WireGuard vs OpenVPN: Which VPN Protocol Wins In 2025?

VPNs are essential for internet security. They encrypt your web traffic, mask your IP and keep your data safe from hackers, ISPs and surveillance. This provides privacy and security, particularly on public Wi-Fi. VPNs also help bypass geo-restrictions, allowing access to international content.

OpenVPN and WireGuard are excellent VPN protocols. OpenVPN is reputed for its high security and broad compatibility. WireGuard, a more recent choice, provides speed and efficiency.

Here, we compare them and lay out their differences and similarities. We shall assist you in making a choice depending on your requirements.

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Which One Should You Roll With?

➤ OpenVPN: The OG VPN Protocol

➤ WireGuard: The New Kid On The Block

➤ WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Key Differences

➤ What They Have In Common

➤ Pick Your Best Bet: WireGuard Or OpenVPN?

What Is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a strong, open-source VPN protocol. Released in 2001, it is an older and established VPN protocol. The fact that it is open-source means its code is in the public eye, where anyone can look at it, meaning that it supports transparency and security.

This also gives developers and security professionals an opportunity to check it out and refine the protocol, making it a more dependable choice. OpenVPN’s versatility and robust security options have earned it widespread use among VPN providers and customers.

How Does OpenVPN Function?

OpenVPN uses the SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) protocol for most of its encryption and authentication. This is the same cryptography that protects websites using HTTPS.

Once a connection has been made, OpenVPN shakes hands. This is done by trading certificates and keys to authenticate the client and server identity.

The data is encrypted through ciphers such as AES, offering high levels of protection. OpenVPN may run on both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

TCP offers guaranteed delivery of data but at a slower pace, while UDP is fast but can lose packets. This enables users to adjust their connections to suit their needs.

OpenVPN Pros and Cons

For a better understanding let’s learn about the pros and cons of the OpenVPN protocol:

Pros

→ Robust Security and Encryption: OpenVPN’s use of SSL/TLS and strong cyphers provide excellent security.

→ Extensive Compatibility: It is compatible with almost all operating systems and devices, making it extremely versatile.

→ Extremely Configurable: Users can tweak different settings to tailor their connection for particular uses.

Cons

→ Slower Speeds: Its advanced encryption and handshake process can result in slower speeds than newer protocols.

→ Complex Setup: Manually configuring OpenVPN might be complicated for less tech-savvy individuals.

→ Greater Resource Consumption: It may take higher CPU resources, particularly on low-end devices.

VPNs Featuring OpenVPN

Several popular VPN services include OpenVPN as one of their options. Some of these include:

→ NordVPN: NordVPN offers strong OpenVPN support, enabling highly secure and customizable connections. To learn more about its advanced security features, visit NordVPN’s security guide.

→ ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN provides OpenVPN as its base protocol, with excellent encryption and solid performance.

→ SurfShark: SurfShark comes with OpenVPN as a default choice, providing users with flexibility and added security.

→ Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA is famous for its rich OpenVPN configuration options, which appeal to power users.

→ CyberGhost: CyberGhost incorporates OpenVPN, a safe and cross-platform connection protocol with its user interface.

The services tend to provide simple applications that do the OpenVPN configuration for the users, making the process straightforward.

What Is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a state-of-the-art, open-source VPN protocol that is built with the objectives of speed, simplicity and new cryptography in mind. It was specifically built to be much faster and more efficient than its predecessors such as OpenVPN and IPsec.

WireGuard’s architecture focuses on having a small codebase, which makes auditing and maintaining easier, adding to its security.

Its new cryptography methodology employs cutting-edge algorithms, which makes it a prime candidate in the field of VPN protocols.

How WireGuard Works

WireGuard uses the Noise protocol framework, which is a collection of cryptographic protocols for secure communication.

It utilizes Curve25519 for key exchange, ChaCha20 for symmetric encryption, Poly1305 for authentication and BLAKE2s for hashing. This combination of new cryptographic primitives makes it a very secure and efficient protocol.

The handshake in WireGuard is optimized over OpenVPN, resulting in quicker connection times. Data transfer is also optimized, with minimal overhead and maximum speed.

WireGuard largely employs UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which is speedy and has low latency, which is great for applications that need high-speed data transfer.

WireGuard Pros and Cons

Let’s explore its pros and cons to learn more about it:

Pros

→ Much Faster Speeds: WireGuard’s compact design and new cryptography achieve much higher connection speeds than legacy protocols.

→ Modern and Efficient Code: It has a smaller codebase that makes it simpler to audit and maintain, improving security and reliability.

→ Simpler Setup and Configuration: WireGuard is user-friendly, with easier configuration than OpenVPN.

