Using one of the top WireGuard VPNs can guarantee you speed and security. However, knowing which VPNs use WireGuard and are generally worth using can be difficult! After testing numerous WireGuard VPNs, I’ve found the best choice to be CyberGhost, thanks to its privacy-friendly WireGuard implementation and blazing-fast speeds. You can buy CyberGhost in confidence with its 45-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund is easy if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Try WireGuard with CyberGhost
Short on Time? These Are the Best WireGuard VPNs in 2023
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The Best WireGuard VPNs (Tested in 2023)
1. CyberGhost — Dynamically Assigns IPs for Added Privacy With WireGuard
Key Features: Although WireGuard is fast and highly secure, it’s not the most private encryption protocol due to the way it assigns IP addresses to users. CyberGhost circumvents any WireGuard privacy issues by using its own process to generate and assign random IP addresses to users. This makes CyberGhost one of the top VPNs to use with WireGuard, especially since many other VPN providers just leave WireGuard’s default implementation in place. CyberGhost’s WireGuard implementation is also blazing fast, reaching average speeds of 59Mbps during tests (compared to a baseline speed of 103Mbps without a VPN). This was about 5-10% faster than the average speeds I achieved while using IKEv2 on Mac, or OpenVPN on Windows. If you’re planning to stream content, this makes WireGuard a fantastic choice, able to play UHD content and even download large files concurrently. CyberGhost even has several servers optimized for different purposes, including Streaming (for more reliable unblocking), Gaming (for lower latency), and Torrenting (for higher speeds). Together with WireGuard, you end up with extremely high-performance servers for some of the most demanding online tasks. Using several cutting-edge technologies, CyberGhost is up to the challenge of keeping your devices secure, including:
Independently audited no-logs policy ensures no activity is saved. Military-grade encryption scrambles your traffic to make it unreadable. Always-on kill switch prevents data leaks if your VPN connection drops out. NAT firewall protects the identity of devices on your network. IP masking hides your real IP and protects against DDoS attacks. WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols are available so you can choose which is best for a given situation.
In case you’d like WireGuard connectivity on multiple devices, you should know that CyberGhost supports 7 devices simultaneously. I’ve tested this by connecting 2 Windows PCs, a MacBook, and 4 mobile phones, without any noticeable slowdown. The issue that stands out to me the most with CyberGhost relates to its short-term pricing — it’s simply more expensive than the competition. However, you can get a great deal on a CyberGhost subscription with the 2-year + 3 months subscription, which comes to just $2.11/month. You can buy CyberGhost in confidence thanks to its 45-day money-back guarantee. I’ve confirmed that the policy works by contacting CyberGhost through its 24/7 live chat and asking for a refund. The agent asked no further questions — they immediately confirmed my request and I had the money back 4 days later. Use WireGuard with CyberGhost
2. PIA — Huge Global Server Network So You Can Get Connected From Anywhere
Key Features: Private Internet Access has one of the the largest server networks with support for WireGuard on the market. With 35,000+ servers strategically located in over 84 countries all over the world, you should always be close enough to a server to ensure good connectivity. A lot of this comes down to PIA’s heavy use of virtual servers, which means it can spin up servers in locations without the need for physical hardware there. In an ideal case, this means you can be connected to a server that’s local to you while you’re digitally geolocated much further away, resulting in large performance benefits. However, in a less-than-ideal case, the virtual server may not be in your vicinity, resulting in worse performance than a physically geolocated server. Fortunately, virtual and geolocated servers are clearly labeled so you always know what’s physically closest to you. While testing PIA with WireGuard I was pleased with its average speed of 70Mbps. This was about faster than connecting to PIA using OpenVPN, which reached respectable average speeds of 66Mbps itself. PIA keeps its large server network secure with the following features:
Solves WireGuard privacy issues by randomly assigning IP addresses. An audited no-logs policy guarantees that your traffic is never kept on record. MACE blocker terminates browser-based ads and malware. WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec (on iOS) protocols offer a blend of speed and security.
