VPN Protocols Explained

WireGuard is the newest generation of VPN protocol, and it's the clear winner for most users. It uses just ~4,000 lines of code (compared to 100,000+ for OpenVPN), making it easier to audit for security vulnerabilities. The result is a protocol that's dramatically faster than the alternatives, with excellent security and near-instant connection times. KemitVPN uses WireGuard as the default protocol on all platforms.

OpenVPN is the most battle-tested VPN protocol, with over 20 years of audits and real-world use. It comes in two flavors: UDP (faster, but can drop packets) and TCP (slower, but more reliable on poor connections). OpenVPN is ideal when you need maximum compatibility with firewalls and corporate networks. It's the go-to choice for users in countries with heavy internet censorship.

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) paired with IPSec is the best protocol for mobile users. Its "MOBIKE" feature allows your VPN connection to stay alive as you switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data — ideal for commuters and travelers. It's built natively into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, so it doesn't require additional software.

L2TP doesn't provide encryption on its own — it's always paired with IPSec. The combination is secure but slower than modern alternatives because it encapsulates data twice. It's widely supported on older devices and operating systems. Unless you're dealing with hardware that can't run WireGuard or OpenVPN, there's little reason to choose L2TP today.

PPTP is one of the oldest VPN protocols and has been cryptographically broken since 2012. While it's extremely fast (due to weak encryption), it provides essentially no real security protection. Government agencies and well-equipped attackers can crack PPTP-encrypted traffic. KemitVPN offers PPTP only for legacy compatibility — never use it for anything sensitive.

SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) was developed by Microsoft and is built into Windows. It uses HTTPS port 443, making it very difficult for firewalls to block. It's a solid choice for Windows users who need to bypass network restrictions where other protocols are blocked. It's not available on macOS or Linux without extra configuration.