Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) is a VPN tunneling protocol developed by Microsoft and Cisco to combine the strengths of PPTP and L2F (Layer 2 Forwarding). It provides better security and stability than PPTP. However, L2TP is now considered outdated with newer VPN protocols offering faster performance and stronger protection.
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) is a VPN protocol that creates a secure tunnel for transferring data between a device and a VPN server. Designed as an improvement over PPTP, it adds stronger authentication, reliability, and compatibility with different network types. Because L2TP doesn’t encrypt traffic by itself, it’s usually combined with IPSec to provide data encryption and integrity protection.
L2TP encapsulates your data inside a secure tunnel that connects your device to a VPN server and uses IPSec for encryption. Here’s how the process unfolds:
The VPN client initiates a connection using UDP port 1701 to establish communication with the L2TP server.
L2TP forms a tunnel between the two endpoints, encapsulating PPP frames so data can travel securely through the public network.
IPSec encrypts and authenticates each packet, ensuring the data inside the tunnel remains private and tamper-proof.
Encrypted traffic passes through the tunnel to the VPN server, where it’s decrypted and forwarded to its destination on the internet.
The VPN server receives data from the requested site or service, encrypts it, and sends it back through the same tunnel to your device.
In short, L2TP handles tunneling while IPSec adds encryption and authentication, forming a secure connection that has now been replaced by faster, more modern protocols.
L2TP passthrough is a router feature that lets L2TP/IPSec VPN traffic traverse firewalls and NAT devices without being blocked. L2TP uses UDP 1701 for tunneling, while IPSec handles security using IKE on UDP 500 and NAT-Traversal on UDP 4500.
PPTP relies on GRE for tunneling, which many NAT-based routers cannot process correctly. Enabling passthrough lets the router recognize and forward these GRE packets, allowing the VPN session to connect and remain active.
It simply enables connectivity for networks that would otherwise drop or mis-handle L2TP/IPSec sessions. As newer VPN protocols manage NAT and firewall traversal more gracefully, L2TP Passthrough is less common today.
L2TP gained popularity for improving on PPTP’s weaknesses, offering stronger security, better reliability, and wider support. Here’s what made it stand out:
When paired with IPSec, L2TP offers stronger encryption and authentication, protecting your online activity from eavesdropping and data tampering. It’s still considered more secure than PPTP, though not as advanced as today’s protocols.
L2TP maintains steady connections over long distances and unstable networks compared to PPTP. Its tunneling process reduces interruptions, making it a reliable option for consistent remote access or site-to-site connections.
L2TP/IPSec is available on most desktop and mobile operating systems and many routers, enabling straightforward configuration without extra software. Since it’s built into most platforms, L2TP is practical for mixed environments where some devices lack support for newer protocols.
L2TP can carry different kinds of traffic and adapt to both personal and enterprise networks. Its flexibility made it a popular choice for remote access and private corporate communication before newer options emerged.
While L2TP improved on PPTP’s weaknesses, it still falls short of modern VPN standards. Here’s where it struggles:
L2TP uses double encapsulation and IPSec encryption, which adds overhead and slows down data transfer. It’s generally slower than modern protocols, especially on high-latency or limited-bandwidth networks.
L2TP/IPSec requires multiple ports and shared keys for configuration, making setup harder for most users. In contrast, newer protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard are simpler to deploy and manage across devices.
Because L2TP depends on specific UDP ports (1701, 500, and 4500), it’s easy for network administrators or ISPs to detect and block. This makes it unreliable in restricted or heavily filtered environments.
While L2TP/IPSec is safer than PPTP, it still relies on older encryption methods and pre-shared keys. Misconfigurations or weak credentials can expose users to security risks that modern VPN protocols avoid.
L2TP/IPSec was once a strong successor to PPTP, but modern VPN protocols have since surpassed it in speed, efficiency, and security. Here’s how it stacks up against today’s options:
L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) builds upon PPTP by combining it with L2F to provide users with stronger encryption and better stability. While PPTP is faster due to weaker encryption, L2TP when paired with IPSec provides far greater security and is the safer choice for protecting sensitive data.
L2TP offers stronger encryption and better reliability than PPTP, especially when paired with IPSec. However, it’s slower due to double encapsulation and still considered outdated. PPTP may connect faster, but it lacks the security needed for safe browsing or data protection.
SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) provides stronger SSL/TLS encryption and works seamlessly over port 443, making it harder to block by firewalls. While L2TP is widely supported, SSTP offers better security and reliability, particularly for users on Windows devices.
IKEv2 delivers faster connection speeds, modern encryption, and greater stability, especially on mobile networks. It can automatically reconnect when switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, something L2TP cannot do. Overall, IKEv2 is more efficient and secure for most users.
OpenVPN surpasses L2TP in nearly every way. It uses stronger AES encryption, runs on multiple ports, and easily bypasses firewalls. While L2TP/IPSec may be simpler to set up, OpenVPN offers far greater flexibility, speed, and protection against modern cyber threats..
WireGuard represents the new generation of VPN protocols. It’s lightweight, fast, and built on state-of-the-art cryptography. Compared to L2TP/IPSec, WireGuard offers both better speed and security and uses simpler code and efficient tunneling to deliver a modern, reliable VPN experience with minimal overhead.
L2TP is used to create secure VPN tunnels between users and private networks. It’s often combined with IPSec for encryption, making it suitable for remote access, site-to-site connections, and corporate VPN setups that require compatibility with older systems.
When paired with IPSec, L2TP provides strong encryption and authentication. However, it’s no longer considered the most secure option today. Modern protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard use newer cryptography and offer stronger protection against emerging threats.
Yes. While L2TP/IPSec is still functional, it’s considered outdated due to slower speeds, complex setup, and older encryption methods. Most VPN services now recommend switching to newer protocols for faster and safer connections.
L2TP was designed as an upgrade to PPTP, offering better stability and stronger security when combined with IPSec. PPTP is faster but far less secure, while L2TP/IPSec provides encrypted, more reliable connections at the cost of some speed.
PPTP is rarely used today, except in older routers, outdated operating systems, or legacy enterprise setups that haven’t been upgraded. Most modern VPNs have phased it out entirely in favor of more secure and efficient tunneling protocols.
Yes. Because L2TP relies on specific UDP ports (1701, 500, and 4500), it’s easy for network administrators or firewalls to detect and block. That’s why it’s not ideal for use in restricted or censorship-heavy environments..
PPTP is generally faster because it uses weaker encryption and less encapsulation. L2TP/IPSec adds stronger security but at the cost of some speed. If performance matters most, modern protocols like WireGuard offer both speed and safety.
PureVPN no longer offers L2TP/IPSec as an option in its apps, but it can still be configured manually on certain devices and routers. For the best combination of speed and security, users are encouraged to choose modern protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, or WireGuard.
No. OpenVPN offers stronger security, better speed optimization, and greater flexibility across networks. While L2TP/IPSec may be easier to set up on older devices, OpenVPN remains the more reliable and future-proof choice.
L2TP/IPSec can be slower, harder to configure, and easier to block than modern VPN protocols. It also depends on pre-shared keys and older encryption methods, which make it less secure compared to newer standards.
