I’m impressed to say that ExpressVPN outperformed the competition with its high-speed global servers. I didn’t notice any slowdown even when I connected to a server on the opposite side of the world. Best of all, you can try ExpressVPN’s fast speeds for yourself. You’re protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s simple to get a full refund if you’re not satisfied. When I tested this myself, my refund was approved over 24/7 live chat (no questions asked) and the money returned to my account in only 5 days. Enjoy fast speeds with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: The Fastest VPNs in 2023
Try the fastest VPN in 2023
The Fastest VPNs for Streaming, Torrenting & Gaming (Tested January 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Winning Combination of Excellent Speeds and Top-Tier Security
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN out there with excellent speeds across its global servers. During tests, both ExpressVPN’s local and distant servers were impressively fast. Even when I connected to Australia, more than 15,000km away, my download speeds were steady at almost 90Mbps. That’s a tiny drop of just 21% from my base speed, which is minimal considering the distance. Torrenting was quick and easy, with a 40GB file downloading in just over an hour. I could even play high-intensity online games like PUBG and CounterStrike without worrying about lag or latency issues. These impressive speeds are in part due to ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol, Lightway. This protocol is designed for maximum speed without compromising security. It’s more lightweight than other protocols; OpenVPN is made up of 70,000 lines of code, while Lightway is a mere 1,000 lines. This makes running the protocol and connecting to servers almost instant and reduces the impact on your device, too. Lightway is ExpressVPN’s default protocol, and I’d recommend using it whenever it’s available as it’s the fastest option. Using Lightway with ExpressVPN’s closest server, my speed reached an impressive 104Mbps — less than a 10% drop from my regular speed. Without Lightway, my closest ExpressVPN server had speeds of 100Mbps. This might not seem like a big difference at these high speeds, but if you have slower internet you need a VPN with the least impact on speeds possible. ExpressVPN split tunneling can also help give you a speed boost. This lets you choose to only allow specific traffic to be routed through the VPN. I added my banking apps and torrent clients to ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature and found it slightly improved my speeds by reducing unnecessary traffic. I thought that ExpressVPN’s layers of security may cause some slowdown, but I was pleased to find that wasn’t the case. ExpressVPN military-grade encryption and leak protection secured my online activity from hackers and spies without impacting my speeds at all. I was worried that this meant I wasn’t actually protected, but during my tests, I found ExpressVPN had no IP, DNS, or WebRTC data leaks — my worries were unfounded, as my information was undeniably safe! As a bonus, ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology runs entirely on RAM, meaning none of your data is logged or stored on its servers. For additional peace of mind, ExpressVPN has been independently audited to verify its no-logs policy Ultimately, the best option is to test ExpressVPN’s fast and reliable speeds for yourself to make sure it suits your needs. As it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can get a full refund if you’re not fully satisfied. I tested the process and was surprised by how easy it was. I contacted the 24/7 live chat and spoke to an agent in less than 30 seconds. The polite and helpful agent processed my refund immediately, no questions asked — I didn’t even need to give a reason for canceling. Best of all, I had my money back in just 5 days! Get fast speeds with ExpressVPN!
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Fast Downloading, Streaming, and Gaming
Key Features: CyberGhost’s dedicated servers give even resource-intensive activities like streaming, torrenting, and gaming a speed boost. These optimized servers are updated regularly to ensure they provide the fastest connections. This means you can download large files and play fast-paced games without experiencing lag or interruptions. During my tests, I found CyberGhost’s optimized servers were significantly faster than its standard servers. I compared servers in France, Germany, the US, and Australia and found that on average, the optimized servers were over 30% faster. This is particularly significant if you live somewhere with slower internet, as it can minimize speed loss so you maintain a lag-free connection. I always recommend connecting to an optimized server for this reason. CyberGhost offers both OpenVPN and WireGuard. OpenVPN is the industry standard for speed and security, but I found WireGuard was the fastest option for CyberGhost. It’s much more lightweight than OpenVPN with just 4,000 lines of code. Fortunately, CyberGhost’s high-level security features don’t impact speeds. It offers AES-256-bit encryption, the same kind used by the US military and guaranteed to secure your data. It also has IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection — during testing, CyberGhost kept all of my data private with zero leaks. CyberGhost also uses RAM-based servers so you can rest assured none of your data is ever logged or stored. While CyberGhost’s global speeds are good, I noticed a big slowdown when connecting to distant servers. This isn’t unusual as physical distance will inevitably impact speeds, simply because data has much further to travel. As my base speed of 115Mbps is pretty fast, even the biggest slowdown in Australia (almost 60% slower) didn’t impact my activities much. However, if your regular speeds are slower you will notice a more significant impact. I also found CyberGhost’s latency or “ping” on faraway servers increased beyond what I was expecting. While this didn’t affect my streaming or torrenting very much, it did impact my online gaming even on an optimized server. I tried playing Valorant with an Australian server and the ping was so high I couldn’t even load the game. As such, I’d recommend using local servers to play online games and avoid lag. On the plus side, since CyberGhost’s server network is so large, with 9633+ servers in 91 locations, I never had any problem finding a fast server nearby. To see if the service is right for you, I recommend that you test CyberGhost’s optimized servers for yourself risk-free. It has a 45-day money-back guarantee you can use to get a full refund if you’re not entirely satisfied. I went through the process myself and it was easy — I contacted an agent through the 24/7 live chat and they started the refund immediately, no questions asked. I had the money back in less than a week. Get fast speeds with CyberGhost!
