WireGuard vs OpenVPN: Differences & Which to Choose in 2025

What is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol with a lightweight codebase. It uses simple key exchange and minimal cryptographic algorithms.

Pros:

• Fast speeds and low latency thanks to its minimal codebase size.
• Uses modern encryption algorithms like ChaCha20 for robust security features.
• Easy to audit due to compact design.

Cons:

• Uses static IP addresses by default, which may raise privacy concerns in some situations.
• Fewer features than older VPN protocols.
• Not all VPN providers support every mode yet.

WireGuard is mostly used by gamers, streamers, torrent users, and anyone else who wants speed as their main priority. It’s also a popular option when choosing between VPN services as it’s focused on performance and users who need strong security requirements with efficient code.

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a time-tested and trusted VPN protocol. It supports both UDP and TCP, with long-standing reliability.

Pros:

• Supports AES-256 and other encryption algorithms.
• Highly configurable on major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Great for firewall evasion and enterprise security requirements.

Cons:

• Slower handshake and more CPU use due to a larger VPN tunnel overhead.
• More complex VPN server setup.
• Messages are larger due to heavier code.

It’s mostly used between enterprises and VPN providers who need more compatibility, users that need flexible transport layer options, and anyone seeking maximum control of encryption keys.

Key Differences at a Glance

Speed & Performance

WireGuard benchmarks show faster handshake and lower latency. It sets up a secure tunnel in milliseconds, which is ideal for gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

OpenVPN split into UDP vs TCP: UDP offers better speed but less reliability. TCP, on the other hand, is more stable but slower.

If you stream 4K or play online games, WireGuard is favored when comparing against OpenVPN for its speed and performance.

Security & Encryption

WireGuard uses a modern ChaCha20 cipher in its transport layer, backed by small code and easy audit. Fewer lines of code lower the chance of bugs and cyber attacks.

OpenVPN supports AES-256 and RSA encryption keys. It’s been audited for years and meets high security standards across many VPN providers.

Both rely on strong cryptographic algorithms, but WireGuard’s simpler design means fewer possible faults.

Privacy & Logging

WireGuard assigns fixed IP addresses and keeps a table of peer information. Without good key exchange rotation, this could leak identities. However, that mostly depends on the VPN provider’s policy about logging. For example, at CometVPN we never log or store your data.

Some VPN services wrap WireGuard in extra layers that add session-drive key swaps and rotate IPs, keeping user privacy stronger.

OpenVPN supports dynamic IPs naturally, and mixing both in hybrid setups called multi-hop VPN setups is common.

Compatibility & Use Cases

WireGuard runs natively on many routers and mobile devices. It’s easy to set up on most major operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

OpenVPN is still a golden standard. It plugs into custom router firmware, works on older phones, and adapts through its many transport layer modes.

When you need stable use in varied network environments, OpenVPN often wins due to its flexibility.

Which Should You Choose?

In short, for speed and reliability you should go for WireGuard. It has the fastest handshake and provides low latency. Also, you can use a VPN for GeForce for high-performance gaming.

If you need configurability and compatibility, OpenVPN works nearly everywhere and handles tougher firewall evasion.

If you host your own VPN server, or use VPN services, pick the protocol that fits your needs the best.