VPN Protocols Explained: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
A VPN protocol defines how a device authenticates, encrypts, and transports data. The choice can affect speed, reliability, battery use, and how quickly a connection recovers after a network change.
WireGuard
WireGuard is known for a compact codebase and efficient modern cryptography. It often offers quick handshakes and low overhead, making it attractive on phones and everyday networks. Providers still need sound address-assignment and logging practices around it.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is mature, open source, and highly configurable. It can use UDP for lower overhead or TCP for compatibility in some restrictive networks. TCP may connect in situations where UDP does not, but it can add latency when reliability mechanisms are duplicated.
IKEv2/IPsec and choosing a protocol
IKEv2/IPsec can recover quickly when a phone moves between Wi-Fi and mobile data. No protocol is best on every network. Automatic selection is a sensible default; change protocols when troubleshooting compatibility, stability, or performance.