You can connect up to Unlimited devices at once with PIA, allowing you to secure them all with WireGuard simultaneously. During my testing, I never encountered errors or network slowdowns, no matter how many devices I connected at once. It’s worth noting that PIA’s headquarters are based in the US, a core member of the 5/9/14 Eyes groups of intelligence-sharing countries. However, independent auditors have verified PIA’s privacy claims including its no-logs policy, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding user data. Considering its performance and large server network, PIA’s pricing gives it an additional competitive edge. At a monthly cost of $2.11, the 2-year + 3 months plan offers a great deal! All of PIA’s subscriptions come with a Unlimited-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free. I emailed PIA’s support for a refund and was impressed to see an approval email just an hour later without any follow-up questions. I had the money back 6 working days later. Use WireGuard with PIA
3. IPVanish — Generous Simultaneous Device Connections to Secure All Devices With WireGuard
Key Features: With IPVanish you can connect unlimited devices at once, allowing you to run as many simultaneous WireGuard connections as you like. I connected all of the devices in my household (a variety of 10 computers, phones, and other devices) to IPVanish at once without any issues. IPVanish doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to speeds. While connected via WireGuard it hit average speeds of 67Mbps with local servers, compared to 51Mbps with OpenVPN. Although both speeds are more than enough for basic browsing, intensive downloading, and even UHD streaming, you’ll want to use WireGuard for the fastest possible connection. Your devices are also kept protected by the following of IPVanish’s security features:
AES 256-bit encryption masks your data. Independently-audited no-logs policy ensuring no user data is stored. Kill switch secures your connection in case of a VPN server outage. Powerful security protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2.
My main issue with IPVanish is its lack of a Smart DNS function. This would normally allow you to set up a connection on devices that don’t allow for native VPN app installation (though the connection is unencrypted, primarily for streaming purposes). It’s not a major issue, but you might miss it if you’re a game console user. Fortunately, you can still set up a VPN connection on your router, which protects all your connected devices at once. I’d recommend IPVanish’s 2-year subscription which works out at just $3.33 per month. It’s not the most competitively-priced VPN on this list, but when you account for the unlimited device connections it’s actually considerably cost-effective! You can also try IPVanish risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. I was super impressed by IPVanish’s refund process since all I had to do was log in to my online dashboard and submit the refund form. The refund was automatically approved and I received the money back 4 days later. Use WireGuard with IPVanish
4. PureVPN — Always-On Audit Ensures Top-Tier Respect for User Privacy
Key Features: Although all VPNs on this list have been audited, PureVPN has gone a step beyond with its Always-On Audits. This means that KPMG (one of the “Big Four” accounting and auditing firms) can perform a surprise audit on PureVPN’s infrastructure and processes at any time they desire. This is especially notable in an environment where plenty of VPNs refuse to get their no-logs policies audited in the first place! It also added 20Gbps-capable servers in a number of locations, including the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and several US servers. These allow users to access much higher speeds (if their own networks allow), as well as generally allowing the servers to scale better with more users. Like CyberGhost, PureVPN offers dynamic IP allocation for WireGuard, making it more difficult for an attacker to link a specific user to a specific IP address. Alongside this, PureVPN protects its server network with:
IP and DNS leak protection — make sure your real location is never leaked. A kill switch — terminates your internet connection in case the VPN connection drops. Split tunneling — allows you to choose which apps you want to protect.
The main issue I found with PureVPN lies with its virtual servers. PureVPN makes quite heavy use of them but doesn’t identify which servers are virtual and which are physically geolocated in that region (unlike PIA). Although virtual servers can sometimes offer better performance if they’re close to you, it’s better to know which are physical and which are virtual so you can make an informed decision. PureVPN offers some competitively-priced plans, the longest 2-year + 4 months subscription being the best value for money at $2.29 per month (making it one of our top monthly VPN options). There’s also a 31-day money-back guarantee so you can check it out for yourself with zero risk. Although my test of the refund process wasn’t the fastest, taking 3 days to hear back, it was eventually confirmed and I had the money back a week later. Use WireGuard with PureVPN
5. Proton VPN — Secure Core Servers Enhance Privacy with WireGuard
Key Features: Proton VPN sets itself apart with its Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland before reaching the final destination. This adds an extra layer of protection and makes it even more difficult for anyone to trace your online activities. Combined with a privacy-friendly implementation of WireGuard, Proton VPN provides a highly secure and private VPN experience. With Proton VPN’s WireGuard, you can expect impressive speeds. During my tests, the average speed reached 69Mbps. These high speeds make Proton VPN an excellent choice for streaming UHD content, downloading large files, and even gaming without any significant lag. Proton VPN’s security features include:
Secure Core servers — add an extra layer of privacy and security to your connection. Independently audited no-logs policy — ensures no activity is saved. Strong encryption — protects your data from prying eyes. Kill switch — prevents data leaks if your VPN connection drops. DNS leak protection — keeps your DNS queries secure and private.
One downside of Proton VPN is the lack of live chat support, which is a feature available in most other premium VPNs on this list. However, its online support center is packed with information, and support contacted via the online form typically replies within 24 hours, ensuring that you’ll receive the assistance you need. Although there are several plans for you to choose from, I’d recommend the 2-year plan if you’re seeking the best value. This works out at just $4.99/month. Proton VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee ensures you can try the service risk-free. I personally tried their refund policy by submitting a request through the contact form, and I received a prompt response. My refund was processed with no questions asked and the money was back in my account within 1 week. Use WireGuard with Proton VPN Proton VPN works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and select routers (DD-WRT, AsusWRT, and Tomato).
