
Anastasiya Novikava
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Anastasiya believes cybersecurity should be easy to understand. She is particularly interested in studying nation-state cyber-attacks. Outside of work, she enjoys history, 1930s screwball comedies, and Eurodance music.
Cybersecurity

Summary: ExpressVPN for Teams covers basic VPN needs, while alternatives add stronger ZTNA, posture checks, logs, and threat controls.
If you're shopping around for the best ExpressVPN for Teams alternatives, this list is a good place to start. ExpressVPN for Teams is a brand-new product, and many organizations might want a more established business VPN provider with stronger admin controls, broader security features, simultaneous connections, or a free plan to test the platform before committing. Or they might not. Below you'll find five alternatives to ExpressVPN for Teams with a breakdown of their strengths and potential drawbacks.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information gathered on May 15, 2026, directly from each vendor's website, including main pages, feature pages (filtered to display all features), supporting product documentation, and pricing pages. All information is relevant as of May 15, 2026. NordLayer is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of competitor information, which may change over time.
As competitor offerings, feature sets, pricing, and availability may evolve, Nord Security Inc. and its affiliates make no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information and recommend verifying details directly with each provider before making any purchasing decisions. The inclusion of competitor products does not imply affiliation or endorsement, and all trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
ExpressVPN for Teams covers the basics of business VPN access, but five alternatives push further into zero-trust, segmentation, and cloud connectivity. This comparison places ExpressVPN for Teams next to NordLayer, GoodAccess, OpenVPN CloudConnexa®, Proton VPN for Business, and Tailscale across 35 parameters. The data is split into three tables so the architecture, security, and commercial views stay readable side by side.
Comparison parameter | ExpressVPN for Teams | NordLayer | GoodAccess | OpenVPN CloudConnexa® | Proton VPN for Business | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core network model | Business VPN using global VPN server network | ZTNA, Business VPN, Cloud VPN, remote access VPN, site-to-site VPN | Business VPN / zero-trust access platform with dedicated gateways | ZTNA + wide-area Private Cloud (WPC) with full-mesh topology | Business VPN with shared servers, private gateways, and dedicated server/IP add-on | Peer-to-peer mesh VPN / application networking |
Underlying VPN protocol / protocol support | Lightway VPN protocol, custom-engineered | NordLynx, WireGuard-based | Network encryption; protocol not specified | OpenVPN and IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, Stealth protocol | WireGuard VPN protocol |
AES-256 + post-quantum | Yes | Yes | Network encryption; post-quantum not specified | Not specified | AES-256, ChaCha20, Poly1305; post-quantum not specified | WireGuard end-to-end encryption; post-quantum not specified |
IP masking | Yes | Yes | Not explicitly stated | Not explicitly stated | Not explicitly stated | Not the main model; peer-to-peer mesh with exit nodes |
Server / network reach | 10 Gbps servers in 105 countries | Shared Gateways in 40+ global locations; speeds up to 1 Gbps | Private Global Secure Network in 35+ locations; gateway performance up to 10 Gbps | 30+ global PoPs across 6 continents | 20,000+ shared servers in 140+ countries | Peer-to-peer mesh; regional routing and traffic steering on Premium+ |
Dedicated IP | Yes; add-on for 1- and 2-year subscriptions with 5+ licenses | Yes; server with dedicated IP | Yes; static / dedicated IP | Not explicitly named | Yes; dedicated server and IP add-on | Not specified |
Virtual Private Gateway / dedicated gateway / WPC | Not mentioned | Yes; Virtual Private Gateways | Yes; dedicated VPN gateway | Yes; WPC with 30+ PoPs and full-mesh topology | Yes; Private Gateways for segmentation | N/A as a central gateway model; uses peer-to-peer mesh, subnet routers, and exit nodes |
Site-to-site VPN / network connectors | Not mentioned | Yes; Site-to-Site | Yes; cloud and branch connectors | Yes; Site-to-Site VPN | Not mentioned | Yes through subnet routers and workload connectivity, but “site-to-site VPN” not named |
Cloud network integrations / cloud connectivity | Not mentioned | Yes; AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud | Yes; cloud connectors, provider names not stated | Yes; connected networks, AppHub, AWS S3 for log streaming | Not stated | Yes; Kubernetes ingress/egress, Kubernetes API proxy, workload connectivity; AWS Marketplace and Azure named |
Branch / on-prem connectivity | Not mentioned | Site-to-Site and Cloud LAN | Yes; branch connectors and on-premise infrastructure on request | Yes; connected networks, overlapping IP support, secure IoT communications | Not stated | Yes; subnet routers, HA subnet routers, IoT & Edge connectivity |
Split tunneling | Not mentioned | Yes | Yes | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Yes |
File transfer | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Yes; Taildrop peer-to-peer file transfer |
This table looks at how each platform authenticates users, enforces policy, and blocks threats once a session is live. In short, ExpressVPN for Teams stays close to a consumer VPN feature set, while NordLayer, GoodAccess, and OpenVPN CloudConnexa® offer firewall, SWG, and posture controls closer to a full SSE stack.
