Speed is often the deciding factor when choosing a VPN, and the protocol you pick has a direct impact on it.
- WireGuard is the clear winner on raw speed, thanks to its modern cryptography and lean codebase. It typically cuts handshake time from seconds to milliseconds.
- OpenVPN still shines on compatibility and can be tuned (UDP + AES-128) to get close to WireGuard speeds on good hardware.
- For streaming or gaming, WireGuard is the recommended default in 2026; for maximum device support, OpenVPN remains a safe fallback.
Verdict: Choose a VPN that offers WireGuard for everyday use and keeps OpenVPN available for legacy devices.