List of VPN Port Numbers that VPN Companies Use (2024 Update)

VPN and privacy researcher

Updated on

28 Sep 2024

A VPN port is a virtual point used by a VPN connection to send and receive traffic. When you surf the web using a VPN, your browser sends your web requests and receives the responses (traffic) via a VPN port. This optimizes tunneling and encryption, while also ensuring that your traffic reaches the intended destination.

VPN ports are a part of the long list of transport protocol port numbers used in networking. They ensure the movement of different types of data on the internet. However, VPN ports differ from regular networking ports in one major way. They are designed to handle VPN traffic for faster and more effective communication.

VPN port numbers are more capable of handling encrypted data, preventing snooping and interception, and providing superior data packet mobility.

Check out VPNs with Port Forwarding!

What Ports Do VPNs Use? – List of VPN Port Numbers as Per VPN Protocols

Here’s a 2022 updated list of common VPN port numbers assigned to different VPN protocols by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA):

VPN Protocol(Service Name)	VPN Port Number(Transport Protocol)	Usage
PPTP	47 (GRE), 1723 (TCP)	PPTP data path
L2TP/IKEv2 (ESP)	50	IPSec data path
OpenVPN	443 (TCP), 1194 (UDP)	OpenVPN connections
SSTP/SSL (TCP)	443	SSTP control and data path
L2TP	500 (UDP), 1701 (TCP), 4500 (UDP)	L2TP (IPSec control path)
IKEv2 (UDP)	500, 4500	IKEv2 (IPSec control path)
WireGuard (UDP)	51820	Incoming connections

TCP, UDP, ESP, and GRE are all transport protocols for sending and receiving data packets. Some port numbers are shared by different services because they use the same transport protocol.

For instance, OpenVPN and SSTP use VPN port number 443 for VPN connections. Both use TCP protocol and offer similar features like AES encryption.

Port 500 is known for faster connections but has less security. This is why L2TP and IKEv2 are chosen for speed, while SSTP is preferred for security.

Now, you might wonder: how is this VPN port information critical to you?

This information is useful for configuring routers or firewalls, setting up servers manually, or for P2P tracker setup. But first, let’s understand what VPN ports are.

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What Is A VPN Port?

A VPN port is like any other networking port that allows the transmission and reception of data packets over a network. In the VPN context, that network is the world wide web or the internet.

When you switch on your VPN, it creates a virtual private network using a VPN protocol configured by the provider. Let’s assume it’s the OpenVPN protocol. Since the OpenVPN service over TCP has been assigned the 443 VPN port number by the IANA, all your web traffic will travel via this port. This is one way how your traffic is hidden from, say, your ISP and government. This is because your regular traffic goes through other TCP ports.

This communication via the port ensures that your web traffic is packaged and optimized as per the VPN protocol. This means both the primary VPN actions (tunneling and encryption) are carried out as per the protocol. The communication also enjoys other VPN features offered by the protocol.

Much like how security and tunneling features differ from protocol to protocol, it does for VPN ports too. VPN port numbers help software identify where to send data, making networking faster and more efficient.

It is also worth noting that VPN protocols and port numbers are primarily used to distinguish between different VPN architectures that run over transport protocols such as TCP, GRE, and UDP.

In most cases, as a VPN user, you don’t have to worry about VPN ports. It’s automatically selected and configured by your VPN provider. If you’re using a premium service like NordVPN or Atlas VPN, you are guaranteed the best experience. However, there may come a situation when this port information will come in handy.

A Note on How Port Numbers are Assigned

VPN ports are assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). This global standards organization also manages IP address allocation in the domain name system (DNS). VPN providers can choose their protocols, which affects the VPN ports available to you.

The IANA keeps a list of all TP port numbers in use. This list is updated regularly. It categorizes numbers into system ports, user ports, and dynamic/private ports.

VPN ports are found in all three ranges. WireGuard has the highest number. This is because all port numbers (except dynamic) are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why is VPN Port Information Important to Users?

You may need to manually choose port numbers for special use cases such as:

Firewall setup
Router setup
Torrenting
Online video gaming
Remote access

This is to improve your connection speed while giving up some security features of your VPN. This action is also called port forwarding. It lets you open a port for incoming connections into your network.

