Effect of VPN on Internet Speed

Utilizing a VPN may reduce your internet speed as your data has to travel a greater distance to reach its destination. When you connect to a VPN, your data is encrypted and sent through a remote server, which adds both distance and encryption overhead that can affect your speed.

Summary: Tips for Enhancing Your VPN Speed

Select a VPN server that is geographically closer to you.
Change servers if your current one is experiencing slowness or high traffic.
Opt for fast protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN.
Activate split tunneling to direct only essential traffic through the VPN.
Consider using a public DNS server for possible speed enhancements.

Why Is Your Internet Slower with a VPN?

A VPN encrypts and reroutes your data via a remote server, extending the travel distance and introducing encryption overhead, which hampers your connection speed. The degree of slowdown varies depending on the VPN provider, the protocol used, and the location of the server.

How Much Slower Can a VPN Make Your Connection?

The decrease in speed fluctuates based on the distance to the server, the server's load, and the VPN’s technology. Proximity to a server typically results in minor slowdowns, while a distant server can lead to more significant delays. Free VPNs usually experience higher traffic and slower performance due to their limited infrastructure.

Elements Influencing VPN Speeds

1. VPN Protocol

Different protocols can have varying effects on speed due to the overhead from encryption. WireGuard and IKEv2 generally provide faster speeds, while OpenVPN (especially TCP) might result in more significant slowdowns.

2. Location of the Server

Servers that are closer to you generally offer faster connections, while those further away introduce latency. Picking a server nearby helps to reduce speed loss.

3. Server Load

Servers that are heavily loaded with users can slow down connection speeds. Opting for less congested servers can enhance performance.

4. Quality of VPN Service

The speed of a VPN is influenced by the provider's network and infrastructure. Services that are of high quality typically invest in optimizing their networks to ensure better speeds.

Ways to Enhance VPN Speed

Choose Nearby Servers: Connect to servers that are close to you for improved speeds.
Change Servers: Select less congested servers within the same area.
Utilize Fast Protocols: Opt for WireGuard or OpenVPN to achieve maximum speed and security.
Enable Split Tunneling: Direct only essential traffic through the VPN to lessen the load.
Download VPN Software Directly: Install the VPN app on your device for better performance compared to using it with a router.
Adjust DNS Server: Switch to a public DNS server if the VPN’s DNS is slow.
Close Background Applications: Terminate unnecessary apps to free up bandwidth.
Use Wired Connections: Ethernet connections tend to be faster and more stable than Wi-Fi.

Can a VPN Actually Speed Up Your Internet?

In certain situations, a VPN can circumvent ISP throttling, potentially enhancing your speed for activities like streaming and P2P sharing by preventing your ISP from tracking and restricting your traffic.

How to Measure VPN Speed

Perform a speed test without the VPN to ascertain baseline speeds.
Connect to your chosen VPN server and conduct the test again.
Compare the results to assess the VPN’s effect on your connection speed.

Conclusion

While VPNs may slow down your internet due to encryption and rerouting processes, selecting optimal servers, protocols, and settings can mitigate the effects. In some situations, a VPN could even increase speeds by bypassing ISP throttling.