Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

Hey there!

As an IT security pro with over a decade of experience dealing with cloud infrastructure and data networks, I know all about the impact VPNs can have on internet speeds.

I get it – we all want to browse and stream with lightning fast speeds. But when you add that extra layer of security with a VPN, it sometimes comes with a bit of a slow down.

Not to worry though! In this guide, I‘ll dig into the nitty-gritty details on exactly why VPNs can slow your speeds, along with tons of troubleshooting tips to optimize your connection.

Let‘s get to it!

The VPN Slow Down: Why It Happens

First, let‘s take a quick look at what‘s happening under the hood when you connect through a VPN:

• Your traffic is rerouted and encrypted through a VPN server before reaching its final destination.

• This means your data is taking a longer, more complex route compared to a direct connection.

• Extra time is required to encrypt and decrypt your traffic as it passes through the VPN tunnel.

These factors lead to increased latency, which is the technical term for the time it takes for data to get from point A to point B.

Higher latency = slower speeds. It‘s just physics!

Here are some of the key reasons your VPN is putting on the brakes:

Server Distance – The further the server you‘re connected to, the higher the latency. A server on the other side of the world means a massive increase in round trip time for your data.

Server Load – More users connected to a VPN server means slower speeds for everyone. Think of it like a crowded freeway with bumper to bumper traffic.

VPN Protocol – Some protocols like OpenVPN focus strongly on security over speed. Newer protocols like IKEv2 and WireGuard do a better job balancing both.

Encryption Strength – Higher encryption equals more secure protection, but your device needs to work harder to encrypt/decrypt data which can choke speeds.

Your Base ISP Speed – A VPN can never exceed your default internet service speeds from your provider. Garbage in, garbage out!

Network Conditions – Factors like network congestion, WiFi interference, line quality and distance to exchange can affect speeds.

Your Device – An underpowered router, computer or internet plan will be a bottleneck. VPNs need processing resources!

In short, it‘s the sum of all these factors that slows your VPN connection compared to your plain old internet. But not to worry – with a few easy fixes, you‘ll be back to max speeds in no time!

VPN Speed Troubleshooting Tips

Follow my 5 troubleshooting tips here to optimize your VPN connection:

1. Pick Nearby VPN Servers

Connect to VPN servers that are geographically close to your actual location. This reduces the physical distance your data travels, lowering latency.

Here‘s an example showing New York and Los Angeles ping times to a VPN server in each city:

Location ——- VPN Server ——- Ping Time
New York ——– New York ——– 18 ms
New York ——– Los Angeles —— 75 ms

Los Angeles —– Los Angeles —— 15 ms
Los Angeles —– New York ———- 73 ms

As you can see, closer server = faster speeds!

Most VPNs recommend automatically connecting to the fastest server, which chooses the optimal location for you.

2. Use Speed-Focused Protocols

Different protocols have different strengths when it comes to speed versus security:

OpenVPN: High security but slower speeds
L2TP/IPSec: Faster but less secure
IKEv2: Great balance of speed & security
WireGuard: Extremely fast but limited availability

Try using IKEv2 or WireGuard protocols if they are available to get faster speeds from your VPN.

3. Lower Encryption If Possible

Higher encryption means more secure protection for your traffic, but it requires more number crunching which can overload your device and slow speeds.

If you don‘t need top notch encryption for basic browsing or video streaming, connect using lower encryption settings to lighten the load and get faster speeds.

4. Use Split Tunneling

This allows you to route only some of your traffic through the VPN tunnel while the rest goes outside the VPN for faster direct access.

For example, you can route your web browsing traffic directly while your banking traffic goes through the VPN for top security.

5. Try Different Server Loads

Just like crowded freeways, VPN servers with lots of active users will be congested and slower.

Experiment with connecting to different server options during off-peak times to find ones with less load and faster speeds.

Boosting Speeds with Your Setup

Beyond VPN settings, optimizing your network environment is just as crucial for speeding up VPN connections:

• Use wired Ethernet for devices instead of WiFi to remove interference
• Upgrade your internet service plan for faster base speeds
• Refresh router and modem by restarting them to clear glitches
• Change router settings like channels, DNS and QoS to reduce bottlenecks
• Update computer and router firmware to latest software for performance fixes
• Limit devices on your network hogging bandwidth in background

Upgrading your setup gives your VPN the headroom to operate at top speeds. Think of it like converting a clogged single lane road into a multi-lane expressway!

Comparing Top VPNs for Speed

All VPN services advertise blazing fast speeds. But the reality is some are just better optimized for speed than others.

Here are the top 5 fastest VPN providers I‘ve tested based on speed test results:

1. ExpressVPN – The fastest overall VPN with low latency and great speeds for streaming & gaming. Ultrafast servers powered by network optimization technology.

2. NordVPN – Extensive server network ensures nearby servers almost anywhere, plus specialty servers for streaming content.

3. Hotspot Shield – Uses proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol and network acceleration for some of the fastest speeds.

4. IPVanish – One of the fastest options for torrenting and P2P activities thanks to well-optimized servers.

5. CyberGhost – Large server fleet across 60+ countries stays uncongested for consistently fast speeds.

While ExpressVPN tops the list in my experience, any of these providers offer speedy performance. Run your own tests to see which one provides the right mix of both swift speeds and robust security protection.

The Bottom Line

So does a VPN slow down your internet? In most cases, yes – it‘s simply the nature of the technology. But with the right troubleshooting and optimization, you can minimize the impact on your speeds.

The most important things to look for in a fast VPN are:

• Severs located nearby
• Speed-focused protocols like IKEv2
• Lower encryption levels when possible
• Split tunneling features
• Larger server networks to spread load
• Advanced speed optimization technology

Combine a top-tier VPN pick with your own network upgrades, and you‘ll be browsing at near normal speeds while still staying secure.

The tiny bit of extra latency is worth it for the privacy and security protections a VPN provides. But with the tips in this guide, that latency hit will be barely noticeable at all.

Stay safe out there!