Which protocol should I use?
VLESS vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2 — a quick decision guide.
All protocols are included in every plan. In the RealVPN apps, Optimal chooses for you. For manual setup, answer the questions below.
Quick decision
Censorship, DPI, hotel or office firewalls, other VPNs fail to connect.Yes → VLESS
ASUS, Keenetic, MikroTik, TP-Link, GL.iNet, OpenWrt…Yes → OpenVPN UDP
Use what’s built into Windows, macOS, iOS.Yes → IKEv2
Weak Wi-Fi, lossy mobile networks, strict port filtering.Yes → OpenVPN TCP
Comparison
| Protocol | Speed | Works through blocks | Built into OS | Routers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLESS (Reality) | Fast | Best | No — needs Hiddify / V2RayTun | Rarely |
| OpenVPN UDP | Fast | Sometimes | No — needs a client | Most models |
| OpenVPN TCP | Moderate | Better than UDP | No — needs a client | Most models |
| IKEv2 / IPSec | Fastest | Easy to block | Windows, macOS, iOS | Some |
VLESS
A modern protocol that disguises your tunnel as ordinary HTTPS traffic to a regular website (Reality). Firewalls and deep packet inspection can’t tell it apart, so it keeps working where OpenVPN and IKEv2 are blocked. Guides: Windows, macOS, iPhone/iPad, Android, Linux.
OpenVPN
The most compatible protocol: official clients for every system and support in most router firmwares. UDP is faster; TCP survives unstable or filtered networks. See the router guides.
IKEv2 / IPSec
Fast, battery-friendly and reconnects instantly when you switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data. It uses well-known ports, so providers can block it easily.