WireGuard offers the best speed and modern security. OpenVPN is battle-tested and highly configurable. IKEv2 excels on mobile. Avoid PPTP entirely-its encryption is broken.
Quick Recommendation
- Best overall: WireGuard - fastest, modern security, great for mobile
- Best for compatibility: OpenVPN - works everywhere, bypasses firewalls
- Best for mobile: IKEv2 - seamless network switching
- Avoid: PPTP - broken encryption, never use
What Is a VPN Protocol?
A VPN protocol is the set of rules that determines how data is encrypted, transmitted, and authenticated between your device and the VPN server. Think of it as the "language" your device and the VPN speak to each other.
Different protocols make different trade-offs between:
- Security: Encryption strength and vulnerability to attacks
- Speed: How much overhead the encryption adds
- Stability: Connection reliability, especially on mobile
- Compatibility: Which devices and networks support it
- Obfuscation: Ability to bypass firewalls and deep packet inspection
Key Components of a VPN Protocol:
- Encryption cipher: Algorithm that scrambles your data (e.g., AES-256, ChaCha20)
- Key exchange: How encryption keys are securely shared (e.g., RSA, ECDH)
- Authentication: Verifying data hasn't been tampered with (e.g., HMAC-SHA256)
- Transport: How packets are sent (TCP vs UDP)
Protocol Comparison Table
| Protocol | Security | Speed | Stability | Mobile | Firewall Bypass | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | Best Overall |
| OpenVPN | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Most Compatible |
| IKEv2/IPsec | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | Best for Mobile |
| L2TP/IPsec | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Legacy |
| PPTP | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Never Use |
WireGuard
WireGuard is the newest major VPN protocol, released in 2020. It was designed from the ground up to be simpler, faster, and more secure than existing protocols. With only ~4,000 lines of code (vs OpenVPN's 100,000+), it's easier to audit and has a smaller attack surface.
Technical Specifications
- Encryption: ChaCha20 (symmetric), Curve25519 (key exchange), Poly1305 (authentication)
- Transport: UDP only
- Codebase: ~4,000 lines
- Default port: 51820/UDP
Quick Stats
Speed: Excellent
Security: Excellent
Battery: Excellent
Support: Most VPNs
Pros
- Fastest VPN protocol available
- Modern, state-of-the-art cryptography
- Minimal code = fewer bugs, easier audits
- Excellent battery life on mobile
- Instant connections and reconnections
- Built into Linux kernel
Cons
- UDP only-can be blocked by firewalls
- Stores user IP by default (privacy concern)
- Less configurable than OpenVPN
- Newer-less battle-tested
- No built-in obfuscation
Privacy Note
WireGuard stores the last-used IP address in memory by default. Reputable VPN providers implement workarounds (like NordVPN's "Double NAT" or Mullvad's approach) to ensure no identifying data is retained.
Best For:
- Daily use and general browsing
- Streaming (fast speeds)
- Mobile devices (battery efficiency, quick reconnects)
- Gaming (low latency)
OpenVPN
OpenVPN has been the industry standard since 2001. It's open-source, heavily audited, and extremely configurable. While not as fast as WireGuard, it remains the most trusted and compatible protocol available.
Technical Specifications
- Encryption: AES-256-GCM (default), supports many ciphers
- Key exchange: RSA or ECDH
- Authentication: HMAC-SHA256/SHA512
- Transport: TCP or UDP
- Codebase: ~100,000+ lines
- Default ports: 1194/UDP or 443/TCP
Quick Stats
Speed: Good
Security: Excellent
Flexibility: Excellent
Support: Universal
Pros
- 20+ years of security audits
- Highly configurable
- Can run on TCP port 443 (looks like HTTPS)
- Works on almost any device
- Open source and transparent
- Supports obfuscation plugins
Cons
- Slower than WireGuard
- Large codebase (harder to audit)
- Higher battery consumption on mobile
- Complex configuration
- Slower connection establishment
TCP vs UDP
| OpenVPN UDP | OpenVPN TCP |
|---|---|
| Faster (no error correction overhead) | Slower but more reliable |
| Better for streaming, gaming | Better for unstable connections |
| May be blocked by firewalls | Can use port 443 (hard to block) |
| Default choice for most users | Use when UDP is blocked |
Best For:
- Bypassing firewalls and censorship (TCP mode on port 443)
- Maximum compatibility with older devices
- Situations requiring custom configuration
- Users who prioritize proven security over speed
IKEv2/IPsec
IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) paired with IPsec is a protocol developed by Microsoft and Cisco. It's known for excellent stability, especially on mobile devices where it handles network switching seamlessly.
