Speed Tests
VPN Speed Comparison Tool
Test your internet speed before and after enabling your VPN. See the exact speed loss, ping increase, and overhead — all measured live in your browser.
Speed dashboard
Ready to test
Without VPN
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Mbps download
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Upload Mbps
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Ping ms
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Jitter ms
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With VPN
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Mbps download
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Upload Mbps
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Ping ms
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Jitter ms
Test history
Without VPN
With VPN
Scored using our published, open-source methodology. View methodology
What affects VPN speed
Server distance
The farther the VPN server from your location, the more your packets travel — adding measurable latency on every single request you make.
High impact
Encryption protocol
WireGuard loses roughly 5–10% of your base speed. OpenVPN loses 20–30%. Older protocols like PPTP are faster but dangerously insecure. Protocol choice matters enormously.
High impact
Server load
An overloaded VPN server slows everyone connected to it. Peak hours (6–10 pm local time) often show 20–40% more overhead than the same test run during off-peak hours.
Medium impact
Your device CPU
VPN encryption and decryption is CPU-bound processing. Older smartphones or budget home routers can cap your VPN throughput well below your ISP's maximum speed.
Lower impact
Industry speed benchmarks — top VPNs tested
| VPN | Avg download | Overhead | Protocol | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | -9% | NordLynx (WG) | ★★★★★ | |
| Mullvad | -7% | WireGuard | ★★★★★ | |
| Surfshark | -12% | WireGuard | ★★★★★ | |
| ExpressVPN | -16% | Lightway | ★★★★☆ | |
| ProtonVPN | -24% | WireGuard | ★★★★☆ | |
| Free VPN (avg) | -62% | OpenVPN | ★★☆☆☆ |
How to maximise your VPN speed
1
Switch to WireGuard protocol
WireGuard uses modern cryptography that is significantly faster than OpenVPN or IKEv2. Enable it in your VPN app settings — every major paid VPN supports it in 2024.
Up to +30% speed
2
Connect to the nearest server
Every 1000 km of server distance adds roughly 10–15 ms of ping. Always pick the closest city to your location, not a default "recommended" server in another country.
Up to +25% speed
3
Test at off-peak hours
VPN server load drops dramatically between midnight and 8 am in the server's local timezone. Schedule bandwidth-heavy tasks like downloads and backups during these hours.
Up to +20% speed
4
Use split tunnelling
Route only privacy-sensitive traffic through the VPN tunnel. Streaming, gaming, and cloud backups can bypass it entirely — which dramatically improves effective speed.
Up to +40% effective
5
Upgrade from a free VPN
Free VPNs deliberately throttle speeds and run severely overcrowded servers to control costs. A premium VPN typically delivers 5–10 times more bandwidth for actual use.
Biggest single upgrade
6
Restart your router first
ISP-assigned routing tables and IP leases change over time. A quick router restart refreshes your connection path and often reduces baseline latency before you even connect a VPN.
Quick 2-minute fix
Understanding your results
Loss under 20% — excellent VPN
A speed loss below 20% means your VPN is performing at the top of the industry. WireGuard-based VPNs on nearby servers consistently land here. Suitable for 4K streaming, gaming, and video calls with no noticeable impact.
20–40% loss — acceptable overhead
Normal performance for OpenVPN protocol or servers located in a different region. HD streaming and general browsing remain comfortable. Competitive online gaming may be slightly affected. Consider switching to WireGuard.
Over 40% loss — investigate your setup
Heavy overhead like this suggests an overloaded server, the wrong protocol, or an underpowered VPN provider. Switch to a different server, try WireGuard, or consider upgrading your VPN subscription to a faster provider.
Ping over 100 ms — impacts real-time apps
Latency above 100 ms causes noticeable lag in video calls, voice chat, and online gaming. Download speed is less important than ping for these use cases. Always choose the geographically closest VPN server available.
