WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: What are the key differences?

What is a VPN protocol?

A VPN protocol is a set of rules that dictates how a VPN handles your online traffic. While a VPN is a tunnel your data travels through, a VPN protocol is like the road signs guiding your data on how fast to go, which lanes to take, and how to exit the tunnel securely. 

Some VPN protocols are highly complex and can be customized to control every detail of the data's journey. Others are simpler, designed to ensure your data enters and exits the VPN tunnel efficiently — and pretty much nothing else. Let’s compare the most popular VPN protocols — WireGuard and OpenVPN.

What is WireGuard?

The WireGuard VPN protocol is the newest major protocol and is designed for speed. Unlike traditional protocols, such as OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, WireGuard uses modern cryptographic techniques, including ChaCha20 encryption, which is faster and more efficient than the widely used AES-256. Deployment, debugging, and maintenance are fast and easy because of its lightweight design. 

However, while WireGuard is faster than any other VPN protocol, it’s not built for privacy. To extend its capabilities and overcome limitations, NordVPN developed its own VPN protocol, NordLynx. The NordLynx protocol is based on the open-source WireGuard framework and combines its speed with a custom double NAT system designed to protect user privacy.

NordLynx is built for maximum performance, and recent independent tests have shown NordVPN’s speed exceeding 800 Mbps. That doesn’t mean every user will hit the same number on every server, but it supports the bigger point: if you want a high-speed VPN, protocol choice matters.

How does the WireGuard protocol work?

WireGuard establishes an encrypted tunnel between a client, such as an app on your phone, and a VPN server. Like OpenVPN, it encrypts data as it moves between the client and server. But to do so, WireGuard uses the ChaCha20 encryption algorithm rather than the slightly more complex and slower AES-256. 

Another reason why WireGuard often beats OpenVPN in speed tests is its mode of operation. WireGuard doesn’t need to switch between kernel storage and userspace because it already runs within the Linux kernel.

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a widely used and highly secure VPN protocol known for its versatility and robust encryption. It works with two internet protocols: TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). The TCP ensures data is delivered completely and in the correct sequence, making it ideal for stability. The UDP, on the other hand, prioritizes faster speeds, which is better suited for activities like streaming or gaming.

VPN providers, such as NordVPN, commonly use OpenVPN because it’s already designed to provide advanced security and great performance — the choice between TCP and UDP helps users squeeze even more out of it based on their needs. 

How does the OpenVPN protocol work?

Like any VPN protocol, OpenVPN creates a secure tunnel between a VPN client and server by authenticating users, encrypting data, and routing it through the tunnel to ensure privacy. It uses SSL/TLS protocols to establish the connection and supports various encryption and authentication methods for more flexibility and security.

Compared to WireGuard, OpenVPN is more complex. It gives users a lot of freedom to customize, but often at the expense of speed and connection reliability. 

What are the key differences between OpenVPN and WireGuard?

The main difference between OpenVPN and WireGuard is the size of their codebases. For example, WireGuard code is only 4,000 lines long, making it lightweight and easy to manage. OpenVPN’s codebase, on the other hand, is almost 20 times longer, making it more adaptable but likely slower and more complex to manage. You can see the differences between OpenVPN and WireGuard in this table:

Speed

A major reason for choosing WireGuard is performance. Whenever someone compares VPN protocols, WireGuard typically comes out on top for speed. CyberInsider’s recent test showed OpenVPN to be about 57% slower than NordVPN’s WireGuard implementation.

But why are other protocols slower? The simple answer is encryption. OpenVPN’s encryption algorithms aren’t as efficient as ChaCha20, which WireGuard uses. 

NordLynx vs. OpenVPN: Real-world speed test results

Real-world testing shows a clear pattern: NordLynx is faster than OpenVPN. The exact gap changes depending on the test setup, server location, and network conditions, but the direction is consistent.

In TechRadar’s testing on a 10 Gbps connection, NordVPN reached:

• 1256 Mbps with NordLynx
• 974 Mbps with OpenVPN

That means NordLynx was 282 Mbps faster, or about 29% faster in that setup. TechRadar also noted that NordVPN’s OpenVPN performance had improved a lot compared to earlier tests, but NordLynx still came out ahead. 

CyberInsider found an even bigger difference in its testing. It reported 903 Mbps for NordLynx and found that OpenVPN was 57% slower on average.

The gap is not identical across every test, and that’s normal. VPN speeds vary depending on your internet connection, the device you use, server distance, network congestion, and the test method.

Still, both tests point to the same conclusion: NordLynx gives NordVPN more speed headroom than OpenVPN. OpenVPN is still fast enough for streaming, gaming, and video calls, but if raw speed is your priority, NordLynx is a better pick.

Security

When it comes to security, neither OpenVPN nor WireGuard has known vulnerabilities – both protocols are very secure. However, because OpenVPN is highly configurable, it can be vulnerable if not set up correctly, especially if you use a weaker or outdated encryption algorithm. 