Let’s look at an example of how port forwarding helps with torrenting.

How Port Forwarding Improves Torrenting

Imagine you’re seeding a torrent file you downloaded. Many torrent users might try to get parts of it from you through their BitTorrent client.

But, if you and a random user both have active NAT firewalls, the connection won’t work. This is common today, as people protect their devices and data with firewalls, VPNs, and anti-virus software.

It’s not your fault you want to seed torrents for others and keep your data safe. Port forwarding is here to help.

If you pick a VPN (like Private Internet Access) with port forwarding, seeding torrents is safer. Just follow these steps:

Enable port forwarding in your VPN software.
Modify the listening port for incoming connections in your BitTorrent client’s settings.
Disable UPnP and NAT-PMP.
Continue to seed.

In uTorrent, this is how the port forwarding settings will look:

Configuring uTorrent port forwarding settings

You can pick a random listening port or stick with your VPN’s choice. It’s okay as long as you turn on port forwarding in your VPN.

Doing the same can boost online video gaming, remote desktop, website hosting, and more.

Pro Tip – Discover your port number by adding it to your IP address. For example, if your IP is 192.168.88.11 and you use email, your port number is 192.168.88.11:587. Most email services use port 587.

How to Choose VPN Ports?

In most cases, you don’t even need to choose a VPN port. That job is for your VPN provider.

For example, when you turn on NordVPN and pick OpenVPN, it uses ports 443/1194. Your provider picks the port for you once you choose a protocol. (443/1194 is a top choice for VPN ports now.)

So, the only way for you and me to choose VPN ports is to actually choose the VPN protocol . Stick to OpenVPN, WireGuard, or SSTP for the best protection. Other protocols are outdated and don’t secure your connection.

Some VPNs like PrivateVPN offer port forwarding but use it carefully.

How to know what VPN port your VPN software is using?

To find your VPN port, look at your VPN provider’s protocol. Use the table above to see your VPN port. Most use ports 443 and 1994 (OpenVPN, SSTP), 500 (IKEv2), or 51820 (WireGuard).

Port Forwarding in VPNs

Port forwarding is a process where web communication moves from one port to another for more efficiency and speed. It forwards internet data to a better port for faster connections. It also makes it easier to connect devices between networks, like your smart TV and the internet via your Wi-Fi router.

There are several VPNs with port forwarding like Private Internet Access and Private VPN. This feature is great for torrenting and P2P connections, making downloads and seeding faster.

But, port forwarding can make your connection vulnerable as it needs multiple VPN ports open. It also bypasses the NAT firewall, which can be risky. This makes you and your data more open to cyberattacks.

Which VPN Ports Should You Avoid?

As of August 2022, 65,000+ transport protocol ports exist. While VPN ports are just a few, some are bad and should be avoided.

I told you that you are mostly never required to choose a VPN port/protocol, but if a situation demands it, it’s better to stay clear of the following bad VPN ports:

TCP port 21 (FTP)
TCP port 23 (Unencrypted text communications)
TCP/UDP port 53 (Zone transfers)
TCP port 80 (Unsecure HTTP)
TCP port 1080 (SOCKS)
TCP port 4444 (Metasploit, proxy)

Why should you avoid these ports? Because they are simply known to be vulnerable to cyberattacks such as hacking, invasion, and traffic analysis. These ports have been found to have weaknesses that hackers have used before. This makes your data and device more likely to be attacked.

Also, the PPTP ports from 1723 through 1729 are considered unsafe because they need manual setup for security. UDP 500 is not as bad, but still not safe.

These VPN ports are often used by free and questionable VPN providers. Using them can put you, your data, and devices at risk. Top VPNs like ExpressVPN and Surfshark do not use these ports.

Conclusion

Online privacy is crucial. It’s wise to not tinker with VPN port numbers unless you absolutely know what you’re doing and why. If you’re a general VPN user, you don’t need to worry about VPN port numbers.

If you’re a professional, prioritize security over speed. Opening a vulnerable port, even for a few minutes, can lead to cyberattacks. Want to know which VPNs offer the highest number of VPN ports? Check out our detailed buying guide.