Reviews

Features

GoodAccess enhances security by implementing a Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) that utilizes ZTNA principles. This approach ensures that no user or device is trusted by default, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network. Every user accessing the network must be authenticated and verified, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access or cyber threats. Furthermore, the platform employs AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption to ensure that data is encrypted and safe while traveling between remote workers and the company network. Admins have the choice of setting up VPN protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2 with both supporting the industry standard AES as their common denominator.

In terms of the servers available, the offering is on the slimmer side, spanning 35 locations spread across the US, Europe, and Asia. If you have specific location requirements it may be worth checking the list before deciding to commit to the service.  

The platform offers split tunneling, which enables you to select which traffic should pass through the VPN and which can access the internet directly. This feature helps optimize bandwidth and ensures that critical business traffic remains protected. Additionally, GoodAccess integrates with Single Sign-On (SSO) providers like Google Workspace and Azure Active Directory (and numerous others), simplifying access management for businesses using these tools.

GoodAccess also includes a DNS filter called Threat Blocker, which protects your network from malicious websites, malware, phishing attempts, ransomware, spam, and other online threats. This feature acts as an extra layer of defense, preventing users from accidentally accessing harmful content.

Additionally, the service comes with split tunneling, which optimizes your VPN gateway connection by allowing you to choose which traffic routes through the VPN and which accesses the internet directly. This helps improve overall speed and reduces latency, ensuring a smoother browsing experience. Additionally, GoodAccess provides a static IP address, giving your company a unique identifier for its network. Curiously enough, there is no kill switch option on offer.

(Image credit: GoodAccess)

An API is available only on higher-paid plans, but the connection agent can be used across Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS. Finally, the central dashboard houses all of the functionality, and features a logically laid out array of functionality on the left side. It is easy to use and offers powerful logging features that collate system and gateway access logs, threat blocker logs, device posture, and admin logs.

Pricing & Plans

(Image credit: GoodAccess)

The positive in terms of the pricing plans is that you have a 14-day free trial across all plans, and you can also schedule a live demo to get the feel of the offering. Plans are split between the Essential, Premium, and Enterprise plans, with Enterprise being tailored to your specific needs and pricing determined following that. All plans have a $39 per month cost for a dedicated gateway and a minimum of five users for the first two plans and $50 for the Enterprise plan. 

Essential costs $9 per month, per user, but if you opt for annual billing the costs come down to $7 a month. Premium costs $14 per month, per user, and with the annual billing comes down to $11 per month. The major difference between the two initial plans is the security that you get with the offer, while Essential focuses more on VPN and whitelisting features, Premium offers a full blown ZTNA approach, and is more suited for companies looking to stay protected and scale the protection easily.

Performance

While its server network isn’t as extensive as some competitors, the service maintains consistent speeds and uptime. This makes it suitable for everyday business tasks such as video conferencing, file sharing, and accessing cloud-based applications.

However, companies with heavy data usage or those needing extremely high speeds might find the performance a bit limiting compared to more premium business VPN solutions. This limit is pretty evident if you choose a server which is not close to your location i.e. Asian servers from Europe. Nevertheless, you can squeeze out some more performance if you opt to use IKEv2 as opposed to OpenVPN, which worked at least in our case.

Privacy & Security

The SDP model creates an invisible barrier around company resources, meaning these resources are only accessible to authenticated users with explicit permissions. This drastically limits the attack surface, as potential attackers cannot even see what resources exist within the network. By combining ZTNA with encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and single sign-on (SSO) integrations, GoodAccess ensures that sensitive business data is protected at multiple layers.

Additionally, GoodAccess’s ZTNA framework allows businesses to implement role-based access controls, ensuring that employees have access only to the resources they need. This granular control helps maintain strict security policies and prevents lateral movement within the network, further safeguarding company assets from potential breaches. This makes GoodAccess an effective solution for companies aiming to secure remote workforces and comply with stringent data protection regulations.

The platform also offers two-factor authentication (2FA), providing an additional security layer for user accounts. This makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access, even if they manage to obtain login credentials. GoodAccess places a strong emphasis on privacy protection, demonstrated by its GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications. These certifications indicate that GoodAccess meets specific business standards for data security, privacy, and compliance, ensuring that customer information is handled with care. While the company does maintain logs to assist its users, it ensures full security and privacy through data encryption. The information stored is mainly related to account usage or for purposes such as providing customer support, development, and analytics.

