Best VPN for Small Business: What SMBs Should Choose in 2026

The reasons why you're looking for the best virtual private network (VPN) for your small business can be many and varied, but they're all important.

These reasons or challenges can look like this:

• Your business is most likely growing, and efforts to keep up with market demands and competition are finally paying off. Still, with that success comes potential complications.
  
• You're probably trying to protect a growing assortment of remote or hybrid staff, cloud apps, and branch offices without turning your IT team into full-time firewall babysitters.
  
• Some tools are really consumer apps with a business label. Others are full enterprise stacks that overwhelm small teams. The choices can get overwhelming.
  
• The VPN for business market is saturated, already worth more than $4.19 billion and projected to grow to $12.22 billion or more by 2033. (Cognitive Market Research)

That’s a lot of choice and noise. Additionally, recent research from OpenVPN and Enterprise Strategy Group, found that 71% of SMBs already use VPN solutions for secure remote access. Nearly two-thirds of those who are not using a VPN today expect to adopt one.

In this guide, we’ll break down what small and midsize businesses (SMBs) actually need from a business VPN and how to compare options based on security, control, and long-term fit.

You’ll also see how solutions like secure remote access for SMBs can give your team safe, reliable access to company resources without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.

What SMBs need in a business VPN

Choosing the best VPN for business starts with knowing what actually matters for a small IT team. Use these criteria as your short list when comparing any small-business VPN solution.

Security and privacy

Your VPN should use modern protocols (such as OpenVPN or WireGuard), strong encryption, and advanced traffic controls. These help you block malware and risky destinations.

Tools like CloudConnexa’s Cyber Shield, with DNS content filtering and IDS/IPS capabilities, and clear security and compliance documentation make it easier to block malicious websites and attacks, while simultaneously showing that your security practices align with recognized standards.

Access architecture

Look for flexible remote access to internal apps, file shares, and databases, plus support for secure remote desktop protocol (RDP) when your team needs to connect to servers or workstations.

A good business VPN should also support site-to-site and site-to-cloud links. This enables offices, data centers, and virtual private clouds (VPCs) to communicate securely.

Make sure it supports modern login types like single sign-on (SSO), passwordless authentication, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and directory sync, so you don’t have to juggle separate user stores.

Identity, policy, and administrators

Admins should be able to define policies by user, group, device posture, location context, and network, not just the internet protocol (IP) address. Tight integration with your identity provider (IdP), ticketing, and monitoring tools makes it easier to secure a remote workforce without manual workarounds. Features like device posture checks, device profile lock, and context-aware access policies help ensure that only trusted users on compliant devices can access business resources.

Performance and reliability

Check the expected throughput per user, tunnel, or gateway, and how the VPN behaves during peak hours or failover events. For most SMBs, “fast enough, all the time” is more important than chasing theoretical gigabit speeds.

Compatibility and deployment

Your VPN client should run cleanly on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, and be easy to deploy via MDM or simple installers. The less time you spend hand-holding installments, the better.

Compliance and data governance

If you handle regulated data, look for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications, as well as clear data-handling practices. This reduces friction with auditors and customers who ask how you secure traffic.

Pricing and scalability

Favor transparent pricing that spells out per-user or per-gateway costs, minimum seat requirements, and what’s included (such as static IPs or additional gateways). You want a VPN that can grow from a handful of users to a full company rollout without surprise jumps in cost.

Support and onboarding

Finally, check what help you actually get: live chat or phone hours, service-level agreements (SLAs), onboarding help, and documentation quality. For a small team, responsive support is often the difference between a smooth rollout and weeks of frustration.

1. OpenVPN

OpenVPN ranks as one of the best small business VPN options because it gives you something many SMB tools don’t: real control without forcing you into an all-or-nothing enterprise stack.

You can start small with simple remote access and grow into site-to-site connectivity and Zero Trust VPN architectures as your needs change. OpenVPN offers two main paths:

• Access Server (self-hosted): Run your own VPN software in the cloud or on-premises, with fine-grained routing control and static IPs for IP allowlisting.
  
• CloudConnexa (cloud-delivered): A managed cloud VPN service that handles the heavy lifting for you — global access, hosted gateways, and simplified administration for distributed teams.

But how would these two be a good fit for you? Access Server is a good fit if, for example, you want to keep traffic close to your infrastructure and align with your existing security and change-management processes.

On the other hand, CloudConnexa is well-suited to SMBs that want a fast rollout without managing VPN infrastructure day to day.

