Understanding VPN protocols — WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
A plain-English guide to choosing the right VPN protocol for your needs.
A VPN protocol determines how your device creates a secure tunnel to our servers. Different protocols trade off speed, security, and firewall compatibility.
WireGuard (Recommended)
WireGuard is a modern, lean protocol with only ~4,000 lines of code vs 100,000+ for OpenVPN. It uses state-of-the-art cryptography (ChaCha20, Poly1305, Curve25519) and is significantly faster on most connections.
- Best for: everyday use, streaming, gaming, mobile
- Speed: fastest available protocol
- Security: excellent — modern audited cryptography
- Availability: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is the battle-tested gold standard, highly configurable with both UDP (faster) and TCP (works through firewalls) modes.
- Best for: bypassing strict firewalls, corporate networks
- Speed: moderate — slower than WireGuard
- Security: excellent — open-source and repeatedly audited
- Availability: all platforms
IKEv2/IPSec
IKEv2 handles network switching seamlessly. If you move from WiFi to mobile data, IKEv2 reconnects instantly without dropping your VPN tunnel.
- Best for: mobile devices, frequent network switching
- Speed: fast — comparable to WireGuard
- Security: strong — used in many enterprise environments
- Availability: Windows, macOS, iOS (built-in support)
Leave protocol on "Auto" — HorizonVPN automatically selects the best protocol for your network conditions.
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