Comparison parameter | ExpressVPN for Teams | NordLayer | GoodAccess | OpenVPN CloudConnexa® | Proton VPN for Business | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cloud Firewall / FWaaS / network access control | Not mentioned | Yes; Cloud Firewall | Yes; Cloud FWaaS / zero-trust access control | Has Access Groups, micro-segmentation, restricted internet access, and Cyber Shield | Not mentioned | Uses ACLs and RBAC policies |
Device posture | Not mentioned | Yes; Device Posture Security and Device Posture Monitoring | Yes; device posture check | Yes; multi-parameter, continuous evaluation | Partial; MDM and enterprise policies, but “device posture” not named | Yes; device posture management, EDR/XDR/MDM integrations, geolocation, custom attributes |
SSO | Not mentioned | Yes | Yes | Yes; SAML and LDAP | Yes; VPN Professional and above | Yes; SSO with IdP and custom OIDC |
MFA / 2FA | Not mentioned | Yes; includes biometric authentication when connecting to Virtual Private Gateways | Yes; includes PIN and biometric authentication, enforced MFA | Yes; email or authenticator app | Yes; enforced 2FA | Via IdP / SSO |
IP allowlisting / whitelisting / restriction | Not mentioned | Yes; IP allowlisting | Yes; IP whitelisting and IP restriction for control panel | Not mentioned | Yes; IP whitelisting | Not specified |
DNS filtering / Secure DNS / content filtering | Not mentioned | Yes; DNS filtering by category and Custom DNS | Yes; DNS filtering, Private DNS, Custom DNS Resolver, custom domain blocking | Yes; Secure DNS and content/web filtering across 43 categories | Partial; NetShield blocks ads and malware, but category-based DNS filtering not stated | Not specified; MagicDNS is for naming, not filtering |
Download / web protection, malware, threat blocking | Not mentioned | Yes; Web Protection, Download Protection, Application Blocker, Shadow AI detection | Yes; Secure Web Gateway Lite and threat blocker logs | Yes; Cyber Shield with IDS/IPS, malware, phishing, DDoS defense, risk monitoring | Yes; NetShield ad-blocker and malware protection | Not specified |
Always-on VPN / forced always-on | Not mentioned | Yes; Always On VPN | Yes; always-on and forced always-on connectivity | Not mentioned | Yes; Always-on VPN | Not mentioned |
Auto-connect | Not mentioned | Yes | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Yes | Not mentioned |
Kill switch | Yes; Network Lock | Yes | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Yes | Not mentioned |
Network segmentation / micro-segmentation | Not mentioned | Yes; via Cloud Firewall, gateways, access rules | Yes; network segmentation and zero-trust access control | Yes; micro-segmentation and Access Groups | Yes; Private Gateways and segmented access by team | Yes; ACLs, ACL tags, RBAC, subnet routing |
Least-privilege access / RBAC / ACLs | Not mentioned | Access control implied via ZTNA and Cloud Firewall; RBAC not specified | Yes; network access control and time-based permissions | Yes; Access Groups | Yes; custom access levels per team | Yes; ACLs with RBAC policies, ACL tests, ACL tags |
The final table covers the practical side of ownership: how each platform logs activity, plugs into your identity and security stack, what certifications it holds, and what it costs. Pricing reflects an annual plan for 10 users on the lowest tier that includes IP whitelisting, with no dedicated server or IP add-on, so the numbers are directly comparable.
