ProtocolProof

The VPN protocol spec sheet

Which VPN protocol should you actually use?

WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2 — the right VPN protocol depends on what you're doing. We compare them spec by spec, in plain English, so you can pick the one to turn on in minutes.

Read the protocol guideWireGuard vs OpenVPN
Which protocol at a glance
At a glanceWireGuard2020OpenVPN2001IKEv2/IPsec2005
SpeedFastestSlowerFast
SecurityModernProvenStrong
Reach for it whenEveryday use, streaming, gamingA network blocks VPNsYour phone keeps switching networks
TransportUDP onlyUDP or TCP 443UDP 500 / 4500
Bars show relative positioning from each protocol's published design, not our own speed tests. Your real speed depends on server, distance and device.

Latest guides

All protocol guides →
14Oct 26, 2026

Most Secure VPN Protocol (2026): Five Tests, One Answer, and the Post-Quantum Layer

WireGuard with post-quantum key exchange leads; OpenVPN and IKEv2 follow; PPTP is out. Five tests, plus who turns post-quantum on by default.

guide13Oct 13, 2026

Obfuscated VPNs and Stealth Protocols, Compared (2026)

NordWhisper, Proton Stealth, Mullvad's LWO and the rest: what each one wraps, where it runs and what it switches off.

guide12Oct 13, 2026

PPTP, L2TP/IPsec and SSTP: The Legacy VPN Protocols in 2026

Why PPTP is broken, where L2TP/IPsec still fits, what SSTP is, the retirement timeline and what to switch to.

guide11Oct 13, 2026

VPN Ports: Which Port Every VPN Protocol Uses (2026)

WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, L2TP and PPTP ports in one sourced table, plus what to try when a network blocks you.

guide10Sep 21, 2026

Are VPN Protocols Safe? What They Do and Don't Protect

The mainstream VPN protocols are safe — but 'safe' has limits. What WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 actually protect, and what they don't.

guide

Start with the short answer

For almost everyone, the answer is WireGuard: it is the fastest mainstream protocol, uses modern encryption, and is easy on battery. You only need to switch for a specific reason — OpenVPN when a network blocks VPNs, IKEv2 when your phone keeps dropping the connection as you move. Our full guide to which VPN protocol to use lays out every option with a spec sheet you can read in two minutes.

What makes ProtocolProof different

Plenty of sites tell you which VPN to buy, and plenty define what a VPN is. We sit in between: the reference for the person who already has a VPN and wants to know which protocol to leave switched on, and why. Every claim here comes from a protocol's published specification or a reputable dated source — not from speed tests we didn't run. When an answer depends on your hardware or your provider, we give you the decision rule instead of a false winner.

Where to go next

If you're weighing the two most common options, read WireGuard vs OpenVPN. To understand the modern default, see WireGuard explained. And to cut through the marketing around AES-256 vs ChaCha20 encryption, start there — it's the one place the cipher choice actually matters.

Common questions

Which VPN protocol should I use?
For almost everyone, WireGuard (or a provider's WireGuard-based option like NordLynx) is the right default — it is fast, modern and battery-friendly. Switch to OpenVPN or IKEv2 only for a specific reason: OpenVPN on TCP 443 when a network blocks VPNs, or IKEv2 if your connection drops every time you move between Wi-Fi and cellular.
Is WireGuard or OpenVPN better?
They are built for different priorities. WireGuard wins on speed, simplicity and a tiny, easy-to-audit codebase; OpenVPN wins on flexibility and getting through restrictive firewalls because it can run on TCP port 443 and look like ordinary web traffic. Most people should default to WireGuard and keep OpenVPN as the backup.
What is the fastest VPN protocol?
WireGuard is generally the fastest mainstream protocol, and provider variants built on it — NordVPN's NordLynx and ExpressVPN's Lightway — are in the same class. Speed on your device also depends on distance to the server, its load and your own connection, so a protocol sets the ceiling rather than guaranteeing a number.
Is a VPN protocol the same as encryption?
No — they are two different layers. The protocol (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2) sets up the connection and moves packets; the cipher (ChaCha20-Poly1305 or AES-256-GCM) scrambles the data inside it. The protocol decides which cipher runs, which is why 'AES-256' alone tells you little about how good a connection is.
Which protocol is best on a phone?
WireGuard and IKEv2 are both strong on mobile. IKEv2 is excellent at surviving network switches (its MOBIKE feature reconnects when you move from Wi-Fi to cellular), while WireGuard reconnects almost instantly and uses less battery. On phones without dedicated AES hardware, a ChaCha20-based protocol like WireGuard is also usually the more efficient choice.