VPN protocols determine how your data is encrypted and transmitted. Choosing the right protocol affects your speed, security, and reliability.
WireGuard®
WireGuard is the newest major protocol and is quickly becoming the industry standard.
Pros:
- Extremely fast — minimal overhead
- Modern cryptography (ChaCha20, Curve25519)
- Lean codebase (~4,000 lines vs 100,000+ for OpenVPN)
- Easy to audit for security vulnerabilities
Cons:
- Relatively new (less battle-tested)
- Default configuration stores some user data
Best for: Everyday use, streaming, gaming, mobile devices
OpenVPN
The long-standing champion of VPN protocols, OpenVPN is open-source and highly configurable.
Pros:
- Highly secure and well-audited
- Very configurable
- Works on virtually all platforms
- Can bypass most firewalls
Cons:
- Slower than WireGuard
- Complex codebase
- Higher CPU usage
Best for: Maximum security, bypassing censorship
IKEv2/IPSec
Developed by Microsoft and Cisco, IKEv2 is known for its stability and speed.
Pros:
- Very fast connection establishment
- Excellent for mobile (handles network switches well)
- Built into most operating systems
- Good security
Cons:
- Not open-source (in most implementations)
- Can be blocked by firewalls
- Limited configurability
Best for: Mobile devices, frequent network switching
Which Should You Choose?
For most users, WireGuard offers the best combination of speed and security. ShieldVPN uses WireGuard as its default protocol while also supporting OpenVPN for users who need maximum configurability.