Comparison parameter | ExpressVPN for Teams | NordLayer | GoodAccess | OpenVPN CloudConnexa® | Proton VPN for Business | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Access logs / audit logs | No session logs; admin/audit logs not mentioned | Activity monitoring | Yes; gateway access logs, system access logs, threat blocker logs, device posture check logs, admin logs | Yes; access logs, DNS log, audit log | Yes; detailed activity logs on VPN and Pass Professional | Yes; configuration audit logging, network flow logging |
MDM support / integrations | Not mentioned | Yes; Jamf Cloud integration and endpoint integrations listed | Device management mentioned; MDM provider names not stated | Not mentioned | Yes; Mobile Device Management | Yes; MDM solution integrations and system policies |
Identity provider integrations named | Not mentioned | Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud, Google Workspace | SSO and multiple SSO providers mentioned, but no provider names | LDAP and SAML mentioned; no specific IdP names | SSO mentioned; no specific IdP names | SSO with IdP and custom OIDC; no specific IdP names |
Security / endpoint integrations named | Not mentioned | SentinelOne, Jamf Cloud, CrowdStrike | SIEM integration mentioned; no provider names | AWS S3 for log streaming; SIEM solutions mentioned but unnamed | SIEM integration mentioned; no provider names | CrowdStrike, S3-compatible storage, SIEM partners |
AI-related features | MCP server for agentic AI, beta, desktop only; supports Claude Code and Codex | Shadow AI detection | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Aperture by Tailscale for AI governance, LLM session recordings, MCP tool calls |
Support | 24/7 live chat support | 24/7 live chat support | Knowledge base, chat and email support, onboarding assistance, solution architect, dedicated account manager, 24/7 phone support on Enterprise | Not specified in source | 24/7 support, live chat, phone and screen-sharing support for 20+ users, dedicated account manager on Enterprise | Not specified in source |
ISO 27001 certified | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes; ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Not stated | Not stated |
SOC 2 certified | Not mentioned | Yes; SOC 2 Type 2 | Yes; SOC 2 | Yes; SOC 2 Type 2 | Not stated | Not stated |
Other compliance | None mentioned | HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR | NIS2, GDPR, HIPAA | HIPAA, GDPR | HIPAA, GDPR | Not stated |
Free trial |
|
| Yes (14-day full-featured, no credit card) | Yes (14-day for 5+ seats) | Yes (14-day on all plans; 30-day money-back) | Yes (14-day, no user limit) |
Price (10 users, annual plan with IP whitelisting, no dedicated server and IP) | $4.37/ user/ month | $11/ user/ month | $9/ user/ month | $7/ user/ month | €9.99/ user/ month | $8/ user/ month |
No single product wins every row, and the right choice depends on what you need to protect. Teams that just want encrypted tunnels and a kill switch can stay with ExpressVPN or move to Proton VPN. Teams that need ZTNA, firewall, and posture checks will get more from NordLayer, GoodAccess, or OpenVPN CloudConnexa, while engineering-led teams managing cloud workloads and Kubernetes will likely prefer Tailscale.
ExpressVPN for Teams is a business VPN solution that targets startups and SMBs that need straightforward secure remote access rather than a full zero-trust platform. Per its product pages, the offer covers a global network of 10 Gbps servers, IP address masking, AES-256 encryption with post-quantum protection, the custom-engineered Lightway protocol, and TrustedServer technology with RAM-only servers audited by PwC. It also includes Network Lock (kill switch), no session logs, and a dedicated IP add-on available on 1- and 2-year subscriptions of 5 or more licenses.
On the admin side, ExpressVPN for Teams provides a central console to add or reassign licenses, an MCP server for agentic AI workflows, and apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more.
Servers cover 105 countries, support runs 24/7 over live chat, and the product is ISO 27001 compliant and offers volume licensing with up to 50% savings. The website claims 23+ independent audits of its no-logs policy, though ExpressVPN for Teams launched in January 2026, so this audit count likely refers to the consumer ExpressVPN product rather than the Teams offering specifically.
Per the documentation, SSO, MFA, a Cloud Firewall, and Virtual Private Gateways are not mentioned. No third-party identity provider integrations (Entra ID, Okta, JumpCloud, Google Workspace, etc.) are listed. There is no free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users.
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the ExpressVPN for Teams website, accessed on May 15, 2026.
Now, let's look at Express VPN for Teams alternatives.
NordLayer is a network security platform that provides secure remote access, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and access control capabilities, along with threat prevention and device posture controls. It is part of the Nord Security ecosystem, which can be extended with threat intelligence and password management solutions.
NordLayer offers an easy way to deploy remote access policies without hardware.
Main features include Virtual Private Gateways, servers with a dedicated IP, Cloud Firewall, Device Posture Security, IP allowlisting, Site-to-Site, Cloud LAN, MFA with biometric authentication, SSO, SCIM user provisioning, dashboards, and Shared Gateways across 40+ global locations.
