OpenVPN vs. IKEv2/IPSec vs. WireGuard vs. L2TP/IPSec: Comparison & Verdict

What are the most widely-used protocols? 

A VPN protocol simply shows you the set of instructions that the VPN client works upon to connect you to a VPN server. These instructions include traffic capturing, transportation, authentication, encryption, and authorization methods. There are a variety of VPN protocols including: 

• WireGuard

• OpenVPN

• IKEv2

• L2TP

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is the most popular and recommended protocol by VPN experts. OpenVPN is versatile and highly secure, making it a mainstay of the virtual private network industry. The VPN is aptly named open because it relies on open source technologies such as OpenSSL encryption library or SSL V3/TLS V1 protocols.

The protocol can operate on any port while utilizing UDP or TCP protocols. This makes it easy for users to get around firewalls. 

OpenVPNs require a third-party application because they are not supported by any platforms. Third-party providers such as iOS and Android, however, are supported. Although most companies offer customized OpenVPN configurations, they also allow users to personalize their own configuration.

IKEv2

IKEv2 has the distinction of operating on non-mainstream platforms such as Linux, BlackBerry or other marginal platforms.  Like most protocols, IKEv2 meets user privacy demands. Since it offers support for MOBIKE, it can adapt to changes in any network. 

Therefore, if the user suddenly switches from a Wi-Fi connection to a data connection, IKEv2 can handle it flawlessly without losing the connection.

Most suited for mobile devices, particularly if you’re using a BlackBerry. Stable, fast, and secure. 

It stands out in its ability to maintain a secure VPN connection, even while the connection is lost, or you’re switching networks. Its primary use is for mobile networks. Also, if you’re a Blackberry user then this VPN protocol will be your protocol of choice.

L2TP

L2TP is an extension of the PPTP protocol. It operates on a double encapsulation that includes a PPP connection on level one and an IPsec encryption on level two. While the L2TP protocol does support AES-256, stronger protocols can slow the performance.

Most desktop and mobile OSes contain L2TP, which makes implementation relatively simple. However, users and developers alike have noted that L2TP can be blocked by firewalls. Has more advanced security features as compared with PPTP, but it can struggle to evade some firewalls.

Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol is a VPN protocol that doesn’t offer any encryption. That’s why it’s usually implemented along with IPsec encryption. As it’s built into modern desktop operating systems and mobile devices, it’s fairly easy to implement. But it uses UDP port 500 — that means it can’t be disguised on another port, like OpenVPN can. It’s thus much easier to block and harder to get around firewalls with.

L2TP/IPSec is a solid VPN choice if you’re not exchanging sensitive data. It’s basically an improved version of PPTP. Some older devices and platforms won’t support OpenVPN, so this could be an attractive option. The only real downside is it’s security standards, which have been weakened and compromised by the NSA.

WireGuard

This is the most recent VPN protocol characterized with simplicity and speed. In addition to user-friendliness, this VPN protocol is also safer and less vulnerable to cyber threats. In fact, you can install it on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

SoftEther

SoftEther is a newer VPN protocol, but don’t let its youth fool you. It offers similar features to OpenVPN but offers even greater levels of flexibility. With the ability to integrate across multiple different platforms and operating systems it’ll be hard to find a setup where this protocol can’t be used. Plus, it’s fast and secure. It doesn’t have the legacy and stability of OpenVPN but is a contender in its own right.

Namely, what is IKEv2, OpenVPN, TCP, UDP, WireGuard, L2TP, IPsec? You can refer to this article:

11 Most Common VPN Protocols Explained: Where of the Each Protocol is Best to Use for?

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Which is the best VPN protocol?

Ready to use a VPN service? And, considering the abundance of VPN protocols to choose from, what is the best one? This is the tricky part - there is no such thing as the universally best VPN protocol for all occasions.

Which will end up the best VPN protocol for you depends on and what you do on the internet and why you need a VPN protocol. Gamer’s VPN needs will differ from those of a cinephile, which will differ from a remote worker’s or a traveler’s.

