OpenVPN is completely free to use since its open-source, which means the code is publicly available to anyone.
WireGuard is a VPN protocol, which means its responsible for how a VPN connection is established and secured.
WireGuard is open-source and was developed by Jason A. Donenfeld.
I confirmed this by running multiple speed tests with both OpenVPN and WireGuard.
WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Security
Both VPN protocols provide excellent security.
Each ones uses very good encryption ciphers, which are used to make your data unreadable.
Also, some OpenVPN support articles even recommend using ChaCha20 as an alternative to AES.
And, it also provides a bigger attack surface that cybercriminals could have a go at exploit.
WireGuard uses Poly1305, while OpenVPN can use poly1305, CBC, GCM, ECB, and more.
Finally, neither protocol has any known security vulnerabilities.
Winner (Security): Its a tie
Theres really no way to pick a winner here.
Plus, they both support perfect forward secrecy, and neither protocol has any serious security vulnerabilities.
The main thing is that both WireGuard and OpenVPN are open-source.
However, by default, only OpenVPN doesnt require any throw in of logging.
So, the VPN providers that use it dont need to implement any changes to protect users privacy.
WireGuards default build, on the other hand, comes with some privacy concerns.
This is simply needed for a VPN connection to be established otherwise, it wont work.
That said, OpenVPN still provides excellent privacy and security, and has also passed multiple independent audits.
This is the port thats used by HTTPS traffic.
WireGuard, on the other hand, cant use TCP ports, only UDP ports.
Also, OpenVPN supports obfuscation, which is a security feature that hides VPN traffic.
WireGuard, however, doesnt officially support obfuscation.
Most top VPNs that provide obfuscation only support via the OpenVPN protocol (or via their proprietary protocols).
Most top VPNs also provide built-in access to OpenVPN and WireGuard on the majority of their apps.
Also, PIA and Surfshark support OpenVPN on all iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
OpenVPN doesnt handle web connection changes that well, so your VPN might disconnect, which is inconvenient.
On top of that, WireGuard might also use less of your phones battery compared to OpenVPN.
Winner (Mobility & Data Usage): WireGuard
WireGuard is simply better in this case.
Also, it uses less of your devices battery and mobile data than OpenVPN due to its lightweight build.
Thats because its more lightweight, so it provides significantly faster speeds.
In addition, its also much easier to audit the protocols code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WireGuard faster than OpenVPN?
Yes, WireGuard has significantly faster connection speeds than OpenVPN I have confirmed this in multiple speed tests.
This is mostly because WireGuards library is much more lightweight than OpenVPNs library.
Is WireGuard more secure than OpenVPN?
No, I personally think thatboth protocols provide excellent security.
While OpenVPN can use more encryption methods, WireGuard still comes with state-of-the-art encryption ciphers that are extremely strong.
Does WireGuard work in China?
So, a restrictive government would be able to block WireGuard connections via VPN traffic blocks and port blocking.
I generally recommend that people who live in or are traveling through restrictive countries use OpenVPN instead.
Which is better for privacy WireGuard or OpenVPN?
Both protocols are really good for protecting your privacy, to be honest.
True, WireGuards default build has some privacy issues that require the logging of VPN users IP addresses.
Read more about the best VPNs in 2025
