What is a VPN Port Number?

As a VPN user, you never need to worry about a VPN port number. It’s associated with the VPN protocol you use and is not something that needs your review. However, if you want to configure your Wi-Fi router or set up a firewall on your network, you’ll need to know what your VPN port number is.

In networking, a port is just an entry or exit point for a stream of data to pass through. It’s much like seaports where ships and other vessels dock to load and unload passengers and goods. An interesting characteristic of ports in networking is that data traffic can pass smoothly if the traffic is optimized accordingly.

For example, if you’re using file transfer protocol (FTP), it’s wise to configure your traffic to port number 20, which is the designated port for FTP.

Port numbers are assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IATA). Some of the most common port numbers that we use daily in networking are:

Port Number	Service
20	File transfer (FTP)
25	Email transfer (SMTP)
53	Domain services (DNS)
80	Web browsing (HTTP)
119	Usenet (NNTP)
443	Web browsing (HTTPS)
8333	Bitcoin (P2P)

What is a VPN Port?

A VPN port is just like any other port with some additional advantages. Since VPN ports are governed by their VPN protocols, they can provide different benefits such as encryption, mobility, and speed. As a result, each VPN protocol has designated port numbers that allow traffic to be optimized accordingly for smoother networking. 

As you can guess, VPN ports are also assigned by IATA. The following are the common VPN protocols and their associated VPN port numbers:

VPN Protocol	VPN Port Number(s)
WireGuard	51820 (UDP), 443 (TCP)
OpenVPN	1194 (UDP), 443 (TCP)
L2TP	500, 1701, 4500
IKEv2	500
IPSec	500

If you use the WireGuard VPN protocol, your VPN will automatically configure the associated port numbers for seamless communication. As you can see from the table, 443 is a safe port for outgoing VPN traffic. It provides encryption unlike port number 500 which is meant for mobility and speed. 

It’s best not to tinker with port numbers as long as you’re satisfied with your connection. Opening random ports without knowledge can make you vulnerable to hacking attacks. As a rule of thumb for secure connections, always choose OpenVPN or WireGuard VPN protocols for maximum safety online.

tuxlerVPN recommends the OpenVPN protocol to all our users. If you do not need to install a firewall or configure port forwarding on your router, we recommend getting in touch with your network provider. For everything else related to your VPN, please contact us.

BackNext article