WireGuard vs OpenVPN: We Measured the Real Speed Difference

Encrypting your traffic and routing it through a remote server adds overhead — but how much depends heavily on the protocol.

What we measured

Across 500+ speed tests, WireGuard consistently outperformed OpenVPN, often by a wide margin on both nearby and long-distance servers.

Why WireGuard is faster

Its smaller codebase and modern cryptography reduce per-packet overhead compared to OpenVPN's older architecture.

When OpenVPN still makes sense

OpenVPN's longer track record and wider firewall compatibility can make it the more reliable choice on heavily restricted networks. See our full rating for which providers offer both.