Our conceptual protocol comparison covers names and trade-offs. This piece is the decision tree you use when Auto keeps failing.
Home broadband
Lock WireGuard on one node, play a match or join a call, and keep it if the delta versus direct is tolerable. If UDP is oddly shaped by the ISP modem, OpenVPN TCP may feel slower yet smoother—stability wins.
Office and hotel
Firewalls that allow 443/TCP but drop UDP produce WireGuard handshake storms and reconnect loops. Use TCP only on that network; revert at home. Complete captive portals before any protocol will work.
Cross-links with night drops
WAN resets kill UDP sessions early—see the night advisory. OpenVPN recovers slower; manual Connect after the modem is back is clearer than waiting on opaque automation.
Streaming myth
Unblocking is mostly exit reputation, not the protocol acronym. Same node, both protocols, usually same library access—swap nodes before swapping protocols. Streaming notes: streaming guide.
Clean A/B
Freeze node and network; test protocol A for three minutes; disconnect; test B. Change only the protocol. Pin the winner per network type. Builds: download; more context in guides.