Which VPN protocol does VPNmine use?
Also asked as: Does VPNmine use WireGuard? · Does VPNmine support OpenVPN?
Direct answer
WireGuard, with ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption and Curve25519 key exchange, on every desktop, mobile and TV client. The browser extension is the one exception: an extension cannot open a system-wide tunnel, so it proxies through the same network over HTTPS or SOCKS5. There is no OpenVPN option in the apps.
Why WireGuard
It is faster than OpenVPN, its codebase is small enough to audit, it uses fixed modern primitives instead of negotiating a cipher, and it resumes a tunnel across network changes without a new handshake. Those are the properties that matter on a phone switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and on a TV that sits connected for hours.
What the extension does instead
Browsers do not let extensions open tunnels, so the VPNmine extension sets a proxy for the browser over HTTPS or SOCKS5 through the same servers. It covers browsing only; for the whole device, use the app.
What this means for you
Nothing to configure. Connect, and the app opens a WireGuard tunnel to the server you picked. Run the DNS leak test and IP checker on this site with the tunnel up if you want to see it working.
Related questions
- What is WireGuard?WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol: small codebase, fixed modern ciphers, one-round-trip handshake, fast reconnects. Why it replaced OpenVPN in most apps.
- WireGuard vs OpenVPN: which is better?WireGuard is faster, smaller and reconnects better; OpenVPN is older, bigger and can run over TCP 443. Which to pick, and why VPNmine's apps use WireGuard.
- How does a VPN work?What happens when you press connect: key exchange, encrypted tunnel, a server that forwards your traffic, and why sites see its address, not yours.
- Does VPNmine have a browser extension?VPNmine's free extension is on the Chrome Web Store (Chrome, Edge, Opera) and Firefox Add-ons, proxying the browser through the same 19-country network.