WireGuard Speed Benchmarks
WireGuard is the fastest widely available VPN protocol. We compared every WireGuard-based implementation in our lineup against the same 487 Mbps reference baseline, so the numbers stack up fairly. Here's how they compare.
WireGuard Benchmark Results
WireGuard Speed Retention
Protocol: WireGuard / NordLynx | Baseline: 487 Mbps | Higher = better
Detailed WireGuard Results
| Provider | Protocol | Download | Upload | Ping | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | NordLynx | 433 Mbps | 412 Mbps | 12ms | 89% |
| Surfshark | WireGuard | 404 Mbps | 378 Mbps | 16ms | 83% |
| ProtonVPN | WireGuard | 399 Mbps | 372 Mbps | 13ms | 82% |
| Private Internet Access | WireGuard | 394 Mbps | 367 Mbps | 15ms | 81% |
| CyberGhost | WireGuard | 380 Mbps | 351 Mbps | 18ms | 78% |
Why WireGuard Is So Fast
WireGuard's speed comes from its simplicity. Where OpenVPN carries hundreds of thousands of lines of code and decades of accumulated options, WireGuard runs on roughly 4,000 lines. It lives closer to the operating system kernel, uses modern cryptography that's cheap to compute, and avoids the handshake overhead that slows older protocols. The result: faster throughput, quicker connections, and less battery drain on phones.
NordLynx: WireGuard, Improved
NordVPN's NordLynx tops our WireGuard benchmarks at 89% retention (433 Mbps). It's built on WireGuard but adds a double NAT system so no user IP addresses need to be stored on the server - closing WireGuard's original privacy gap while keeping all of its speed. That combination of speed and privacy is why NordVPN leads our overall speed rankings.
Get the Fastest WireGuard VPN
NordVPN's NordLynx delivered the fastest WireGuard-based speeds in our ratings. At $3.09/month with 10 device connections and verified no-log audits from Deloitte and PwC, it's our top pick for speed.
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