Which is better for a home router: WireGuard or OpenVPN?

WIREGUARD IS FASTER AND PLACES LESS LOAD ON LOW-POWER ROUTER PROCESSORS.

The modern WireGuard protocol features a compact codebase and operates directly at the kernel level, ensuring high data transfer speeds. The legacy OpenVPN requires a powerful chipset and heavily degrades throughput on budget routers.

Protocol Hardware Requirements

Processors in affordable home routers have limited computing power for background traffic encryption. Heavy OpenVPN algorithms can load a router's CPU to 100%, throttling home internet speeds to modest levels, whereas modern WireGuard cryptography introduces virtually no delays.

Criteria for Choosing a Router Protocol

Use WireGuard for maximum download speeds and 4K video streaming.
Choose OpenVPN only if you need to disguise traffic as standard TCP port 443.
Configure WireGuard on devices with weak chipsets to prevent router overheating.
Check for hardware-accelerated encryption support in your router's specifications.