Alternatives

If speed is not the determining factor, an alternative to GoodAcccess Business VPN could be Windscribe, a quirky, stable and all around great VPN for a price that seriously undercuts the premium competitors. Overall, it provides strong encryption, fast service, malware and ad blocking and flexible number of device connections. Moreover, if you like to have the ability to tweak your DNS and firewall settings, the Windscribe is a great choice, since the granularity it offers can give you an extra edge if you’re an experienced admin. To top it all off, the entry price is lower so if GoodAccess is not your cup of tea, give Windscribe a chance by trying out their free offer. 

ProtonVPN is another alternative, though one aimed at more established and larger businesses looking to follow a ZTNA approach to its fullest. Double hop and Secure Core options this provider offers ensure the highest level of safety for your assets while remote workforces connect to them. Moreover, the offering is rounded out with safety and security features that rival other premium competitors in the market. However, be ready to pay for it, since price-wise it is more expensive than GoodAccess.

Final Verdict

GoodAccess is a solid business VPN choice for small and medium-sized enterprises that need a reliable, secure, and easy-to-manage solution. It is simple to deploy once signup is complete, and even easier to manage the remote workforce thanks to a logically laid out, yet powerful dashboard.

While it may not have all the advanced features that larger corporations require, its strong encryption, user-friendly interface, and flexible pricing plans make it a practical option for teams looking to protect their remote access without the hassle of complex configurations. A ZTNA approach is still possible using GoodAccess, though you can get much more with premium providers, but you will also have to pay for it.

• We've listed the best business VPNs and the best VPNs with antivirus

Features

On a more serious note, Windscribe offers AES-256 encryption and supports multiple protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, ensuring secure connections for your team. You have the choice of downloading their app for Windows, Linux, and MacOS, while browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers. There are also apps for Android, iOS, FireTV and AndroidTV.

It is important to note that some advanced features work only when you have both the PC version and the browser extension installed together. Namely, Double Hop, WebRTC Blocker, and network and per-app split routing work best with both installed - though the last one can work without the browser extension we would argue that you should just go ahead and install it. Windscribe supports an unlimited number of devices, making it a great option for teams that need flexibility. 

(Image credit: Windscribe)

One of Windscribe’s standout features is its flexible firewall, which offers an additional layer of security by blocking all internet traffic outside the VPN tunnel. This ensures that no data leaks occur if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops. Furthermore, the split tunneling feature is highly useful for businesses, allowing users to choose which apps or websites should go through the VPN and which should access the internet directly. This helps optimize bandwidth and ensures critical business traffic remains secure.

The R.O.B.E.R.T. (Remote Omnidirectional Badware Eliminating Robotic Tool) feature is another unique offering, acting as a customizable domain and IP blocking tool to help prevent malware, phishing attacks, and unwanted ads.

Unlike many VPNs that offer little to no control over DNS settings, Windscribe gives you the ability to specify which DNS servers to use when the VPN is either connected or disconnected. They’ve also added support for DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), enhancing privacy and security even further. Since Windscribe also operates Control D, a highly customizable DNS service with a free plan, we'll likely see even more DNS-related features integrated into Windscribe's offerings in the future.

Pricing & Plans

(Image credit: Windscribe)

Windscribe is one of the most flexible VPN offerings in the market when it comes to pricing. The “Build-a-Plan” feature (called ScribeForce team) allows you to choose specific servers and data requirements that you may need, ensuring that you only pay for what you use. The monthly costs are only $3 per seat but include a bundle of services such as all Pro features, a Centralized Billing solution, a Team Management panel, and Static IPs (shareable). For the static IP addresses, you will pay $2 per month for Datacenter IPs or $8 per month for Residential IPs. It is important to note that the static IPs come from a handful of countries: the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and France; encompassing only a few cities from these countries. If this is an important consideration for you, please check Windscribe’s website before making a decision.   

There are additional plans if you want to use the VPN in such a manner, simply called Monthly and Yearly plans. The first costs $9 a month and the second $5.75 a month. Both plans come with all of the Pro features such as access to the network of 69 countries and 134 cities, strong encryption, R.O.B.E.R.T., port forwarding, and split tunneling. Overall a very feature-rich plan for a decent price. If you're looking to save on costs, Windscribe offers two free service options: by signing up with an email, you'll receive 10GB of bandwidth per month, while opting out of email registration grants you 2GB of bandwidth each month. These options provide a chance to test the service before committing to a paid plan.  

Compared to the premium offerings the feature set is different but so is the pricing to match. It means business but doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s a breath of fresh air in the VPN space.

Performance

Windscribe delivers reliable performance with servers in over 60 countries, ensuring a stable connection for remote teams regardless of their location. While speeds may vary depending on the server load, the overall experience is smooth for regular tasks such as browsing, video conferencing, and file sharing. However, Windscribe might not be the fastest option for data-heavy activities, such as streaming 4K videos or handling large file transfers, when compared to premium VPN services.

The Stealth protocol is particularly useful for businesses operating in countries with strict internet regulations, as it helps bypass VPN blocks and ensures continuous access to essential resources. However, if the highest possible speed over a VPN is your primary decision factor, then Windscribe might not be the best choice. To note one more time, it is by no means slow, but compared to premium players, it falls short in this department.

Privacy & Security

Windscribe excels in privacy, with a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t store any data about your team’s online activities. This is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive information or operate in industries with stringent data protection regulations. The VPN also includes DNS/IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch, ensuring your data remains secure even if the connection drops unexpectedly.

The R.O.B.E.R.T. feature further enhances security by allowing businesses to block malware, phishing sites, and unwanted content, offering a customizable approach to managing online threats. This level of control makes Windscribe a great option for businesses looking to tailor their security settings.

One stand-out feature in the privacy segment, which we haven’t seen with competitors, is the real-time report of data requests from copyright and law enforcement agencies. You can find this report on their site here. In essence, it shows how many requests the company received stressing the sentence: “Exactly zero requests were complied with due to lack of relevant data” showing that user’s security and privacy are their number one concern, which is rare in the VPN space.

Alternatives

The usual suspects crop up in the alternative section, with NordLayer being alternative number one if you’re looking for a more scalable solution that caters to Zero Trust Network standards. NordLayer also offers additional features like double hop, ad and phishing blockers, larger network servers, and amazing speeds to round out its offering. While more on the subjective side, the UI seems to be easier to use with NordLayer, but overall the pricing is higher compared to Windscribe. 

ProtonVPN is another business VPN alternative that focuses strongly on encryption, security, and privacy. Similar to NordLayer it also offers a plethora of features that protect business assets and remote workforces. In addition, ProtonVPN offers a combination of double hop and their Secure Core feature which puts the most paranoid at ease while surfing. While R.O.B.E.R.T. is great, Proton’s combination is simply unbeatable at the moment. Price-wise though you will be paying more, but you will be getting a premium offer.

Final Verdict

Windscribe Business VPN is a strong choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a user-friendly and privacy-focused VPN solution. It's flexible pricing, robust encryption, and additional security features like R.O.B.E.R.T. make it an attractive option for teams that need secure and reliable access to business resources.

The great apps it offers across various devices will ensure that you and your team are covered even in the case of BYOD practices. The transparency offered by the company, the ease of sign-up, and the purchasing process, coupled with the quirky spirit of the team and the service surely make it one of the great VPN services in the market. It is one of our favorite free VPNs to use, and , with the addition of more services, it could become our favorite business VPN solution.

Larger enterprises may want to explore other options that offer dedicated servers and more advanced features that are in line with ZTN practices that seem to be permeating the business world more and more.

• We've listed the best business VPNs and the best VPNs with antivirus

Features

TorGuard Business VPN offers a limited set of features tailored to business users. One of its standout features is AES-256 encryption, combined with support for multiple VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and WireGuard. This ensures a high level of security for businesses that need to protect sensitive data across different devices and networks. Additionally, business users can get dedicated IP addresses (very limited by the pricing plan) and access to over 3,000 servers in over 50 countries, ensuring fast and reliable connections regardless of location.

TorGuard supports unlimited bandwidth and unlimited speeds, making it suitable for businesses with heavy data usage, such as those involved in media production or data analytics.

Another significant feature is Stealth VPN, which helps bypass VPN blocks and firewalls, making it ideal for businesses operating in countries with strict internet regulations or for accessing region-restricted content. The service also supports split tunneling, allowing businesses to route specific traffic through the VPN while letting other data access the internet directly. TorGuard offers two types of kill switches for enhanced security.

The primary kill switch shuts down all internet traffic on your device if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, ensuring a complete lockdown so no data leaks occur. This feature effectively prevents your real IP address and online activities from being exposed. You can easily activate it in the Network settings, and from our testing, it responds quickly and reliably.

