There are a variety of VPN protocols, and each VPN protocol has its pros and cons.
So, you might be asking yourself, “What is the best protocol for a VPN?”.
To help you with that, here is a comparison of the six best VPN protocols.
The Major VPN Protocols
In the background of any VPN is a VPN protocol.
A VPN protocol dictates how the VPN works under the hood.
See our article onwhat a VPN isfor more details.
Logo credit: OpenVPN Inc./Wikimedia Commons
There are a variety of VPN protocols, but we’ll only be comparing the major ones.
They include Wireguard, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, IKEv2, and PPTP.
This is because each protocol has strengths and weaknesses.
Wireguard
Wireguard is the latest kid on the block.
It’s a fast and open-source VPN protocol still in active development.
Although it’s in development, Wireguard is available to use.
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The only caveat is it’s not ubiquitous in commercial VPN services like older protocols.
Wireguard’s key strengths include its open-source nature and fast speed.
The protocol’s top-notch speed is all thanks to its smaller codebase.
Wireguard also doesn’t hurt battery life as much as other VPN protocols on mobile devices.
Wireguard leverages a wide range of modern encryption techniques, which gives it an edge over old protocols.
Primary use case scenarios include online gaming, video streaming, and downloading large files over the internet.
OpenVPN
Similar to Wireguard, OpenVPN is also open source.
Alongside 2048-bit RSA authentication, OpenVPN utilizes the industry-wide AES-256 bit key encryption standard for security.
It also uses other security protocols, making it one of the most secure VPN protocols.
For starters, UDP prioritizes speed, and TCP is for reliability.
Additionally, OpenVPN is highly configurable, allowing you to dictate various things beforehand.
While this is a plus for expert users, it can be challenging for beginners.
Some example scenarios where you might want to use OpenVPN include when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
Check out our article onwhat is OpenVPN and how to use itfor more details.
This is because PPTP is no longer secure.
PPTP excels in transmission speed, which is due to its lax nature on security matters.
It’s one of the best VPN protocols for streaming.
So, for instance, when you switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi.
IKEv2 comes in handy on mobile devices due to its fast speed and stable connection.
It’s also suitable for streaming, thanks to its transmission speeds.
Although there are no publicly known vulnerabilities, some reports claim that the NSA compromised IPsec.
SSTP
Microsoft owns SSTP or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, and it is one ofthe major VPN protocols available.
In terms of speed, SSTP performs fairly well.
However, it’s not fast enough to recommend for streaming or any use that requires fast transmission speeds.
L2TP/IPsec
L2TP/IPsec is an upgrade to L2F (Layer 2 Forwarding Protocol) and PPTP.
L2TP stands for Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol and, at its most basic, is just a tunneling protocol.
Like IKEv2, it adds a layer of the IPsec suite for secure tunneling that uses AES-256 bit encryption.
However, L2TP is not as secure as the open-source OpenVPN protocol.
One of the key reasons being it uses UDP by default on port 500.
And when it comes to speed, L2TP/IPsec isn’t the fastest VPN protocol.
Its primary selling point is stability and wide support, similar to OpenVPN.
Or, say, it’s the only option available.
Unsurprisingly, commercial VPNs are dropping support for L2TP.
A good example is NordVPN and Cyberghost VPN, two of ourbest VPN services.
Which Is the Best VPN Protocol Right Now?
There’s no overall best VPN protocol.
All VPN protocols have their pros and cons and are hence most applicable in different scenarios.
As seen above, Wireguard is excellent for its speed and security but doesn’t feature comprehensive support.
OpenVPN is highly configurable and excels in its stability, broad support, and versatility.
IKEv2 is mobile-friendly and sports fast speeds, while L2TP/IPsec is handy for basic use.
However, both IKEv2 and L2TP are not considered well secure.
SSTP is only suitable for its security features but falls short in other areas.
And while PPTP lags security-wise, it’s fast and handy for streaming.
