Senton
Security8 min read

WireGuard vs OpenVPN: Which VPN Protocol Is Faster and Safer in 2026?

WireGuard is faster and simpler, OpenVPN can run over TCP. Here is how they compare on speed, security and privacy, and why both can be blocked.

Dhananjay AroraManaging Director, SentonPublished 25 October 2026
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A woman in a mustard sweater sits at her desk by a window in the evening, holding her phone and comparing settings on her open laptop

Key takeaways

  • WireGuard is the newer protocol. WireGuard is fast to connect and has a small footprint. It only works over UDP.
  • OpenVPN has been available since 2001. OpenVPN is slower to connect but can work over TCP which can be useful over restricted networks.
  • Both protocols use very modern and strong encryption. Both reveal that they are a VPN. Plain OpenVPN and plain WireGuard can be detected and blocked.
  • For the average user on a phone or a laptop WireGuard is usually the better choice.

Most VPN apps have a protocol setting in the app settings. There are usually two protocol names listed. Whilst the protocol has a technical aspect it does affect blockability, network switching and connection speed.

What is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol. It uses a small number of modern encryption methods and has no configurable options that can be set incorrectly. WireGuard was introduced to the Linux kernel in March 2020. The code is typically stated to be around 4000 lines and readable by one person.

What it does well

  • Fast network switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data
  • Fast connection with only one round trip
  • Smaller footprint and easier to examine

Where it falls short

  • Only supports UDP (no support for TCP)
  • Does not attempt to mask the fact that it is a VPN

What is OpenVPN?

The chosen protocol is OpenVPN. OpenVPN was first released in 2001. It uses the same secure website technology (TLS) and supports both TCP and UDP. It also has a typical implementation with over 100,000 lines of code and a number of different configuration parameters.

What it does well

  • Supports TCP on the same port that is used by websites
  • Supported on a huge variety of platforms including routers and legacy systems
  • Publicly reviewed for 20 years

Where it falls short

  • Relatively slow connection time
  • Supports a large number of configuration parameters which can be misconfigured fairly easily

WireGuard vs OpenVPN at a glance

Below is a table of comparison of the two protocols using parameters relevant to a user deciding what protocol to use.

Diagram: WireGuard has about 4,000 lines of code, one fixed set of modern encryption and runs over UDP only, while OpenVPN has more than 100,000 lines, several ciphers with AES-256-GCM by default and runs over UDP or TCP

Is WireGuard faster than OpenVPN?

There are generally two reasons WireGuard tends to appear faster. Firstly there are only two very short messages used when establishing a connection. Secondly the protocol itself is relatively small and simple. This translates into less computation per packet. There are also only an additional 32 bytes per packet. On Linux WireGuard is built into the operating system, on all other platforms it is usually a standard application. As a result perceived speed will also vary depending on the platform.

OpenVPN has closed some of this gap. Since January 2023 OpenVPN 2.6 has added support for running the data path within the operating system. In reality in practice, the distance to the chosen server and the server that is chosen are typically more significant factors than the protocol used.

Diagram: the device sends a 148-byte hello, the server answers with a 92-byte reply, both sides hold fresh session keys and traffic starts after one round trip

Is WireGuard more secure than OpenVPN?

Both can be used securely. However there is the possibility of a misconfiguration. WireGuard uses a known set of current and well examined encryption algorithms, and there is no weak algorithm that can be accidentally enabled. OpenVPN since recent versions has defaulted to either AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305. However misconfigurations can occur with older versions.

The key difference between the two however is complexity. The smaller code base is in theory easier to examine completely. The larger code base has also been in use for a number of years. Neither however can completely prevent negligence from an organisation.

Is WireGuard good for privacy?

One problem that has come up with WireGuard is that when using a WireGuard server it stores the last IP address used by a client whilst connected to the server. This allows the server to reply to the client. This information can be viewed using the status command on the server. The length of time that this data is stored and if it is ever written to disk is up to the organisation and not the protocol.