You don’t need to settle for just using a single VPN protocol. If you’re an online gamer or just watching favorite live sports then connection speed is more important for you now. IKEv2 will be the best VPN protocol for this case. And if your goal is to keep your sensitive personal data extremely secure, go for OpenVPN. Or you could go for WireGuard for the best mix of speed and protection!

What is the fastest VPN protocol？

Wireguard is widely considered to be the fastest VPN protocol. It certainly is one of the newest ones, which means it utilizes up-to-date technologies to offer quick connection (and a sweet bonus for mobile devices - an improved battery life). 

IKEv2/IPSec is also considered fast VPN protocols, although in them it comes at the expense of security.

It's sometimes even faster than the popular OpenVPN protocol, as it's far more lightweight, and can rival PPTP when it comes to speed.

Without its layer of encryption, PPTP could be called the fastest VPN protocol, but we don’t recommend you use it.

What is the most secure VPN protocol?

Although somewhat debatable, many security experts recommend OpenVPN when it comes to data and traffic protection. 

OpenVPN has been extensively audited by multiple neutral experts. Its open-source implementations are available for anyone to inspect and improve.

Similar to, say, WireGuard, it uses 256-bit data encryption by default. But it also offers other protocols, including Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES), CAST-128, Blowfish, and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).

In order of most secure to least, the list of commonly used protocols is as follows: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard, SoftEther, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP and PPTP. Because of its infamous security flaws, we don't recommend anyone use the long-outdated PPTP, regardless of device or connection speed. In the reviews, it likewise reflects poorly on any commercial VPN to offer the option at all. SSTP has similar issues. 

Which VPN protocol is best for gaming?

Web browsing and online gaming are two very different activities. If you are streaming or visiting restricted sites, your main concern may be protecting your privacy. However, when you need to jump into the game, you may want to prioritize speed and stability.

When we used different VPN providers and their protocols for some speed tests, we found that WireGuard is the best gaming protocol. This VPN protocol has proved this fact in many games, including Dota 2, CS: GO, Fortnite.

No matter how far away the server is, WireGuard can provide minimal slowdown. The network decelerates by an average of 10%, and there is no delay or disconnection.

In addition, WireGuard has instant connection time. High ping is rarely encountered in the test. On average, it takes up to 1-2 seconds to establish a VPN connection.

Although WireGuard is the fastest stable protocol. But if your VPN provider has not introduced this protocol, you can also choose the following protocols to play the game:

IKEv2/IPSec

L2TP/IPSec

SoftEther

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Which is better?

WireGuard is a relative newcomer to the protocol scene, and has been lauded for enabling speeds that are as fast as some of the older and less secure protocols, while still offering some improved security over them. 

Currently, the most widely used protocol is OpenVPN. It's generally considered the best tradeoff between security and speed, it's compatible across devices and platforms, and it's the open-source protocol many independent developers use to create their own VPN services from scratch. 

WireGuard normally delivers much faster speeds than OpenVPN — but this can vary by VPN provider. 

Speed is the first major advantage of WireGuard. It has a light touch when consuming your device's CPU resources, and is a leaner protocol overall -- that usually means longer battery life and less lag when you're opening and using other apps on your device. 

This speed boost also includes connection and reconnection speeds. So if you're using a VPN on your cell phone, for instance, and switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi, Wireguard should be fast enough in most cases that you don't notice a significant disruption in your connection. 

There are no known security flaws for either protocol. If security is your topmost priority, the conservative option is OpenVPN. It has simply been around much longer than WireGuard, gone through more third-party security audits, and has a far longer track record than WireGuard. However, as WireGuard matures, its updated encryption algorithms and minimal codebase make it all the more attractive.

For maximum privacy, stick with OpenVPN -- especially if you're in a jurisdiction where bypassing censorship is important. However, If you're running a VPN in an environment where speed improvements trump privacy (say, accessing international versions of a streaming video service while in a region with slower speeds) the option to flip the switch in your VPN app from OpenVPN to WireGuard might prove helpful. 

WireGuard vs. IKEv2/IPSec: Which is better?

