WireGuard VPN: The VPN Protocol of The Future? (2024)

VPN

Last update

10. Aug 2023

AuthorManuela Lenz

Last update

10. Aug 2023

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When it comes to VPN security and performance, there's a new sheriff in town: WireGuard. The open-source protocol promises to surpass the current industry standards (OpenVPN and IPSec) in terms of speed and data encryption. Since it also claims to be easier to configure, many have started referring to it as the new gold standard among VPN protocols.

WireGuard VPN: The VPN Protocol of The Future? (2)

This opens the door to a variety of different potential applications for the protocol, such as allowing employees to remotely and quickly connect to their company's intranet. With WireGuard, backbone routers can also be configured to establish connections anywhere, without the need for special infrastructure or certificates.

This guide provides a detailed look into how WireGuard operates and highlights what you should pay attention to when installing and configuring it for use. Additionally, we'll sum up the open-source protocol's most important advantages and disadvantages.

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What Is WireGuard?
Features
Pros and Cons
VPN Providers

Top VPN Provider 2024

What Is WireGuard?

WireGuard is based on a technology developed by Jason A. Donenfeld for establishing secure VPN networks and offers an alternative to well-known solutions like IPSec, SSTP, or OpenVPN. It's best imagined as a mix between a VPN protocol and VPN software, which is not only easy to configure but also capable of establishing fast connections and stable VPN tunnels (even on mobile clients).

WireGuard performs well on Layer 3 (network) of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model, supporting IPv4 and IPv6. Although the software is based on peer-to-peer architecture, it can also simulate client-server architecture. It establishes VPN connections similarly to the secure shell protocol (SSH) by exchanging publicly-available keys.

Although originally developed for Linux, WireGuard is available on Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS.

Which Features Does WireGuard Offer?

WireGuard fulfills the system role of a network adapter, adding one or more network interfaces that can be configured analog to wlan0 or eth0 (i.e. with ipconfig or route). To keep it as simple as possible, the application is limited to providing only the most necessary features. This can be seen in the program's code, which contains a mere 4,000 lines and is both easy to read and understand.

To compare: IPSec or OpenVPN entail several hundred thousand lines of code.

As a result, WireGuard offers fewer configuration possibilities, but can also be checked more easily, an important feature for security-critical applications.

WireGuard's VPN solution uses three basic cipher functions to encrypt connections:

Curve25519 with the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE) protocol for handshake encryption (key exchange)
BLAKE2s for universal hashing (for example, to generate HMAC codes or key derivations with HKDF)
ChaCha20 and Poly1305 for symmetric encryption and data exchange

The underlying principle is both simple and effective: Each participant receives a public VPN key that uniquely identifies them. Ed25519 is used as the protocol for public key authentication.

WireGuard's high security and encryption standards are rooted in modern crypto algorithms. Thanks to "cryptokey routing", servers and clients each receive static IP addresses which are stored in the server's configuration data. When establishing a connection, this is compared to the public key, and the process only continues if they match.

Hint:

More information about WireGuard, including details about its protocols and encryption mechanisms, can be found in this white paper.

An Overview of WireGuard's Pros and Cons

WireGuard's main advantage is how straightforward it is to use. Apart from that, it also offers a number of other benefits:

High-performing and stable VPN tunneling
Solid security owing to integration of current cryptographic processes
Manageable code with few weaknesses
Well thought-out concept

If you are planning to use WireGuard, you should be aware that it's still a work in progress, particularly in terms of functionality. Alongside its numerous advantages, WireGuard also has some significant disadvantages:

Software is still experimental
Does not support dynamic IP address management (client needs to be coupled with a previously-defined VPN address)
No server verification
Not possible to connect or authenticate via proxy
Does not support TCP (at the moment)

VPN Providers That Support WireGuard

Most VPN providers continue to debate whether or not to integrate WireGuard into their clients. However, some services do offer the new protocol, including:

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2024

NordVPN

(877,857ratings)

NordVPN is our number one VPN because it combines speed, ease-of-use, and functionality in a slick package that's also pretty affordable.

5,500+ servers, 60 countries

excellent performance

no logs

6 devices simultaneously

affordable 2-year package

9.4 Review excellent

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unlimited

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1 - 24 months

NordVPN 2-year plan

$3.79

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Proton VPN

(144,686ratings)

With its open source philosophy and extra security features, Proton VPN targets security-conscious VPN users. But thanks to its user-friendly interface and suitability for streaming, it's worth a look for a wide audience.

open source & external audits

2,900+ servers in 67 countries

great performance

free plan without data limit

not suitable for China

9.1 Review excellent

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1 - 24 months

Proton VPN 2 years

$4.99

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Surfshark VPN

(207,223ratings)

Surfshark is one of the cheapest providers on the market, but it's a lot more than a great budget option: the relatively new VPN boasts strong protection, many features, and a great support with 24/7 live chat.

3,200+ servers in 100 countries

unlimited number of devices

many apps (Linux, FireTV, ...)

cheap 24-month plan

expensive monthly plan

8.8 Review good

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Surfshark 24 months

$1.99

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hide.me VPN

(31,514ratings)

Hide.me secures its place in our top 10 with good to very good grades in all test categories. The app is filled to the brim with handy features, the performance is solid, and with 10 GB of data per month, the free tier is also worth a look.

78 locations in 49+ countries

many features, incl. split tunneling

free plan with 10 GB monthly

anonymous payment

no recent audit

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Private Internet Access

(99,300ratings)

Besides its huge server network and its audit-proofed 'no logs policy', Private Internet Access sets itself apart from the competition with its module-based app that can be adjusted to each users' habits.

