Quick Comparison
| Protocol | Speed | Security | Stability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | General use, streaming, mobile devices | |||
| OpenVPN | Maximum security, bypassing censorship | |||
| IKEv2/IPsec | Mobile devices, network switching | |||
| L2TP/IPsec | Legacy systems, basic privacy | |||
| PPTP | Not recommended for any use | |||
| SSTP | Windows users behind restrictive firewalls |
Protocol Details
WireGuard
Introduced: 2020
The newest and fastest VPN protocol. Uses state-of-the-art cryptography and has a minimal codebase making it easier to audit.
Pros
- •Fastest speeds
- •Modern cryptography
- •Small codebase (4,000 lines)
- •Low battery usage on mobile
Cons
- •Newer, less battle-tested
- •Static IP assignment concerns
- •Not all VPNs support it yet
Technical: Uses ChaCha20 for encryption, Curve25519 for key exchange, BLAKE2s for hashing
OpenVPN
Introduced: 2001
The industry standard for over two decades. Open-source, highly configurable, and proven secure through extensive auditing.
Pros
- •Open-source and audited
- •Highly configurable
- •Works on all platforms
- •Can bypass firewalls
Cons
- •Slower than WireGuard
- •Complex configuration
- •Can be CPU-intensive
Technical: Uses OpenSSL library, supports AES-256-GCM, configurable ports (TCP/UDP)
IKEv2/IPsec
Introduced: 2005
Developed by Microsoft and Cisco. Excellent for mobile devices due to its MOBIKE protocol that handles network switching.
Pros
- •Great for mobile
- •Fast reconnection
- •Stable connections
- •Native support on many devices
Cons
- •Closed-source (Microsoft)
- •Potential NSA concerns
- •Can be blocked by firewalls
Technical: Uses IPsec encryption, MOBIKE for seamless network transitions
L2TP/IPsec
Introduced: 1999
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol paired with IPsec for encryption. Built into most operating systems but showing its age.
Pros
- •Built into most OS
- •Easy to set up
- •Reasonably secure
Cons
- •Slow (double encapsulation)
- •Potentially compromised by NSA
- •Easily blocked
Technical: Uses AES-256 or 3DES encryption, UDP port 500/4500
PPTP
Introduced: 1999
One of the oldest VPN protocols. Fast but severely outdated and should not be used for security.
Pros
- •Very fast
- •Easy setup
- •Wide compatibility
Cons
- •Broken encryption
- •Easily cracked
- •Not secure at all
Technical: Uses MPPE 128-bit encryption (broken), TCP port 1723
SSTP
Introduced: 2008
Microsoft's proprietary protocol that uses SSL/TLS. Good at bypassing firewalls but Windows-only focus.
Pros
- •Bypasses most firewalls
- •Strong encryption
- •Native Windows support
Cons
- •Microsoft proprietary
- •Windows-focused
- •Closed-source concerns
Technical: Uses SSL 3.0/TLS, AES-256 encryption, TCP port 443
Our Recommendation
Use WireGuard for the best balance of speed and security. Fall back to OpenVPN if you need maximum compatibility or are bypassing censorship.
Find VPNs with WireGuard