Modern OpenVPN deployments can also support Zero Trust security like device posture checks, location context checks, device profile lock, and least-privilege access. You can move toward Zero Trust network access (ZTNA) at your own pace rather than ripping and replacing what works today.

Why OpenVPN fits small business needs

Simple rollout for remote teams

SMBs can onboard users quickly with clients across all major platforms and a straightforward profile distribution process.

Reviews on G2 consistently highlight easy setup, particularly when deploying on common cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP. Plus a clean, beginner-friendly admin interface that doesn’t require a full-time VPN specialist.

Static IPs and routing control

Many small businesses need static IPs to allow listing SaaS tools, bank portals, or partner APIs. OpenVPN’s gateway options and flexible routing make it practical to:

• Assign predictable egress IPs for outbound traffic.
• Route specific subnets or apps over the tunnel.
• Mix remote-access users with site-to-site links between offices or VPCs.

Cost-effective over the long term

You can choose between self-hosted and managed deployments and scale licenses as you grow. OpenVPN often delivers greater cost-effectiveness than “all-in-one” security platforms.

Strong documentation and support ecosystem

Small teams don’t always have time to reverse-engineer features. OpenVPN backs its products with extensive documentation, community knowledge, and guided examples for everyday use cases like:

• Remote access to internal apps and databases.
• Site-to-site connectivity between branches or cloud networks.
• Staged adoption of Zero Trust policies.

Powerful Security

OpenVPN features extensive compliance commitments and audits, which help maintain some of the most powerful security on the market.

2. NordLayer

NordLayer is a business-focused VPN and ZTNA platform from Nord Security. It’s designed to help companies secure remote access without standing up their own infrastructure.

NordLayer offers hosted gateways, dedicated IP options, and an admin panel for IT teams that want a VPN service for business with identity controls.

Best for: SMBs prioritizing SSO and systems for cross-domain identity management (SCIM), identity-centric security, and easy management with dedicated IP options.

NordLayer pros

• Identity-centric design: Built-in SSO with providers like Google, Okta, and Microsoft Entra, plus SCIM-based user provisioning, gives you central control over logins and roles.
  
• Dedicated gateways and fixed IPs: Teams can use dedicated gateways and fixed IP features to support IP allowlisting for SaaS apps and partner systems.
  
• Zero-trust and device posture: Features like device posture checks and ZTNA policies let you verify device health and limit access to the specific resources users need.
  
• Admin-friendly control panel: The central dashboard focuses on quick deployment, user management, and usage visibility, making it suitable for smaller IT teams.
  
• Positive user sentiment: G2 reviewers frequently praise NordLayer’s ease of setup, clear apps, and helpful support, which matters when you’re rolling out VPN to nontechnical staff.

NordLayer cons

• No self-hosted option: Everything runs as a managed service, so teams that want to control their own gateways or on-premises stack may find it restrictive compared to OpenVPN’s Access Server.
  
• Limited advanced networking: For more complex site-to-site routing or custom topologies, NordLayer can feel less flexible than a VPN solution built for full network connectivity.
  
• Linux client and performance feedback: Some G2 reviewers mention issues with Linux clients and occasional connection instability, which may matter if your team leans heavily on Linux.
  
• Per-user pricing: Costs rise as headcount grows, making NordLayer more expensive than lighter options for tiny teams.

3. Check Point Harmony SASE (Formerly Perimeter 81)

Perimeter 81, now part of Check Point Harmony SASE, offers a business VPN wrapped inside a broader secure access service engine (SASE) stack.

Firewall as a service (FWaaS), domain name system (DNS) security, ZTNA, and secure web access are all managed through a single cloud console.

Perimeter 81 targets organizations that want to threat VPN as one piece of a larger VPN for company security approach.

Best for: SMBs that want “all-in-one” SASE in one admin view and are willing to pay for that breadth.

Perimeter 81 pros

• All-in-one security stack: Combines business VPN, FWaaS, DNS protection, and secure access to internal and cloud resources in one platform.
  
• Centralized policy control: Admins can define rules for users, groups, networks, and apps from a single console, which helps keep policies consistent.
  
• Good fit for remote teams: Capterra reviewers often note that remote connections are quick and reliable once configured, which suits sales and field teams.
  
• Compliance posture: The platform highlights SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and other compliance commitments, which can help with audits and questionnaires.

Perimeter 81 cons

• Setup and learning curve: Some reviewers say initial setup and policy design are more complex than expected, especially for smaller teams without dedicated security staff.
  
