Will A VPN Slow My Internet Connection?

VPNs can be a great way to improve your browsing privacy and bypass geographical barriers online. Most VPNs however are likely to slow your internet connection when they are connected and being used.

When using some VPN providers, you may experience speed drops of a much as 30%, although this is not necessarily guaranteed and will be dependent on various factors including your internet service provider (ISP) and the VPN you use.

It is important to remember that VPNs will affect your internet loading speeds as a VPN requires some of your bandwidth to assist with the encryption it provides.

When you compare VPNs, the impact on internet speed is an important consideration as many run-of-the-mill, mainstream VPNs are more likely to slow your internet loading speeds. However, if you use a premium VPN (often costing a little more per month), speed reductions are often unnoticeable.

If you are using a VPN for streaming, security or even just as part of your routine browsing online, you should take into account what effects if any it will have on your internet speed and browsing. Typically, a minimum internet upload and download speed of 10Mbps is deemed ‘acceptable’ and a VPN may impact this in some cases.

How Much Does A VPN Slow Down My Internet Connection?

Exactly how much a VPN will slow down your internet connection will vary on a few things, though it is worth noting that most of the time the difference is so small you won’t even notice it. A free VPN is likely to slow down your internet loading much more than a premium VPN. Some VPNs may increase your loading times by as much as 30% or even more. This can become particularly noticeable when downloading larger files (for example for work), when streaming movies and TV shows and when uploading large media files and videos.

Factors that will affect how much a VPN slows your internet speeds include:

Wi-Fi Bandwidth

A VPN works by routing your traffic through a VPN server. What this means is that when you use a VPN, you are likely to use some of your bandwidth, directly for the VPN, which needs some of the bandwidth to provide encryption. Therefore, the higher your bandwidth, the less likely the small amount it is decreasing by will affect your usage. If you are thinking of using a VPN regularly, opting to go for a better Wi-Fi package could help you reduce the effect of the VPN on your browsing.

VPN Provider

Choosing a reputable VPN provider such as Surfshark or CyberGhost means you are less likely to feel the slowing effects of the VPN on your Wi-Fi network. This is because high-end VPN providers work hard to ensure that their servers can maximise security whilst limiting bandwidth use. Do some research to find the VPN provider that has the best track record, in order to minimise impact.

Which Devices You Use

Naturally, laptops and PCs and even tablet devices when connected to a Wi-Fi network have a lot more bandwidth than a mobile phone does when connected to its network. Therefore, if you are using a VPN on a mobile phone, you should consider whether you need the VPN running all the time, as the its effects, slowing down your loading times will be more acutely felt as there is less bandwidth overall.

VPN Server

When you connect to a VPN server far away, you’re more likely to experience some decrease in internet speed. This is because faster servers are usually closer as the information doesn’t have to travel as far. Opting for a server closer to you can help reduce any internet speed issues as you browse through a VPN.

Additionally, look at connecting to less popular servers – these are likely to have lower capacity and therefore faster browsing times. Avoid big tech-driven cities to give yourself the best chance to browse quickly.

Which VPN Won’t Slow My Internet Down?

Although all VPNs will consume some internet bandwidth, free VPNs will always consume greater bandwidth, slowing your internet the most. The fastest VPNs are typically those provided by the likes of:

• Surfshark VPN 
• IPVanish
• ExpressVPN

Many VPN providers will guarantee their service and will offer money back guarantees so if you are not happy with the level of service you can get a full refund.

Getting a VPN – How To Test Internet Speed

If you want to test just how much a VPN is slowing down your internet, think about conducting an online internet speed test.

These tests are free and are incredibly useful to see what your upload and download speed are. If you wanted to optimise your browsing speed, you could also test how connecting to a specific location, or a specific VPN company affects these metrics. Then, use this information to help you optimise the best VPN and server location so you can stream or game with minimal interruptions.

Here’s a step-by-step of how to do it:

1. Run a speed test without being connected to any VPN, write down the upload and download speed
2. Turn on the VPN and re-run the test, noting these results
3. Repeat the test with a few different servers or VPN providers to help you decide which one to use

Can I Increase My Internet Speed When Using A VPN?

Though VPNs will always mean a reduction in bandwidth, there are a few thing you can do to minimise their effect on internet speed. Sometimes, using a VPN can speed up your connection through its use. This is more likely in cases where your internet service provider (ISP) throttles (limiting your communication speeds when using the network). ISPs will often throttle streaming services like Netflix and even YouTube.

Ways to help increase your internet speed when using a VPN include:

Switch Your VPN Server Location

Popular hubs are more likely to be crowded, much like if you use a website that is hosted on a shared server; when there are traffic surges, your internet speed and loading times will suffer. With a VPN, if you connect to a particularly busy server or network, you may experience slower internet loading speeds. VPNs hide your browsing location by their very nature and so, choosing a better location for loading times is a great way to improve internet speeds when using a VPN.

If you are connecting to a UK server for example, going for one in London is likely to be busier. Instead, think about opting for a server in the countryside to maximise speed. Many VPNs are able to tell you which server in which country and even town is likely to be the fastest for you.

Research The Best VPNs For What You Need

Depending on what you’re using the VPN for, one might work better than another. Different VPNs are better at different things. For example, if you use a VPN to watch Netflix in another country you may need a different VPN compared to if you use a VPN to simply protect your data online. Conducting speed tests whilst engaging in these activities mean you’re more likely to choose a provider that suits your needs and also, by comparing VPNs and doing some research, you can find the provider that works best for your needs.

Weigh Up Whether Free VPNs Are For You

Though budget-friendly, free VPNs will have fewer servers for people to connect to, they will be more crowded and will be more likely to affect your internet loading speeds. Not only that, but the popularity of VPNs mean there will be more people trying to connect to the few servers available, making them a poorer choice for anyone looking to improve internet speed and anyone looking to get a VPN that has minimal to no effect on their loading times and internet speed.

Close Extra Apps on Mobile and Tablet Devices

It might not be the VPN slowing your internet speed in the case of mobile VPNs and those on tablet devices, but the number of apps you have open on your device. Having too many apps open on any device can slow the device as well as the internet speeds.

Check to see what you have running in the background and try and close as much as you can. Having too many applications open is a sure-fire way to slow down your internet speed, so be mindful of closing down anything you aren’t using.

Use An Ethernet Cable

Home Wi-Fi systems are usually supplying internet to a number of devices across a single wireless network, meaning overall bandwidth is more stretched. For faster internet, using an ethernet cable that plugs directly into your device is a good way to improve your internet speed and avoid any lagging.