OpenVPN vs. Cloudflare: Which is Best for Developer-Friendly Networking?

For developers and distributed teams, choosing the right networking solution is critical. Whether accessing internal resources, maintaining low-latency connections, enforcing Zero Trust security, or simplifying network management, different tools offer distinct advantages.

Tailscale, OpenVPN, and Cloudflare each provide unique networking approaches that cater to various use cases.

This article compares these three solutions based on key factors relevant to developers and engineering teams.

Overview: OpenVPN and Cloudflare

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a widely used traditional VPN solution that offers strong encryption and secure remote access to private networks. It requires dedicated VPN servers, manual configuration and networking knowledge/expertise, making it suitable for organizations that need full network access but are willing to invest the time and effort into managing network setup and ongoing administration.

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflare is a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform. It integrates networking and security services into a single platform.

Cloudflare Access replaces traditional VPNs with a Zero Trust security model with identity-based authentication and application-layer security, making it ideal for large businesses securing web applications and resources without exposing internal networks.

Comparison: Internal Resource Access

Tailscale: Direct Peer-to-Peer Connectivity

Tailscale is built on WireGuard® to allow direct peer-to-peer connections. This provides efficient and secure internal resource access without routing traffic through centralized VPN servers.

Developers can seamlessly connect to databases, remote development environments, and internal tools with minimal latency.

• Access Scope: Direct device-to-device access with end-to-end encryption.
• Security: Identity-based authentication with granular ACLs.
• Performance: No central VPN bottlenecks for faster access to internal resources.

OpenVPN: Full Network Access

OpenVPN provides full tunnel-based access to private networks so users can reach all internal resources. but at the cost of additional complexity in configuration and potential security risks due to a broad attack surface.

• Access Scope: Grants full access to private networks.
• Security: Requires manual ACLs to restrict unnecessary access.
• Performance: Traffic routed through a centralized VPN server and/or through a central ‘Connector’ between points-of-presence (PoPs), potentially causing congestion and frequent reauthentication

Cloudflare: Zero Trust Application Access

Cloudflare enables application-specific access without exposing the full network, making it useful for securing internal applications rather than providing broad network access.However, Cloudflare uses a man-in-the-middle (MITM) approach and decrypts all traffic that passes through its network, necessitating a higher level of trust and raising privacy concerns.

• Access Scope: Restricts access to specific internal applications.
• Security: Enforces identity-based authentication and device posture checks.
• Performance: Cloud-based, reducing the need for traditional VPN infrastructure.

Comparison: Low Latency

Tailscale: Fast, Direct Connections

Tailscale’s peer-to-peer mesh model allows devices to communicate directly to each other. Avoiding centralized VPN servers that can introduce lag keeps latency low.

• Traffic Routing: Direct peer-to-peer connections reduce latency.
• Network Performance: WireGuard-based end-to-end encryption equals minimal overhead.
• Stability: Reliable connections with automatic failover.

OpenVPN: Server-Based Routing

OpenVPN routes all traffic through a central VPN server and/or through “connectors”, which can introduce latency depending on server location and network congestion.

• Traffic Routing: All traffic is funneled through VPN servers.
• Network Performance: Higher latency due to centralized routing.
• Stability: Dependent on VPN server health/PoP location and network conditions.

Cloudflare: Optimized Cloud Routing

Cloudflare routes traffic through its global edge network, optimizing connections for cloud-based applications. However, Cloudflare defines how connections are routed, thereby introducing a man-in-the-middle approach.

• Traffic Routing: Traffic is optimized via Cloudflare’s global edge network.
• Network Performance: Difficult and complex initial setup gives way to powerful performance for the end user.
• Stability: Highly reliable for web-based traffic.

Comparison: Zero Trust Security

Tailscale: Identity-Based Security

Tailscale enforces Zero Trust principles with identity-based authentication and device-aware access control so only authorized users and devices can connect.

• Authentication: Enforces identity-based access using SSO integrations with identity providers; SCIM is supported for user/group syncing.
• Access Control: Granular ACLs limit access to necessary resources based on user identities, groups, roles, and device tags or posture.
• Security Model: Uses WireGuard encryption for secure connections.

OpenVPN: Traditional VPN Security

OpenVPN provides encryption and authentication but does not inherently follow a Zero Trust model, meaning additional configurations are required to enforce strict security policies.

• Authentication: Supports certificates, credentials, and optional integration with external identity providers.
• Access Control: Manual setup of access control lists (ACLs), routing, and firewall rules is required for granular restrictions.
• Security Model: Provides encrypted tunnels but lacks native Zero Trust features such as per-app access or continuous identity verification.

Cloudflare: Cloud-Native Zero Trust

Cloudflare replaces traditional VPNs with a Zero Trust model, authenticating users at the application level rather than granting full network access.

• Authentication: Identity-based access via SSO and device posture checks.
• Access Control: Application-layer security reduces attack surface.
• Security Model: Zero Trust enforced through Cloudflare Access.

Comparison: Simplified Management

Tailscale: Developer-Friendly Simplicity

Tailscale is designed for ease of use, automatically handling network configurations, NAT traversal, and access control through an intuitive interface.

• Setup: Installs in minutes with minimal configuration.
• Management: No need for centralized VPN servers or complex network configurations.
• Maintenance: Automatic updates and security patches.

OpenVPN: Manual Configuration Required

OpenVPN requires significant manual setup and ongoing management, including configuring servers, certificates, and firewall rules.

• Setup: Requires setting up and maintaining VPN servers.
• Management: Needs manual firewall and routing configurations.
• Maintenance: Regular updates and security patches required.

Cloudflare: Cloud-Based Management

Cloudflare’s cloud-based approach simplifies management by eliminating on-prem VPN infrastructure, though it requires policy definition and integration with identity providers.

• Setup: Cloud-based deployment; requires configuring security policies.
• Management: Centralized via Cloudflare dashboard.
• Maintenance: Cloudflare handles updates and security.

Feature Comparison Matrix

Choosing the Right Solution for Developer Networking

Tailscale is made for developers and distributed teams needing fast, secure, and performant networking and internal resource access.

• What people are saying about Tailscale: “Tailscale makes networking seamless—no VPN headaches, just instant, secure connections.”

OpenVPN is better suited for organizations that need full network access and are willing to manage the complexities of traditional VPN infrastructure.

• What people are saying about OpenVPN: “OpenVPN provides robust security but requires ongoing maintenance and management.”

Cloudflare is ideal for large businesses with complex setups prioritizing a full SASE solution with Zero Trust capabilities and application-layer protection over full network access.

• What people are saying about Cloudflare: “Cloudflare allows us to enforce Zero Trust security without exposing our internal network.”

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Teams looking for a developer-friendly, low-maintenance, high-performance network access solution should review our docs then take advantage of a free trial of Tailscale.