This comparison was originally published on SRF Developer. Check out the blog for speed benchmarks and setup guides.
When setting up a VPN server (or choosing a provider), the most critical decision isn’t the price—it’s the Protocol.
Choose the wrong one, and your connection speed drops by 50%. Here is the 2026 breakdown of the "Big 3" protocols you need to know.
🚀 1. WireGuard (The New King)
If you are starting a new project today, use WireGuard.
- Codebase: Only ~4,000 lines of code (vs OpenVPN’s 100,000+). This means fewer bugs and less attack surface.
- Speed: It is consistently the fastest protocol in benchmarks due to its modern cryptog…
This comparison was originally published on SRF Developer. Check out the blog for speed benchmarks and setup guides.
When setting up a VPN server (or choosing a provider), the most critical decision isn’t the price—it’s the Protocol.
Choose the wrong one, and your connection speed drops by 50%. Here is the 2026 breakdown of the "Big 3" protocols you need to know.
🚀 1. WireGuard (The New King)
If you are starting a new project today, use WireGuard.
- Codebase: Only ~4,000 lines of code (vs OpenVPN’s 100,000+). This means fewer bugs and less attack surface.
- Speed: It is consistently the fastest protocol in benchmarks due to its modern cryptography.
- Verdict: The default choice for 99% of users.
🐢 2. OpenVPN (The Old Reliable)
- Pros: It works everywhere. It can bypass strict firewalls by running over TCP port 443 (looking like regular HTTPS traffic).
- Cons: It is heavy, slow, and drains mobile battery.
- Verdict: Use only if WireGuard is blocked by your network admin.
📱 3. IKEv2/IPSec (The Mobile Standard)
- Pros: Incredible at handling network changes (like switching from WiFi to 5G) without dropping the connection.
- Verdict: Best for mobile-first users.
Which one is right for you?
I tested 5 different protocols across different devices.