Your data should be safe under both protocols. But if you want a more modern method of cryptography, you should stick to WireGuard. Although there are some open source implementations of IKEv2, most providers do not use them.

Like L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec is easier to block because it uses fewer ports: UDP 500, ESP IP protocol 50, UDP 4500. On the bright side, IKEv2 provides MOBIKE-a function that makes the protocol resistant to network changes. Therefore, if you switch from WiFi to mobile data on your mobile device, your VPN should not be disconnected.

Both protocols are very fast. Sometimes we use WireGuard faster, but not fast.

They are applicable to most operating systems. The only difference is that IKEv2/IPSec is available natively on BlackBerry devices.

Whether you need speed or security (or both), either protocol is a great choice. If you are using a smart phone, please stick to IKEv2/IPSec, because the MOBIKE function is very useful.

OpenVPN vs. IKEv2/IPSec: Which is better?

Due to its enhanced security, OpenVPN is very popular with online users, but you should know that IKEv2 can provide a similar level of protection. It is true that IKEv2 protects information at the IP level, while OpenVPN does so at the transport level, but this is not something that should really make a huge difference.

However, we cannot deny that OpenVPN is open source, which makes it a more attractive choice than IKEv2. Of course, if you use the open source implementation of IKEv2, this will no longer be a big problem.

In terms of Internet speed, IKEv2 is generally faster than OpenVPN-even though OpenVPN uses the UDP transport protocol. On the other hand, it is much more difficult for network administrators to block OpenVPN connections because the protocol uses port 443, which is a port for HTTPS traffic. Unfortunately, IKEv2 only uses UDP port 500, which can be blocked by network administrators, without having to worry about stopping other important online traffic.

As for connection stability, both protocols are good, but IKEv2 is better than OpenVPN on mobile devices because it can resist network changes. It is true that OpenVPN can be configured to perform the same operation using the "float" command, but it is not as efficient and stable as IKEv2.

Regarding cross-platform support, IKEv2 is a bit behind OpenVPN, but it does work on BlackBerry devices. In addition, IKEv2 is usually easier to set up because it is usually integrated natively into the platform it is available for.

OpenVPN TCP vs. UDP: Which is better?

OpenVPN comes in two main flavors: OpenVPN TCP and OpenVPN UDP.

What is UDP?

UDP is the acronym for User Datagram Protocol and does not perform error correction. As a result, the packets are received without any retries or acknowledgments. This makes UDP faster but less reliable than TCP.

These characteristics make OpenVPN UDP well suited for audio and video streaming tasks, and indeed gaming.

What is TCP?

TCP is the acronym for Transmission Control Protocol. Unlike UDP, TCP performs error correction. Additionally, its re-transmission mechanism ensures both ends can receive packets. However, the increased reliability results in increased latency.

OpenVPN TCP is an ideal protocol for higher security where latency is not the priority, such as general web surfing and emails.

Better VPN services support both OpenVPN TCP and UDP, and allow the user to choose between them as needed, depending on the application.

Which VPNs support WireGuard?

There are only a handful of VPN services that have started supporting WireGuard protocol. These VPNs are:

• Surfshark (80% cash back) 

• NordVPN (80% cash back) 

• CyberGhost VPN (100% cash back)

• Private Internet Access (30% cash back)

It's also available in Mullvad, StrongVPN, TorGuard, VyprVPN, Hide.Me.

While there are a handful of VPNs that support WireGuard, our current top-recommended VPN for WireGuard is NordVPN . It delivers on speed, security, privacy, and many other areas, as discussed in our NordVPN review.

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Which VPNs support OpenVPN & IKEv2/IPSec?

Here are some of the best VPNs that support the OpenVPN protocol:

• ExpressVPN

• Surfshark (80% cash back) 

• NordVPN (80% cash back) 

• PureVPN  (Up To 25% Cash Back)

• CyberGhost VPN (100% cash back)

To benefit from WireGuard and OpenVPN, we would recommend going for  Surfshark. It is super affordable, costing only $2.21/mo.

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