Breaking Point: CNET’s latest testing reveals NordVPN as the fastest VPN with just 3% speed loss, while competitors like CyberGhost drop 30% of your connection speed. That gap isn’t just numbers on a screen. It’s the difference between smooth 4K streaming and constant buffering hell.
Here’s what nobody tells you: most VPNs slow your connection by 10% to 30%. Some are even worse. And that marketing promise of “blazing fast speeds” from your $5 monthly subscription? Pure fiction.
The Speed Loss Nobody Talks About
When you connect to a VPN, you’re adding extra steps to every internet request:
What Happens Behind the Scenes:
- Your device encrypts all traffic before sending
- Data routes through VPN server instead of direct path
- VPN server decrypts, processes, then sends to destination
- Return traffic follows same encrypted path backwards
- Your device decrypts incoming data
Brutal Truth: Each step adds latency and overhead. That’s why CNET recommends expecting at least some speed reduction with any VPN, though the best ones minimize impact to virtually unnoticeable levels.
How Speed Tests Actually Work
Independent testers use rigorous methodology to cut through VPN marketing:
Testing Setup:
- Baseline connection: 500 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps wired internet
- Physical Cat7 ethernet cable to eliminate WiFi variables
- Multiple server locations tested (US, UK, EU, Asia)
- Different times of day to account for server load
- Same speedtest.net platform for consistency
- Multiple protocols tested (WireGuard, OpenVPN, proprietary)
Key Metrics Measured:
Download speeds (how fast you receive data)
Upload speeds (how fast you send data)
Latency/ping (delay before data starts transferring)
Jitter (consistency of connection quality)
Connection handshake time (how long until VPN connects)
Insider Tip: Your results will differ from published tests based on your location, ISP, and distance to VPN servers. But percentage of speed loss remains relatively consistent.
WireGuard: The Protocol That Changed Everything
Security researchers agree: WireGuard massively outperforms other VPN protocols.
Performance Comparison:
WireGuard: 900+ Mbps achievable speeds, minimal overhead
OpenVPN: 400-500 Mbps typical speeds, resource intensive
IKEv2: 300-400 Mbps average speeds, decent mobile performance
L2TP: 200-300 Mbps speeds, outdated and slower
PPTP: Fast but completely insecure (never use this)
Why WireGuard Dominates:
✓ Only 4,000 lines of code vs OpenVPN’s 400,000+ lines
✓ Easier to audit for security vulnerabilities
✓ Modern cryptography with public/private key pairs
✓ Runs efficiently on all devices including phones
✓ Faster connection establishment (instant reconnection)
✓ Better battery life on mobile devices
Power Move: According to multiple independent tests, NordVPN’s implementation of WireGuard (called NordLynx) achieved 950+ Mbps speeds consistently. Surfshark matched these results. Both outperform older protocols by 2x to 3x.
The Fastest VPNs Based on Real Testing
Here’s what independent labs found testing 70+ VPNs on high speed connections:
Top Tier (900+ Mbps, <5% Speed Loss):
NordVPN: 950+ Mbps with WireGuard, 3% average speed loss
Surfshark: 950+ Mbps with WireGuard, 4% speed loss
Proton VPN: 1,198 Mbps peak on 10 Gbps line
ExpressVPN: 1,600+ Mbps with Lightway Turbo (Windows only)
Mid Tier (500-700 Mbps, 10-20% Speed Loss):
Private Internet Access: 341.5 Mbps typical speeds
IPVanish: Strong distant server performance (93% speed retention)
Mullvad: Consistent 700+ Mbps across servers
Bottom Tier (Poor Performance, 25%+ Speed Loss):
CyberGhost: 30% speed loss, buggy apps, long connection times
Many free VPNs: Often under 100 Mbps, severe throttling
Reality Check: CNET’s testing methodology addresses how speed loss changes based on when and where you test. They developed a process they’re “pretty proud of” after years of benchmarking.
Local vs Distant Server Performance
Server distance dramatically impacts speeds:
Local Servers (Same Country):
- Minimal latency (10-20 ms typical)
- Near baseline speeds achievable
- Best for general browsing and gaming
- Connection feels almost identical to no VPN
Distant Servers (Cross Continental):
- Higher latency (100-200+ ms common)
- Greater speed degradation
- Necessary for geo unblocking content
- Some VPNs handle this better than others
Standout Performance: IPVanish retained 93% of speeds connecting from Netherlands to US servers. Most VPNs drop 40% to 60% on distant connections. Surfshark maintained 950+ Mbps even on long distance US connections from UK.