Technical Specifications
- Encryption: AES-256 (via IPsec)
- Key exchange: Diffie-Hellman
- Authentication: X.509 certificates or PSK
- Transport: UDP ports 500, 4500
- MOBIKE: Supports seamless network switching
Quick Stats
Speed: Very Good
Security: Very Good
Mobile: Excellent
Support: Built into most OS
Pros
- Excellent for mobile (MOBIKE support)
- Fast reconnection after network changes
- Built into Windows, iOS, macOS
- Good speeds
- Strong security when properly configured
Cons
- Closed-source (Microsoft/Cisco)
- Theoretical NSA concerns (unproven)
- Easy to block (fixed ports)
- Limited to UDP
- Less flexible than OpenVPN
Best For:
- Mobile devices (iOS, Android)
- Users who frequently switch between Wi-Fi and cellular
- When WireGuard isn't available
- Native OS VPN configuration (no app needed)
L2TP/IPsec
L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) combined with IPsec for encryption is an older protocol that's still supported by many devices. It's generally considered secure but has been largely superseded by newer options.
Legacy Protocol
L2TP/IPsec is outdated. Use WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2 instead. Only use L2TP if no other option is available on your device.
Pros
- Built into most operating systems
- Easy to set up manually
- Reasonably secure with IPsec
Cons
- Potentially compromised by NSA (Snowden leaks)
- Slower due to double encapsulation
- Easy to block (fixed ports)
- Firewall issues common
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)
Security Warning: Never Use PPTP
PPTP's encryption (MS-CHAPv2) was completely broken in 2012. Traffic encrypted with PPTP can be decrypted in minutes using freely available tools. PPTP provides no real security and should never be used.
PPTP was developed by Microsoft in the 1990s and was once widely used due to its speed and built-in Windows support. However, its encryption has been thoroughly compromised.
Why PPTP Is Broken:
- MS-CHAPv2 authentication can be cracked to a single DES key
- Tools like
chapcrackcan break it in under a day - CloudCracker service can crack it in minutes
- No forward secrecy-past traffic can be decrypted if key is compromised
The only "advantage" of PPTP is speed-because it barely encrypts anything. If a VPN provider still offers PPTP, question their security practices.
Proprietary Protocols
Some VPN providers have developed their own protocols, often based on or improving upon existing ones:
| Protocol | Provider | Based On | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordLynx | NordVPN | WireGuard | Adds double NAT for privacy; excellent performance |
| Lightway | ExpressVPN | Custom (wolfSSL) | Open-sourced; fast connections, good security |
| Chameleon | VyprVPN | OpenVPN | Obfuscation to bypass DPI and censorship |
| Catapult Hydra | Hotspot Shield | Proprietary | Fast but closed-source; limited auditing |
How to Choose the Right Protocol
| Your Priority | Best Protocol | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | WireGuard | Fastest protocol, minimal overhead |
| Streaming | WireGuard | Best speeds for HD/4K content |
| Gaming | WireGuard | Lowest latency |
| Mobile | WireGuard or IKEv2 | Battery efficiency, seamless reconnection |
| Bypassing Firewalls | OpenVPN (TCP/443) | Looks like HTTPS traffic |
| Censorship Circumvention | OpenVPN + Obfuscation | Defeats deep packet inspection |
| Maximum Compatibility | OpenVPN | Works on any device |
| Proven Security | OpenVPN | 20+ years of audits |
| No App Available | IKEv2 or OpenVPN | Built into most operating systems |
Decision Flowchart
- Default choice: Use WireGuard if available
- If WireGuard is blocked: Try OpenVPN UDP
- If UDP is blocked: Use OpenVPN TCP on port 443
- If OpenVPN is blocked: Use obfuscated protocols (Shadowsocks, obfs4)
- On mobile without VPN app: Use IKEv2 (built-in)