UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol and it is one of the connection modes offered by VPN providers that support OpenVPN. There are services that give you the possibility of switching between UDP and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). While TCP is a popular solution known for its reliability, UDP connection can also be very useful. UDP is known as a stateless protocol because it doesn’t complete any data packet verification or acknowledgement. There is no confirmation sent to the source once the data is received. Data is sent only once and since data packets may drop, some of them may not be received at all. However, UDP is a practical option in many cases because the fact that it doesn’t involve packet acknowledgement makes it faster than TCP.
With UDP, data is sent at faster speeds, although in some cases, it may not reach its destination. In terms of reliability, TCP would be better, but if speed is the priority, UDP would be the most convenient choice. For instance. if you are using VoIP services, if packets are lost, you would still be able to understand some of the last words said by the other person until the data packets are restored. UDP would also be the most practical solution for streaming services, as well as online games. This protocol can help you to avoid image looping and gaming lag in case the packets are lost.
For VoIP, games, streaming and P2P, letting the lost packets go is the most practical solution and with UDP, it is possible to enjoy better speed, which makes the applications run faster due to the way in which data flows. When using UDP, you don’t need to worry about loop or video skipping back a few seconds. In a VoIP call, the voice will just drop for a little while and if you are playing a game, you will experience some glitches on the images, but the conversation or the game won’t be completely interrupted.
VPNs tend to slow down you connection due to the encryption applied, but in some cases, UDP can reduce the impact on your bandwidth’s speed. Since VoIP, streaming and gaming require a continuous flow of data with no interruptions, UDP is a better option for them. The downside of using UDP is that when it comes to downloading files, you need to ensure that the data is complete. Since UDP doesn’t verify that the data has been delivered, it is possible that you get files that have been corrupted from time to time. That being said, UDP offers good performance when used with OpenVPN, which is why many people look for providers that offer this connection solution.
In this list, you will find the best VPNs that support UDP.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most prominent names in the VPN industry thanks to the speeds and high quality of its service. It offers fast servers in 94 countries and it is a very efficient solution for streaming, gaming and VoIP services. ExpressVPN supports OpenVPN with UDP, allowing you to enjoy great speeds. At the same time, ExpressVPN protects your data with high security. Their solid encryption and the fact that they don’t keep logs of your online activities, make it a good solution for privacy. You can also bypass restrictions and their software offers high quality.
PureVPN
PureVPN stands apart due to its fantastic global coverage, and it also supports a great selection of features that will enable you to enjoy your gaming safely and without annoying interruptions. You can connect to over 750 servers located in 141 countries, which gives you many options to defeat restrictions effectively. PureVPN gives you fast speeds, reliability and high security to keep your online traffic protected. PureVPN supports UDP and it also offers convenient features such as split tunneling. PureVPN has easy to use software and it doesn’t keep logs of your traffic.
NordVPN
NordVPN supports OpenVPN and it another high quality provider that gives you the possibility of connecting using UDP. NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs and since it is based in Panama, where data retention laws are not applied, it is a service that will allow you to enjoy a high level of privacy. NordVPN has servers in over 50 countries and if you want to take the protection to your data to the next level, you can opt for advanced features like double VPN and Tor over VPN. NordVPN also offers detailed user guides and good customer support.
AirVPN
AirVPN is a provider with a strong commitment to privacy and while it offers a limited selection of locations when compared to other providers, its network is highly secure and you can enjoy good speeds. The service works very well with VoIP services and you can use OpenVPN with UDP connection to enjoy uninterrupted conversations and action while you are playing. AirVPN is also known for offering advanced features that will allow you to boost the security of your data, including VPN over Tor. No logs are kept of your online activities.
Private Internet Access
PIA is a popular VPN service that offers affordable plans and a good selection of features that allow you to bypass restrictions and increase the privacy and security of your internet traffic. They don’t keep logs of your activities and allow you to connect to thousands of servers in over 25 countries. You can use OpenVPN with UDP to enjoy faster speed when you stream videos or when you use VoIP services or P2P applications. PIA also offers a high level of security and it supports convenient features like Kill switch to ensure that you real IP address is not exposed.