• Connection quirks: Users in Capterra report occasions where clients don’t auto-connect, requiring manual reconnects, which can frustrate nontechnical staff.
  
• Cost for small environments: Per-user SASE pricing and feature tiers can feel heavy if you mostly need VPN and a bit of access control rather than the whole stack.
  
• More than some SMBs need: If you only want basic secure remote access, the broader SASE feature set can add complexity you don’t immediately use.

4. Twingate

Twingate is a Zero Trust network access platform with a focus on app-level access. Instead of dropping users onto a private subnet, it connects them to specific resources based on identity, device, and context.

Best for: SMBs that want ZTNA simplicity, app-centric access, and don’t need classic site-to-site networking.

Twingate pros

• App-level access model: Users connect to defined resources (databases, apps, services) rather than entire networks to help limit lateral movement.
  
• Quick rollout: Cloud-delivered connectors and clients can be deployed quickly; many reviewers note that rollout time is short.
  
• Identity- and device-aware: Integrates with SSO providers like Okta and Azure AD and supports device checks, making it straightforward to tie access policies to users and devices.
  
• Positive user feedback: G2 reviews often highlight ease of use, straightforward installation, and strong controls for managing developer and contractor access.

Twingate cons

• No traditional site-to-site VPN: If you need persistent tunnels between offices, data centers, or VPCs, you’ll likely need another tool or a hybrid design alongside Twingate.
  
• Less routing control: Network engineers who want fine-grained route and subnet control may find Twingate less flexible than a whole network VPN like OpenVPN.
  
• Enterprise rollout complexity: Some G2 reviewers flag challenges when rolling out across multiple mobile device management (MDM) platforms and operating system (OS) types, especially at a larger scale.
  
• Feature gaps vs full VPNs: For cases where you need full-tunnel internet routing or traditional site-to-site connectivity, Twingate alone isn’t a complete replacement.

5. Zscaler

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) is a cloud-delivered ZTNA service that connects users to applications without placing them on the network.

It sits within Zscaler’s broader security service edge (SSE) and SASE portfolio and is generally aimed at larger, security-mature organizations.

Best for: Organizations with complex security requirements, multiple regions, and a budget for a full SSE/ZTNA rollout.

Zscaler pros

• Zero-trust access model: ZPA connects authenticated users to specific internal apps, keeping applications hidden from the public internet and reducing lateral movement risk.
  
• Deep identity integration: It uses identity providers such as Microsoft Entra ID to drive app-level access decisions and policy enforcement.
  
• Mature SSE ecosystem: ZPA integrates with Zscaler Internet Access and other services, providing organizations with a comprehensive security stack with consistent policy logic.
  
• Positive security feedback: G2 or Gartner reviewers frequently call out strong security posture and reliable remote access once the service is tuned for their environment.

Zscaler cons

• Cost for SMBs: Many reviews mention that ZPA’s pricing is on the high side, especially for smaller businesses that only need core VPN-style access.
  
• Performance complaints: Users sometimes report slow page loads or application delays, especially on weaker networks, which can affect user perception.
  
• Operational complexity: Designing and maintaining a ZPA deployment usually requires dedicated security and networking expertise, which can be heavy for lean teams.
  
• Longer time-to-value: For organizations just starting with secure remote access, the planning and rollout effort can be more than what’s needed compared to simpler SMB-focused VPNs.

Secure your business with OpenVPN today

If you’ve read this far, you’ve seen that what is often considered the “best VPNs for small businesses” all solve slightly different problems. Some lean into all-in-one SASE stacks, others focus on pure privacy, and a few prioritize speed over admin control.

For most SMBs, the pattern is more precise. You need a VPN solution that can:

• Protect remote and hybrid teams without adding daily admin headaches.
• Support both simple, secure remote access and more advanced use cases, such as static IP allowlisting and site-to-site.
• Fit your budget now and still make sense as you grow.

That’s where OpenVPN stands out. With Access Server and CloudConnexa, you get the control of a self-hosted VPN and the convenience of a managed cloud option in one ecosystem.

You can start with straightforward remote access, route traffic through an internet gateway for secure internet access, and expand into more advanced cloud VPN features as your security model matures.

OpenVPN lets you move at your own pace, from basic remote access to IP-based access controls, to Zero Trust-style policies, while keeping costs and complexity in check.

Ready to give your team secure, reliable access without overcomplicating your stack? Sign up for OpenVPN, and start securing your business on your terms.