The Difference Between VPN Encryption Standards

When you look into VPNs, you'll quickly encounter terms like AES-256, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and TLS. These refer to the encryption and protocol standards that determine how securely your data is transmitted. But what do these terms actually mean, and which ones should you care about?

Here's a plain-language guide to VPN encryption standards and what they mean for your everyday privacy.

What Is Encryption in a VPN?

Encryption is the process of scrambling data so that only the intended recipient can read it. When your VPN is active, it encrypts your internet traffic before it leaves your device. Anyone who intercepts that traffic—a hacker on a public network, your ISP, or anyone else in between—sees only unreadable noise.

The strength of that encryption depends on the algorithm and key length used. The most common standard in VPNs today is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), specifically AES-128 and AES-256.

AES-128 vs AES-256: What's the Difference?

AES-128 uses a 128-bit encryption key, while AES-256 uses a 256-bit key. The number refers to how many bits are used to generate the key that encrypts and decrypts your data. A longer key means vastly more possible combinations, making it exponentially harder to crack.

In practical terms, both are considered highly secure for everyday use. AES-128 is faster and uses less processing power, which is particularly relevant on mobile devices where battery life matters. AES-256 offers a higher theoretical security ceiling. Most reputable VPNs use one or the other—either is significantly more protection than no encryption at all.

VPN Protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and More

Encryption standards work within VPN protocols—the set of rules that govern how your device connects to the VPN server and how data is transmitted. The protocol determines not just security, but also speed, compatibility, and reliability.

• WireGuard: A modern protocol with a small, clean codebase. Faster than older alternatives, easier to audit for security vulnerabilities, and increasingly adopted by leading VPN providers. JourneyVPN is built on a custom WireGuard implementation.
• OpenVPN: A well-established open-source protocol that has been widely used for years. Highly configurable and trusted, but more resource-intensive than WireGuard.
• IKEv2/IPSec: Often used on mobile devices for its ability to reconnect quickly when switching networks. Generally fast, but proprietary implementations can be harder to audit.

What Should You Actually Care About?

For most users, the protocol your VPN uses matters more than the specific encryption algorithm. A VPN built on WireGuard with AES-128 will be both very secure and fast. A VPN on an outdated protocol with AES-256 may be technically stronger encryption but slower and more prone to compatibility issues.

What matters most for everyday users is whether your VPN provider uses a well-maintained, modern protocol—and whether they're transparent about it. JourneyVPN uses a custom WireGuard implementation with TLS support, combining strong encryption with reliable connectivity.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to become a cryptography expert to benefit from strong VPN encryption. What you do need is a VPN that uses current, well-reviewed protocols and is transparent about how it protects your data. The encryption standards in a reputable VPN are designed to be effectively unbreakable for practical purposes—your job is simply to make sure your VPN is on.