Effect of VPN on Internet Speed

Utilizing a VPN may decrease your internet speed because your data has to travel a longer distance to reach its destination. When you're connected to a VPN, your traffic gets encrypted and sent through a remote server, which adds both distance and encryption overhead that can affect your speed.

Summary: Tips for Enhancing Your VPN Speed

Opt for a VPN server that is geographically close to you.
Change servers if your current one is sluggish or overloaded.
Employ fast protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN.
Activate split tunneling to direct only crucial traffic through the VPN.
Switch to a public DNS server for a possible speed boost.

Why Does a VPN Cause Internet Slowdowns?

A VPN encrypts and reroutes your data via a remote server, which leads to a longer travel distance and increases encryption overhead, resulting in a slower connection. The degree of slowdown is influenced by the VPN provider, the protocol used, and the server location.

What Is the Extent of VPN Speed Reduction?

The reduction in speed depends on factors such as server distance, server congestion, and the VPN’s infrastructure. Servers closer to you generally result in minor speed reductions, whereas servers that are further away can cause significant slowdowns. Free VPNs are usually more congested and slower due to limited infrastructure.

Elements Influencing VPN Speeds

1. VPN Protocol

Various protocols affect speed differently due to the encryption overhead. WireGuard and IKEv2 tend to provide faster speeds, whereas OpenVPN (notably TCP) may decrease your connection speed more.

2. Server Location

Servers that are nearer provide faster connections, while those that are farther away contribute to increased latency. Opting for a server close to your physical location helps minimize speed degradation.

3. Server Load

Servers that are overloaded with users can result in slower connections. Choosing less crowded servers can help enhance speed.

4. Quality of VPN Service

The speed of a VPN is reliant on the provider’s server network and infrastructure. Services of higher quality invest in optimized networks, which leads to better speeds.

Ways to Boost VPN Speed

Select Nearby Servers: Connect to servers that are close to your location for improved speeds.
Change Servers: Switch to less crowded servers within the same area.
Utilize Fast Protocols: Opt for WireGuard or OpenVPN to achieve the best speed and security.
Enable Split Tunneling: Limit VPN usage to essential traffic to lessen the load.
Install VPN Software Directly: Use the VPN app on your device rather than via your router for better performance.
Alter DNS Server: Change to a public DNS server if your VPN’s DNS is causing delays.
Close Background Applications: Terminate unnecessary applications to free up bandwidth.
Utilize Wired Connections: Ethernet offers faster and more stable connections than Wi-Fi.

Can a VPN Enhance Your Internet Speed?

In certain scenarios, a VPN might bypass ISP throttling, potentially leading to increased speed for activities like streaming and P2P sharing, as it prevents your ISP from monitoring and limiting 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 retest.
Compare the results to determine the VPN’s effect on your connection speed.

Conclusion

While VPNs can slow your internet due to encryption and rerouting, selecting the right servers, protocols, and settings can lessen the impact. In specific cases, a VPN might improve speeds by circumventing ISP throttling.