Difference Between WinTUN and WinTAP Network Adapters

Last modified: June 22, 2022

Our Windows hide.me app from version 3.2.0 onwards uses the new WinTUN network adapter for OpenVPN protocol by default.

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Difference Between WinTUN & WinTAP adapters

WinTUN Benefits

• A lower traffic overhead.
• It only transports traffic that is destined for the VPN client.
• Transports only layer 3 IP packets.

WinTUN Drawbacks

• It cannot be utilized in network bridging.
• Broadcast traffic is not normally transported.

WinTAP Benefits

• TAP can be used in network bridging.
• Works in layer 2 – Ethernet frames are passed over the VPN tunnel.
• Can transport any network protocol (IPv4, IPv6, Netalk, IPX, etc.)

WinTAP Drawbacks

• Causes much more broadcast overhead on the VPN tunnel.
• Adds the overhead of Ethernet headers on all packets transported over the VPN tunnel.
• TAP is known to feature poor scalability.

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Why hide.me app uses WinTUN as default adapter for OpenVPN?

It’s all down to VPN connection performance which is why we choose WinTUN as the default adapter.

From the WinTAP perspective, TUN is just a special, emulated and the driver still operates at lower ISO layer 2, hence its slowness.

From the WinTUN perspective, TUN is the only mode of operation, operates on ISO layer 3 and takes advantage of modern Windows OS facilities to abandon any sort of layer 2 emulation.

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How can I switch To WinTAP adapter for OpenVPN?

Please launch hide.me app and click on the Settings at the bottom.

Next, click on VPN protocol tab at the left followed by Advanced at the top right of our app.

Now, choose TAP-Windows from the Adapter type drop-down menu.

That’s it! If you connect via OpenVPN now, it will use WinTAP adapter.

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Bonus Tips

We would also recommend that you secure your web browser by following the guidelines at the link below:

How To Secure and Increase Privacy Of A Web Browser?

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