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VPN for Linux —
Native WireGuard Support for All Distros

Most VPNs treat Linux as an afterthought — no kill switch, no auto-connect, outdated OpenVPN configs. LimeVPN supports WireGuard natively (kernel 5.6+), works on all major distros, and gets you connected in one terminal command.

Linux VPN Setup Options

Three ways to connect — choose what fits your setup.

Fastest

WireGuard (Recommended)

Native kernel module built into Linux 5.6+. Fastest performance, lowest CPU overhead, and the simplest config file of any VPN protocol. Reconnects instantly after network changes.

🔧 Most Compatible

OpenVPN

Maximum compatibility — works on all distros including older kernels and minimal server installs. Extensive documentation, widely tested, and suitable for routing-level configurations.

🖥️ Desktop GUI

NetworkManager

GUI integration on GNOME and KDE desktop environments. Import WireGuard or OpenVPN configs directly into NetworkManager for point-and-click connection management without a terminal.

Compatibility

Supported Distributions

LimeVPN works on any distro that supports WireGuard or OpenVPN. All connections are configured via standard config files — no proprietary client required.

Ubuntu

20.04+

Debian

10+

Fedora

35+

Arch Linux

Rolling

Manjaro

All versions

Linux Mint

20+

CentOS

8+

openSUSE

Leap & Tumbleweed

Any distro with Linux kernel 5.6+ has WireGuard built in. Older kernels can install WireGuard as a module or use OpenVPN instead.

What's Included on Linux

  • WireGuard config files — download from your LimeVPN account
  • OpenVPN config files — for older kernels and servers
  • Kill switch — configurable via iptables in WireGuard config
  • Auto-start on boot — via systemd service or NetworkManager
  • Split tunneling — route only selected traffic through VPN
  • IPv6 leak protection — built into WireGuard config
  • DNS leak protection — custom DNS in config file
  • All server locations available on Linux

Connect LimeVPN on Linux in 4 Steps

01

Get LimeVPN

Sign up for Core ($5.99/mo) or Plus ($9.99/mo). Both include WireGuard and OpenVPN config file downloads from your account dashboard.

See plans →
02

Download your WireGuard config

Log in to your LimeVPN account and download the WireGuard config file for your chosen server location. Save it to /etc/wireguard/limevpn.conf.

03

Install and connect

Install WireGuard tools with your package manager, then bring the tunnel up with a single command. The VPN is active immediately.

Full setup guide →
04

Auto-start on boot (optional)

Enable the WireGuard systemd service to auto-connect on every boot. Run: sudo systemctl enable wg-quick@limevpn

Quick Start — Ubuntu / Debian

Three commands from zero to connected.

terminal
# Ubuntu/Debian: install WireGuard
sudo apt install wireguard

# Copy your downloaded config file into place
sudo cp ~/Downloads/limevpn.conf /etc/wireguard/limevpn.conf

# Start VPN (after downloading config from your account)
sudo wg-quick up /etc/wireguard/limevpn.conf

For Fedora/RHEL: sudo dnf install wireguard-tools — for Arch: sudo pacman -S wireguard-tools

Linux VPN — Common Questions

Does LimeVPN have a Linux GUI app?
LimeVPN does not currently offer a standalone Linux GUI application. On Linux, you connect via WireGuard config files (recommended), OpenVPN config files, or through NetworkManager on GNOME and KDE desktops. The WireGuard approach requires a single terminal command and is the fastest and simplest option for most users.
Which Linux distros are supported?
LimeVPN works on any Linux distribution that supports WireGuard or OpenVPN. Tested distros include Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 35+, Arch Linux, Manjaro, Linux Mint, CentOS 8+, and openSUSE. WireGuard is built into the Linux kernel from version 5.6 onwards — most modern distros include it by default.
Is WireGuard better than OpenVPN on Linux?
For most use cases, yes. WireGuard is a kernel-level module that is significantly faster and uses less CPU than OpenVPN, which runs in userspace. WireGuard also reconnects faster after network changes — useful on laptops that switch between Wi-Fi networks. OpenVPN remains the better choice on older kernels (pre-5.6) or where WireGuard is not available.
Can I use a kill switch on Linux?
Yes. You can configure a WireGuard kill switch directly in the LimeVPN config file using the PostUp and PreDown hooks to manage iptables rules. This drops all non-VPN traffic if the tunnel goes down. Detailed instructions are available in the LimeVPN setup guides. NetworkManager also supports VPN-specific firewall rules on GNOME desktops.

A VPN That Actually Works on Linux

WireGuard and OpenVPN config files, kill switch support, auto-start via systemd, and all server locations. From $5.99/mo — cancel anytime.

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