~4,000 Lines of Code
OpenVPN runs about 400,000 lines. WireGuard's smaller codebase is faster to audit and leaves a smaller attack surface.
WireGuard VPN – Fast, Modern, and Auditable
The VPN protocol that replaced legacy overhead with clean, auditable code. Mysterium VPN runs on WireGuard.
- ~4,000 lines of code – auditable by anyone.
- ChaCha20 encryption – modern and fast.
- Seamless roaming between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
30-DAYS MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
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What Is WireGuard?
WireGuard is an open-source VPN protocol built to be faster, simpler, and more auditable than older options like OpenVPN. It runs over UDP using modern cryptography, with a codebase of roughly 4,000 lines – small enough for a single developer to audit for security flaws.
If you're new to how these differ, our guide to VPN protocols explained covers the basics. Mysterium VPN uses WireGuard as its core protocol.
Key Features of WireGuard
ChaCha20 Encryption
WireGuard uses ChaCha20 encryption, with Poly1305 for authentication and Curve25519 for key exchange.
Seamless Roaming
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data without dropping your connection.
Stateless Design
No persistent connection states mean lower overhead and better battery life on mobile.
How WireGuard Works
WireGuard keeps the connection process simple. First comes the key exchange: each device authenticates with a public/private key pair, so there are no passwords and no certificates to manage.
Next is cryptokey routing. Each peer's public key maps to a set of allowed IP addresses, which lets WireGuard route packets precisely and drop anything that doesn't belong.
Finally, it's stateless by design. No persistent connection states are kept, which means lower overhead, less battery drain, and no session data sitting around to log or seize.
WireGuard vs OpenVPN
| Criteria | OpenVPN | WireGuard |
| Code base | ~400,000 lines | ~4,000 lines |
| Protocol | TCP or UDP | UDP |
| Encryption | AES-256 | ChaCha20 + Poly1305 |
| Connection speed | Slower | Faster |
| Roaming | Reconnection needed | Seamless |
| Audit | Complex | Simple |
| Maturity | Established | Modern |
See the full WireGuard vs OpenVPN comparison, or how it stacks up in WireGuard vs IKEv2.
Mysterium VPN + WireGuard
Mysterium VPN uses WireGuard as its core protocol. Combined with Mysterium's residential IP network of 7,500+ residential IPs across 100+ countries, this means fast, modern encryption alongside exit IPs that trace back to real ISPs rather than commercial data center ranges.
It's one part of the full set of Mysterium VPN features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WireGuard?
WireGuard is an open-source VPN protocol built for speed, simplicity, and security. It has roughly 4,000 lines of code, uses ChaCha20 encryption, and runs over UDP. It's faster and easier to audit than older protocols like OpenVPN.
Does Mysterium VPN use WireGuard?
Yes. Mysterium VPN uses WireGuard as its core protocol, pairing fast, modern encryption with a decentralized network of 7,500+ residential IPs across 100+ countries.
Is WireGuard faster than OpenVPN?
Yes. WireGuard sets up connections faster and carries lower overhead than OpenVPN. Its ~4,000-line codebase is also far easier to audit for security flaws than OpenVPN's ~400,000 lines.
What encryption does WireGuard use?
WireGuard uses ChaCha20 for data encryption, Poly1305 for message authentication, and Curve25519 for key exchange.
Does WireGuard work on mobile?
Yes. WireGuard's stateless design handles roaming between Wi-Fi and mobile data without dropping the tunnel, with less battery impact than older protocols.
