Published May 22, 2026
VPN Protocols Compared: WireGuard, AmneziaWG, VLESS Reality, Hysteria2
How the four VPN protocols differ, what affects your choice, and which protocol suits speed, bypassing blocks, or an unstable connection.
Why protocol choice matters
A VPN protocol determines how your traffic is packaged and transmitted. Three things depend on it: speed, stability, and resistance to blocking. There is no universally "best" protocol β there is the right one for a specific task.
WireGuard
A modern, fast protocol with minimal latency. Ideal for gaming, video calls, and streaming where there are no blocks β for example, on servers in Europe or the USA. The downside: plain WireGuard has a recognisable signature, and in Russia it is frequently blocked.
AmneziaWG
The same WireGuard but with obfuscation β a masking layer that removes the protocol's fingerprint. Speed is nearly identical to WireGuard, but the connection survives DPI. The best default choice for Russia.
VLESS Reality
Disguises VPN traffic as a normal visit to a real HTTPS website. To a filtering system it looks like ordinary traffic to a popular resource. The most resilient option where blocks are aggressive.
Hysteria2
A protocol over QUIC (UDP). Its strength is stability on poor channels: mobile internet, congested networks, high packet-loss environments.
What to choose
- Speed without blocks (EU/USA) β WireGuard.
- Russia, everyday use β AmneziaWG.
- Aggressive blocking β VLESS Reality.
- Unstable connection β Hysteria2.
In Fiery VPN all four protocols are included in one subscription β you can switch to fit the situation at no extra cost.