In this article, you will learn more about VPN protocols — OpenVPN, WireGuard®, IKEv2, and L2TP.
We will cover the following:
- What is a VPN protocol?
- What is the OpenVPN protocol?
- What is the WireGuard protocol?
- What is the IKEv2 protocol?
- What is the L2TP protocol?
What is a VPN protocol?
A protocol is a set of rules governing the connection between your device and the Surfshark VPN server. Whenever you go online, you are constantly sending and receiving information. To send this information, it needs to be split into small data packets, and protocols dictate the order in which these packets are sent and the encryption used to protect them.
All protocols used by Surfshark are fast and secure, and you can stick with the default protocol or choose a different one that suits your preferences.
Different protocols offer varying advantages. Some provide faster speed or better image/audio quality, while others ensure a more stable connection. If you're experiencing connectivity issues, try changing the protocol.
What is the OpenVPN protocol?
OpenVPN is a tunneling protocol that is available as an open-source project. Its code is freely available on the internet and it is maintained and updated by security and networking experts from around the world.If you are using the Surfshark app, you will find two options for OpenVPN: UDP and TCP.
- UDP is faster and is great for safe streaming, video calls, or games.
- TCP is more stable and will ensure that every single packet of information that you send from your device is delivered. However, it may be slower compared to other protocols.
NOTE: OpenVPN is available on Surfshark apps for Android, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Linux.
What is the WireGuard® protocol?
WireGuard® is a relatively new communication protocol that has recently gained popularity in the cyber-security market. Its open-source nature provides better performance compared to other protocols.NOTE: Currently, WireGuard® is available on Surfshark apps for Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS. If you cannot find it on your Surfshark app, update it to the latest version.
Please note that WireGuard® is a registered trademark of Jason A. Donenfield.
What is the IKEv2 protocol?
IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is a widely used VPN protocol known for its strong security features and efficient performance. It establishes a secure connection between a client and a VPN server, enabling encrypted data transmission over the internet. IKEv2 is notable for its ability to quickly re-establish connections in case of network disruptions, making it suitable for mobile devices and remote access scenarios.
What is the L2TP protocol?
Surfshark allows users the option to use the L2TP protocol, despite it not being as secure as other protocols available on the market. This protocol may offer faster speeds compared to OpenVPN and is compatible with many home routers.
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FAQs
If you are using the Surfshark app, you will find two options for OpenVPN: UDP and TCP. UDP is faster and is great for safe streaming, video calls, or games. TCP is more stable and will ensure that every single packet of information that you send from your device is delivered.
Which protocol should I use for Surfshark? ›
If you are using the Surfshark app, you will find two options for OpenVPN: UDP and TCP. UDP is faster and is great for safe streaming, video calls, or games. TCP is more stable and will ensure that every single packet of information that you send from your device is delivered.
Is Surfshark TCP or UDP? ›
Surfshark uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. As a default, WireGuard uses UDP port 51820, OpenVPN uses UDP port 1194 and TCP port 443, and IKEv2 uses UDP 500 and UDP 4500 ports.
What is the best protocol for Surfshark torrenting? ›
EXPERT TIP: The OpenVPN protocol is typically faster than WireGuard when using Surfshark. Though Wireguard is usually faster than OpenVPN, we recommend you use OpenVPN with Surfshark for the fastest torrenting speeds.
Which protocol should I use for VPN? ›
UDP is one of the best protocols for a VPN as it's stable, reliable, and offers good speeds.
Is there a better VPN than Surfshark? ›
ExpressVPN and Surfshark are two of CNET's top VPNs for a reason: They're both well-rounded VPNs and each is a solid choice for most any online activity. Surfshark exhibited better speed performance than ExpressVPN overall, but ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol demonstrated slightly faster speeds on MacOS devices.
Is IKEv2 better than OpenVPN? ›
IKEv2 and OpenVPN are both solid choices when it comes to speed, security, and reliability. IKEv2 has the edge when it comes to speed and is a better choice for mobile devices due to its stability. However, OpenVPN is the stronger option if security is the top priority, and it still offers a fast connection.
Should my VPN be UDP or TCP? ›
UDP is mainly used for online streaming and downloading. TCP is more reliable but also slightly slower than UDP and is mainly used for web browsing. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Does Surfshark allow tunneling? ›
VPN split tunneling, also called Bypasser on the Surfshark app, is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) feature that allows users to choose which data to protect with VPN encryption and which will be transmitted without it.
What is the fastest VPN protocol for streaming? ›
Which VPN Protocol is the Fastest? WireGuard is considered the fastest among all the VPN protocols. If you wish to stream and download P2P files faster on the network, make sure to use WireGuard after signing in to PureVPN.
If OpenVPN (UDP) does not help, try the WireGuard protocol and others.
- Turn on small packets. You will find an option to use small packets in Surfshark's settings. ...
- Change your network. Some networks might be performing worse compared to others when connected to a VPN. ...
- Turn off the Battery-saving mode. ...
- Reboot your device.
Technically, Surfshark is a great option for piracy as it offers key safety and privacy features. With features such as double VPN, Kill Switch, and 256-bit encryption, Surfshark guarantees a secure torrenting experience. However, Surfshark policies do not permit using the VPN for illegal activities.
Does VPN slow down internet Surfshark? ›
With a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network), that slowdown should be unnoticeable. But no matter whether it is paid or free, a VPN will slow down your connection because it needs some of that bandwidth for encryption purposes.
What protocol should I use for Surfshark VPN? ›
The best Surfshark VPN protocol largely depends on the device you're using or the reason you need a VPN: WireGuard® is good all around, especially when speed is the issue. IKEv2 is on par with WireGuard® and is really good with mobile. OpenVPN usually works best for routers.
Can the police track a VPN? ›
The good news is that there is almost no way to track live, encrypted VPN traffic. Law enforcement can only obtain data, if available, about websites visited and so on. Otherwise, hackers and snooping government agencies are generally blocked by the fact that the data is encrypted.
What are the 3 most common VPN protocols? ›
The most common VPN protocols are OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, IKEv2/IPsec, PPTP and SSTP. These protocols offer different trade-offs between security, speed and compatibility, so the best option will depend on your specific needs.
Which is better, WireGuard or IKEv2? ›
Speed Comparison
In terms of speed, WireGuard and PPTP are the fastest, but OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP offer decent speeds as well. WireGuard is fast because it's lightweight. The protocol can be implemented in very few lines of code, so there's much less going on in the background.
Is IKEv2 good for streaming? ›
IKEv2 is suitable for streaming because of its fast connection speeds and ability to maintain a stable connection.
What is the best way to use Surfshark VPN? ›
Using Surfshark VPN
In Surfshark's case, it has a Quick-connect button (see Figure F) that connects you to the fastest available server based on your location. Simply click on the Quick-connect button or one of the server locations, and you'll route your internet traffic through a secure connection.
Which protocol is best for surfing on the Web? ›
The correct answer is HTTP. HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It is a protocol used to access the data on the World Wide Web (www). The HTTP protocol can be used to transfer the data in the form of plain text, hypertext, audio, video, and so on.
