By easy to use, I mean opening the program and seeing available servers, clicking on them and connecting.
All the open source VPNs I find either require me to set profiles, give server details, compile the software on my own, or does not have a GUI. I’m just looking for a VPN for an individual and I don’t understand why it’s so complicated.
Thank you.
You are looking for a free service not for a programm with an accessible sourcecode i guess.
There’s a reason why companies make money from selling VPN products and it’s the one you’ve described above. If you don’t have the inclination or ability to work through setting up a profile then you’ll have to pay I’m afraid. It’s complicated because nothing is really free. If someone has developed a product like OpenVPN someone would have to develop a GUI to sit on top of it, then someone has to pay for the servers and host them and maintain routing the traffic.
Also to help your question what operating system are you using? What are you hoping to gain from using a VPN. Anything free and easy like you’re looking for will have draw backs like advertising, using your data etc
No, I know what open source is and that’s what I’m looking for. Never encountered a program that is open source but isn’t free.
I know there are programs like NordVPN for instance, but since they’re not open source I rather not use them.
Thanks for your answer. I’m an ordinary user, using Windows 10, and want VPN for privacy, nothing more.
One little note, I am currently using SoftEther VPN client which is both open source and easy to use, however most servers it has are Japanese or Korean and I want the ability to connect to other servers. If they can provide a GUI for an ordinary user, why can’t others?
It doesn’t seem like they have the biggest problem you mentioned here which is paying for the servers.
NordVPN is not a program, it’s a service. They happen to provide a bundled app, but the service is based on OpenVPN. So you can use any OpenVPN compatible client.
Most of the VPN service providers work this way.
You mentioned you want open source software… you’re using Windows 10 which is proprietary and horrible for privacy. based on your enthousiasm towards open source, you should give Linux a try. Also, MullvadVPN has its client apps open source and is probably the most recommended (based on my observations) here on reddit concerning privacy VPN. Also see this: https://www.privacytools.io/providers/vpn/
Concerning Windows: https://www.privacytools.io/operating-systems/#win10
I pasted 2 links from privacytools because they’re well respected and transparent regarding privacy services/apps they recommend.
Soft ether is sponsored by a university. They will host the servers. Have you had a look at VPN gate for more servers though?
Thank you. Can these .ovpn files help me if I load them into the OpenVPN client?
I tried loading them into the client but I need a username and password… so I assume the answer is no.
Have you had a look at VPN gate for more servers though?
I’m assuming you’re referring to this:
The SoftEther client actually connects to the VPN gate servers, so it seems I’m using it already 
Are there by any chance other server lists like VPN gate? (at least it seems like a server list)
It depends on how the OpenVPN server has been set up. If it uses uname and pword for auth then you’ll need them
That’s the one. The list doesn’t look as diverse as it used to (>10 years ago)