→ Lower Resource Requirements: It uses less CPU resources, so it’s perfect for routers and mobile devices.

Cons

→ Relatively Newer Protocol: As a newer protocol, it has not been as thoroughly tested as older protocols such as OpenVPN.

→ Early Worries about Static IP Address Assignment: There were worries in early implementations regarding user privacy based on how IP addresses were managed, but this issue has been tackled by most current VPN implementations.

→ Less Supported by Older Devices: Older devices or operating systems could have less or no support for WireGuard.

VPNs Supporting WireGuard

Most VPN companies have implemented WireGuard, considering its benefits. Some examples are:

→ NordVPN: NordVPN supports WireGuard through its NordLynx protocol with better speed and security.

→ ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN offers WireGuard as a protocol choice, offering faster and more streamlined VPN connections.

→ SurfShark: SurfShark provides WireGuard support, which enables users to enjoy enhanced performance and security.

→ Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA supports WireGuard, allowing users to access its performance and efficient architecture.

→ Mullvad VPN: Mullvad VPN is a big supporter of WireGuard, highlighting its speed and security capabilities.

WireGuard vs OpenVPN: What Are The Differences?

Elaborating on OpenVPN vs WireGuard there are significant differences between them that are described below:

Speed

✔️ WireGuard: Faster than OpenVPN due to its modern cryptography and efficient handshake, resulting in lower latency and higher throughput.

❌ OpenVPN: Slower than WireGuard because of its complex encryption and connection setup, leading to higher latency and reduced speed.

Security

✔️ WireGuard: Uses modern cryptographic algorithms and has a smaller codebase, resulting in a reduced attack surface.

❌ OpenVPN: Relies on established SSL/TLS encryption, offering proven security but with a larger codebase, which may increase complexity.

Codebase Size

✔️ WireGuard: Has a smaller codebase (thousands of lines), making it easier to audit, maintain, and secure with fewer vulnerabilities.

❌ OpenVPN: Contains hundreds of thousands of lines of code, making security audits and maintenance more complex with a larger attack surface.

Configuration Complexity

✔️ WireGuard: Designed for simplicity, offering an easy setup and configuration, even for non-technical users.

❌OpenVPN: Has a more complex setup, requiring manual configuration that can be challenging for beginners.

Resource Usage

✔️ WireGuard: More power-efficient, using less CPU, making it ideal for smartphones and routers.

❌ OpenVPN: More resource-intensive, consuming higher CPU power, which may impact performance on low-power devices.

Technical Differences Between WireGuard and OpenVPN

Talking about technical details on WireGuard vs OpenVPN:

Cryptographic Methods

✔️ WireGuard: Uses modern cryptographic primitives like Curve25519, ChaCha20, Poly1305 and BLAKE2s for enhanced security and efficiency.

❌ OpenVPN: Relies on SSL/TLS encryption, supporting a variety of ciphers like AES, offering proven but older security methods.

Connection Establishment

✔️ WireGuard: Features an optimized and minimal handshake, enabling faster connection establishment.

❌ OpenVPN: Uses a more complex handshake process, leading to longer connection setup times.

Protocol

✔️ WireGuard: Primarily uses UDP, ensuring faster speeds and lower latency.

❌ OpenVPN: Supports both TCP and UDP, offering flexibility but potentially slower speeds with TCP.

Similarities Between OpenVPN vs WireGuard

Now that you have learned a lot about the difference between OpenVPN and WireGuard we cannot neglect the fact both of them are the best VPN protocols in their own class and serve users in various similar terms:

Secure Connections

Both are meant to make secure, encrypted connections between the user’s system and a VPN server.

The main function of both is the protection of information from unauthorized individuals.

Encryption

Both OpenVPN and WireGuard use robust methods of encryption that jumble the data, which cannot be interpreted by anyone else without the decrypting key.

This keeps secret information confidential over the transmission period.

IP Masking

One of the central functions of both protocols is to hide the user’s actual IP address, substituting it with the IP of the VPN server.

This increases online anonymity and privacy.

Does OpenVPN or WireGuard Offer Better Encryption?

This is a subtle question:

WireGuard’s New Cryptography

WireGuard uses cutting-edge cryptographic primitives, including Curve25519, ChaCha20 and Poly1305.

These are deemed highly secure and efficient. WireGuard’s design focuses on a minimalist and new-school approach to cryptography.

OpenVPN’s Proven Track Record

OpenVPN is an old protocol and has been through rigorous security audits. Its use of the tried-and-tested SSL/TLS protocol means it enjoys years of scrutiny and improvement.

OpenVPN’s versatility means it can utilize many strong cyphers, including AES.

