âš¡ Biggest Speed Wins
1. Switch to WireGuard protocol (often doubles speed)
2. Connect to the nearest server
3. Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
These 3 changes have the biggest impact. Each can improve speed by 20-50%.
What Speed Should You Expect?
VPNs always slow down your connection somewhat due to encryption overhead and server routing. Here's what's normal:
| Protocol | Typical Speed Loss | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard / NordLynx | 10-30% | Excellent |
| IKEv2 | 15-35% | Very Good |
| OpenVPN UDP | 30-50% | Moderate |
| OpenVPN TCP | 40-70% | Slow |
Example: If your base speed is 100 Mbps, expect 70-90 Mbps with WireGuard, 50-70 Mbps with OpenVPN UDP.
Switch to WireGuard Protocol
WireGuard is significantly faster than OpenVPN—often 2x faster. It uses modern cryptography that's lighter on your CPU.
How to switch:
- NordVPN: Settings → VPN Protocol → NordLynx (WireGuard)
- Surfshark: Settings → VPN Settings → Protocol → WireGuard
- ExpressVPN: Settings → Protocol → Lightway (their WireGuard alternative)
Impact: Switching from OpenVPN to WireGuard typically improves speed by 50-100%. This is the single biggest speed improvement you can make.
Connect to the Nearest Server
Every mile between you and the VPN server adds latency. Data physically travels slower over longer distances.
Distance vs. Speed:
- • Same city: ~5-10ms latency, minimal speed loss
- • Same country: ~20-50ms latency, moderate speed loss
- • Different continent: ~100-200ms latency, significant speed loss
- • Opposite side of world: ~200-300ms latency, major speed loss
Tip: Only connect to distant servers when you need that specific location (e.g., UK server for BBC iPlayer). For general browsing, use the nearest server.
Use Wired Ethernet
Wi-Fi adds latency, packet loss, and speed variability. Ethernet is more stable and faster for VPN connections.
Wi-Fi Problems
- • Interference from neighbors
- • Signal degradation through walls
- • Variable latency (jitter)
- • Shared bandwidth
Ethernet Benefits
- • Consistent speeds
- • Lower latency
- • No interference
- • Full bandwidth to device
Avoid Overloaded Servers
Popular servers (like US and UK) can get congested during peak hours. Try less popular servers in the same region.
Finding less crowded servers:
- • Many VPNs show server load percentage—pick lower numbers
- • Try servers in smaller cities (Atlanta instead of New York)
- • Connect during off-peak hours if possible
- • Use "Quick Connect" or "Best Server" feature—these often consider load
Disable Unnecessary Security Features
Some VPN features add overhead. If you don't need them, turning them off can improve speed.
Features that can slow down VPN:
- • Double VPN / Multi-hop: Routes through 2 servers—disable unless needed
- • Obfuscation: Disguises VPN traffic—only use if VPN is being blocked
- • Ad/Malware blocking: Slight overhead—usually worth keeping
- • Onion over VPN: Very slow—only for Tor access
Use Split Tunneling
Split tunneling lets you route only specific apps through VPN. Apps that don't need VPN get full speed.
How to set up split tunneling:
1. Find split tunneling in VPN settings (might be called "Bypasser")
2. Select apps to route through VPN (browsers, streaming apps)
3. Exclude apps that don't need VPN (games, local network apps)
Use case: Route your browser through VPN for privacy, but let gaming traffic bypass VPN for lower latency.
Restart Your Router
Routers can develop memory leaks and routing table issues over time. A restart clears these and can improve overall network performance.
Proper router restart:
1. Unplug router power cable
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Plug back in and wait for full boot (2-3 minutes)
4. Reconnect to VPN and test speed
Try a Faster VPN
Not all VPNs are equal. Some have faster server infrastructure, better protocols, and more optimized networks.
Fastest VPNs in Our Testing (2025)
Tested on 500 Mbps connection, nearest server, WireGuard protocol.
How to Test Your VPN Speed
Proper testing helps you identify what's actually slowing things down.
Testing Process:
1. Disconnect VPN and run speedtest.net - this is your baseline
2. Connect to VPN (nearest server, WireGuard) and run speedtest again
3. Calculate the difference: (Baseline - VPN) / Baseline × 100 = % loss
4. Try different servers and protocols, repeat test
5. Run 3 tests per configuration for accuracy
When It's Not Your VPN's Fault
Sometimes slow speeds have nothing to do with VPN. Check these first:
ISP Throttling Your Connection
If speeds are slow WITHOUT VPN too, your ISP might be throttling you. Run speedtest at different times of day.
Slow Base Internet Speed
VPN can only be as fast as your underlying connection. If you have 25 Mbps internet, don't expect 100 Mbps through VPN.
Device Can't Handle Encryption
Very old devices may struggle with VPN encryption. Try WireGuard (lighter on CPU) or use VPN on your router instead.
Need a Faster VPN?
If you've tried everything and speeds are still slow, these VPNs consistently outperform in speed tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much speed loss is normal for VPN?
With WireGuard on a nearby server, 10-30% loss is normal. With OpenVPN, 30-50% is typical. If you're losing more than 50%, something's wrong.
Can a VPN ever make my internet faster?
In rare cases, yes—if your ISP is throttling specific types of traffic (streaming, gaming). VPN hides what you're doing, so throttling doesn't apply.
Why is VPN slower at night?
Peak usage hours mean more people on both your ISP's network and VPN servers. Try less popular servers or connect during off-peak times.
Is WireGuard always faster than OpenVPN?
Almost always. WireGuard uses lighter cryptography and has a much smaller codebase. The only reason to use OpenVPN is if WireGuard is blocked on your network.