Alexis Kestler
Testing your VPN speed is an important step to ensure you are getting the performance you expect. With so many VPN services available, speed can vary greatly depending on the provider and server location.
In this guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about testing VPN speeds, including:
- Why VPN speed is important
- Factors that affect VPN performance
- Best practices for speed testing
- Recommended speed test tools
- Tips for improving speed
- Top performing VPNs
Why VPN Speed Matters
Speed is often one of the top considerations when choosing a VPN service. A slow VPN can negatively impact your entire internet experience by slowing down web browsing, streaming video, downloading files, online gaming, and more.
Some key reasons VPN speed is important:
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Web Browsing – Slow page loading times can make casual web browsing a painful experience.
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Streaming Video – Bufferings and quality downgrades will ruin your Netflix binge watching.
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Online Gaming – High latency caused by a slow VPN will increase lag and hurt your gameplay.
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Large Downloads – Slow speeds will cause downloads to take significantly longer.
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Remote Access -Sluggish VPN connections make remote work difficult and frustrating.
The good news is that the top VPN services can provide fast speeds when properly configured. Let‘s look at the key factors impacting performance.
What Affects VPN Speeds?
Many elements come into play that can affect the speeds you experience when connected to a VPN. Being aware of these factors will help you accurately test speeds and troubleshoot any issues.
VPN Server Location
The physical location of the VPN server you connect to has a big impact on speeds. Servers closer to your actual location will generally provide lower latency and faster speeds.
Connecting to distant international servers across oceans will likely result in reduced performance due to increased data transfer distances.
Server Load
VPN servers can only handle so many simultaneous connected users. During peak times, you may experience slower speeds due to congestion from many users accessing the same server.
Selecting a less populated server with fewer active connections can improve speed.
Internet Connection Speed
Your base internet speeds will act as the upper limit of your VPN performance. Even the fastest VPN can‘t exceed the capabilities of your ISP plan.
Be sure to test your speeds without the VPN active to establish a baseline.
VPN Protocol
Different protocols used to establish the encrypted VPN tunnel provide varying levels of performance. For example, WireGuard is extremely fast compared to OpenVPN or IKEv2.
Some providers allow switching protocols which can help improve speeds.
Device Capabilities
Older routers, modems, network adapters and other hardware can bottleneck speeds. Connecting via WiFi instead of ethernet cable also often results in slower throughput.
Upgrading your equipment and using wired connections where possible helps maximize performance.
VPN App Settings
Some VPN apps allow tweaking certain settings that affect speed such as encryption level and enabling compression. Disabling unnecessary features like ad blocking or IPv6 can also help.
Adjusting these settings appropriately improves speeds without sacrificing security.
Best Practices for Testing VPN Speeds
To get accurate test results that reflect real-world experience, follow these best practices:
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Use a wired connection – Always test over ethernet cable instead of WiFi if possible. This eliminates variance in wireless signal strength.
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Connect to nearby servers – Speeds will be best on VPN servers located closest to your physical location.
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Perform multiple tests – Run each test 3-5 times and take the average due to normal fluctuations.
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Test at different times -Internet congestion varies based on day and time. Try mornings, evenings and weekends.
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Disable other devices – Streaming, downloads or other traffic on your network can interfere with results.
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Close unnecessary apps – Don‘t have other programs running in the background that can consume bandwidth.
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Use reputable speed test services – Trusted tools like Fast.com and Speedtest.net give reliable measurements.
Following these best practices removes variables and gives you a clear picture of true VPN performance under optimal conditions.
Recommended VPN Speed Test Tools
Many speed testing services are available online for free. Here are some of the best options to accurately measure VPN speeds:
Speedtest.net
One of the most popular speed testing services that has been around for years. Speedtest provides detailed upload/download bandwidth measurements along with ping and jitter metrics.
Fast.com
Fast.com is backed by Netflix and tests speeds using Netflix‘s servers to provide real-world streaming performance data. Provides a simple one-click speed test.
TestMy.net
TestMy.net has a customizable interface allowing you to tweak test parameters. Gives consistent and reliable measurements of bandwidth and latency.
DSLReports Speed Test
DSLReports has an excellent speed test tool that performs multiple back-to-back tests and provides quality of service metrics beyond just speeds.
Measurement Lab
Measurement Lab (M-Lab) offers an open source command-line speed test tool for advanced testing options. It‘s more technical but gives you full control.
Trying a few different speed tests can help identify any anomalies in the results between tools. But Fast.com and Speedtest.net are good starters for most users.
Now let‘s go over some tips to improve VPN speeds based on the test results.
Tips for Improving VPN Speeds
If you are experiencing slow speeds with your VPN, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
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Change server location – Connect to a server that is geographically closer to you.
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Switch protocols – Use faster protocols like WireGuard or OpenConnect instead of OpenVPN.
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Use obfuscation – Enable obfuscation if your ISP is throttling or blocking the VPN connection.
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Lower encryption level – Dropping from AES-256 to AES-128 could potentially improve speed.
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Enable compression – Allowing the VPN app to compress data can increase performance.
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Update VPN app – Download the latest version of the VPN client which may have speed optimizations.
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Restart devices – Rebooting your router, computer, modem etc. can clear up any software issues slowing down the VPN.
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Contact VPN provider support – Describe the problem and see if they have any advice to troubleshoot speed.
With some tweaking using the methods above, you should be able to achieve faster VPN speeds. But if issues persist, switching VPN providers may be required.
Fastest VPNs Based on Real-World Testing
All VPN services advertise "fast speeds" but performance can vary wildly once tested first-hand. After thorough real-world speed tests, these VPN consistently provide excellent speeds.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN earns its reputation as one of the fastest VPN services across a wide variety of testing scenarios. Offers very fast connection times and impressive download/upload bandwidth.
NordVPN
NordVPN has significantly improved speeds over the past couple years due to upgrading their infrastructure and adding new technologies like NordLynx. Very low latency makes it ideal for gaming.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield uses proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol to achieve extremely fast speeds when connecting to nearby servers. Great for streaming and downloading large files.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost offers reliable speeds across its extensive server network along with unlimited bandwidth. Provides consistent performance for browsing, streaming and torrenting.
Surfshark
Surfshark has a smaller server fleet but makes up for it by delivering low-congestion servers with excellent download and upload speeds. Also has a speed test built into app.
Of course, speed isn‘t the only consideration when selecting a VPN. Be sure to also evaluate factors like pricing, number of server locations, supported platforms, logging policies and extra features. But speed is undoubtedly a critical factor for many users.
Final Thoughts on VPN Speed Testing
Testing and understanding your VPN speeds is important to ensuring you get the fastest performance possible for your needs. Following the tips and best practices in this guide will help you accurately measure speeds and troubleshoot any issues.
While no VPN will be quite as fast as a direct unencrypted internet connection, the top services can still provide excellent speeds when configured correctly. Taking the time to properly test VPN performance will prevent frustrations from slower than expected internet speeds.