The Verdict

Both protocols, when properly implemented, provide strong encryption. WireGuard’s new cryptography is well-admired for being efficient and secure. OpenVPN’s legacy reputation and adaptability also make it highly secure.

Wireguard’s reduced code base does enable simpler auditing, which can then assist in quicker identification of possible security vulnerabilities.

Essentially, both protocols are secure, but they become secure in different ways. The better encryption is a matter of personal preference and priorities.

How To Choose Between WireGuard And OpenVPN

Curious about WireGuard vs OpenVPN? Which one is better? The following points can be considered while making your choice:

Speed vs Stability

→ If speed is most important to you, particularly for tasks such as downloading or video conferencing, WireGuard is usually the better option.

→ If you require bulletproof stability, especially in environments where network conditions are flaky, OpenVPN’s TCP mode may be a better option.

Ease of Use vs Advanced Configuration

→ For those who prefer a straightforward, plug-and-play experience, WireGuard’s simplified setup is a big win.

→ For those who need very fine-grained control over their VPN settings, OpenVPN’s rich configuration is better.

Device Compatibility

Make sure your devices and operating systems support your desired protocol.

Though both are commonly supported, older devices may have superior OpenVPN support. WireGuard support is growing quickly.

Is OpenVPN or WireGuard Better for Avoiding Censorship?

Both protocols can circumvent censorship, but their ability to do so may differ:

→ OpenVPN’s TCP support can sometimes prove useful in heavily censored networks since TCP traffic tends to be less likely to be censored. Its ability to cloak traffic can also be useful.

→ WireGuard’s speed can prove handy for rapidly accessing censored material, but its UDP-heavy focus may make it more likely to be blocked in some environments.

→ Neither protocol will necessarily get past all attempts at censorship.

Should I Use OpenVPN or WireGuard for Streaming?

→ WireGuard is typically a better choice for streaming because of its much higher speeds and lower latency. This means more seamless playback and less buffering.

→ OpenVPN can stream but can have issues with buffering, particularly with high-quality streams.

Should I Use OpenVPN or WireGuard for Gaming?

→ WireGuard is the hands-down winner for gaming. Its high speed and low latency are essential to reducing lag and providing a smooth gaming experience.

→ OpenVPN introduces too much latency for most online gaming.

If you’re interested in learning about other top protocols and their strengths, check out this detailed guide on VPN protocols.

Will WireGuard Replace OpenVPN?

→ It does not seem possible that WireGuard will replace OpenVPN in the near future. Although WireGuard provides tremendous benefits in terms of speed and efficiency, OpenVPN is well-entrenched with a huge population of users.

→ WireGuard’s quick uptake among large VPN services and its implementation in Linux kernels indicate a resounding trend toward its greater utilization. Its state-of-the-art design is supportive of the new trend toward accelerated and more optimized VPN protocols.

→ Yet OpenVPN’s extensibility, broad compatibility, and rich level of configuration ensure that it will remain a viable asset, particularly for those having special requirements or in complicated networking environments.

→ The switchover to WireGuard will be gradual and OpenVPN will be applicable for decades to come.

Chance of Both Protocols Existing Together

→ It’s more likely than not that WireGuard and OpenVPN will exist alongside each other in the near future. Each protocol has its own advantages and disadvantages, serving different needs and situations for users.

→ Most VPN companies already support both protocols, enabling users to pick the best for their needs. This trend is expected to prevail.

→ OpenVPN’s maturity and versatility render it a stable option for users who value stability and complex configuration.

→ WireGuard’s speed and lightness render it the best for users who value performance, particularly for applications like streaming and gaming.

So, instead of an outright replacement, we can expect to find an environment in which both protocols complement each other.

VPN.com And VPN Protocols

At vpn.com, we recognize the importance of VPN protocols in providing a secure and effective online experience. That is why we team up with the best VPN providers that support an array of solid protocols, including the popular OpenVPN and the latest WireGuard.

We carefully choose VPNs that focus on user security and performance, allowing you to get the best protocol for your unique requirements.

No matter if you need the tried-and-tested stability of OpenVPN or the lightning-fast velocities of WireGuard, vpn.com guides you through the choices, enabling you to select the ideal VPN protocol for an unhindered and secure experience online.

Wireguard vs OpenVPN: FAQs

The Bottom Line

Both OpenVPN and WireGuard are strong VPN protocols, each with its own strengths. OpenVPN provides strong security and broad compatibility, whereas WireGuard is strong on speed and efficiency.

The decision between them is based on personal requirements, focusing either on stability or performance. As the online world continues to change, both protocols will likely coexist, serving different user needs.

At vpn.com, we offer access to the best VPNs that provide these top protocols, providing a secure and optimized online experience.