Best Alternative to WireGuard in 2023
ExpressVPN — Lightway Protocol Is Lightning Fast and Avoids WireGuard Privacy Issues
Key Features: Although ExpressVPN doesn’t support WireGuard, its own Lightway protocol is worth mentioning here as a similar alternative. While WireGuard’s default implementation falters with privacy, Lightway was built from the ground up for user privacy. Obfuscation — hiding that you’re using a VPN to route traffic — is similarly important. This is also something done well by Lightway but not WireGuard. If you not only want the high speeds that WireGuard brings to the table, but also a private-by-default protocol on your side, Lightway should be a good fit. Lightway is also extremely lightweight even compared to WireGuard, using roughly 1,000 lines of code compared to 4,000. This makes it even easier to audit, which is easily possible thanks to it being open-sourced. In all tests, ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol edged out OpenVPN when it came to speeds — something that WireGuard wasn’t always capable of with the other VPNs. I measured average speeds of 93Mbps with it active, compared to 90Mbps with OpenVPN. Alongside its high speeds, ExpressVPN has many features that keep it highly secure, including:
Cutting-edge wolfSSL encryption is used by Lightway Independently audited no-logs policy DNS and IP address leak protection Kill switch
Its main drawback is that ExpressVPN is more expensive than the other VPNs on this list — its best deal starts at $6.67 per month for the 1-year subscription. Regardless, for the speed and security you’re getting, it’s worth the slight extra cost. ExpressVPN is also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get a full refund if you’re not fully satisfied with it. I was impressed by just how easy this was — the agent on the 24/7 live chat approved my request without asking any further questions and I had the money back in 5 days. Use Lightway with ExpressVPN
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best WireGuard VPNs
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How I Tested and Ranked the Best WireGuard VPNs
I used the following criteria to determine whether a VPN was worth including on this list:
WireGuard setup — should be properly implemented, preferably in a way that avoids the privacy issues inherent in its default setup. Server speeds — as long as the user’s underlying connection supports it, the VPN’s servers should be fast enough for UHD streaming, heavy downloading, and all other online tasks without interruptions. High security — including cutting-edge encryption methods, leak protection, split tunneling, and other features should keep your data and devices safe. Wide network — of servers located in prudent spots around the world, especially clustered in and around the most popular locations. Device compatibility — the VPN and its WireGuard protocol should be supported on as many popular devices as possible. Simultaneous connections — you should be able to get connected to WireGuard on multiple devices at once. Customer support — should be fast and easy to get in touch with, preferably via live chat, and a detailed knowledgebase is a great bonus.
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Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Set Up WireGuard
Try WireGuard with CyberGhost On the other hand, OpenVPN is more private than WireGuard by default. WireGuard was never initially designed for retail VPN usage where users expect a high degree of privacy. If left in its default configuration, WireGuard stores user IP addresses until the server restarts and doesn’t assign them to users dynamically (like OpenVPN does). Fortunately, several VPN providers (like CyberGhost) have implemented their own workarounds that make this a null point. Depending on your own preferences, privacy might also be more or less important. If you’re simply looking for the best streaming performance, WireGuard is hard to beat. However, if you need to get online privately in a censorship-heavy country, OpenVPN is the better choice. You can also manually set up a WireGuard instance to run on your own server, but this is highly technical and will require you to either rent a server or run one at home.
Ensure your underlying internet connection is working — disconnect from the server and check that some web pages are loading properly without the VPN active Disconnect and reconnect to your server Try connecting to servers in a different country or region Try accessing different webpages or services — some simply won’t work while connected to a VPN Contact your VPN’s support and check their network status page — there’s a good chance they’ll be able to help you out based on your specific situation. Check for updates — there’s a chance you’re using an outdated version.
Several free VPNs have even been discovered to have compromised their networks to third parties and sold confidential user data for profit. This won’t happen with one of the best premium VPNs on the market, which have secure networks and legitimate companies backing them.
Get a Quality WireGuard VPN Today
Finding a VPN with WireGuard integration isn’t guaranteed, and those that have it don’t necessarily offer a well-rounded set of features to make signing up worth it. A good WireGuard VPN should offer a blend of high speeds, cutting-edge security, and a widespread server network for reliable global connectivity. Thankfully, after testing several VPNs, I can verify that CyberGhost is the best WireGuard VPN on the market. This is thanks to its privacy-minded WireGuard implementation and high-performance server network. You can buy CyberGhost in confidence with its 45-day money-back guarantee. Try WireGuard with CyberGhost