Lifehack: For streaming content from another region, prioritize VPNs with strong distant server performance. For gaming or general browsing, local servers matter most.
Gaming and Latency: What Actually Matters
Gamers need low latency more than raw speed:
Gaming Requirements:
- Below 20 ms latency is ideal for competitive multiplayer
- 20-50 ms latency is acceptable for casual gaming
- Above 50 ms creates noticeable lag and input delay
- Low jitter prevents rubber banding and stuttering
Best Gaming VPNs by Latency:
NordVPN: 19.5 ms latency (below 20 ms threshold)
Surfshark: 20.2 ms latency (almost in golden zone)
ExpressVPN: Low latency but Windows Lightway Turbo only
Jitter Results:
NordVPN: 4.18 ms (excellent consistency)
Surfshark: 4.36 ms (no streaming disruptions)
Reality Check: Connecting to distant VPN servers for gaming is usually a mistake. You want the closest server possible for lowest latency, which defeats geo blocking benefits.
Streaming: Speed Requirements by Quality
Different streaming qualities need different minimum speeds:
Netflix Recommendations:
SD quality: 3 Mbps minimum
HD (720p): 5 Mbps minimum
Full HD (1080p): 15 Mbps minimum
4K Ultra HD: 25 Mbps minimum
What This Means for VPNs:
- Any VPN above 50 Mbps handles HD streaming easily
- 4K requires 100+ Mbps for smooth playback
- Connection consistency matters more than peak speeds
- High jitter causes audio sync issues and stuttering
Top Streaming Performance:
NordVPN: Unblocks 15+ Netflix libraries, butter smooth 4K
Surfshark: Works with Netflix, Max, Hulu, Paramount+
ExpressVPN: Excellent streaming but higher price point
Insider Secret: Most VPNs can hit decent speeds on their best servers. What separates top providers is consistent performance across their entire server network. Bad VPNs have 50 fast servers and 5,000 terrible ones.
What Kills VPN Speeds
Multiple factors beyond the VPN itself affect performance:
Your Base Connection:
If you start with 50 Mbps internet, even the best VPN won’t give you 500 Mbps. A 10% speed loss on slow internet is more noticeable than 10% loss on gigabit fiber.
Device Processing Power:
VPN encryption requires CPU resources. Older phones and routers struggle with modern encryption, creating bottlenecks independent of the VPN service.
Server Load:
Popular VPN servers during peak hours slow down from too many simultaneous users. Quality providers continuously add capacity.
Protocol Selection:
Using OpenVPN when WireGuard is available cuts your speeds in half for no good reason. Always choose WireGuard when possible.
ISP Throttling:
Some internet providers detect VPN traffic and throttle speeds deliberately. Ironically, a VPN can sometimes increase speeds by hiding traffic from ISP throttling.
Distance to Server:
Data traveling 5,000 miles takes longer than data traveling 50 miles. Physics limits apply.
The Free VPN Speed Trap
Free VPNs promise decent speeds but deliver garbage:
How They Kill Your Connection:
✗ Artificial speed caps (often 100-200 Mbps maximum)
✗ Limited server capacity shared by millions
✗ Intentionally slow speeds to push premium upgrades
✗ Inject ads that consume your bandwidth
✗ Route traffic through overcrowded servers
Real Example: ProtonVPN’s free tier caps speeds and limits server selection. Paid tier delivers 1,198 Mbps peak performance. The difference is night and day.
Power Move: Calculate what 30% slower internet costs in wasted time over a year. That $10 monthly VPN subscription pays for itself if it saves you 10 minutes daily.
When VPNs Actually Speed Up Your Connection
Counterintuitive but true: VPNs sometimes increase speeds.
ISP Throttling Bypass:
If your ISP throttles streaming services or torrent traffic, a VPN hides what you’re doing. They can’t throttle what they can’t see. Your encrypted VPN connection runs at full speed.
Better Routing:
Sometimes VPN servers communicate with destination servers more efficiently than your ISP’s DNS servers. The optimized routing outweighs VPN overhead.
