What Are VPN Ports?

Every port has a number, just like the doors in a hotel, so your router can send different traffic to the right device and application. VPNs need certain ports to tunnel encrypted traffic to their servers and keep your internet connection safe. Essentially, VPN ports are like virtual doors that your traffic passes through so you can surf the web safely. 

So, how do VPN ports work, and what VPN port numbers should you use? We’ll run through everything you need to know about VPN ports, including which ones you should avoid. 

What Are VPN Ports?

VPN ports are communication channels between your device and a VPN server. Internet traffic leaves your device and travels through these ports (via your router) in an encrypted tunnel to reach its destination. 

The internet uses ports as communication channels to organize traffic. Each port has a unique number and your router and applications assign specific types of data to specific port numbers. For example, you’d use a different port for sending an email than you would for streaming your favorite TV show. Your device identifies the type of data you’re transmitting, assigns it to the appropriate port, and sends it to its destination.

VPNs typically have a default port depending on the VPN protocol you use. The most common VPN ports include 443 for the OpenVPN TCP protocol, and 1194 for the OpenVPN UDP protocol. VPNs offering the IPsec/IKEv2 protocol also use port 500. You can often customize the port in your VPN app if you prefer to use a different one, but be mindful that some ports are restricted to specific traffic. 

How Do VPN Ports Work?

Think of a VPN port as a secret door in a tunnel. When you establish a VPN connection, your traffic travels through this door instead. The door leads to the same eventual destination as the tunnel, but it helps to secure your traffic. It’s a way for your device to talk securely with the VPN server. 

Everything you do goes through these doors in a private, encrypted tunnel to establish a secure connection. Only your VPN knows the code to open this door (port), so it keeps your traffic protected while traveling between your device and the VPN server. 

VPNs use specific port numbers for data transfers depending on the VPN protocol they’re using. Your data remains encrypted regardless of the protocol, though some offer higher security. 

The Communication Protocols: UDP vs. TCP

Each VPN protocol uses different communication protocols (Yes, it’s confusing, but they’re two different things!). For instance, you can select OpenVPN ports with UDP or TCP. OpenVPN is the VPN protocol, while UDP and TCP are the communication protocols used to transfer your data through a port. 

UDP and TCP are associated with different port numbers and prioritize different ways to transfer data. You may decide to switch between these for certain activities, for example, if you’re more concerned about speed than privacy, you’d probably choose UDP. 

To better understand how you might use them, let’s see how the communication protocols compare.

TCP	UDP
Best designed for activities requiring more security, such as sending private emails and messages.	Best designed for activities where speed is a priority, such as streaming or downloading files.
TCP is connection-oriented, so it must establish a secure end-to-end connection before transferring data.	UDP is connectionless, so it doesn’t need to establish a secure connection between your device and the destination before transferring data.
TCP offers greater reliability and privacy by ensuring you have an end-to-end connection. This stops data from accidentally leaking or from going somewhere else.	UDP can be less reliable as it doesn’t establish an end-to-end connection. Your device doesn’t need to confirm that your data ended up at the desired destination.
TCP uses error checking to determine whether the data has reached the correct destination. The receiver acknowledges it got the data.	UDP doesn’t use error checking or data acknowledgment.
TCP is slower due to the additional security steps and end-to-end connection.	UDP is faster because it uses fewer security steps.

Although TCP offers greater security, UDP is more than secure enough for daily internet activity. The average person doesn’t need to use TCP to enjoy secure connections, especially while using a VPN which encrypts your connection. TCP is also much slower which can cause a drop in speed and performance. 

Most Common VPN Port Numbers

Even when you’re online without a VPN, you still use various ports for different online tasks. 

You’ll probably use port 443 for HTTPS web browsing, but port 25 for email transfer. Your device sends data through these ports automatically. As you know, it’s not something you need to change manually each time you switch between checking your bank balance and replying to emails.

A VPN also uses various port numbers. The VPN protocol and the communication protocol help determine the VPN port number. Let’s look at some of the most commonly used VPN port numbers:

• OpenVPN – Port 1194 UDP, port 443 TCP
• WireGuard^Ⓡ – Port 51820 UDP
• IKEv2/IPSec – Port 500 UDP, port 4500 UDP
• PPTP – Port 1723
• L2TP – Port 1701 TCP, port 500 UDP, port 4500 UDP

Not every VPN offers all of these protocols and port numbers. Protocols such as PPTP and L2TP aren’t considered secure, so they’re rarely used. Some VPNs use port 443 TCP or port 1194 UDP via the OpenVPN protocol by default, but it depends on your device. 

