Openvpn

• WireGuard vs OpenVPN 2026: Which Protocol Is Better?

  Feb 22, 2026

  WireGuard and OpenVPN are the two most popular VPN protocols. WireGuard is newer and faster; OpenVPN is battle-tested and more flexible. Here’s how they compare.

  Quick Comparison

  Feature	WireGuard	OpenVPN
  Speed	⚡ Very fast (900+ Mbps)	🔄 Moderate (400-600 Mbps)
  Code Size	~4,000 lines	~70,000 lines
  Encryption	ChaCha20, Curve25519	AES-256, RSA
  Connection Time	Instant (<100ms)	Slow (2-10 seconds)
  Battery Usage	Low	High
  Mobile Performance	Excellent	Good
  Stealth/Obfuscation	Limited	Excellent (TCP mode)
  Maturity	Since 2018	Since 2001
  Open Source	✅	✅
  Audit Status	Formally verified	Extensively audited
  Built into Linux	✅ Kernel module	❌ Userspace

  Speed Comparison

  Tested on a 1 Gbps connection with NordVPN: