PUREVPNPureVPN UpdatesPPTP vs OpenVPN: What’s the Difference?
Table of Contents
Find out more about these commonly used protocols in our PPTP vs OpenVPN guide.
Though most individuals consider price to be the biggest factor when choosing a VPN service, it’s also important to take into account the selection of protocols offered by each provider. Two of the most widely used options today are OpenVPN and PPTP, which bring their own set of pros and cons to the table.
If you don’t understand the strengths and weaknesses of both these protocols, it can be difficult to figure out the right one for your needs. However, we’ve got you covered! Below, you’ll learn the difference between PPTP and OpenVPN as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using either technology.
Let’s dive in:
What is PPTP?
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, or PPTP, is one of the oldest protocols in existence. Developed by Microsoft, it is supported by most VPN providers and easier to set up than other protocols as it comes pre-installed on most Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS devices.
PPTP is the fastest in terms of speed, making it a great option for bandwidth-heavy activities such as streaming and gaming. However, it’s insufficient on the security front, using RC4 and RSA algorithms with 128-bit encryption to secure your data.
The protocol has many known vulnerabilities, which cybercriminals are capable of exploiting to target you with attacks. Furthermore, PPTP can be blocked by ISPs as it runs on the TCP port 1723 and uses GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) packets that are easily identifiable.
Advantages of Using PPTP
Here are the pros of using PPTP as your protocol:
- Simple setup process
- Doesn’t require any special software to be used
- Delivers fast speeds with low overhead
Disadvantages of Using PPTP
Here are the cons of using PPTP as your protocol:
- Weak security
- Riddled with vulnerabilities
- Easily detectable and blockable
- Has been cracked by the National Security Agency
What is OpenVPN?
Open Virtual Private Network, or OpenVPN, is one of the newer protocols available. Developed by OpenVPN Technologies, it’s the protocol of choice for many VPN services and can be used on all major devices (even the less popular ones) via a third-party client.
OpenVPN provides encryption as high as 256-bits and is capable of using both TCP and UDP ports, which is why it’s the best option for security and bypassing geo-blocks and firewalls. The protocol delivers decent speeds as well, though you may experience slowdowns as it’s not very lightweight.
Given that OpenVPN is open-source, vulnerabilities are fixed by a community of developers as soon as they’re discovered. The protocol has also passed several security audits, by the way. The best part of all, OpenVPN is highly-configurable as it can use various communication ports and encryption levels.
Related Read: TCP vs UDP – What is the Difference Between Both Protocols?
Advantages of Using OpenVPN
Here are the pros of using OpenVPN as your protocol:
- Highest level of security
- Great stability when roaming across cellular and Wi-Fi networks
- Circumvents most firewalls and geo-blocks
- Great cross-platform compatibility
Disadvantages of Using OpenVPN
Here are the cons of using OpenVPN as your protocol:
- Technical setup process, especially for first-time users
- Connection speed issues aren’t uncommon
- Requires third-party software to be used
PPTP vs OpenVPN Comparison
Now that what OpenVPN and PPTP is and their respective advantages and disadvantages, let’s take a look at how they stack up against each other:
| PPTP | OpenVPN | |
| Easy to Block | Yes | No |
| Compatibility | Built into a wide array of OS/devices | Not integrated into OS/devices |
| Encryption | Up to 128-bit | Up to 256-bit |
| Usage | via device/OS built-in client or VPN provider’s native app | via third-party software or VPN provider’s native app |
| Speed | Fast speeds | OpenVPN on TCP offers better speeds than OpenVPN on UDP |
| Stability | Unreliable on some connections | Very stable |
| Supported OS/Devices | Android, Windows, iOS, Linux, macOS, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc. | Android, Windows, iOS, Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, FreeBSD, etc. |
| Security Vulnerabilities | Cracked by the NSA | No known vulnerabilities |
| Best For | Bandwidth-intensive activities like gaming and streaming | Situations where speed and security both are important |
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some of the most asked questions about PPTP vs OpenVPN:
Is OpenVPN better than PPTP?
Yes. OpenVPN is considered to be a better choice than PPTP. This is because OpenVPN uses more secure encryption algorithms and supports more operating systems and devices than PPTP. Also, PPTP is known to have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, whereas any vulnerabilities in OpenVPN are quickly identified and addressed through regular patches and updates.
Why use PPTP?
PPTP can be used for streaming geo-restricted content due to its high speeds. However, we do not recommend it for sensitive online activities because it has weak encryption and is susceptible to attacks. That said, it might be a good choice for those who want ease of use over strong security.
What is the safest VPN type?
Both WireGuard and OpenVPN are secure VPN protocols that offer strong encryption and security features. However, as of now, OpenVPN is typically considered to be the safer option because of its extensive third-party auditing and long-established track record of security.
Is PPTP VPN TCP or UDP?
PPTP can use both TCP and UDP for tunneling data. By default, PPTP uses TCP port 1723 for control messages and the GRE protocol for encapsulating data packets. GRE is not a protocol assigned to either UDP or TCP, but rather a protocol that operates at a lower level of the OSI model, enabling data to be encapsulated and transmitted through a network.
Is PPTP VPN Safe?
No, PPTP isn’t safe at all. Since it provides the weakest level of encryption, you can’t trust it with the security of your sensitive data. What’s more, there are many known security vulnerabilities in this protocol. In fact, PPTP traffic has even been cracked by the NSA. For these reasons, you shouldn’t use PPTP unless it’s the only option available, or if security isn’t your priority.
Does OpenVPN Use PPTP?
Nope. OpenVPN is SSL/TLS-based and utilizes the SSL/TLS protocol to establish an encrypted tunnel for all your traffic and communications to pass through. As such, it isn’t compatible with PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, or any other protocol.
What Replaced PPTP?
L2TP was created to provide a more secure alternative to PPTP. The protocol has all the features that PPTP offers, but is more firewall-friendly and uses 256-bit encryption to secure your data. The increased security means L2TP uses more CPU resources than its predecessor, due to which its performance is comparatively slower.
What is Better than OpenVPN?
While OpenVPN is the best all-round option that you can currently use, there’s a newcomer in the world of VPN protocols: WireGuard. The open-source protocol is equally secure, can manage network changes better, and consumes lesser data. However, it still needs to be thoroughly tested and pass security audits to have the complete edge over OpenVPN.
Is PPTP VPN good?
PPTP VPN is one of the most popular VPN protocols. It uses a Point-to-Point protocol and supports a variety of encryption methods, such as MPPE, MS-CHAPv2, and EAP-TLS. PPTP VPNs are fast, reliable, and can be a good option for many users. Plus, PPTP VPNs are usually easy to set up, which can be a major advantage if you are not tech-savvy.
Conclusion
PPTP has faster speeds and is easier to set up but offers a poorly secured connection. On the other hand, OpenVPN provides decent speeds and excellent security, plus it’s great at circumventing geo-blocks and firewalls undetected.
Got any questions for us? Feel free to use the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
Topics :
PPTP vs OpenVPN