CyberGhost VPN uses WireGuard^Ⓡ port 51820 UDP on Android and iOS mobile devices and OpenVPN port 1194 UDP by default on macOS. These are chosen specifically to balance speed and performance with appropriate security levels. 

Depending on the VPN you use, you can switch your protocol in the app, which also changes the port number. Sometimes, you need to manually set up a VPN protocol and port if it’s not available on your device, which can be tricky. 

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Why Do VPNs Prefer UDP Port 500 and TCP Port 443?

Ports can be blocked by your ISP if they’re known to have vulnerabilities or by your firewall to prevent access to certain sites. Most VPNs use UDP port 500 and TCP port 443 to establish secure connections, because they’re more reliable and rarely blocked.

UDP port 500 is connectionless, which means it doesn’t use data acknowledgment to transfer traffic. This makes it much faster than TCP. It’s also not usually blocked by firewalls, so it’s an easy option for users. Mobile devices usually offer IKEv2/IPSec protocols, which use UDP port 500.

TCP port 443 is designed for HTTPS traffic. It establishes encrypted connections using Transport Layer Security (TLS) to keep your data more secure. It’s also allowed through firewalls since almost every internet user sends traffic through this port, with or without a VPN. That makes it near-impossible to blacklist port 443.

Some VPNs switch ports regularly to avoid getting blocked. If ISPs know VPNs use a specific port, they can block or slow down your VPN connection. CyberGhost VPN has a randomized port feature so you can establish connections through different ports whenever you connect to the VPN. This is automatic, so you can easily avoid ISP interference and maintain a reliable, secure connection each time.

Which Ports Should You Avoid?

Not all ports are safe. Cybercriminals can even use VPN ports to intercept your traffic and expose you to vulnerabilities if you use a subpar VPN. The security of a port generally comes down to the measures a VPN uses to secure your traffic, rather than the port itself. 

If you use a VPN with weaker security protocols, such as PPTP, and route your traffic through a risky port, it could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. Likewise, some unreliable VPNs could send your traffic through unsecure ports without you knowing. That’s why it’s important to choose a reliable VPN that uses strong VPN protocols and encryption. Premium VPNs choose specific ports to keep your traffic secure and away from prying eyes. 

Remember, you can manually configure your connection through certain ports using port forwarding, but doing so can be risky. Certain ports come with added risks, like unencrypted traffic and HTTP connections. These include the following: 

• TCP port 21
• TCP port 23
• TCP/UDP port 53
• TCP port 80
• TCP port 1080
• TCP port 4444

What Is Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding is a technique you can use to remotely access devices connected to a private network, like your home Wi-Fi. For example, if you want to access a home-connected baby monitor while you’re at work, you can use port forwarding. 

Normally, your router and firewall will block any outside traffic from accessing your devices unless you initiate the connection from inside the network. Port forwarding involves creating a rule in your router settings to direct incoming traffic intended for your IP address on a specific port (or ports) to a particular device. It can be risky, though, because anyone who knows (or can guess) your IP address and port combination can now access that device, and your firewall likely won’t block them. 

Port forwarding makes your connection more vulnerable to cyber attacks. It skips past security measures and creates an opening cybercriminals could abuse to access or infect your device, and even other devices on your network. If you’re accessing a baby monitor, intruders could also spy on the monitor and, potentially, infiltrate your network. 

Where security isn’t a concern, port forwarding can offer some benefits. Aside from allowing remote access, port forwarding can also increase speeds since it has one direct line of traffic with no internal network security checks. Some VPNs allow port forwarding for activities like gaming, but most don’t because of the additional security risks. CyberGhost VPN doesn’t support port forwarding for this reason.

VPN Ports: Your Doorway to the Internet

VPN ports sound complex, but essentially they’re just your doorway to the internet. When you select a security protocol, a VPN sends your traffic through a certain port allowing you to connect to the internet. 

Knowing which VPN port to choose is a whole other matter. That’s why it’s important to stick to the ones your chosen VPN uses, so you can maintain a reliable connection without compromising security. 

Remember, not every VPN uses top-notch security. Those relying on weaker VPN protocols could also use different ports, which leaves you at risk. That’s why you should always opt for a reputable VPN. Consider downloading CyberGhost VPN to ensure you never have to compromise security or speed. Our VPN uses the toughest VPN protocols to maximize your security while delivering super-fast speeds for all your online activities.

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