Skip to content
Beginner

Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet? The Honest Answer

VI
VPNInfobase Research Team
6 min read Updated May 2026 Fact checked

We may earn a commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you.

In this article
  1. Why VPNs affect speed
  2. How much speed you lose
  3. Protocol matters most
  4. Speed by VPN
  5. Tips to maximise speed

The most common concern about VPNs is speed. Yes — all VPNs add some overhead. But the difference between a good VPN and a bad one is enormous. Here is the honest picture based on real test data.

Why VPNs affect internet speed

Three factors cause speed reduction. First, encryption processing — your CPU encrypts every packet of data before it leaves your device and decrypts every incoming packet. Second, routing — your traffic takes a longer path via the VPN server rather than going directly to the destination. Third, server load — a busy VPN server with many connected users processes data more slowly.

How much speed do you actually lose?

With a premium VPN on a fast connection, speed loss is typically 5 to 15 percent. In practical terms: on a 100 Mbps connection, NordVPN delivers approximately 90 to 95 Mbps on nearby servers — imperceptible in daily use. Netflix requires 25 Mbps for 4K. Gaming requires approximately 3 Mbps. Video calls require 8 Mbps. Even with 20 percent speed loss, a 50 Mbps connection delivers 40 Mbps — comfortably above all these thresholds.

Protocol makes the biggest difference

WireGuard is three to four times faster than OpenVPN in independent tests due to its kernel-level integration and lean codebase. If your VPN is slow, the first thing to check is which protocol you are using. Switch to WireGuard in the settings — NordVPN calls it NordLynx, ExpressVPN calls it Lightway.

Speed by VPN — 2026 test data

NordVPN (NordLynx): 950 Mbps average on nearby servers — under 5 percent loss. ExpressVPN (Lightway): 850 Mbps — approximately 15 percent loss. Surfshark (WireGuard): 650 Mbps — approximately 35 percent loss but still very fast. ProtonVPN (WireGuard): 680 Mbps. Free VPNs: 50 to 200 Mbps with significant inconsistency due to server overload.

Tips to maximise your VPN speed

Use WireGuard or the VPN's proprietary WireGuard-based protocol. Connect to the server nearest to your physical location. Avoid servers with high load — most VPN apps show server load as a percentage. Use split tunneling to exclude bandwidth-heavy apps that do not need VPN protection. Try different servers until you find the fastest.

N

NordVPN

Our #1 pick

Fastest VPN tested, under 5% speed loss — From €3.09/mo

From €3.09/mo · 30-day money-back guarantee

Get NordVPN

Affiliate link · we may earn a commission

VI

VPNInfobase

Editorial publisher

VPNInfobase publishes desk-researched comparisons and guides. A page should identify its method and supporting evidence before it makes a first-hand testing claim.

About our methodology →