Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

Does VPN slow down internet speeds? Yes!

Using a VPN slow internet speeds is a real and measurable effect. But the size of that slowdown depends on several factors, and for most people, a well-chosen VPN won’t noticeably disrupt everyday browsing, streaming, or video calls. Understanding VPN speed loss helps you make smarter decisions about which service to use and how to configure it.

Why Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

To understand whether a VPN slows down internet speeds, it helps to know what a VPN actually does. A virtual private network (VPN) routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server (often in another city or country) before it reaches its destination [1]. That process adds three layers of overhead:

• Encryption and decryption: Every packet of data must be scrambled before leaving your device and unscrambled on the other end, which consumes processing power and time.
• Server distance (latency): The farther your traffic has to travel, the longer it takes. A VPN server in Amsterdam adds more delay than one in Denver if you’re in Chicago.
• Server congestion: Popular VPN servers handle thousands of simultaneous users. If a server is overloaded, everyone on it experiences slower speeds.

These factors combine to produce what’s known as VPN speed loss, which is the difference between your raw connection speed and the speed you get while connected to a VPN.

There is one notable upside, though. If your internet providers throttle your bandwidth when you stream video or download large files, a VPN can actually improve your speeds in those scenarios, because the VPN masks your traffic type from your ISP.

How Much Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

How much does a VPN slow internet speeds? The answer varies widely.

Here’s a general benchmark based on aggregated speed test data from VPN review sources (2024–2025):

The key takeaway: VPN speed loss is real, but manageable. On a fast internet plan, even a 20% slowdown may be imperceptible, dropping from 500 Mbps to 400 Mbps won’t noticeably affect Netflix or Zoom. But on a slower baseline connection, that same percentage loss can genuinely degrade your experience.

What Factors Affect VPN Speed Loss?

Not all VPN slowdowns are equal. Several variables determine how much your speed drops:

• Encryption protocol: OpenVPN has long been the gold standard for VPN security, but it’s relatively heavy on processing [2]. WireGuard, a newer protocol launched widely in 2020–2021, has consistently tested faster and more efficient in independent benchmarks — while still providing strong security [3]. Most top-tier VPNs, including NordVPN (via its NordLynx implementation), now support WireGuard [4].
• Your base internet speed: A faster connection gives your VPN more headroom. If your plan already delivers 1 Gbps, VPN overhead matters less. If you’re on a 25 Mbps DSL line, the same overhead stings more.
• Server selection: Connecting to a nearby server almost always outperforms a distant one. If you’re in Houston and connect to a VPN server in Frankfurt, expect noticeably higher latency and lower throughput than if you connect to one in Dallas.
• Device hardware: Older phones, laptops, and routers struggle with VPN encryption more than newer hardware. If your device’s CPU is a bottleneck, even a top-rated VPN will feel sluggish.

How to Reduce VPN Speed Loss: 5 Practical Tips

If you’re experiencing frustrating VPN slowdowns, these steps can make a difference:

1. Switch to WireGuard. In your VPN app settings, look for a protocol option. Switching from OpenVPN to WireGuard typically delivers the biggest speed boost available without changing services.
2. Choose a nearby server. Most VPN apps let you browse by server location. Selecting one in your own city or region dramatically reduces latency.
3. Use split tunneling [5]. This feature, available in many premium VPNs, lets you route only specific apps through the VPN — so a sensitive banking app uses the VPN while streaming video doesn’t, preserving bandwidth where you need it.
4. Upgrade your router. A router supporting Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6, placed centrally in your home, reduces Wi-Fi overhead that compounds VPN slowdowns.
5. Upgrade your internet plan. Sometimes the simplest solution is a faster baseline. When you compare internet providers and find a plan with significantly more bandwidth, VPN overhead becomes proportionally less significant.

Does Your Base Internet Plan Matter?

Absolutely — and this is where many guides miss an important point. The faster your underlying connection, the more speed you can afford to lose to VPN overhead. If you’re looking to compare internet plans or find the best internet providers in your area, a higher-speed tier essentially makes VPN slowdowns less noticeable in practice.

When you compare internet providers, you can filter by speed tier, connection type (fiber, cable, DSL, or fixed wireless), and internet prices to find a plan with enough headroom for both everyday use and VPN-protected browsing. Fiber connections — which now reach roughly 43% of U.S. households according to the FCC’s 2024 Broadband Data Collection [6]— tend to handle VPN usage best due to their symmetrical upload/download speeds and low latency.

Which VPNs Are Fastest in 2026?

Three services consistently top independent speed rankings:

• NordVPN: Regularly ranks #1 or #2 in third-party speed tests. Its NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) and 7,900+ servers worldwide minimize congestion. Starting at $3.99/month on a 2-year plan.
• ExpressVPN [7]: Known for consistent speeds across its 3,000+ servers and its proprietary Lightway protocol. Excellent for international streaming. Starting at $6.67/month on a 1-year plan.
• Surfshark [8]: Competitive speeds with WireGuard support, plus unlimited simultaneous device connections — a strong value proposition. Starting at $2.19/month on a 2-year plan.

All three offer 30-day money-back guarantees, making it easy to test whether their speeds work for your specific connection before committing.

To find the best internet in your area and do a proper internet comparison, enter your zip code into CompareInternet’s provider search tool. You’ll see all available plans, sorted by speed and price, so you can identify options with the bandwidth to support a VPN without sacrificing performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a VPN always slow down your internet?

Yes, to some degree — but not always noticeably. VPN encryption and server routing always add some overhead, but a premium VPN on a fast connection may produce a slowdown too small to perceive in everyday use. In rare cases, a VPN can actually improve speeds if your ISP throttles certain types of traffic.

How much speed loss from a VPN is normal?

A 10–20% speed reduction is considered normal and acceptable for a quality paid VPN. Free VPNs can cause 50–80%+ losses due to congested servers and less efficient infrastructure. If your paid VPN is causing more than a 30% drop consistently, try switching to a nearby server, enabling WireGuard, or testing a different VPN entirely.

Does a faster internet plan reduce VPN slowdowns?

Yes. A faster plan means VPN overhead takes a smaller proportional bite out of your usable speed. If you’re on a slow plan and experiencing VPN drag, use CompareInternet to compare internet plans and internet prices in your area — upgrading your base connection is often the most effective long-term fix.

What is the fastest VPN protocol?

WireGuard is currently the fastest mainstream VPN protocol, outperforming OpenVPN and IKEv2 in most independent benchmark tests. Launched broadly in 2020–2021 and now supported by NordVPN, Surfshark, Mullvad, and others, it achieves faster speeds through a leaner codebase (roughly 4,000 lines vs. OpenVPN’s 70,000+). The trade-off is that it’s somewhat newer and has less of an established privacy track record — though it’s widely considered secure for most users.

Sources

[1] Microsoft. “What is a VPN?”

[2] OpenVPN. “Homepage.”

[3] WireGaurd. “Homepage.”

[4] NordVPN. “Homepage.”

[5] Fortinet. “What Is VPN Split Tunneling?”

[6] Catesian. “Fiber Now Reaches over Half of US Residential Locations, FCC Data Shows.”

[7] ExpressVPN. “Homepage.”

[8] SurfShark. “Homepage.”