Effect of VPN on Internet Speed

Using a VPN can reduce your internet speed as your data has to travel a greater distance to reach its destination. When utilizing a VPN, your traffic gets encrypted and directed through a remote server, which adds both distance and encryption overhead, affecting speed.

Summary: How to Enhance Your VPN Speed

Select a VPN server that is near your physical location.
Change servers if your current one is slow or experiencing congestion.
Opt for fast protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN.
Activate split tunneling to send only essential traffic through the VPN.
Switch to a public DNS server for possible speed benefits.

What Causes a VPN to Slow Down Your Internet?

A VPN encrypts and sends your data through a distant server, increasing the travel distance and adding encryption overhead, which can result in slower speeds. The degree of slowdown is influenced by the VPN provider, the protocol used, and the server's location.

How Much Will a VPN Affect Your Speed?

The extent of speed reduction is influenced by the distance to the server, the load on the server, and the VPN’s infrastructure. Nearby servers usually lead to minor speed reductions, whereas those that are farther away cause more significant slowdowns. Free VPNs typically have higher congestion and reduced speeds due to limited infrastructure.

Elements Influencing VPN Speed

1. VPN Protocol

Various protocols have different impacts on speed due to the overhead of encryption. WireGuard and IKEv2 tend to provide faster speeds, while OpenVPN (notably TCP) can slow down your connection more.

2. Server Location

Servers that are closer yield quicker connections, while those that are farther away increase latency. Opting for a server near your physical location helps minimize speed loss.

3. Server Load

Servers with high user traffic can slow connections. Choosing less crowded servers enhances speed.

4. Quality of VPN Service

The speed of a VPN is dependent on the provider's server network and infrastructure. Premium services invest in optimized networks, ensuring improved speeds.

Ways to Boost VPN Speed

Choose Nearby Servers: Connect to servers that are geographically close for enhanced speeds.
Switch Servers: Move to less congested servers within the same area.
Use Fast Protocols: Transition to WireGuard or OpenVPN for the best speed and security.
Enable Split Tunneling: Direct only necessary traffic through the VPN to lighten the load.
Install VPN Software Directly: Install the VPN application on your device for better performance compared to router installations.
Change DNS Server: Use a public DNS server if your VPN’s DNS is slow.
Close Background Apps: Shut down unneeded applications to conserve bandwidth.
Use Wired Connections: Ethernet connections typically outperform Wi-Fi in terms of speed and reliability.

Can a VPN Enhance Your Internet Speed?

In certain situations, a VPN can avoid ISP throttling, potentially enhancing your speed for specific tasks like streaming and P2P sharing by stopping your ISP from surveilling and restricting your traffic.

How to Evaluate VPN Speed

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

Conclusion

Although VPNs can lead to slower internet speeds owing to encryption and rerouting, selecting the right servers, protocols, and settings can help reduce the effect. In certain instances, a VPN may even enhance your speeds by bypassing ISP throttling.