During one instance where TorGuard disconnected, the kill switch immediately kicked in, blocking all traffic to maintain privacy. The second option is the App Kill which targets specific apps or processes that you define if you don’t want to kill the entire connection.

The Tor in the name stands for Torrenting, which explains the heavy reliance and great features surrounding P2P. You have the flexibility to torrent directly through the TorGuard app or by using a SOCKS5 proxy. This provides an extra layer of security and flexibility, ensuring your data remains protected.

Pricing & Plans

(Image credit: TorGuard)

TorGuard pricing is the biggest hurdle in our opinion, despite offering four distinct plans. The Starter plan costs $32 a month and covers a “5-user package” which includes 5 e-mail accounts and only 1 dedicated IP address. The next plan, Small, covers 10 users adds 3 dedicated IP addresses, and costs $69 a month. The Medium plan at $110 a month covers 15 users and 5 dedicated IP addresses, and finally, the Large plan covers 20 users and 10 dedicated IPs and costs $169 a month.

While the pricing may look transparent and easy to follow, we prefer the pricing per user strategy that encompasses much more functionality. At the moment, it is difficult to justify the high pricing of TorGuard let alone justify its use for a serious business that aims to scale its services while relying on an extensive remote workforce.

Once you go to the purchase page of the Business VPN, TorGuard will offer upselling options such as a custom VPN router with varying hardware configuration and prices. You can add additional users to your plan for an extra fee, however, the “slide to add” function on their website is clunky and one of the worst experiences we had in trying to add additional costs to a plan.

Performance

In terms of performance, TorGuard delivers consistently high speeds across its global server network, making it suitable for bandwidth-heavy activities like video conferencing, large file transfers, and streaming. The VPN’s unlimited bandwidth ensures that your team’s activities are not hindered by data caps, and its low-latency servers provide smooth, reliable connections for remote workers.

However, during peak hours, speeds can vary, especially when connected to servers in heavily congested regions. Despite this, TorGuard's performance remains above average compared to other business VPNs. The fact that you can choose your protocol and tweak it to a very granular level lets you squeeze out even more performance if you know what you’re doing of course.

Privacy & Security

Security is solid, and its AES-256 encryption combined with multiple VPN protocols ensures data is protected at all times. The service offers DNS and IPv6 leak protection, preventing any data from accidentally leaking outside the VPN tunnel. For added safety, TorGuard provides a kill switch feature that automatically disconnects your internet connection if the VPN connection drops, preventing any unprotected data transfer.

For multi-factor authentication, TorGuard integrates seamlessly with Google Authenticator, adding an extra layer of security for account access. This is a great feature for the admin console through which you can tweak the security and privacy settings for your workforce. The privacy policy of TorGuard states that they do “not collect or log any data from its Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Proxy services.” However, they do collect data for analyzing and improving their website through their own platform, live chat and emails they receive from users.

Alternatives

NordLayer is miles ahead of TorGuard when it comes to the business environment. First of all pricing per user makes it a more affordable solution and gives you easy scaling options and unparalleled flexibility. Its stand-out features such as DNS filtering, network segmentation, dedicated IP, browser extension, smart remote access, a dedicated account manager, Cloud Firewall, Smart Remote Access, and Threat Block come together to offer a comprehensive business solution. If you’re shopping for a VPN or Zero Trust Network (ZTN) you can not go wrong with NordLayer.

ProtonVPN Business is another great alternative to TorGuard as it also has great P2P features. Pricing is a bit steeper than TorGuard but the sheer number of features it offers easily justifies the price difference. Its Secure Core and NetShield features offer protection for even the most paranoid among us, while protocols such as WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (TCP or UDP), and Stealth offer enough flexibility for all the tweaks you will need. Over 5,000 companies trust their business to this Swiss-based VPN provider, and if you’re in the market for one, it is a much better alternative compared to TorGuard.

Final Verdict

While TorGuard Business VPN is declared to be a business VPN solution, it is hard to justify its usage in an enterprise setting that relies on remote work. It does provide great performance for its core offering, VPN connection, but there are a few additional “goodies” that businesses rely on when looking to set up a ZTN environment. The niche business market that relies heavily on P2P or just needs protection for a handful of its workers can extract benefits from using TorGuard, but a business looking to stay protected and scale easily will be best served to look elsewhere.

Overall, TorGuard seems easier to recommend to individual users who are looking for a reliable and fast VPN solution, and less so for business users.

• We've listed the best business VPNs and best VPNs with antivirus