34,000+ servers in 84 countries

customizable VPN client

wide range of features

independent audit 2022

performance could be better

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Private Internet Access 3 Years

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CyberGhost VPN

(219,165ratings)

CyberGhost offers a lot of bang for the buck, especially in the 2-year plan. It has lots of features, even more servers, and quick support including live chat. We had occasional performance issues, however.

8,000+ servers

affordable prices

7 simultaneous connections

fast support with live chat

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24 months

CyberGhost 2 Years

$2.37

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45 days money-back guarantee

Windscribe VPN

(160,845ratings)

With its flexible pricing and a generous free plan, Windscribe is a solid option for budget-minded VPN users. It also has a nice, lean app with lots of features – but sadly, its performance can't keep up.

lots of features

free plan with 10 GB limit

unlimited devices

weaker performance

smaller server network

7.8 Review good

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unlimited

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1 - 12 months

Windscribe 12 months

$5.75

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FAQs

Is WireGuard a good VPN protocol? ›

WireGuard FAQ

WireGuard is considered by many to be one of the safest, most secure VPN protocol options available today. Simplified design using less code equals fewer bugs and security vulnerabilities, while WireGuard's faster state-of-the-art cryptography employs superior default security settings.

Know More ›

Which protocol is better OpenVPN or WireGuard? ›

When it comes to internet and VPN connection speeds, WireGuard is the go-to choice. It was specifically designed to offer higher speed performance and be lighter than OpenVPN. To put that into perspective, WireGuard only uses 4,000 lines of code, whereas OpenVPN uses around 70,000.

Discover More Details ›

Is WireGuard safe now? ›

Yes. WireGuard is designed with a strong focus on security, leveraging state-of-the-art cryptography to provide high-end protection for data in transit. Its choice of modern cryptographic primitives provides a robust foundation against various attacks.

How do I enable WireGuard VPN? ›

Basic knowledge of networking and command-line tools.

Step 1: Installing WireGuard. The installation process varies depending on your operating system. ...
Step 2: Configuring the WireGuard Server. ...
Step 3: Configuring WireGuard Clients. ...
Step 4: Connecting the Client to the Server. ...
Step 5: Securing Your WireGuard VPN.

Mar 14, 2024

Learn More ›

Is anything better than WireGuard? ›

Verdict on Security

There are no known security flaws in either protocol. If security is your topmost priority, the conservative option is OpenVPN. It has simply been around much longer than WireGuard, gone through more third-party security audits, and has a far longer track record than WireGuard.

Learn More ›

How much does WireGuard cost? ›

Cost and Licensing

Since WireGuard and OpenVPN are free software, there is no expense associated with using them. Though there are some free solutions, you'll still need to pay for a VPN subscription. Since WireGuard and OpenVPN are free software, there is no expense associated with using them.

Keep Reading ›

What is the most advanced VPN protocol? ›

IKEv2 – Internet Key Exchange

Based on the IPSec framework, IKEv2 is the most recent and advanced VPN protocol.

Get More Info Here ›

Does NordVPN use WireGuard or OpenVPN? ›

NordLynx is NordVPN's revolutionary technology built around the WireGuard® VPN protocol.

Can WireGuard VPN be tracked? ›

As explained above WireGuard does not allocate a dynamic IP address to the VPN user. And, it indefinitely stores user IP addresses on the VPN server until the server reboots. So, there is no anonymity and privacy in WireGuard.

Get More Info ›

Why would I use WireGuard? ›

Secure: WireGuard deploys all the latest cryptographic technologies, taking a more modern approach compared with older VPN protocols. Quick Reconnects: Because WireGuard doesn't use handshake authentication like other protocols, it can quickly drop and pick up new connections without a complex reconnection process.

Keep Reading ›

Does WireGuard require a server? ›

A WireGuard VPN usually involves a client (the app on your phone, for example) and a VPN server. Like other encryption protocols, WireGuard communicates with the server and establishes an encrypted tunnel between server and client.

Explore More ›

Do I need a static IP address for WireGuard? ›

If you have a static IP address from your ISP then you don't need to do anything, we can just use the IP name you have been given or the IP itself. If you have a dynamic IP address then you will need to setup dynamic DNS. For my setup I used NoIP.com.

Know More ›

Does McAfee use WireGuard? ›

By default, the McAfee Security app uses WireGuard. WireGuard is the latest in VPN protocol technology. When the VPN is set to Auto, WireGuard is used before OpenVPN. WireGuard ensures that you get the best combination of performance, security, and stability while using the VPN.

Get More Info Here ›

Is WireGuard VPN legit? ›

WireGuard first gained traction several years ago and has since become one of the principal standards for any VPN worth its salt. Many VPNs have moved from OpenVPN to WireGuard since its release because it combines security, speed, and ease of implementation into a single package, and their services are better for it.

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Is ExpressVPN better than WireGuard? ›

WireGuard is the open-source heir apparent to OpenVPN and is well on its way to being an industry standard. ExpressVPN does not offer WireGuard and has instead focused on OpenVPN and its own protocol, which is called Lightway.

Show Me More ›

Which protocol is better WireGuard or IPSec? ›

Compared to IPsec, the WireGuard connection has a 20% lower latency and a 15% higher throughput. When it comes to performance, WireGuard usually performs better than IPSec and even quicker than other VPN protocols like OpenVPN.

Is WireGuard the same as NordVPN? ›

NordLynx is NordVPN's revolutionary technology built around the WireGuard® VPN protocol. It helps you connect to NordVPN servers faster and improves your VPN connection speeds without compromising security or privacy.