Honest VPN comparison
How SACVPN compares to other VPNs
We believe in transparency. Here's an honest look at how SACVPN stacks up against the competition, and why WireGuard matters.
The details
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | SACVPN | Most VPNs |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | WireGuard | OpenVPN/IKEv2 |
| Overhead | Light footprint | Heavier footprint |
| Encryption | ChaCha20-Poly1305 | AES-256 |
| Code base | ~4,000 lines | ~400,000+ lines |
| Logging policy | No activity logs | Varies |
| Devices | Unlimited (personal) | Often capped |
| Business features | Included | Extra cost |
The protocol
Why we build on WireGuard
Many VPNs still lean on OpenVPN, first released in 2001. We build on WireGuard, a modern protocol with a small, auditable codebase.
Lean by design
WireGuard is built from the ground up to be minimal. It uses modern cryptography and a small codebase.
Auditable
At roughly 4,000 lines of code versus 400,000+ for OpenVPN, WireGuard can be fully audited by security researchers.
Modern cryptography
ChaCha20 for encryption, Curve25519 for key exchange, and BLAKE2s for hashing.
Quick reconnects
WireGuard handles roaming well, which suits mobile devices that switch between Wi-Fi and cellular.
Pricing
Price comparison
Monthly pricing. Competitor prices shown are their advertised monthly rates.
SACVPN
Recommended- WireGuard only
- 14-day free trial
- No credit card
NordVPN
- OpenVPN/IKEv2
- No logs (audited)
ExpressVPN
- Lightway (proprietary)
- No activity logs
Surfshark
- OpenVPN/WireGuard
- No logs
CyberGhost
- OpenVPN/WireGuard
- No logs (audited)
For teams and businesses
How SACVPN compares to business VPN & Zero Trust platforms
If you're evaluating SACVPN for a team, you're probably also looking at NordLayer, GoodAccess, Twingate, or Cloudflare Access. Here's an honest breakdown, including where those tools do things SACVPN doesn't try to do.
| Feature | SACVPN | NordLayer / GoodAccess / Twingate / Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
| Network model | Full-tunnel WireGuard VPN | Mixed: full VPN (NordLayer, GoodAccess) or ZTNA app broker (Twingate, Cloudflare Access) |
| Seat / user minimum | No per-seat minimum | 5-seat minimum (NordLayer, GoodAccess Essential); 50-seat minimum (GoodAccess Enterprise) |
| Published pricing | Real prices on our pricing page | Top tiers gated behind “contact sales” (NordLayer, GoodAccess, Twingate) |
| Protocol | WireGuard only | GoodAccess and NordLayer still lean on OpenVPN/IKEv2 for some tiers |
| US server footprint | 3 real US nodes: Texas, Virginia, Dallas | Marketing around large global node counts you have to trust blindly |
| Support | Direct email support from the people who build SACVPN | Self-serve docs at scale (Cloudflare); tiered or paid support elsewhere |
VPN vs. Zero Trust (ZTNA): different tools, different jobs
Twingate and Cloudflare Access aren't VPNs, they're Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) platforms. Instead of joining your network the way a VPN does, they broker access to individual apps and resources one at a time, usually through per-subnet connectors. That's a real, legitimate approach, and for teams that only need secure access to a handful of SaaS apps, it can be simpler and more locked-down than a full-tunnel VPN. SACVPN takes a different path: a full-tunnel WireGuard VPN that puts you on the network like you're in the office, which matters if your team needs remote desktops, printers, shared drives, or legacy on-prem systems that a resource-by-resource access broker isn't built to reach. Neither approach is strictly "better" - pick the one that matches what your team actually needs to reach.
Up to 10 devices. Larger tiers scale from there.
- No 5-seat (or 50-seat) minimum to buy in
- Real prices on our pricing page, no “contact sales” wall
- Full-tunnel WireGuard VPN, not an app-by-app access broker
- 3 real US nodes - Texas, Virginia, Dallas - and we tell you exactly where
- Direct email support from the people who built it
- Veteran-owned, US-based company
NordLayer
Billed annually. Tiers named Lite/Core/Premium.
- 5-seat minimum on every paid plan
- OpenVPN / IKEv2
NordVPN's consumer VPN brand extended into a B2B upsell, not a business-first product.
GoodAccess
Billed annually, plus ~$49/mo per extra dedicated gateway.
- 5-seat minimum (Essential), 50-seat minimum (Enterprise)
- OpenVPN / IKEv2 IPsec
Openly targets 50-5,000 employee companies. A sub-20-person team is a marginal customer by their own stated focus.
Twingate
Enterprise tier is contact-sales only.
- None on the free tier
- Zero Trust connectors (split-tunnel, per-resource)
A genuinely different product: app-by-app access, not full network presence. Deploy a connector per subnet or resource.
Cloudflare Access
Seats are consumed by any login/device enrollment and don't auto-release.
- None, but assumes you already run an identity provider
- WARP client + Access policies
Free doesn't mean turnkey - real setup lift if you don't already have IT/identity infrastructure in place.
Competitor pricing above reflects publicly published rates as of mid-2026. This market reprices and restructures tiers often, so confirm current numbers on each vendor's own pricing page before making a purchase decision.
The difference
Focused on doing one thing well
We're not trying to be everything to everyone. We focus on a private, secure VPN built entirely around WireGuard.
Try before you buy
14-day free trial
No credit card required.
Common questions
Questions people ask
How is WireGuard different from OpenVPN?
WireGuard is a newer protocol with a much smaller codebase (roughly 4,000 lines versus OpenVPN's 400,000+). That makes it easier to audit and gives it a lighter footprint per connection.
Why don't other VPNs use WireGuard?
Many are starting to offer it as an option, but their infrastructure was built around OpenVPN. SACVPN was built from day one around WireGuard, so every part of our system is designed for it.
Can I try SACVPN without a credit card?
Yes. We offer a full 14-day trial with no credit card required. Many competitors either require payment upfront or only offer a money-back guarantee.
Is SACVPN good for streaming?
Yes. Our global node network helps you reach content in different regions and reduce ISP throttling. As always, streaming quality depends on your own connection.
Do I need 5 or more employees to buy SACVPN Business?
No. Unlike NordLayer and GoodAccess's Essential plan, which both require a 5-seat minimum, SACVPN Business is priced by device capacity starting at 10 devices for $100/month. There's no headcount floor to qualify.
What's the difference between SACVPN and Zero Trust tools like Twingate or Cloudflare Access?
Twingate and Cloudflare Access are Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) platforms, not VPNs. They broker access to individual apps and resources one at a time through per-subnet connectors, which works well if your team only needs secure access to a handful of SaaS tools. SACVPN is a full-tunnel WireGuard VPN, so it puts you on the network the way you would be in the office, which matters if you need remote desktops, printers, or legacy on-prem systems. Neither is strictly better; they solve different problems.
How does SACVPN compare to NordLayer or GoodAccess on pricing?
NordLayer and GoodAccess both publish per-seat pricing with a 5-seat purchase minimum (GoodAccess Enterprise requires 50 seats), and their top tiers are contact-sales only. SACVPN publishes real prices for every tier, including business, with no seat minimum to buy in.
Ready to see the difference?
Try SACVPN free for 14 days. No credit card, no commitment.