How To Improve VPN Speed Steps 1 Check Internet Speed With VPN Disconnected & Connected Before you start troubleshooting any possible VPN speed problems, it is important to first set a benchmark so we have something to compare.

• Will a VPN slow down (or speed up) my Internet connection? How to test VPN. How much does a VPN slow down internet connections? However, when you turn on your VPN, the download speed could become much faster.
• Hi, I am working abroad and the main use of VPN is now to access the remote services of my TV service in Malta (GO). Selecting VPN in Malta the remote service is very slow and do not stream at all (tvanywhere.go.com.mt). Tested speed, 13,82 Mbps with no VPN, 1,35 Mbps with VPN Malta.

Every VPN provider claims it has the highest speeds available. So how do you know which service is actually the fastest on the market?

Our experts put the top VPNs through extensive tests to find out which providers offer the highest speeds, and which VPNs you should avoid.

Read on to find out if you’re getting the best speeds and value from your VPN, or whether it’s time to change providers.

VPN Speed Test Winners

1. ExpressVPN: The clear winner. ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds on the market, coming in at almost twice the speed of any other service.
2. Hotspot Shield: Only slightly slower than ExpressVPN, Hotspot Shield zooms along for streaming, downloading, and browsing.
3. Surfshark: Surfshark is dedicated to service and speed, and it really showed during our tests.
4. NordVPN: NordVPN is a VPN powerhouse with user-friendly apps and a huge server network, too.
5. CyberGhost: Although it’s last on our list, CyberGhost doesn’t disappoint. It’s incredibly fast, and a perfect match for your everyday needs.

The Losers

Why is Speed an Issue for VPNs?

Using a VPN improves your online security, but the time it takes to encrypt your data can affect your internet speed. If you use a quality VPN, you won’t notice the difference when you’re browsing and sending emails. But, if you torrent or stream videos, your connection may start to lag.

Because of this, it’s important to ensure you use one of the fastest VPNs available. Our experts have tested the top VPNs for you. You’ll find our speed test winners below.

Our speed tests use three main criteria to determine which service is the fastest:

• Download speed tells us how fast data travels from the server to your device. This is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Most of your online activity involves downloading, so the higher this number is, the faster your connection.
• Upload speed shows how fast data travels from your device to others. It is measured in Mbps, and affects things like the rate at which your email attachments will upload, and the quality of your video calls.
• Ping shows us how fast you get a response from a web page after your device sends out a request. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower this number is, the faster your connection.

Factors that Affect Your VPN Speed

Server location: The farther your data has to travel to the server, the slower your connection will be. If your VPN server is on the other side of the world, your connection will be slower. This is why we recommend choosing a server in your country unless you’re using your VPN to bypass geoblocks and censorship.

Your line speed: The connection speed, or line speed, set by your ISP affects your VPN connection.

Most connections can handle 10Mbps-1GBps, so if you’re using high-speed internet, this shouldn’t slow you down. But if you’re using dial-up or 3G, you may experience some issues.

Your line speed can also be slowed down by poor infrastructure, faults on the line, and your internet plan.

How We Tested Each VPN

We used the same ISP and computer for each of our tests. Before testing each VPN, we connected it to a server in the US. Because of this, our data had to travel all the way from Australia to the US. If you use a server that is close to your physical location, you can expect your connection to be even faster.

We measured the connection speeds using three different testing services: speedtest.net, fast.com, and broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk.

We also measured our connection speed before connecting to a VPN. This gave us a base speed to compare our VPNs’ results to.

Our base connection speed before connecting to a VPN.

The Results

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our speed test champion! Its download speed was

Speed Vpn Free Download

23.59 Mbps. These are the fastest results we’ve seen.

Although we expected to see some speed loss due to the distance our data had to travel, ExpressVPN actually increased our connection speed.

Its upload speed is remarkable too. We could easily upload large email attachments and even YouTube videos. It even improved the quality of our video calls on Skype.

If you plan to watch live video streams or download torrents, this would be your best choice.

2. Hotspot Shield

Sitting at a solid #2 with a 10.53 Mbps download speed is user-favorite, Hotspot Shield.

Although it was no match for ExpressVPN, we were still impressed by its quick connection speeds. Its ping was actually lower than ExpressVPN, so the websites we visited reacted a little faster when we opened them. Its upload speed reached 0.58 Mbps. This is great for uploading photos and small email attachments, but we did notice a bit of a slow-down when we tried to attach videos and larger files.

Hotspot Shield has a global network of high-speed servers, and we recommend it if you’re looking to bypass geoblocks and censorship.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark may not be as well-known as big-name competitors like ExpressVPN, but it hasn’t let this hold it back.

Does Vpn Slow Down Download Speed

Although it had a slightly lower download speed than Hotspot Shield, we could barely feel a difference. It was able to download files and stream videos quickly and seamlessly.

We recommend Surfshark if you’re hunting for a budget-friendly alternative for browsing and streaming.

4. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most reliable VPNs available. With over 5,000 servers across 61 countries, it’s a great choice for bypassing geoblocks.

Our data had to travel across the world from Australia to its US server. With that in mind, NordVPN’s 7.6 Mbps download speed was brilliant. Its ping was lower than any of the VPNs in our top three, and its 0.76 Mbps upload speed was capable of sending photos and large email attachments.

We recommend NordVPN if you’re looking for a speedy and reliable VPN for streaming, torrenting, and browsing.

5. CyberGhost

Although it’s not the speediest VPN on our list, CyberGhost’s 7.4 Mbps download speed is more than enough for streaming and browsing.

We also recommend CyberGhost for its feature-rich apps. It’s perfect for beginners, and more advanced users can take advantage of its customization options to tailor it to their needs.

Do Vpn Slow Download Speed Windows 10

The Losers

Unfortunately, some VPNs failed our speed tests.

When your internet connection is slow, you will experience problems with streaming, such as buffering and low video quality. You’ll also notice that websites take a long time to load, and if you play games online, your connection will lag. If your speed drops too low, your browser will time out while it is trying to load websites and you won’t be able to access the internet.

During our tests, the three slowest VPNs were:

• Private Internet Access: Private Internet Access is the slowest VPN we tested. Streaming was nearly impossible at 2.1 Mbps, and its long loading times made it frustrating to browse the internet and send emails.
  
• PureVPN: PureVPN was fast enough for everyday browsing, but 4.4 Mbps was too slow for high-quality streaming and downloading files.

• Ivacy: Although faster than PureVPN, Ivacy still lags behind ExpressVPN and Hotspot Shield. When we tested it with Netflix, we were only able to stream in low definition and we experienced a lot of buffering.

Summary

Based on our experts’ tests, one thing is clear: ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market.

A small amount of speed loss it to be expected when you connect to a VPN, but ExpressVPN actually increased our connection speed.

VPNs are powerful internet security tools, and speed isn’t everything when it comes to choosing the best service for you. You can read everything you need to know in our comprehensive VPN guide.

Further Reading

Our budget-savvy experts have compiled a list of the best VPN deals and coupons to save you money on your service.

Learn how to test your VPN’s security.

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