This guide will cover VPN Protocols. It will help you determine the best VPN protocol for your devices.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a type of network connection. It keeps unauthorized users from accessing your data and identity.

Simply put, a VPN hides your IP Address.

This action prevents several parties from logging your online activity. This includes your ISP, government agencies, hackers, and app developers.

VPNs utilize encapsulation and encryption. Encapsulation involves wrapping data packets with another packet type to hide information. Encryption encodes and decodes data.

This prevents unwanted packet interception through a decryption key.

All VPNs use encapsulation and encryption. However, they don’t all utilize the same technologies.

For more VPN details, including installation guides, check out our in-depth VPN Guide below.

What is a VPN? Your Complete VPN Guide

VPNs have various protocols. Quality VPN providers, such as Surfshark VPN, let users select their preferred protocol.

The selection depends on several factors. These include your preferred security level, speed, device, and setup complexity. Each protocol has its own set of pros and cons.

Therefore, it’s helpful to know which VPN protocol to use. This knowledge can optimize your online experience.

This article covers the following:

• What is a VPN Protocol?
• Why is a VPN Protocol Important? 
• What are the Major VPN Protocols?
• VPN Protocol Speed Tests
• How to Pick the Best VPN Protocol
• Which VPN Service Provides the Best VPN Protocol for Your Network? 
• VPN Protocols FAQ

What is a VPN Protocol?

A VPN primarily encrypts your internet connection. It also masks your IP address.

The level of protection you receive depends on the encryption protocol. The protocol you’re using matters.

In essence, a VPN protocol determines how your VPN secures data transfers. It dictates how your VPN keeps those transfers private.

A protocol’s effectiveness lies in its ability to safeguard your traffic. It does this through various methods, including encryption and hash authentication. Ciphers and cracking resistance also play a part.

A cipher’s algorithm complexity impacts its security. The more complex the algorithm, the harder it is to crack, whether through brute force or exploits.

VPN protocols have different specifications. One protocol might excel in speed, while another might prioritize security.

Why is a VPN Protocol Important?

A strong level of security and privacy is essential across your network. Without a VPN, your internet service provider (ISP) can readily see your address.

However, a VPN ensures no snooping occurs. But to achieve this, a good VPN protocol is crucial. It provides the necessary security, speed, and configuration options.

Understanding the basics of each VPN protocol is beneficial. It allows you to make an informed decision about the best encryption protocol for your needs. It helps you optimize your online experience.

What are the Major VPN Protocols?

There are numerous VPN protocols available. The technical names of each can be overwhelming for non-technical individuals.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert to grasp their differences.

Here’s a user-friendly breakdown of each VPN protocol.

IKEv2/IPSec

The Internet Key Exchange v2 (IKEv2) protocol often pairs with IPSec. This pairing is for authentication and encryption purposes.

It’s open-source (unless you opt for Microsoft’s version). It supports both native and third-party clients.

IKEv2/IPSec is frequently used on mobile devices. You’ll find it on devices using 3G or 4G LTE connections.

This is because it excels at quickly re-establishing connections after interruptions. Think about switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.

Additionally, it boasts exceptional network switching capabilities. It performs well across various network types. It’s considered one of the fastest and most secure protocols available today.

However, it’s not as widely supported. Its implementation on the VPN server-side can be challenging due to its complex configuration. Many firewalls also block this protocol.

PPTP

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, or PPTP, is one of the oldest protocols in the industry. It was introduced by Microsoft back in 1995 alongside other tech companies. If you remember the struggles of dial-up networks, then you might be familiar with PPTP.

These days, PPTP is mainly used in applications that don’t need strong encryption, like an intranet (your office’s internal network, for example). It’s incredibly easy to set up. Many devices even have PPTP built-in. It’s also known for being one of the fastest VPN protocols because of its lower encryption standard.

The trade-off is that weaker security features mean faster connection speeds. However, compared to modern protocols, PPTP’s security is easier to crack. The VPN industry has come a long way.

It’s no surprise to critics and security analysts that it’s vulnerable to exploits like MS-CHAP-v1 and v2.

L2TP/IPSec

Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) is a newer protocol. You could think of it as an extension of PPTP. However, it doesn’t have its own built-in encryption. That’s why it’s often paired with Internet Protocol Security (IPSec).

IPSec handles the authentication between your computer and the VPN server. L2TP can’t handle double encapsulation (setting up the PPP connection and then the IPSec encryption), which is where IPSec comes in. This makes the combination a solid alternative to PPTP.

When it comes to security, this protocol uses the 256-bit AES standard encryption. It’s very secure and has hardly any known vulnerabilities. This makes it extremely difficult to crack, even with brute force attacks (like those used by governments) or man-in-the-middle attacks.

It’s a good choice for secure internet access through a VPN. Plus, it’s relatively easy to set up for the average user. One downside is that the double encapsulation makes it a bit slower than other protocols.

That’s because the traffic has to be converted to L2TP first. Then, the second encryption layer adds a little more overhead.

SoftEther

SoftEther is one of the newest VPN protocols out there. It’s open-source and supports multiple protocols as a server. The protocol is actively updated. One of its advantages over OpenVPN is its rich feature set, including a GUI for management and Dynamic DNS functionality.

Security-wise, it’s known for its reliable encryption across a variety of operating systems, even Linux. You won’t find SoftEther offered by many VPN providers, though. This is mainly because it doesn’t have native OS support. Users have to install it themselves instead of getting it directly from their VPN provider.

SSTP

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) uses 2048-bit SSL/TLS certificates for authentication and 256-bit SSL for encryption. It’s well-regarded for its security. It works with both native and third-party clients.

SSTP is compatible with Windows, Android, and Linux. But it’s most popular with Windows users because it integrates more seamlessly on that platform. One of SSTP’s strengths is that it can be configured with AES encryption, which minimizes issues on the platforms it’s built into.

Another plus for SSTP is that it’s really hard to detect and block. However, it’s proprietary. That means users can’t access the code, unlike with open-source protocols like OpenVPN. This is one reason why some users prefer OpenVPN over SSTP.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is a highly popular open-source protocol. One of its key features is that it can run on any port, giving it a lot of flexibility. It’s used in traditional security protocols that rely on SSL and TLS. It’s also suitable for both Point-to-Point and Site-to-Site networks.

It uses a 160-bit SHA1 hash algorithm, 2048-bit RSA authentication, and 256-bit AES encryption. This makes it extremely secure and trusted by experts in the field. Users appreciate its robust security, ease of configuration, and the fact that it works on many different platforms.

OpenVPN works with both User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). It can disguise your VPN connection as HTTPS traffic. This helps it bypass blocking attempts. OpenVPN over TCP automatically retransmits packets. This prevents issues like interrupted downloads or websites failing to load. OpenVPN over UDP, on the other hand, is often preferred for online gaming and voice calls because it prioritizes speed.

over internet protocol (VoIP). This helps avoid interruptions in your service.

OpenVPN does have a few limitations. For starters, there’s no native integration, which can be a challenge for non-tech users. They may find it difficult to install.

You also need third-party software to set up the protocol. Most VPNs conveniently include this though.

Another limitation is that the strong encryption can sometimes result in slower speeds. However, recent updates by its dedicated community have minimized this trade-off.

Wireguard

Wireguard is a relatively new VPN tunnel protocol that’s gaining traction. It’s available on several platforms, even though it’s still technically in development.

Since it’s still a work in progress, some aspects are not yet fully defined. This includes the exact security level, the typical setup process, and the specific configurations. Consequently, it’s not as widely adopted by VPN providers yet.

Some noteworthy advantages include its use of modern encryption standards. It also has a compact code base, which makes it easier to thoroughly evaluate for potential vulnerabilities. Plus, it’s known for faster connection speeds and increased reliability.

SSL/TLS

SSL/TLS are frequently discussed and utilized in the context of VPNs. However, it’s important to note that they are not technically VPN protocols in the strictest sense.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and its updated counterpart, Transport Layer Security (TLS), can establish a VPN-like connection. In this setup, your web browser acts as the client, and access is restricted to specific applications.

You’ll often encounter this approach on e-commerce sites. It’s used to enhance security for online shoppers during their transactions. Essentially, every time you connect to a website using HTTPS, SSL is working behind the scenes to secure your connection to the server.

TLS, being the newer standard, is generally considered more effective at thwarting attacks compared to SSL. This is due to its updated components that enhance security features.

VPN Protocol Speed Tests

I’ve included screenshots of my VPN Test results for your reference below.

Speed is a major factor when selecting a VPN for your devices. If you’re having speed issues with your current VPN, check out my detailed guide:

How to Improve VPN Speed

Below are screenshots illustrating speed test results using various VPN protocols. I conducted these tests using SurfsharkVPN on an Amazon Firestick 4K and a Windows PC, to show the differences in protocol options between devices.

If you’d like to know how to install Surfshark on these devices, have a look at my installation guides.

How to Install VPN on Firestick/Fire TV
How to Install VPN on Windows

While there are tons of internet speed tools out there, I used the Analiti Speed Test app for the Firestick and speedtest.net for the PC. Analiti is app-only, which is why I went with speedtest.net on the PC.

Firestick/Fire TV VPN Protocol Speed Tests

Before diving into the speed tests, let’s quickly cover how to change protocols within the Surfshark app.

Just follow these simple steps.

1. Open the Surfshark VPN App on your Firestick/Fire TV. Click on Settings.

2. Go to VPN settings.

3. Choose the Protocol option.

4. Now you can easily switch between the different VPN Protocol options that Surfshark offers.

At this time, Surfshark has 4 Protocol options available within the Firestick App. These include WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN/UDP, and OpenVPN/TCP.

• WireGuard
• IKEv2
• OpenVPN/UDP
• OpenVPN/TCP

We tested each of the four options. We wanted to determine which protocol was fastest in our specific setup.

During testing, we ensured the country, city, server, and port were kept consistent. This helped in isolating the impact of the protocols themselves.

Note: When you want to test speeds by switching between protocols, always make sure to click Disconnect. Do this before you change to a new protocol.

OpenVPN UDP achieved 116 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up.

OpenVPN TCP had a speed of 60 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up.

IKEv2 reached speeds of 109 Mbps down and 7 Mbps up.

WireGuard had speeds of 98 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up.

Based on our tests, the fastest VPN protocol on Firestick/Fire TV is OpenVPN UDP.

Important: You might still find yourself dealing with slow download speeds on your Firestick/Fire TV, even after trying different protocols. If that’s the case, you might want to consider getting a Firestick Ethernet Adapter. It could potentially improve your speeds.

PC VPN Protocol Speed Tests

When it comes to using a VPN on your PC, you’ll notice a wider variety of VPN protocols available compared to Firestick. There are simply more options to pick from.

Switching between these VPN protocols on a PC is pretty straightforward. Just follow these two quick steps.

1. Open up the Surfshark VPN app on your PC. Click on Settings in the left-hand menu. From there, select VPN Settings.

2. Scroll down a bit until you see Protocol. Hover over it and choose the one you prefer.

And that’s all there is to it! Take a look at the results we got after putting the various protocols through their paces on a PC. We made sure to keep things fair by using the same country, city, server, and port across the board.

OpenVPN TCP delivered speeds of 139 Mbps down and 9 Mbps up.

OpenVPN UDP came in at 18 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up.

WireGuard achieved 73 Mbps down and 11 Mbps up.

In our PC tests, the fastest VPN protocol turned out to be OpenVPN TCP.

How to Pick the Best VPN Protocol

Picking the right VPN protocol can feel a bit like navigating a maze. There are several factors to keep in mind to ensure you make the best choice for your needs.

The VPN protocol you choose depends on your needs and preferences. There’s no single best option for everyone.

Consider these factors when making your decision:

• For faster speeds in general, choose either PPTP or IKEv2/IPSec .
• If you need the most stable connection on mobile devices, IKEv2/IPSec is a solid choice.
• PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN offer full native support.
• SSTP and PPTP are known for their easy setup process.
• If low resource usage is a priority, consider SSTP or OpenVPN.
• For a more secure, stable, and faster connection, opt for OpenVPN over UDP.
• PPTP is a good choice for low-risk browsing with rapid speeds, such as streaming TV shows.
• If your main goal is to open geo-blocked websites without prioritizing security or privacy, PPTP might suffice.
• IKEv2/IPSec ensures an undisrupted connection when switching between networks.
• L2TP/IPSec is suitable for downloading torrents, but be prepared for potential slowdowns.
• OpenVPN offers multiple types of authentication processes for enhanced security.
• If you need a protocol that’s compatible with mobile devices that can’t accommodate OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec is a good alternative.
• Wireguard is ideal for Linux users who prefer a small code base.
• Windows users seeking a decent connection might find SSTP suitable.
• To scramble SSL handshake metadata and bypass firewalls abroad, choose SoftEther.

Which VPN Service Provides the Best VPN Protocol?

Free VPNs often come with drawbacks like ads, pop-ups, and slower speeds. They also tend to have limited security protocols, which is a major concern.

A high-quality VPN should support multiple protocols to provide flexibility and power for the user.

TROYPOINT has tested numerous VPN services over the years. Based on our experience, Surfshark stands out for offering these protocols:

• IKEv2/IPSec
• OpenVPN (UDP and TCP)
• WireGuard

Surfshark also offers several other benefits that make it a top-tier VPN:

• A reliable and stable connection
• Faster speeds for browsing and streaming
• A strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy
• The ability to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously
• Thousands of servers worldwide, ideal for unblocking websites and accessing content from different regions
• 24/7 customer support to assist you with any issues
• Unlimited server switching for optimal performance
• Compatible apps for various operating systems, ensuring you can use it on your preferred devices
• Considered one of the Best VPNs for Streaming due to its speed and reliability
• Unlimited peer-to-peer traffic, making it suitable for torrenting
• Highly recommended by numerous independent reviewers in the industry
• A money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it risk-free
• A transparent privacy policy that clearly outlines how your data is handled

To learn more about Surfshark and its features, check out our unbiased review below.

Surfshark Review

VPN Protocol FAQ

Which VPN Protocol is the Best?

The best VPN protocol depends on your individual needs and what you prioritize. If speed is your primary concern, IPSec is a strong contender. If reliability is more important, PPTP might be a better fit.

What are the Types of VPN Protocols?

The most common VPN protocols include IPSec, IKEv2, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and SSTP. Each has its strengths and weaknesses in terms of speed, security, and compatibility.

What Does it Mean if a VPN Protocol is Closed-Source?

A closed-source VPN protocol means its code is not publicly available for scrutiny. This can be a concern because it prevents independent security experts from auditing the code and verifying its security claims.

Is the L2TP/IPSec Protocol Supported by Most Devices?

Yes, the L2TP/IPSec protocol enjoys broad compatibility and is supported by a wide range of devices, including PCs, smartphones, and various operating systems.