Your
FastVPN app protocol choices will largely depend on your
VPN needs.When choosing a VPN protocol, it's important to consider various factors such as security, speed, compatibility, and ease of use. FastVPN provides the following popular VPN protocols along with their pros and cons:
1. WireGuard®* - fast, secure, easy-to-use protocol has strong encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and minimal attack surface.
WireGuard® is a modern VPN protocol that offers improved performance, security, and simplicity compared to traditional VPN protocols.
With WireGuard® you can enjoy faster VPN speeds, better encryption, and lower latency, making your online experience even more seamless.
- Pros: WireGuard® is a newer VPN protocol known for its simplicity and efficiency. It offers fast speeds and low latency. It uses modern cryptographic protocols and is designed to be secure.
- Cons: As a newer protocol, WireGuard® may have limited platform support compared to more established protocols. It also requires third-party applications on some platforms.
*All Rights Reserved. "WireGuard" and the "WireGuard" logo are registered trademarks of Jason A. Donenfeld.
2. OpenVPN has a 256-bit encryption protocol, strong desktop support and requires third-party software.
- Pros: OpenVPN is highly secure and widely supported across different platforms and devices. It uses the OpenSSL library and supports various encryption algorithms. It can bypass firewalls and network restrictions effectively.
- Cons: OpenVPN might be slower compared to other protocols due to its encryption overhead. It requires a separate client installation, which can be more complex for inexperienced users.
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
- Better Reliability – TCP VPN service offers more stable connections as the protocol guarantees delivery of packets.
- Slower Speed – TCP features higher encryption methods that tend to slow down transfer rates.
- Best for file transfers, emails, and web browsing.
- UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
- Faster Speed – suitable for UDP VPN service, offers significantly higher speeds than TCP.
- Less Reliable – UDP includes error checking (but with no recovery), where delivery of packets are not guaranteed.
- Best for video conferencing, gaming, broadcasts, and downloading torrents/p2p.
3.
IKEv2 - a 256-bit encryption, secure, stable and mobile oriented.
- Pros: IKEv2 offers robust security, fast connection times, and seamless roaming capabilities. It is suitable for mobile devices and supports NAT traversal. It has native support on many platforms.
- Cons: IKEv2 may have limited compatibility with some devices or VPN clients. Its configuration can be more complex, and it provides less transparency in encryption negotiation compared to other protocols.
