VPNInfobaseThe 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 picture from providers’ published information and third-party benchmarks; we have not run our own speed tests.
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, a modest loss is 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 generally reported by third-party benchmarks as faster than OpenVPN 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: what to expect
NordVPN (NordLynx), ExpressVPN (Lightway), Surfshark and ProtonVPN (both WireGuard) all use modern, fast protocols, and third-party reviewers generally report good results. Free VPNs are more variable because their servers are often overloaded. Because speed depends on your ISP and location, run the provider’s own speed check during its refund window.
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.
NordVPN, the provider used as the example here, has its owner, audits and price by billed term in the NordVPN review.