Does using a VPN impact internet speeds?

The internet is really complex. Learn just a little bit about how it works, and you'll quickly realize how many different signals have to race across the globe within milliseconds every time you click on a link. You'll go from being upset when your browser runs slow to being amazed that it runs at all.

When you use a VPN to hide your identity and location online, you're adding more work into an already complicated set of processes. Inevitably, that means your internet will run a bit slower, even if you're using one of the best VPNs . So yes, a VPN impacts your internet speeds — but you can control a lot of the factors that come into play.

Why do VPNs slow down the internet?

To start with the basics: a VPN, or virtual private network , is a piece of software you can use to connect to a collection of servers around the world. When you connect to a VPN location, any information you send to the internet runs through that location first, making it appear like your signal originates from there. You can use this to hide your real identity and access services that are only available in certain places.

However, getting online is an involved process in which your device communicates via router and modem with your internet service provider (ISP), and through that, with the websites you're trying to view. Adding a VPN into the mix means every component in that process has to work even harder. First, your VPN app has to encrypt your connection, otherwise anybody could unmask you.

Next, the encrypted signal goes to your ISP, which sends it onto the VPN server for decryption. Only now, thoroughly anonymized, does your request move on to its destination. All this has to be repeated in reverse before the website appears on your screen.

As complex as that sounds, it's actually possible for it to happen almost as quickly as it would without a VPN. Surfshark , the current fastest VPN in my tests, only slows internet speeds by an average of 5 percent. On the other hand, some VPNs drag speeds down by more than half. Sometimes I see one VPN do both in the same test. Several factors are responsible for those massive swings.

Factors affecting VPN speed

The first thing determining how fast your VPN works is distance— that is, your actual distance from the real-world location of the server. Distance increases latency, which is the time a single packet of data takes to travel from its origin to its destination. If you've found yourself on a video call or online game that suddenly turned sluggish, high latency might be the culprit. Distance also increases how fast web pages and videos download, but it's not as strongly correlated.

Another factor you can often control is the VPN protocolbeing used. A protocol is a VPN's method of concealing and transporting data, even to servers it's never encountered before. Each protocol specifies certain types of encryption, which makes sure nobody but the destination server can read what you broadcast online.

Some protocols are faster than others. WireGuard, the most modern protocol, is designed to be quick and lightweight. OpenVPN prioritizes security and stability when run over TCP, but over UDP, it's nearly as fast as WireGuard. IKEv2 is fastest when reconnecting after you move into a different network.

The other most important ingredient in VPN speed is the quality of the server network. A good VPN either builds servers that can handle high bandwidth or rents them from third parties. It can also balance loads between servers so no single node gets overloaded, like directing street traffic to avoid jams.

How to test your internet speeds

If your internet has been running slower since you started using a VPN, the first step is to determine whether the VPN is actually the problem. Other things can interfere with browsing speed, after all. Here's how to narrow down the issue.

1. Find a free speed testing tool. I use Ookla speedtest .

2. Test your speeds without a VPN connected. Run the test at least three times to get an average.

3. Open your VPN app and connect to a server.

4. Run the speed test with the VPN connected. Again, do it multiple times for a clearer illustration of your speeds.

A good VPN shouldn't reduce your browsing speed by more than 10 percent on the nearest server or more than 25 percent on any server. In addition to testing the VPN, test your unprotected speeds on a regular schedule. If you see slowdowns without the VPN active, the problem likely rests with your ISP or your home network, not the VPN.

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