding; handles 2FA/SSO seamlessly.
Keep in mind
The 'Control Plane' is proprietary and centralized; performance can dip if users rely on DERP relay servers instead of direct peer-to-peer links.
Twingate
FREEBest for Modern ZTNA
Why we like it
True Zero Trust architecture; hides resources from the public internet entirely; no 'Tunnel' required as it works via a split-routing proxy; lightning-fast setup.
Keep in mind
Can be complex to configure for legacy on-prem protocols that aren't web-based; requires a small connector agent inside your network.
NordLayer
Best Cloud-Native SASE
Why we like it
Incredibly easy for non-IT users; cloud-managed gateway; integrated 'Safe Browsing' and 2FA; excellent for remote teams without on-prem hardware.
Keep in mind
Less control over the underlying infrastructure compared to self-hosted gateways like Cisco ASA.
OpenConnect
FREEBest FOSS Replacement for AnyConnect
Why we like it
The leading open-source alternative to the Cisco AnyConnect protocol; compatible with Cisco gateways; supports multiple protocols (GlobalProtect, AnyConnect, Pulse).
Keep in mind
Command-line focused; lacks the unified 'Security Fabric' modules (posture, cloud management) of the official client.
Palo Alto GlobalProtect
Best Security-First Enterprise Alt
Why we like it
Deepest integration with Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW); industry-leading threat prevention and content inspection; superior for high-compliance industries.
Keep in mind
Premium pricing; requires Palo Alto hardware/Prisma cloud; can be resource-heavy on older endpoints.
Cloudflare One / Access
FREEBest for Web-Based Apps
Why we like it
Zero Trust access without any client software for web apps; leverages Cloudflare’s global edge network for incredible speed; great free tier for startups.
Keep in mind
Full-network tunneling (WARP) is less intuitive than traditional VPNs; requires moving your DNS to Cloudflare.
FortiClient
Best for Fortinet Ecosystems
Why we like it
Native integration with FortiGate firewalls; excellent endpoint posture and vulnerability scanning; high performance with hardware acceleration.
Keep in mind
Best features require the FortiClient EMS server; the interface is strictly utilitarian and can be confusing for non-technical staff.
OpenVPN Access Server
The Reliable Industry Workhorse
Why we like it
The world’s most widely used VPN protocol; extremely flexible deployment (cloud or on-prem); very clear and predictable per-connection pricing.
Keep in mind
SSL-based VPNs are generally slower and higher-latency than WireGuard-based alternatives.
NetBird
FREEBest Open-Source Mesh ZTNA
Why we like it
Combines the speed of WireGuard with a modern ZTNA control plane; self-hostable; features an easy-to-use 'Access Control' dashboard.
Keep in mind
Newer project compared to Tailscale; smaller feature set for mobile devices.
Need more options?
Explore our full directory of VPN & Zero Trust Access software alternatives.
Browse the VPN & Zero Trust Access Hub