Types of VPN Protocols: How They Work and Which Is Best in 2025
VPN protocols are the technical foundations that define how your encrypted connection operates. Each protocol decides how data is transmitted, encrypted, and authenticated between your device and the VPN server. Choosing the right one affects both speed and security.
If you are completely new to tunnels, handshakes, and ciphers, it can help to first skim our plain-language guide How VPN Works, and then come back here for the protocol details.
Get NordVPN (NordLynx / OpenVPN) Try Surfshark (WireGuard by default)
1. What Is a VPN Protocol?
A VPN protocol is a set of instructions that defines how data packets are encrypted and transmitted. It’s essentially the “language” that both your VPN app and server understand when building a secure tunnel across the internet.
The protocol controls three key phases:
- Handshake: how your device and the server authenticate each other and agree on keys.
- Encryption: how data is scrambled so no one in the middle can read it.
- Transport: how packets are wrapped, routed, and retransmitted when there is packet loss.
Without a proper protocol, your VPN would not know how to negotiate keys, validate identity, or maintain encryption while moving traffic through the internet. If you want a deeper dive into ciphers and key lengths, check the dedicated VPN Encryption guide.
2. The Main VPN Protocols in 2025
Most serious VPN providers now converge on a similar short list of options. You will usually see WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec in the app, with L2TP/IPsec and PPTP hidden under “advanced” or removed entirely.
| Protocol | Speed | Security | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Modern default — best overall performance and simplicity. |
| OpenVPN | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Highly secure, widely supported, great for routers and PCs. |
| IKEv2/IPsec | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Excellent for mobile devices — stable on network changes. |
| L2TP/IPsec | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Older standard — acceptable fallback where newer ones aren’t supported. |
| PPTP | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Obsolete — fast but insecure, avoid for sensitive use. |
Key takeaway: If your VPN app lets you choose WireGuard or a modern WireGuard-based protocol, that is usually the safest default for 2025. Keep OpenVPN as your backup when networks are very strict.
3. WireGuard — The Modern Standard
WireGuard is a streamlined protocol using just a few thousand lines of code, making it easier to audit and maintain. It relies on state-of-the-art cryptography (ChaCha20, Poly1305, Curve25519) and offers lightning-fast speeds thanks to its lean design and efficient use of CPU.
It is open-source, cross-platform, and now adopted by many premium VPNs under custom marketing names like NordLynx (NordVPN), Lightway (ExpressVPN), or simply “WireGuard” in the app. These implementations often add user-friendly extras like double NAT, kill switch logic, and automatic reconnection.
Key takeaway: For day-to-day browsing, streaming, and gaming, WireGuard or NordLynx is usually the fastest option. If you are choosing a provider from our Best VPN 2025 shortlist, make sure they support WireGuard or an equivalent modern protocol.
4. OpenVPN — Proven & Reliable
OpenVPN has been the gold standard for over a decade. It uses SSL/TLS for key exchange and can operate over both UDP and TCP ports, which makes it extremely flexible. On restrictive networks you can even wrap OpenVPN inside TCP 443 to make it look like regular HTTPS traffic.
However, its older architecture and higher CPU usage can lead to slightly slower speeds compared to WireGuard, especially on mobile devices or low-power routers. For many users it now plays the role of a “compatibility mode” when WireGuard is blocked.
Key takeaway: Keep OpenVPN in your toolbox for censorship, corporate firewalls, and router installs. For everything else, WireGuard tends to win on latency and throughput.
5. IKEv2/IPsec — Stable on the Move
IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is particularly useful on mobile networks. It reconnects almost instantly when switching from Wi-Fi to 4G or 5G, thanks to its “Mobility and Multihoming” extensions.
Combined with IPsec for encryption, it’s both secure and fast. The protocol is built into most operating systems (Windows, iOS, Android), which simplifies configuration and improves compatibility for manual setups.
Key takeaway: If you travel a lot or tether from your phone, IKEv2/IPsec is a great option when your provider offers it alongside WireGuard.
