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Best VPN protocols and differences between VPN types

A VPN protocol is a set of rules or instructions that dictate how data travels between your device and the VPN server over the internet. VPN protocols enable VPN to encrypt your connection, reroute your internet traffic, and mask your IP from unwanted snoopers. Naturally, different VPN providers may use different types of VPN protocols, which prompts the question — which one’s the best? In this article, learn about the differences between the most popular VPN types and find the best VPN protocols for online safety.

May 13, 2025

19 min read

Best VPN protocols and difference between VPN types

What is a VPN protocol?

A VPN protocol is a ruleset determining how data is encrypted and online traffic moves between a device and a VPN server. VPN providers use these protocols to deliver stable and secure VPN connection for their users. Typically, each protocol focuses on a specific combination of features, for instance, compatibility and high speed or robust encryption and network stability.

However, no VPN protocol is perfect. Each may have potential vulnerabilities, documented or yet to be discovered, that may compromise your online security. Let’s look into each protocol’s pros and cons.

What are the most common VPN protocols?

Though a variety of VPN protocols are available for use by VPN providers, we’ll review the most popular ones widely used within the industry.

VPN protocol comparison

With tons of VPN protocols to choose from, you may be interested in seeing how they compare against each other. Here’s a simplified comparison of the most popular VPN protocols.

VPN protocol

Speed

Cipher strength

Perfect forward secrecy

Firewall bypass

Mobile performance

Encryption

Stability

P2P

Available in NordVPN app

OpenVPN

Fast

AES-256-GCM

Yes

Excellent

Good

Very good

Very good

Good

Yes

IPsec/IKEv2

Fast

AES-256

Yes

Medium

Excellent

Very good

Very good

Good

Yes

Wireguard*

Very fast

ChaCha20

Yes

Medium

Excellent

Very good

Very good

Good

Yes

SSTP

Medium

AES-256

Yes

Good

Medium

Good

Good

Poor

No

L2TP/IPsec

Medium

AES-256

No

Fair

Poor

Medium

Good

Poor

No

PPTP

Fast

MPPE-128

No

Poor

Poor

None

Excellent

Poor

No

MPLS**

Very fast

No encryption

-

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

-

No

NordWhisper

Fast

AES-256, ChaCha20, Poly1305

Yes

Excellent

Good

Very good

Very good

Good

Yes

* Our NordLynx protocol is built around WireGuard and you can find it on the NordVPN app.

**MPLS is not a traditional VPN protocol, so certain fields (such as cipher strength and P2P suitability) are irrelevant for direct comparison.

IMPORTANT: This table provides a general comparison based on typical performance characteristics. Performance may vary depending on your network conditions, server location, and VPN provider. 

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What is the best VPN protocol?

The best VPN protocol is a question of preference. It depends largely on your needs, priorities, and the contexts in which you will use your VPN. Every VPN protocol has its own advantages and disadvantages, which you should consider before making your choice of VPN. Below are the main factors you should think of before choosing the right VPN for you:

  • Security. OpenVPN, WireGuard, and NordWhispher are protocols that can offer the most robust encryption and top-grade security. OpenVPN uses an AES 256-bit encryption key, widely used by top-tier entities, such as NASA and the military. Meanwhile, WireGuard uses a comparatively new and sturdy encryption protocol called XChaCha20. It’s faster than AES 256-bit encryption and doesn’t require special hardware, making it increasingly popular on the cyber scene. Finally, NordWhisper combines both these keys along with Poly1305 — a message authentication code that ensures the integrity of encrypted traffic, preventing tampering.
  • Speed and performance. Currently, WireGuard is one of the fastest VPN protocols on the market. It offers quicker connection times than its counterparts and an improved battery life for mobile devices. IKEv2/IPsec is also considered a fast protocol, especially efficient at reestablishing broken VPN connections. NordLynx by NordVPN couples WireGuard’s speed with enhanced security and is your best choice for gaming.
  • Compatibility. Being an open-source protocol, OpenVPN offers a high level of versatility and can be supported by almost all platforms, from desktops to mobile devices. IKEv2 is compatible with the majority of mobile platforms, whereas SSTP is a good choice if you’re using a Windows device since it’s natively supported.
  • Stability on mobile networks. IKEv2/IPsec provides a strong connection over mobile devices and allows users to switch between networks without risking their security. This makes it the most stable VPN protocol for mobile devices.
  • Bypassing firewalls and restrictions. SSTP uses port 443, which is typically open on most networks and effectively bypasses firewalls and other network restrictions. OpenVPN can also be configured to work on port 443, offering some rivalry to SSTP. NordWhisper, on the other hand, was specifically designed to navigate network filters by blending in with regular web traffic and making it harder for restrictive networks to detect and limit VPN activity.
  • Easy configuration. As a relatively new and technologically advanced protocol, WireGuard is your best choice for a simple configuration and setup.
  • Open source and proprietary protocols. While proprietary protocols are the sole responsibility of their developers, open-source protocols are more transparent because the security enthusiast can audit them publicly. It helps to spot and patch software vulnerabilities more efficiently. That’s why many privacy and security experts prefer OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.

What is the most secure VPN protocol?

It’s nearly impossible to single out the most secure VPN protocol, because its security heavily depends on configuration, context, and specific use cases. If you’re looking for the most secure VPN, you have to consider the intended application and environment in which the VPN will be used. For example, closed work networks may benefit tremendously from MPLS. Meanwhile, casual users may be better off using the OpenVPN, WireGuard, or NordWhisper protocols provided by NordVPN.

What are the different types of VPNs?

A VPN can be used in various situations and for various reasons, be it for accomplishing specific tasks for your work or leisurely browsing the internet. Let’s take a look at the different types of VPNs and their use cases.

types of vpns

1. Remote access VPN

Remote access VPNs allow employees to securely access their company’s internal network and resources from remote locations. Businesses primarily use them to keep their resources secure and have more robust access control. For this, they typically use multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods and allow access to specific resources based on an employee’s role or department.

2. Site-to-site VPN

Site-to-site VPNs extend a company’s network between different locations. They can be divided into two categories:

  • Intranet-based VPNs, which combine multiple LANs to one private network.
  • Extranet-based VPNs, which companies use to extend their network and share it with partners or customers.

3. Personal VPNs

Personal VPNs enable individual users to connect to a private network remotely. They encrypt user data and send it through an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server. Afterward, the encrypted data gains the IP address of a VPN server and is transferred to the endpoint – a website, for instance.

4. Mobile VPNs

Mobile VPNs allow mobile devices to securely access their home network with its resources and software applications while being on network. Mobile VPNs are designed to handle switching between wireless and wired networks without dropping secure VPN sessions and maintaining a stable connection at all times.

5. Browser-based VPNs

A browser-based VPN is a service designed to operate specifically on a web browser. Web-based VPNs only encrypt and route the online traffic from a browser on which it’s installed. Essentially, they are HTTPS proxy extensions that route your web traffic through a remote server. SSL VPNs utilize Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) for encryption; however, they don’t cover an entire device’s connection.

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Lukas Tamašiūnas | NordVPN

Lukas Tamašiūnas

Lukas Tamašiūnas is a content creator with an interest in the latest developments in the cybersecurity industry. He follows his curiosity to discover and share practical knowledge about online safety.