Can WireGuard or OpenVPN be blocked?

Neither of these protocols were created with stealth in mind. At a conference called USENIX Security in 2022 a research team presented a study of a internet service provider with around a million users. The study found in excess of 85% of OpenVPN sessions were detected with a very low number of false positives. 34 of the 41 VPN services that were advertised as covert were also detected.

WireGuard detection is not any more difficult. WireGuard itself does not aim to be obfuscated. The first packet in a WireGuard session is also of a known size. As a result plain WireGuard and plain OpenVPN are often the first to be blocked in a VPN blacklisting attempt. In February 2024 Iran blocked the use of unauthorised VPN services.

What our search data from Iran and Turkmenistan shows

There is data available for 3 tunnel types in Iran with Google search interest. The interest in v2ray (which mimics normal internet usage) is higher than the interest in OpenVPN, and the interest in OpenVPN is around double that of the interest in WireGuard.

Chart: Google search interest in Iran from October 2025 to October 2026 averaged 15 for v2ray, 6 for OpenVPN and 3 for WireGuard, with peaks in January, March and April 2026

In Turkmenistan there also appears to be a similar pattern. For Russian queries in Turkmenistan the interest in both WireGuard and OpenVPN has averaged around 320 searches per month for the last year. Both also show a reduction from the end of 2025.

Where you will notice the difference

The active tunnel is usually not visible to the end user but it is in such cases that visibility is required.

  1. A woman in a mustard sweater steps out of her front door onto a leafy street, phone to her ear mid call
    Leaving the house mid call

    When switching from a home internet connection to mobile data on a mobile phone WireGuard offers a smooth handover as there is no handshake required.

  2. The same woman opens her laptop at a small wooden table in a sunny cafe, a coffee beside her
    Opening the laptop at a cafe

    With a single round trip connection the VPN will be established before the first page is loaded.

  3. At a desk in a glass walled office she frowns slightly at her laptop, colleagues blurred behind her
    Working from a strict office network

    Some networks may only permit out-bound internet usage. OpenVPN over TCP may be the only solution that can pass through such a network as UDP based solutions will not.

  4. At an airport gate she sits with her backpack, holding her passport and phone before a trip
    Travelling somewhere VPNs are restricted

    In some countries plain tunnels may also be blocked. Before travelling check the local laws as a VPN will not impact these.

Which VPN protocol should you use?

If in doubt use the default tunnel and only switch if a particular tunnel does not work.

Diagram: use WireGuard on phones and laptops, try OpenVPN over TCP on a work or hotel network that blocks it, use OpenVPN on old routers, and WireGuard with the nearest server for gaming and calls

WireGuard and OpenVPN myths

  • MythWireGuard is less secure because it is new.

    FactWireGuard uses modern encryption that has been well studied and is also relatively small and easier to audit.

  • MythOpenVPN is always slow.

    FactIf connected to a server over a stable connection there may not be a perceivable speed difference. The performance of new OpenVPN clients has also increased.

  • MythUsing OpenVPN over TCP hides that you use a VPN.

    FactOpenVPN can be detected. In a study the majority of OpenVPN connections were detected at an actual internet service provider.

Why Senton VPN uses WireGuard

Senton uses WireGuard as it works over varying connections and is faster for general use on mobiles and laptops. A Kill Switch is used to prevent data leaking should the connection drop and there is also a no-logs policy.

The bottom line

  • WireGuard is faster and simpler for the majority of users.
  • If a network only supports TCP then OpenVPN can be used as a fallback.
  • Both can be safe if used correctly and also the VPN service itself makes a difference.
  • Neither hides the fact that a VPN is being used on a censorship enabled network.

Frequently asked questions

Generally yes. A connection only requires one round trip and there is less computation per packet due to the small size of the protocol. Perceived speed will also vary depending on the device used. Often a user's distance to the remote server and their level of internet connection are more significant factors than the protocol itself.