One of the many things most people want to know when choosing a VPN is whether a VPN slows down Internet. There’s no cookie-cutter answer to this question. This is because while some people experience faster speeds others experience slower speeds when using a VPN.
It depends on a number of different factors, which we’ll unpack in-depth in this article. We’ll also share with you some of the VPN speed tests you can run to determine how fast your speed is and whether it needs some tuning up.
Will VPN Use Could Slow Down Your Internet Speed?
As we said, there’s no clear-cut answer. It’s different for each situation. Sometimes, connecting to a VPN leads to fast Internet speeds and at other times it can slow you down.
Either way, using a VPN will cause changes to your Internet speeds whether for good or worse. The good news is that even if your VPN slows down Internet, it won’t completely tank your speeds. It also won’t happen instantly. In fact, it might happen so gradually that you won’t even notice it.
Why Does This Happen?
The following are the 7 most likely culprits when a VPN slows down Internet:
1. Server Location
Your Internet browsing speed is massively affected by the distance separating you from the VPN server. That’s because data packets have to travel from the server to your device. And the farther apart the two are, the most likely you are to experience slow loading speeds.
2. Encryption Type
Encryption technology can also affect your Internet speed. Typically, a powerful encryption can overwhelm the system so much that it causes your internet speeds to drop. But this is usually temporary.
It’s worth noting that VPN speed problems are most common with the OpenVPN Protocol. And PPTP is known as the better quality option because it delivers faster speeds. The latter is what IPVanish uses, and that’s why it’s popular as one of the fastest and most secure VPN providers.
3. Bandwidth Limitations
Sometimes, a VPN slows down Internet due to bandwidth problems and limitations. This often happens when bandwidth overloads or when you surpass your limit. Not only that but your VPN speed may also be affected by the server as well.
A good quality server will make it easier to process web traffic and encryption. This leads to fast browsing speeds, whereas a poor VPN server will do the exact opposite.
4. Network Setup
According to online reviews and forums, it’s possible to improve your VPN connection speed if you make use of a LAN cable instead of relying on a Wi-Fi connection.
Of course, results vary because not all circumstances are the same. But it’s worth considering it as one of the many reasons why a VPN slows down Internet.
5. Firewall Interferences
Firewalls can potentially affect your VPN speed. This is especially if they’re set up to interfere with your CPU performance or VPN traffic. Keep in mind that your CPU can also affect VPN speed depending on how powerful it is.
6. Your Connection Speed
Your VPN speed may be slowing down as a result of a slow ISP connection. That’s because these two are inextricably linked.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to remedy this problem aside from switching to another, faster ISP.
7. VPN Routing Algorithms
Another reason why a VPN slows down Internet could be due to the way your provider routes your connection.
Unfortunately, if you’re using a free VPN then you may very well be the victim of shady algorithms that can significantly affect your Internet speed.
Conclusion
After doing some research, we can confidently say that using a VPN that’s close by can slow down your browsing speeds by anything from 10% to 30%, while a faraway server can slow you down by up to 50% to 60%. Your VPN protocol might also slow down your speeds by another 10% to 30%.
Your numbers may be different but the only way to find out for sure is to perform a speed test through a site like SpeedTest.net. This site will even recommend an optimal server afterward to help speed up your connection.
Did you find this article on why VPN slows down Internet helpful? If so, let us know in the comments below! Thank you so much for reading!
