WireGuard vs OpenVPN: Quick Summary
WireGuard is the modern VPN protocol: faster, simpler, uses less CPU, and installs in minutes. OpenVPN is the battle-tested veteran: more configurable, better at bypassing firewalls, and supported by more devices.
Bottom line: Use WireGuard on a Netherlands VPS for personal VPN, remote access, or team connectivity. Use OpenVPN if you specifically need TCP mode for firewall bypass (e.g., networks that block UDP).
Speed Comparison
WireGuard is significantly faster than OpenVPN. On our AMD Ryzen VPS with a 10 Gbps uplink, WireGuard achieves 850–900 Mbps throughput with minimal CPU usage, while OpenVPN typically reaches 300–450 Mbps due to higher protocol overhead.
| Feature | WireGuard | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Throughput | 800–950 Mbps | 300–500 Mbps |
| CPU usage | Very low | High |
| Latency overhead | ~0.5ms | ~1–3ms |
| Connection speed | Near-instant | 3–15 seconds |
| Code complexity | ~4,000 lines | ~70,000 lines |
| Protocol | UDP only | TCP or UDP |
| Firewall bypass | Limited | TCP mode works |
WireGuard Advantages
- Speed: ChaCha20 encryption with hardware acceleration on Ryzen CPUs delivers near-native network speed
- Simplicity: A 5-minute installation with a single script — no complex certificate authority needed
- Battery life: Lower CPU usage means better battery life on mobile devices
- Roaming: WireGuard maintains connections when your IP changes (switching WiFi to mobile data)
- Smaller attack surface: 4,000 lines of code vs 70,000 for OpenVPN is far easier to audit for security
OpenVPN Advantages
- TCP support: OpenVPN over TCP port 443 is virtually indistinguishable from HTTPS traffic, bypassing most firewalls and DPI filters
- Mature ecosystem: Supported by essentially every VPN client application and router firmware
- Certificate-based auth: Better for enterprise environments with existing PKI infrastructure
- Long track record: 20+ years of security audits and real-world testing
Quick WireGuard Install on Netherlands VPS
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/angristan/wireguard-install/master/wireguard-install.sh
bash wireguard-install.shFor the full step-by-step guide, see How to Install WireGuard VPN on VPS. To learn about VPN use cases, see our VPN VPS Netherlands page.
Deploy VPN VPS in Amsterdam
WireGuard or OpenVPN — Dutch IP, 10 Gbps, no logs — from $3/month
Deploy Netherlands VPS NowFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, significantly. WireGuard typically achieves 2–3x higher throughput than OpenVPN and uses substantially less CPU. On a Netherlands VPS, WireGuard delivers 850–950 Mbps while OpenVPN reaches 300–500 Mbps.
WireGuard uses UDP only, which some firewalls and ISPs block. OpenVPN in TCP mode on port 443 is harder to block because it resembles HTTPS traffic. If you need to connect from a restrictive network, OpenVPN TCP is more reliable.
Yes. WireGuard uses state-of-the-art cryptography: ChaCha20 for encryption, Poly1305 for authentication, Curve25519 for key exchange, and BLAKE2s for hashing. It has been audited by multiple security researchers and integrated into the Linux kernel.
Yes. You can run WireGuard on UDP port 51820 and OpenVPN on TCP port 1194 or 443 simultaneously on the same VPS. Use different ports and configure your firewall to allow both.
WireGuard with Headscale (self-hosted Tailscale) is the best option for team VPN. Each team member gets their own peer configuration, and Headscale provides a management interface. WireGuard is simpler to manage and faster for daily use.