Encryption covers quantum-safe cryptography, AES-256, and ChaCha20, with the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol. Threat protection capabilities include DNS filtering by category, Custom DNS, an Application Blocker, Web Protection, Download Protection, free malware protection in all plans, and Shadow AI detection
Connection speeds reach up to 1 Gbps. Compliance covers ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR.
NordLayer offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. Identity and access integrations include Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud, Google Workspace, and SentinelOne. Cloud network integrations include AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud; other named integrations include Jamf Cloud, CrowdStrike, and custom integrations.
NordLayer is a strong fit for organizations that want a deploy-without-hardware platform that goes beyond plain VPN into full ZTNA and threat protection, with broad identity provider coverage.
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the NordLayer website, including the main page, features page, the integrations list available in the website menu, and the pricing page, accessed on May 15, 2026.
GoodAccess positions itself as a zero-trust-architecture-as-a-service platform built for SMBs. It delivers cloud-based network access with dedicated VPN gateways, static dedicated IP addresses, a Private Global Secure Network across 35+ locations, gateway performance up to 10 Gbps, instant deployment, unlimited data, split tunneling, cloud and branch connectors, custom domain names, private and custom DNS resolvers, and always-on connectivity (with a Forced Always-on option). On-premise infrastructure is available on request. The platform is managed via a web-based central dashboard with weekly reports and supports Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Chrome OS clients, plus an API.
For authentication, GoodAccess supports MFA, PIN and biometric authentication (enforced MFA), SSO with multiple providers, SCIM user provisioning, and IP restriction for the control panel. Security and compliance capabilities include zero-trust access control with Cloud FWaaS, network access control, device management, device posture checks, time-based permissions (PIM/PAM), Secure Web Gateway Lite, custom domain blocking, DNS filtering, network encryption, geo restriction, device approval, network segmentation, SIEM integration, IP whitelisting, and detailed access logs with 90-day or custom retention. Compliance covers NIS2, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001. Support ranges from chat and email up to 24/7 phone for Enterprise customers, with onboarding assistance, a solution architect, and a dedicated account manager on higher tiers.
GoodAccess offers a 14-day full-featured free trial with no credit card required.
In short, GoodAccess fits small and mid-sized teams that want zero trust network access, IP whitelisting, and compliance readiness without enterprise-grade overhead.
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the GoodAccess website, including the main page, features page, features list from the website menu, and pricing page, accessed on May 15, 2026.
OpenVPN CloudConnexa® is a cloud-delivered Wide-area Private Cloud (WPC) with 30+ global PoPs across six continents and a full-mesh topology. It supports IPv4 and IPv6, Data Channel Offload (DCO), both OpenVPN and IPsec protocols, full TCP/UDP/IP application support, networks with overlapping IP addresses, application domain-based routing, smart routing, restricted internet access, Site-to-Site VPN, and secure IoT communications. The OpenVPN Connect client covers Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS.
On the zero-trust side, CloudConnexa® delivers ZTNA with essential SSE capabilities, multi-parameter continuous device posture, Device Identity Verification Enforcement, Location Context policies for geolocation-based allow/block, micro-segmentation, route concealment, Access Groups, and application sharing via AppHub. Authentication covers LDAP and SAML SSO, SCIM user provisioning, passwordless passkey authentication, MFA via email or authenticator apps, and custom password policies. The built-in Cyber Shield layer provides IDS/IPS, content and web filtering across 43 categories, threat defense against malware, phishing, and DDoS, risk monitoring, and Secure DNS. Visibility tools include access logs, DNS logs, audit logs, log streaming to AWS S3 for SIEM ingestion, and connection status. Administration includes a web portal, configuration wizards, the CloudConnexa API, and Terraform-based IaC. Compliance covers SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, HIPAA, and GDPR.
CloudConnexa® offers a 14-day free trial (5+ seats).
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the OpenVPN CloudConnexa® website, including the main page, the pricing page, and the Data Sheet available for download from the main page (“Learn more about all CloudConnexa capabilities — Download Data Sheet”), accessed on May 15, 2026.
Proton VPN for Business is a cloud-delivered VPN from the company behind Proton Mail and the broader Proton privacy ecosystem. The platform offers AES-256 encryption alongside ChaCha20 and Poly1305, the Stealth protocol, WireGuard and OpenVPN protocol support, and shared server locations in 140+ countries with 20,000+ servers.
