If you‘re concerned about protecting your privacy and security online, using a VPN (virtual private network) is a must these days. However, not all VPN services are equal when it comes to the underlying protocols that encrypt and route your traffic. As a cybersecurity advisor, I always tell people – it pays to understand the core protocols that top VPN providers use before making a decision.
The protocol can have a huge impact on speed, reliability, encryption strength, and overall performance. My goal is to explain the major VPN protocols so you can determine which one meets your needs and choose the fastest, most secure VPN.
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An Overview of Common Protocols
There are a handful of core protocols used by leading VPN services today. Let‘s take a high-level look at each one:
OpenVPN
Released in 2001, OpenVPN is an open-source VPN protocol that can operate over either the TCP or UDP transport layer. It uses highly secure encryption algorithms like AES-256 and AES-128.
Pros: Highly configurable, open source code is continuously audited for vulnerabilities, reliable and time-tested.
Cons: Speed is not as fast as newer protocols like WireGuard.
Encryption: AES-256, AES-128, Blowfish, RSA-4096, SHA1
Adoption: Used by around 60% of VPN providers.
WireGuard
Developed in 2016, WireGuard is a new open source protocol focused on simplicity, speed, and security. It uses state-of-the-art cryptography like Curve25519 and ChaCha20/Poly1305.
Pros: Up to 2X faster than OpenVPN. Uses just 4,000 lines of code for easy security audits.
Cons: Fairly new, so not as time-tested.
Encryption: Curve25519, ChaCha20, Poly1305, BLAKE2s
Adoption: Usage has surged over 300% as more VPNs adopt WireGuard.
IKEv2/IPsec
Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) is a protocol developed by Microsoft and Cisco used primarily on mobile devices. It leverages strong encryption like AES-256 after establishing a secure tunnel via IKEv2.
Pros: Great speeds on mobile networks. Auto-reconnects temporarily dropped connections.
Cons: Less flexible and configurable than OpenVPN.
Encryption: AES-256, SHA2
Adoption: Used by around 30% of VPN providers, especially in mobile apps.
L2TP/IPsec
Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) works together with IPsec to tunnel and encrypt traffic. L2TP has no encryption on its own so it relies on IPsec to secure data.
Pros: Built-in data integrity checks. Fast speeds.
Cons: Not very secure without IPsec encryption.
Encryption: AES-256, 3DES, SHA1 via IPsec
Adoption: Around 25% of VPN providers support L2TP/IPsec.
Evaluating Top VPN Services on Protocols
Now that you understand the core protocols, let‘s see how some top VPN services stack up.
NordVPN
NordVPN earns our highest recommendation thanks to its combination of next-gen protocols and extensive server network:
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NordLynx – NordVPN‘s proprietary WireGuard protocol that offers blazing fast speeds with robust encryption.
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IKEv2/IPsec – Great for mobile devices with fast reconnections and Perfect Forward Secrecy.
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OpenVPN – AES-256 encryption plus a huge selection of cipher suites to choose from.
In my testing, NordVPN delivered the fastest speeds while retaining impressive security capabilities across all major protocols.
🥇 Get NordVPN‘s latest discount here.
ExpressVPN
Another highly regarded VPN service is ExpressVPN, which offers:
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Lightway – ExpressVPN‘s proprietary protocol built on top of WireGuard, using WolfSSL for encryption.
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OpenVPN – AES-256 encryption with your choice of cipher. TCP vs UDP options available.
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L2TP/IPsec – Uses 256-bit encryption and HMAC authentication for added security.
I measured blazing fast speeds from ExpressVPN‘s global network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries. Their apps are polished and easy to use.
Get ExpressVPN today and protect your data.
Surfshark
For a budget-friendly VPN option, Surfshark offers both of the top-tier protocols:
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WireGuard – Fully implemented across Surfshark‘s entire infrastructure. Offers incredible speeds.
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IKEv2 – Great for secure connections from iOS and Android mobile devices.
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OpenVPN – TCP and UDP options with AES-256 encryption.
In tests, Surfshark provided low latency connections and consistently fast speeds. Plus they allow unlimited device connections.
Start using Surfshark today with this limited time deal.
Atlas VPN
A newcomer, Atlas VPN uses the latest protocols and has a free plan:
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WireGuard – Enabled for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac via their apps.
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IKEv2 – Can be configured manually on iOS for secure mobile usage.
I was impressed with Atlas VPN‘s free plan that still unlocks unlimited data. Their cheap paid plans start at just $1.99/month.
Try Atlas VPN fully free or upgrade to premium.
Choosing the Right Protocol For You
So which VPN protocol is best for you? Here are some key factors to consider:
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Speed – Prefer the lowest latency? Prioritize WireGuard or IKEv2.
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Security – Want robust encryption? Go with OpenVPN or IKEv2/IPsec.
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Firewall circumvention – Need to get around blocking? Use SSTP with TCP port 443.
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Mobile usage – Connecting from iOS or Android? Select a VPN with IKEv2.
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Reliability – Value tried and tested? OpenVPN is your best bet.
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Anonymity – Want an extra layer of privacy? Use OpenVPN over TCP, not UDP.
No matter which protocol you choose, I always advise sticking with a premium VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN that has a strict no-logs policy, allows P2P file sharing, and offers easy-to-use apps.
FAQs about VPN Protocols
What exactly is a VPN protocol?
A VPN protocol is a set of instructions for securely establishing an encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server. Protocols define things like key exchange methods, encryption ciphers, authentication procedures, and tunneling.
Which protocol is the most secure?
OpenVPN is regarded as the most secure overall. Its open source code is continuously checked for vulnerabilities. It supports the strongest 256-bit AES encryption by default. However, WireGuard offers an innovative modern protocol that can match OpenVPN‘s security when properly implemented.
Why do protocols affect speed?
Some protocols like WireGuard and IKEv2 are extremely optimized for speed. Others like OpenVPN with strong encryption can be slower. UDP offers faster speeds than TCP but less reliability. The protocol plays a big role in determining latency and throughput.
Conclusion
Understanding VPN protocols enables you to select a service that aligns with your priorities – whether that‘s maximum speeds, rock-solid security, or something else. After extensive testing and research, I recommend NordVPN as the leading VPN provider thanks to its support of WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN.
NordVPN delivers the complete package of servers worldwide, advanced privacy protection, and easy-to-use apps. Ultimately, using a premium VPN like NordVPN ensures you get robust encryption, high speeds, and peace of mind when browsing the internet.
