VPN Speed Comparison: Protocol-by-Protocol Benchmark
What Is VLESS?
VLESS is a lightweight proxy protocol developed by the Xray-core project. The name derives from "VMess-Less" — in other words, a stripped-down version of the VMess protocol — designed by removing unnecessary encryption layers from VMess.
The defining characteristic of VLESS is that the protocol itself performs no encryption. By delegating encryption to the transport layer (such as TLS), it avoids double-encryption and achieves high-speed communication.
The Technical Structure of VLESS
Protocol Header
The VLESS protocol header is extremely simple, consisting only of a version field, a UUID (authentication ID), a command, and a destination address. This lightweight design keeps overhead to an absolute minimum.
Authentication Method
VLESS uses UUID (a 128-bit unique identifier) for authentication. The server and client share the same UUID to verify whether a user is legitimate.
Integration with XTLS-Reality
While VLESS functions on its own, it truly shines when combined with XTLS-Reality. XTLS-Reality is an innovative technology that uses the TLS certificate information of real existing websites to disguise traffic as legitimate HTTPS communication.
Technical Comparison with Older Protocols
| Feature | VLESS | VMESS | Trojan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Delegated to transport layer | Proprietary encryption | Delegated to transport layer |
| Header size | Minimal | Medium | Small |
| Double encryption | None | Present | None |
| XTLS support | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Reality support | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
VLESS Communication Flow
- TLS handshake: Establish a TLS 1.3 connection between client and server (with XTLS-Reality, the TLS information of a real website is used)
- Authentication: The client is authenticated via UUID
- Data transfer: The TLS layer handles encryption; VLESS is responsible only for transferring data
- XTLS optimization: When internal TLS data is already encrypted by another TLS layer, the outer encryption is omitted to improve speed
Summary
VLESS is a protocol that combines lightweight design, high speed, and strong security. Combined with XTLS-Reality, it currently delivers the highest detection resistance and communication speed available, making it ideal for VPN use in regions with internet censorship, including China. Vless VPN is built on this cutting-edge VLESS + XTLS-Reality technology to give you secure, unrestricted connectivity.