Does A VPN Slow Down Internet Speed?

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Using a VPN to connect to the Internet creates a secure connection between your computer or mobile device and the sites you visit, allowing you to browse the web safely. And anytime you go online, speed is important. Nobody wants to deal with loading pages, long downloads, buffering streams, or lagging video games.

As a result, there’s an important question to ask anytime you consider using a VPN: does a VPN slow down internet speed?

The answer to this question is nuanced and can be influenced by a number of factors. Lets fully explore what a VPN can and can’t do in regards to your Internet speed. We’ll also give some tips about how to maximize your Internet connection and offer our recommendations for the fastest VPN providers. So the real question in this article is does a VPN slow down internet speed. Read the full article!

How Much Does A VPN Slow Down Internet Speed?

The average Internet will experience 10-20% slower speeds while using a VPN. So if you usually get 100 Mbps, you can expect to get 80-90 Mbps with a VPN enabled. For most use cases, that difference won’t be noticeable. Does a VPN slow down internet speed? Here are some factors:

Users Of Small VPN Providers May Have Slower Speeds

The size and scope of VPN providers varies greatly. The most successful services have hundreds — if not thousands — of servers to accommodate for millions of users. They also have teams of industry-leading software engineers and programmers dedicated to maintaining and optimizing the servers. Users of these VPN services experience next to no drop in Internet speed. Does a VPN slow down internet speed?

In Some Cases, A VPN Can Make Your Internet Faster

ISPs regularly slow down the Internet speeds of their customers to maintain the load on their servers. If your Internet provider caps, puts a limit on, or throttles your bandwidth, a VPN can free you from those restrictions. The question arises: does a VPN slow down internet speed?

Your Internet provider can no longer see what you’re doing, meaning you’ll get consistent speeds with no drops — no matter how much bandwidth you’re using.

Factors That Can Affect Your VPN’s Speed

• The VPN server you’re connected to. The location and users of the VPN server you choose can affect your speed dramatically. An overcrowded server won’t have enough bandwidth to go around, and far away servers cause your data to travel long distances. Close servers with plenty of spare bandwidth will be the fastest. Every time a question comes up does a VPN slow down the internet speed. Read the article to find out.
• Your ISP. Even though a VPN hides your activity from your Internet provider and prevents them from slowing down your Internet, it won’t make your connection faster than intended. If you want to get 100 Mbps with a VPN, make sure you have a plan with your ISP for at least that much.
• Your VPN protocol. VPNs offer several encryption protocols to choose from to protect your data. Older protocols or ones focused solely on security will be slower. We recommend using OpenVPN. It’s the most recent encryption protocol, offers a good balance of speed and security, and is compatible with every platform.
• Your Internet set up. When available, a cabled Ethernet connection is much faster than WiFi. When using WiFi, consider the quality/age of your router and your device’s distance from it. Does a VPN slow down internet speed?
• The device you’re using. Some devices are inherently faster or slower than others. For example, a smartphone on WiFi will never be as fast as a PC with an i7 processor and a cabled Internet connection. In particular, older devices may be slower when using a VPN.
• Your local Internet infrastructure. Rural areas generally have less Internet access and slower connection speeds. If you suffer from slow speeds due to the Internet available where you live, a VPN is unlikely to improve your connection.
• Your VPN service. The VPN provider you subscribe to is the largest determining factor of the Internet speed you will receive. Small providers may not have the resources to offer consistent speeds to all their users. Free VPNs are almost always slower (and less secure) than their paid counterparts. Only the best VPNs can afford to maintain enough high speed servers to compensate for all their customers. Does a VPN slow down internet speed? To find out check the full article.

VPNs Don’t Need To Slow Down Your Internet Speed

There’s no reason that you need to opt for a VPN that will slow down your Internet. The fastest VPN is available for less than $10 a month and will ensure you never have to sacrifice speed for security. Does a VPN slow down internet speed? The answer to whether a VPN does or does not slow down Internet speed depends on the above variety of factors.

After testing over 900 VPNs, here are the fastest services we have found to date: