VPN connection — does it slow down your internet speed?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) will slow down your internet connection. But with a top-tier VPN, that slowdown should be unnoticeable. No matter whether it is paid or free, a VPN will affect your connection speed because it needs some of that bandwidth for encryption purposes. And without encryption, a VPN is just a VN. Read on to learn why else a VPN may slow down your internet and find tips on how to avoid it. 

Does a VPN slow down the internet?

Using a VPN slows down your internet speed because it adds extra steps to your connection — it routes your traffic through a VPN server and encrypts your data, both of which require some bandwidth. However, if you choose a high-quality VPN provider, the impact should hardly be noticeable.

Let’s say you have a 100Mbps download speed, and connecting to a VPN brings it down to 80Mbps. Here’s how it might affect your online activity:

• Regular browsing: you probably wouldn’t even notice any difference; 
• Streaming: you can still do it comfortably without interruptions; 
• Downloading: you might notice an insignificant change (in some cases, the speed might even improve, but more on that later).

Still, that’s not always the case. If you connect to a nearby VPN server, the change in your VPN speed might be even less noticeable.

In short, both your internet speeds and VPN server proximity are important factors for your connectivity experience.

Why does a VPN slow down your internet?

The most common reason a VPN can slow down your internet is the VPN’s fundamental function itself. It includes the overhead required by the encryption protocols, the distance to the server, and the server load.  

Let’s break down these factors in more detail:

Encryption protocols

VPNs use encryption protocols to make your connection private. Encryption consumes a bit of bandwidth — typically, the more complex the encryption protocol, the more bandwidth is required. Leading VPNs, like Surfshark, utilize industry-standard encryption like AES-256 and ChaCha20. 

Think of it this way: if airports didn’t have such strict security protocols, your travel time would be significantly shorter. However, the lack of security would also put you at risk. So, while a VPN service might slow down your internet connection — just like a TSA agent might make your journey longer — the added protection is worth it.

VPN server location

The distance to your selected server is an important factor to consider when changing your online location with a VPN.  In most cases, connecting to a further VPN server will provide slower VPN speeds. That’s why you can set up Surfshark to automatically connect you to the fastest server, which most often is the closest one — either within your country or the nearest geographically.

Continuing with the travel analogy, reaching a destination 2,000 miles away will be faster than reaching one 5,000 miles away. Similarly, connecting to a nearby VPN server will typically help you maintain faster speeds.

VPN server capacity and load

In addition to distance, server capacity is another essential factor to consider. If you connect to a popular VPN server (like New York or Los Angeles), the server load is likely to be higher, which can slow down your connection.

Let’s keep on with the travel metaphor: heavy traffic can considerably prolong the journey, even if your destination isn’t that far away. In a similar manner, a nearby VPN server can be slow if it gets overcrowded with users.

If you want to play around with settings, we have a support guide on how to troubleshoot slow speed problems.

10 tips to avoid VPN internet slowdowns

There are several ways to avoid VPN-influenced slower speeds. Try these tips for the best user experience:

1. Switch server location

This is one of the easiest and most effective methods. Since VPN connection speeds are influenced by proximity and load, try connecting to a server closest to you or another nearby server that isn’t overloaded with users.

2. Don’t use free VPNs

Free VPN providers typically have fewer servers than paid services and are often overcrowded. As a result, users often experience slower internet speeds.

The reason is simple: maintaining servers, especially thousands of them, requires resources and money. Free VPN providers often cannot cover the cost. If they do, they usually get funded in other ways — typically by bombarding you with intrusive ads or collecting and selling your data.

3. Try a different protocol

Most VPN apps support multiple encryption protocols, which use different approaches to securing your data. For example, OpenVPN prioritizes security, which might slow down your connection. Try switching to IKEv2 or WireGuard — these protocols can boost performance speed without compromising security.

4.  Enable split tunnelling

If your VPN has a split tunneling feature — picking which apps or websites access the internet directly and which use the VPN connection — consider enabling it. This will allow you to optimize your bandwidth and improve speed for specific services without losing the VPN protection for others.

5. Clean up your browser

Sometimes, the problem might not be the internet or VPN but your browser itself. If you think that might be the case, check out our browser clean-up guide: why is my browser so slow? There, you’ll find tips on how to optimize your browser performance to experience better speeds.

6. Reboot your device

If you’re experiencing slower internet speed, the issue might stem from the device on which you’re running the VPN. Try restarting it — as basic as this advice is, it might actually resolve software problems and improve overall performance.

7. Restart your router

The classic “try turning it off and on again” advice especially holds true for routers. Restarting your router can solve connectivity problems and improve your internet speeds.

8. Close unnecessary software

Some apps may be consuming your bandwidth without you realizing it. If they’re not crucial, see if closing or even uninstalling a few of these programs helps.

9. Update your hardware

Smartphones, laptops, and routers can become outdated over time, decreasing performance and overall internet experience. As websites and apps are becoming increasingly resource-intensive, it might be time to consider upgrading your devices.

10. Switch to a wired connection

While Wi-Fi is convenient for mobility, it can be slower because it shares multiple channels. In many cases, your internet would be faster and more stable if you used a wired connection. So, if you have the option, consider connecting your device to your router via cable.

For a more in-depth look into these methods, read the Surfshark guide on how to boost VPN speed.

Can a VPN increase your internet speed?

Yes, there are certain situations when a VPN can boost your internet speed.

Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) intentionally slow down, aka throttle, your internet speed if you use excessive bandwidth. This often happens when you’re downloading files or streaming content online. As with any business, ISPs want to make a profit, so users consuming extra bandwidth are often targeted.

However, there is a solution. A VPN makes your online activity invisible to your ISP. Since it can’t see your traffic, it won’t know when you’re using more bandwidth than usual. As a result, it won’t know when to throttle you, and you might experience an indirect VPN speed boost to your connection.

To learn more, watch our video, where we explain the main factors that affect internet speed. Plus, you’ll get a bonus speed test presentation and its results.

Testing how a VPN impacts your internet speed is quick and easy:

1. Run the first test without a VPN. Go to a reliable internet speed test website, like Ookla and run a test without a VPN connection to establish your baseline speed.
   
   Speed test before connecting to a VPN:
   

2. Connect to a VPN server. Open your VPN app and connect to the closest server.
3. Rerun the speed test. Perform the same test again. You may notice some speed loss, though it should be minimal.
   
   VPN Speed test after connecting to the closest server:

4. Run a few more experiments. Try connecting to VPN servers in gradually farther locations. You’ll likely notice a pattern where the remoteness of a server results in bigger speed drops.

Next, check if your ISP is throttling your connection:

Try running Netflix’s Fast.com test while you’re streaming, downloading, or participating in other data-heavy activities — first, without a VPN, and then a second time with your VPN on to see if there’s a difference.

In conclusion: there’s more to VPN speed than just numbers

A VPN connection can cause a slight drop in your internet speed. In some cases, however, you may even experience a speed boost.

To improve your VPN connection, consider connecting to a different server or trying out different protocols. The more servers and protocols your VPN offers, the better your chances of finding the optimal setup for the best performance. Might I recommend Surfshark? We offer 3,200+ VPN servers worldwide and industry-leading protocols OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard.

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