Encryption and authentication

Encryption is the core function of any VPN protocol. It involves two key elements: encryption, which protects your data, and authentication, which verifies the identities of the sender and receiver. When it comes to WireGuard, everything is set up for you in advance. ChaCha20 is responsible for encryption, while the Poly1305 hashing function does the authentication. Both are known for security and versatility. 

OpenVPN also supports ChaCha20 and Poly1305, but your choices are not set in stone. You can also use various AES encryption ciphers, as well as Camellia. For authentication, OpenVPN offers several options, such as HMAC-SHA., so you can configure everything to your needs. But note that more choices is not always good. OpenVPN also offers the Blowfish encryption algorithm, which is considered outdated.

Codebase and auditability

WireGuard and OpenVPN are both open-source VPNs protocols, allowing their code to be inspected for vulnerabilities. However, WireGuard’s smaller codebase makes it much easier to audit compared to OpenVPN. Not to say you should be concerned when using OpenVPN. These are two very popular VPN protocols — their code has been combed through numerous times. 

Transport layer

OpenVPN offers flexibility by supporting both UDP and TCP for data transmission. UDP is commonly used for faster connections, while TCP is better if your priority is connection reliability. This flexibility allows OpenVPN to adapt to a variety of network conditions and fit a range of use cases.

WireGuard, on the other hand, only supports UDP. So while you won’t have any problems with speed, the lack of support for TCP can prove to be disadvantageous on heavily restricted networks. 

Compatibility

OpenVPN is well-established and works on almost all operating systems. You can even set it up on your router and protect your whole household. But WireGuard was made for Linux first and is less compatible, especially if you need to set up a VPN on your router. 

Privacy

When it comes to privacy, WireGuard and OpenVPN are relatively equal. At the end of the day, the VPN protocol is just a tool that can have a positive or negative impact on the user’s privacy. It all depends on how the VPN provider sets up these protocols across the VPN service as a whole. 

Setup

Most of the time, you’ll be using a VPN app — all you have to do is click on the VPN protocol of your choice. But WireGuard is by far the simpler one to set up manually. It doesn’t mean that OpenVPN is particularly hard to deploy, though. If you just want to get started quickly, both are manageable for anyone with basic VPN knowledge. 

What are the similarities between OpenVPN and WireGuard?

OpenVPN and WireGuard each have their use cases, but they also have similarities:

• Open source. Both protocols are open source, so anyone can review their code and even enhance it. 
• Cross-platform compatibility. Both work across multiple operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
• Encryption standards. Both use modern encryption techniques to secure user data and ensure privacy.
• Privacy-focused. They aim to protect users' IP addresses and ensure that internet traffic is secure.
• Trusted. Both protocols are highly trusted by VPN services to provide speed, security, and a reliable connection.
• Flexible configuration. Each protocol can be customized for specific use cases, offering adaptability for diverse user needs.

Is WireGuard or OpenVPN better?

While neither is inherently better, WireGuard and OpenVPN were both designed to solve different problems. 

Benefits of choosing WireGuard over OpenVPN

WireGuard focuses on speed, simplicity, and modern performance, making it a strong choice for everyday use and mobile connections.

• Speed. WireGuard is faster due to its lightweight code and efficient ChaCha20 encryption. That advantage shows up in real tests, too. For example, TechRadar measured 1256 Mbps with NordLynx and 974 Mbps with OpenVPN for NordVPN in its latest benchmark.
• Simplicity. With 20 times fewer lines of code, WireGuard is easier to audit and maintain. 
• Quick connections. WireGuard establishes VPN connections more rapidly, especially on mobile devices.
• Kernel-level performance. It runs in the Linux kernel directly. As a result, the experience is smoother.

Benefits of choosing OpenVPN over WireGuard

OpenVPN prioritizes flexibility and a long-standing security track record, making it better suited for advanced setups and restrictive networks.

• Security. With over 20 years of use, OpenVPN has a long track record of advanced security. 
• Extensive configuration options. OpenVPN supports advanced customization, including a variety of encryption algorithms and authentication methods.
• TCP and UDP support. OpenVPN supports both TCP and UDP, making it flexible for different use cases.
• Network obfuscation. OpenVPN offers built-in support for obfuscation, allowing you to bypass VPN blocks and firewalls. 

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Which should you choose? 

For most people, the choice comes down to speed or flexibility. WireGuard is usually faster and more efficient. OpenVPN gives you more connection options.

A big reason is how the two protocols handle traffic. OpenVPN supports both UDP and TCP, while WireGuard is UDP-based. UDP is normally faster because it has less overhead. TCP is heavier, but it can work better on restrictive networks, especially over familiar ports like 443.

Use WireGuard (or NordLynx in NordVPN) when you want the best chance of high speed, lower overhead, and better mobile efficiency. It’s the right pick for streaming, gaming, browsing, video calls, and most day-to-day use. If your network is normal and you just want the fastest experience, this is where to start.

Use OpenVPN when you need more flexibility, especially if a network is restrictive and blocks or interferes with UDP traffic. OpenVPN’s support for TCP (including TCP 443) can help in places where WireGuard-style traffic is less likely to work without interruptions. That’s also why OpenVPN remains useful for manual setups and edge cases, even though it’s not the fastest option.