6. Legacy Protocols — L2TP and PPTP
L2TP/IPsec offers better security than PPTP but is now considered outdated due to double encapsulation overhead, issues with NAT traversal, and limited agility in choosing modern ciphers. Many providers keep it only for compatibility with very old devices.
PPTP should be avoided entirely — its 128-bit MPPE encryption can be cracked in minutes with modern hardware, and several core design flaws are public. If your VPN app still exposes PPTP, treat it as a red flag and do not use it for anything sensitive.
Key takeaway: In 2025 there is almost no reason to rely on L2TP/IPsec or PPTP. If your device cannot support WireGuard, IKEv2, or OpenVPN, it is usually better to replace the device than to fall back to broken crypto.
7. Emerging & Custom Protocols
Some providers experiment with custom hybrid protocols to balance speed, stealth, and reliability. Examples include NordLynx (WireGuard + double NAT system), Lightway (ExpressVPN’s protocol based on wolfSSL), and Catapult Hydra (Hotspot Shield).
These protocols typically build on proven primitives but adjust connection logic to reduce latency, improve roaming, or hide VPN fingerprints from deep packet inspection. From a user’s perspective, they often appear as a simple setting like “NordLynx (recommended)” in the app.
Key takeaway: Proprietary protocols are fine when used by reputable providers, but transparency matters. Always check whether there is at least one open protocol option (WireGuard/OpenVPN) available side by side.
Secure your traffic with NordVPN Start Surfshark with WireGuard
8. Comparison Overview
The following table summarizes the main trade-offs between modern and legacy VPN protocols:
| Protocol | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | Speed & security | Lightweight, modern, open-source, excellent latency | Fewer advanced knobs for manual tweaking |
| OpenVPN | Versatility | Highly secure, bypasses many firewalls, huge ecosystem | Heavier CPU load, slightly slower on mobiles |
| IKEv2/IPsec | Mobile use | Auto-reconnect, stable on network changes | Sometimes blocked by strict networks and captive portals |
| L2TP/IPsec | Legacy systems | Easy setup, widely documented | Slower, less flexible, gradually phased out |
| PPTP | Testing only | Fast and simple | Insecure and deprecated, not suitable for real protection |
9. Video: VPN Protocols Explained
Video courtesy of the NordVPN official YouTube channel.
10. FAQ — VPN Protocols
Which VPN protocol should I use in 2025?
For most users, WireGuard (or NordLynx, or another WireGuard-based option) is the best default — it’s fast, secure, and supported by all major providers.
Is OpenVPN still good?
Yes. OpenVPN remains one of the most secure and flexible options, especially on desktop or router setups and in restricted networks where other protocols are blocked.
Can I switch protocols on my VPN app?
Yes. Most VPN apps let you change protocol manually in settings — try WireGuard or IKEv2 for speed and roaming, or OpenVPN for maximum compatibility and censorship resistance.
11. Putting It All Together
Each VPN protocol has a unique balance of speed, stability, and security. In 2025, WireGuard leads for performance, OpenVPN for battle-tested reliability, and IKEv2 for mobile convenience. Outdated protocols like PPTP and, increasingly, L2TP/IPsec belong to the past.
A practical setup looks like this: use WireGuard or NordLynx as your default, fall back to OpenVPN UDP/TCP when networks are aggressive, and keep IKEv2/IPsec for phones and tablets. If you want to double-check that everything is configured safely, walk through the step-by-step VPN Setup Guide and the introductory VPN Security Basics.
Related guides
Written by Denys Shchur
Founder and editor of SmartAdvisorOnline. Denys focuses on cybersecurity education and VPN transparency, explaining complex technology in simple, data-driven language.
Author page: smartadvisoronline.com/about/denys-shchur.html · LinkedIn
Privacy & Cookies: We use minimal, privacy-friendly analytics. You can block third-party cookies in your browser.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some buttons are affiliate links (NordVPN, Surfshark). We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
© 2025 SmartAdvisorOnline — Independent page, internal linking kept moderate during initial indexing.