How to set up PureVPN on pfSense router

Want to use OpenVPN with PureVPN on pfSense? Just follow this step-by-step guide.

Written By Lorenzo Vincent

Updated at December 26th, 2023

pfSense is an open-source firewall and router that is available completely free of cost. It offers load balancing, unified threat management along with multi WAN amongst other features for those particularly concerned about their online security. Fortunately, users can further enhance its capabilities via PureVPN’s OpenVPN, which can be set up on the latest pfSense (2.5.2) by following the given steps:

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Note: Dedicated IP addon can be only be connected with Ras protocol i.e PPTP/L2TP/SSTP.

Find your VPN credentials for manual configuration

To find your VPN credentials log into the PureVPN Member Area. Click 👉 here to visit Member Area.

  • Login to the Member Area using your PureVPN registered email address and password.

  • On Subscription tab scroll down to be able to view your VPN credentials.

  • You will be able to see and copy your VPN credentials.
  • Note down your PureVPN username and click the Eye icon to make your password visible and use it in the manual configuration.

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How to set up OpenVPN on pfSense (2.5.2) router

  • In order to configure OpenVPN on pfSense, first download the required OpenVPN files from link below and extract them.
  • After login, Go to the Cert Manager option under System and then click + Add to add a new CA certificate.


  • Now enter the following information:
    1. Descriptive name: PureVPN_CA
    2. Method: Import an existing Certificate Authority
    3. Certificate Data: Open the ca2.crt file, copy and paste it’s content in the box.
    4. Click Save button to save the file.

  • Now go to the VPN option and select OpenVPN then select the Clients tab and then click +Add to create a VPN profile.


  • Now enter the following details:
    1. Server Mode: Peer-to-Peer (SSL/TLS)
    2. Protocol: TCP on IPv4 only or UDP on IPv4 only
    3. Device Mode: tun- Layer 3 Tunnel Mode
    4. Interface: WAN
    5. Server host or address: de-obf-ovpn.pointtoserver.com (You can use your desired server address here)
    6. Server Port: Enter 80 for TCP or 53 for UDP
    7. Proxy Authentication: None
    8. Avoid configuring or changing any other options.
    9. Username: Enter your PureVPN username.
    10. Password: Enter your PureVPN password.
    11. Under ‘Cryptographic Settings’ select the following options:
    12. TLS Configuration: Use a TLS Key. Uncheck the ‘Automatically generate a TLS Key’.
    13. Open the Wdc.key, copy and paste its content in the next box that pops up.
    14. TLS Key Usage Mode: TLS Authentication
    15. TLS Keydir Direction: Use default direction
    16. Peer Certificate Authority: PureVPN_CA (select the CA you created in step#1)
    17. Client Certificate: None
    18. Enable Data Encryption Negotiation: Checked
    19. Data Encryption Algorithm: Add AES-128-GCM and AES-256-CBC in the allowed list.
    20. Fallback Data Encryption Algorithm: AES-256-GCM
    21. Authentication digest Algorithm: SHA1 (160 bit)
    22. Hardware Crypto: No Hardware Crypto Acceleration
    23. Under Advanced Settings keep the Gateway as ‘IPv4 only
    24. After entering all the details, click on the Save button.



  • Now go to the NAT option under Firewall tab.

  • Select Outbound and then click on Manual Outbound NAT rule generation. Advanced Outbound NAT (AON) Click Save and then Apply Changes.

  • You will see a Mappings window. Each WAN perimeter within needs to be changed to OpenVPN. This can be done after clicking on the Edit button.

  • Click on Editicon and make the following changes:
    1. Change the Interface from WAN to OpenVPN.
    2. Address Family: IPv4
    3. Protocol: Any
    4. Once done, click Save to apply changes.

  • Above step is repeated three times across the board for all interfaces to change them to OpenVPN, after which the mappings window will look something like this:

  • Now go to the Status tab and select OpenVPN under it to check your connection status.

  • PureVPN is connected now on your pfSense 2.4.5

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