| Updated: January 19, 2025
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It’s a known fact that VPNs slow down internet speeds. This is because your traffic is encrypted and then sent to a VPN server before being decrypted.
The additional layer of security consumes bandwidth and additional resources. However, there are ways to boost your internet speed even with the VPN enabled on your device.
Here are a few things you can do:
With these fixes, I boosted my internet speed with a VPN enabled. You have to apply all the techniques to get the best speed with your VPN.
The use of VPNs has skyrocketed, with governments implementing censorship laws and online surveillance. A VPN hides your IP address, encrypts your data, and lets you access geo-restricted content with a single click.
This is the reason for the popularity of this tool, and with time, it will increase. However, there are certain disadvantages of using a VPN, like it slows down your internet speed and the ilegal status of VPN in some countries.
This article will highlight the most effective ways of speeding up your internet connection when using a VPN. I have personally tested each method before adding it to this article.
A VPN is a great online tool that protects your online identity and activities. But it does that by encrypting your data and passing it through a VPN server, which consumes bandwidth and deters your internet speed.
This is how a VPN works, and there is no workaround. When a VPN is enabled on your devices, your entire traffic is first encrypted and sent through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server, where it is decrypted and sent to the recipient.
The round trip adds an extra bandwidth consumption layer, resulting in speed degradation. You can do a few things to increase your internet speed with a VPN, like changing your VPN server, switching to a different VPN protocol, etc.
Using a VPN can decrease your internet speed by 50%. However, the percentage of speed deterioration is less common in premium VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Here are a few steps you can take to increase your internet speed with a VPN.
Sometimes, the VPN server gets clogged, with many users using the same server. This causes speed reduction and sometimes VPN disconnection. The best way to avoid this is to switch to a less popular server with fewer users.
My experience:
I use the New York server whenever I need to connect to an American IP address. The other VPN users do the same because the New York server has the physiological effect of being premium associated with it. Sometimes, it causes a negative impact, and your internet speed starts to degrade.
I switched to another NY server to see if the VPN server was slowing down my internet, and it was. Upon switching to the third NY server, my internet speed was restored, allowing me to bypass VPN blocks and access restricted websites.
You can choose an alternative American server, such as one in Miami or New Jersey, to improve your internet speed and enjoy the benefits of a VPN. Switching to a server in a different country might also help boost your connection speed.
If you choose a VPN server closer to your physical location, your internet speed can increase because you are shortening the distance between your device and the VPN server.
This won’t apply if you want a specific IP address to unblock a particular Netflix library or another streaming service. But it works perfectly if you want to hide your IP address and don’t care about the IP address masking your original IP.
Example:
If you are in Canada and want to access the US Netflix library, connect to a server closer to Canada, like Washington or Idaho. This will reduce the travel time for your data, and your internet speed will eventually increase.
On the other hand, if you want to access the Japanese Netflix library, you will need to connect to a Japanese IP address, which will increase the travel time of your data and decrease your internet speed. Still, this will work if you have a good internet connection and a speed of 20Mbps.
A VPN protocol is a set of rules through which your devices and the VPN server communicate and send and receive data through an encrypted tunnel. Your internet speed depends on what VPN protocol you are using and what your needs are.
There are various VPN protocols, and most commercial VPNs give you the option to choose between them. I recommend OpenVPN (UDP) if you are looking for a fast and secure connection. However, modern VPN protocols like WireGuard also offer fast speed and the best data encryption.
VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer their own VPN protocol, which is derived from WireGuard. ExpressVPN has the Lightway protocol, which is known for its speed, and NordVPN offers NordLynx VPN protocol that is best for both speed and security.
Changing your VPN protocol can help in increasing your internet speed. I recommend using the OpenVPN (UDP) protocol, which is an open-source VPN protocol and has been tested by many. IKEv2 is another viable option offered by several commercial VPN providers.
However, avoid using outdated VPN protocols like PPTP, SSTP, or L2TP. These protocols are considered less secure and are not recommended for modern usage. I have created a detailed guide on VPN protocols where I outline the benefits of each protocol and provide a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed choice.
Split tunneling is an underrated feature offered by most VPNs. It lets you decide which traffic will go through the VPN tunnel and which will use the regular internet.
In my case, I used the split tunneling feature for streaming American Netflix, and the remaining traffic could go directly to the internet. This helps reduce the load on the VPN server and results in optimum internet speed. Always test your VPN when using the split tunneling feature because sometimes, due to misconfiguration, it does not work correctly.
Unused apps running in the background may consume your bandwidth and resources. It is best to close such apps to save your machine’s resources, and this might help increase your internet speed when using a VPN.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, reach out to your VPN provider’s customer support team. They can help troubleshoot the problem, address slow speeds, or identify why your VPN isn’t working properly.
It may sound cliche, but restarting your computer and router may fix the slow internet speed issue. Your router and PC need a fresh start, which you can give by restarting them; it will help free some space and clear the RAM.
Ethernet connection is always faster and more reliable than WiFi. That is because there are several connections on a single WiFi fighting their way for resources. This can slow down your internet speed, and the best way to fight this is an ethernet connection from your router to your PC.
For gamers, having a lower ping is crucial to minimize lag and enjoy smooth online gaming. To achieve this, I recommend placing your device as close as possible to the router if you’re using WiFi. For even better performance, consider using an Ethernet cable to connect directly to the internet, as wired connections typically offer lower latency and more stable speeds.
Always opt for a premium VPN service to protect your online activities, and avoid cheap or cracked VPNs at all costs. Most commercial VPNs provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to cancel your subscription and receive a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
Some VPN providers even offer a 45-day money-back guarantee, while others may provide only a 7-day trial period for testing. To help you navigate this process, I’ve created a comprehensive guide on the cancellation and refund policies of the most popular VPNs.
A VPN is the best tool for online security and privacy. You can change your IP address, encrypt your traffic, and access geo-restricted content with a single click. However, slow internet speed can cause frustration, and no one wants to wait minutes for a web page to load.
You can build your own VPN for optimum speed, but that requires basic technical knowledge. I have tested the above-mentioned ways to speed up my internet speed with a VPN enabled. You have to implement every step mentioned above to get the best speed; otherwise, VPNs are popular for decreasing internet speeds.
If you are into cybersecurity and love reading about VPNs, here are a few articles that might interest you.
Connecting to a closer VPN server can improve your internet speed by reducing the travel time of your data. The shorter the distance your data has to travel, the lower the latency, resulting in faster and more efficient performance.
The best thing you can do to increase net speed in mobile is to move closer to the WiFi router.
Connecting your PC to the router using an Ethernet cable can significantly improve your internet speed and provide a more stable connection compared to Wi-Fi.
Mustafa is a cybersecurity analyst and a co-founder of VPN for What. Since 2017, Mustafa has gained international experience, working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.
