OpenVPN Service: UDP vs TCP, Which is better?
TorGuard VPN Service offers both UDP, TCP and Stealth connection options to all VPN servers. A question we get asked almost on a daily basis is, “Which is better to use, UDP or TCP when connecting to my anonymous VPN?”. The answer really depends on your own usage and security needs, neither option out performs the other. In this post we will cover some of the advantages and disadvantages of using both:
TCP VPN Service
- Better Reliability – TCP VPN service offers more stable connections as the protocol guarantees delivery of packets.
- Bypass Firewalls – TCP VPN tunnels are rarely blocked since they run on common ports (80, 443). Usually TCP VPN tunnels can bypass even the most strict corporate firewalls.
- Slower Speed – TCP features higher encryption methods that tend to slow transfer rates a little. For higher transfer speeds with OpenVPN use UDP
UDP VPN Service
- Faster Speed – UDP VPN service offers significantly greater speeds than TCP. For this reason it is the preferred protocol when streaming HD videos or downloading torrents/p2p .
- Preferred – UDP VPN tunnels are the preferred OpenVPN connection method if your network supports it.
- Lower Reliability – On rare occasions UDP can be less reliable that TCP VPN connections as UDP does not guarantee the delivery of packets.
So what is the verdict? Both TCP and UDP OpenVPN connections will offer excellent security and privacy when using your VPN service. The choice between the two really depends on your own speed requirements and whether your connecting from your work or home network.
TorGuard Anonymous VPN Service offers 200+ TCP & UDP OpenVPN connections in over 13 countries. Register now, and get VPN service for as low as 4.99 / month!