Peak Hour Congestion:
During heavy usage periods, ISPs may throttle all traffic. VPN routing through less congested paths can improve speeds.
Reality Check: CNET’s NordVPN review notes some users experienced faster speeds with VPN active, particularly on Google Fiber connections.
Testing Your Own VPN Speeds
Don’t trust marketing claims. Test yourself:
Step 1: Baseline Test
- Disconnect VPN completely
- Visit speedtest.net
- Run test 3 times, average results
- Record download/upload/ping
Step 2: VPN Test
- Connect to VPN server in your country
- Wait 30 seconds for connection to stabilize
- Run speedtest.net again (3 times)
- Record same metrics
Step 3: Calculate Speed Loss
(Baseline speed minus VPN speed) ÷ Baseline speed × 100 = % loss
Example:
Baseline: 500 Mbps download
VPN: 465 Mbps download
Speed loss: (500 – 465) ÷ 500 × 100 = 7% loss
Lifehack: Test at different times and different server locations. One good result doesn’t mean consistent performance.
The Protocol Deep Dive
Understanding protocols helps you optimize speeds:
WireGuard (Modern Standard):
Pros: Fastest speeds, modern crypto, open source audited
Cons: Newer (less mature than OpenVPN), not universally available
Best for: Everything if available
OpenVPN (Established Legacy):
Pros: Mature, well tested, widely supported, configurable
Cons: Slower speeds (2x to 3x slower than WireGuard), resource intensive
Best for: Maximum compatibility when WireGuard unavailable
IKEv2/IPSec (Mobile Optimized):
Pros: Fast reconnection, good mobile battery life, stable
Cons: Not as fast as WireGuard, limited configuration options
Best for: Mobile devices, unstable connections
Proprietary Protocols:
ExpressVPN Lightway: 1,600+ Mbps peak (Windows only)
NordVPN NordLynx: 950+ Mbps (WireGuard based)
Hotspot Shield Catapult Hydra: Unknown independent verification
Never Use:
PPTP: Fast but completely broken security
L2TP with pre shared keys: Can be decrypted
Server Network Quality Over Quantity
Marketing loves server counts. Quality matters more.
What Actually Matters:
Server specifications (RAM, CPU, bandwidth capacity)
Network infrastructure (10 Gbps+ connections)
Server ownership (owned vs rented)
Geographic distribution (close to users)
Load balancing (automatic routing to fastest available)
Red Flags:
“10,000+ servers!” without location transparency
Servers in data centers known for overcrowding
Inconsistent speeds across server network
Frequent disconnections or timeouts
Power Move: NordVPN operates 7,000+ servers but owns its infrastructure. This gives them control over hardware specs and networking. Cheaper VPNs rent virtual servers with shared resources.
Streaming Specific Considerations
Speed alone doesn’t guarantee smooth streaming:
Netflix Detection:
Services actively block known VPN IP addresses. Fast speeds don’t help if Netflix detects and blocks you. Top VPNs continuously rotate IP addresses.
Buffer Size:
Some VPNs optimize buffer size for streaming. This reduces startup time and prevents mid playback buffering even with speed fluctuations.
Server Specialization:
Better VPNs offer streaming optimized servers configured specifically for video services. Regular servers work but specialized ones perform better.
4K Reality:
You need sustained 25+ Mbps for 4K. Brief speed spikes don’t cut it. Connection consistency matters more than peak speeds.
The Bottom Line on Speed
Most people obsess over wrong metrics when choosing VPNs.
What Matters Most:
- Consistent speeds across server network (not just fastest server)
- Low latency on servers you’ll actually use
- WireGuard protocol support for modern performance
- Sufficient speed for your use case (streaming, gaming, browsing)
- Good distant server speeds if you need geo unblocking
What Matters Less:
- Peak speeds on ideal conditions nobody experiences
- Server count without quality context
- Marketing promises without independent verification
- Proprietary protocols without transparent auditing
Reality Check: If you have 100 Mbps internet, any VPN losing less than 20% speed (80+ Mbps remaining) handles everything you need. Obsessing over 900 Mbps vs 950 Mbps speeds makes zero difference for real world usage.
Your Move: Try top rated VPNs with 30 day money back guarantees. Test speeds yourself. Keep what works. Return what doesn’t. Marketing lies but your speedtest results don’t.
Stop tolerating buffering. Demand performance.