Admin and security capabilities include a central control panel, enforced 2FA, always-on VPN, auto-connect, kill switch, NetShield ad-blocker and malware protection, activity monitoring, Mobile Device Management, SSO and SCIM (VPN Professional and above), Private Gateways for network segmentation, IP whitelisting, gateway monitor, detailed activity logs, enterprise policies, SIEM integration, and a CLI (the last four on VPN and Pass Professional). Apps cover iOS, Android, Web, Windows, and Mac, plus a browser extension. Higher tiers add Proton Meet video conferencing, bundled mail, calendar, cloud storage, and password manager features, and 24/7 support up to a dedicated account manager for Enterprise. Compliance support includes GDPR and HIPAA.
Proton VPN for Business offers a 14-day free trial across all three plans, plus a separate 30-day money-back guarantee.
In short, Proton VPN for Business is built for organizations that prioritize privacy by design and want a VPN backed by Swiss data protection law.
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the Proton VPN for Business website, including the main page, the pricing page, and the features page, accessed on May 15, 2026.
Tailscale is a zero-trust connectivity platform built on top of the WireGuard protocol. Rather than route traffic through a central gateway like a traditional VPN, it creates a peer-to-peer mesh network where devices connect directly to each other end-to-end encrypted.
Main features span application networking (auth keys, ACL tags, service provisioning, OAuth clients, Tailscale SSH and SSH console, Tailscale Funnel for public HTTPS sharing), continuous monitoring (webhooks, configuration audit logs, network flow logs, log stream to SIEM partners, SSH session recordings to S3-compatible storage), least privilege access (ACLs with RBAC, ACL tests, GitOps for ACLs via GitHub or GitLab, just-in-time access, separation of admin duties), Mobile Device Management via system policies and MDM integrations, network connectivity (split tunneling, HA subnet routers, MagicDNS, search domains, 4via6 collision resolution, exit nodes, regional routing on Premium+, Kubernetes ingress, egress, and API proxy), posture management (device approval, Tailnet lock, EDR/XDR/MDM integrations including CrowdStrike, geolocation, custom attributes), services management (node sharing, Taildrop file transfer, central service monitoring, HTTPS certificates, tsnet to embed Tailscale in Go programs), user management (SSO with IdP, custom OIDC provider, user approval, custom auth periods, SCIM, basic and advanced user roles, user management APIs), and AI governance via Aperture by Tailscale (unified governance for AI agents, LLM session recordings, MCP tool calls). Platform extensions cover PAM for K8s, SSH, and databases, plus CI/CD, workload, and IoT/edge connectivity at scale.
Tailscale offers a 14-day free trial for business customers with no user limit. Integrations: 65+ to 100+ are referenced, with named ones including GitHub, GitLab, CrowdStrike, AWS Marketplace, Azure, S3-compatible storage, and Mullvad.
Tailscale fits engineering-heavy organizations that want to replace legacy VPNs with a lightweight, identity-based mesh that connects devices, servers, and cloud resources regardless of where they sit on the network.
Disclaimer: This review is based on public information from the Tailscale website, including the main page, the pricing page, and the features page, accessed on May 15, 2026.
The right VPN service for your business depends on what you need it to do. If the team needs a full zero-trust platform with built-in threat protection and the broadest set of identity provider integrations, NordLayer is a strong fit. If self-hosted control and standards-based protocols matter more, OpenVPN CloudConnexa® delivers ZTNA, SSE, and Terraform-driven IaC. Privacy-first teams gravitate toward Proton VPN for Business, while engineering-heavy organizations often prefer Tailscale's mesh model and AI governance via Aperture. GoodAccess sits in the middle with simple, SMB-focused zero trust.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only, is based on publicly available user reviews, product documentation, and online sources accessed on May 15, 2026, and should not be considered definitive or permanent. The views presented reflect aggregated user opinions and are not endorsements.
While we strive for accuracy and completeness, Nord Security Inc. and its affiliates make no guarantees regarding the information's accuracy, completeness, or suitability. We do not undertake, warrant, or represent that any product, or its feature, is or will remain publicly regarded as better or worse than other options, serve any purpose, has mentioned features, benefits, strengths, and limitations for any period of time. Product features, pricing, and other details may change, and we advise readers to verify these directly with vendors. Readers should conduct their own research and seek independent advice before making purchasing decisions. We disclaim liability for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on this information. The inclusion of competitor products does not imply affiliation or endorsement, and all trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
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