If you've been researching VPNs, you've probably seen the name WireGuard come up. It's become the gold standard in VPN protocols over the past few years — and for good reason.
What is WireGuard?
WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol created by Jason A. Donenfeld. It was designed with a single goal: be simple, fast, and secure.
Compare the numbers:
- OpenVPN: ~400,000 lines of code
- IPSec: ~200,000 lines of code
- WireGuard: ~4,000 lines of code
This matters enormously. Every line of code is a potential place for bugs to hide. A smaller codebase means:
- Easier security audits
- Fewer vulnerabilities
- Lower attack surface
How WireGuard Works
WireGuard operates at the network layer (Layer 3) and uses state-of-the-art cryptography:
- ChaCha20 for symmetric encryption
- Poly1305 for message authentication
- Curve25519 for key exchange
- BLAKE2s for hashing
These are modern, well-studied algorithms chosen specifically for performance on mobile devices — where AES hardware acceleration is not always available.
WireGuard vs OpenVPN: The Real Difference
| Feature | WireGuard | OpenVPN | |---|---|---| | Code size | ~4,000 lines | ~400,000 lines | | Handshake time | < 100ms | 500ms+ | | Battery drain | Low | High | | Security audit | Easy | Complex | | Speed | Fast | Medium |
The speed advantage is particularly noticeable on mobile. WireGuard's efficient design means less CPU usage, which directly translates to better battery life — a critical factor for phone users.
Why VaultVPN Uses WireGuard
We evaluated every major VPN protocol before building VaultVPN. The choice was clear: WireGuard offers the best combination of security, speed, and simplicity available today.
We don't offer "fallback" protocols like some providers do. WireGuard works on every network we've tested, and providing a worse option would only tempt users toward slower, less secure alternatives.
Is WireGuard Safe?
Yes. WireGuard has been independently audited by security researchers and included in the Linux kernel since version 5.6. It's been vetted by some of the most careful eyes in the security community.
If anything, WireGuard is more secure than legacy protocols because its simplicity makes it easier to audit and harder to misconfigure.
Conclusion
WireGuard represents a step change in VPN technology. If your VPN doesn't use WireGuard in 2024, it's using a protocol designed for a different era of the internet.
VaultVPN is built on WireGuard from the ground up — not as a marketing feature, but because it's the right choice for our users.