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network Keeps Speeds Fast
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has a massive server network that maintains fast speeds for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and more. It has over 35000 servers in 84 locations which is ideal for 2 reasons: first, you’re very likely to find a server close to your physical location; second, a large number of servers means you won’t experience user congestion. Part of the reason my connections were so fast is because PIA offers the lightweight WireGuard protocol. OpenVPN protocol is the default, but I found WireGuard was a faster option — it improved my speeds by at least 10Mbps on every connection I tried. I could connect to PIA’s servers in just a couple of seconds when I switched over to Wireguard. PIA has a couple of additional features that can boost your speed. I was impressed by the MACE ad- and malware-blocker. Not only did it protect me from malicious downloads, but it also made loading websites faster. Blocking ads allowed websites to populate more quickly so I got to my content faster. I also used PIA’s split tunneling feature, which stopped unnecessary data from passing through the VPN connection. PIA’s features are privacy-driven, guaranteeing your anonymity while you’re connected. It uses AES-256-bit encryption, the same level used by the US military. Every app has a kill switch to protect your data if the VPN connection is interrupted. I also tested its leak protection and it passed every test — PIA didn’t leak any of my data. Like many VPNs, PIA’s speeds drop a bit when connecting to distant servers. However, even when I connected to a server in Australia I could stream and torrent — though I did experience some buffering due to high ping. Unfortunately, I couldn’t game on that server as the latency produced too much lag and my game froze repeatedly. If you want to test PIA’s huge server network for yourself, you can purchase the service with confidence as it’s backed by a money-back guarantee. You get up to 30 days to claim a refund if you find PIA isn’t right for you, and the process is easy — I just contacted the 24/7 live chat and asked for my money back. The agent asked if I’d like to troubleshoot, but when I declined they arranged my refund quickly. I had my money back in less than a week. Get fast speeds with PIA now!
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
Key Features: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionA kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlyBuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerFully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. With plans that cost as little as $3.49 per month, it’s easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. To ensure that you’ll really get your money back, I tested NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. Get NordVPN today NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Key Features: Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out. I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultDiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)Kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in UHD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet.
You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.05. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Get Surfshark today Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
6. PrivateVPN — Small but Reliable Network Produces Fast Local Speeds
Key Features: PrivateVPN’s small network surprised me with its fast local speeds. Usually, a smaller network has user congestion, but I got speeds of over 70Mbps on almost all of the local servers I tested — a drop of only 35% from my regular ISP speed. The entire server network is optimized for streaming and P2P file-sharing, designed for top speeds and security. PrivateVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol by default, which I found to be the fastest option during my tests. I also found that it’s possible to lower PrivateVPN’s encryption level from AES-256 to AES-128. While this doesn’t make a huge impact to your overall security (AES encryption has never been cracked) it could potentially boost your speed. This is useful if you’re living somewhere with slower internet speeds. I was pleased to find PrivateVPN really does take privacy seriously, without sacrificing speeds. It has top-tier encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, plus a Stealth VPN setting that disguises VPN traffic to look like regular traffic. This can help to bypass strict internet regulations in countries like China and Turkey, allowing free access to online content. As with most VPNs, PrivateVPN has the best speeds when connecting to servers nearby. My speeds were consistently fast as far as New York, over 5,600km away. However, the further away I connected, the slower my speeds became. Connecting to a server in Australia dropped my speed by 90%. I could still browse the web and stream local content, but it’s something to bear in mind if your internet isn’t that good. PrivateVPN is a solid choice if you want to connect to servers less than 5,000km away. I recommend that you test PrivateVPN’s small but reliable network for yourself to see if it’s right for your needs. If not, you can get a full refund with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Get fast speeds with PrivateVPN!
7. IPVanish — Detailed Interface Makes Choosing the Fastest Server Easy
Key Features: IPVanish gives you all the information you need to choose the fastest server connection for you. After exploring the interface, I found IPVanish details the server load in % and ping in ms for every individual server. I could make precise choices based on my preferred location and pick the fastest possible option every time. This way, I could enjoy very fast speeds and avoid buffering and lag for most global locations. IPVanish has a “Connect” button that should auto-connect you to the fastest available server, but I had faster speeds when I manually chose my server connection. There are multiple protocols to choose from — I’d recommend using OpenVPN as this is the fastest and most reliable protocol IPVanish offers. IPVanish doesn’t provide any information about which protocol to use, which could make it tricky to figure out if you’re not familiar with VPNs. I was pleased to find that connecting to IPVanish’s servers only took a couple of seconds. Its military-grade encryption, kill switch, and leak protection on all of its apps didn’t slow down my connection at all. During my tests, I found all of my data was secure when connected to all of IPVanish’s servers — no data leaks. The downside to IPVanish is at first glance its interface can seem overwhelming. The client requires you to experiment a little to figure out how it works properly. There are multiple dropdown menus and configurable options, making it a VPN option for more advanced users. IPVanish is supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test the service and explore its detailed interface risk-free. I was impressed by how easy it was to cancel the service — I just had to click the “Cancel Now” button in the Subscription tab of my IPVanish account. My refund was processed automatically and I had my money back almost immediately. Get fast speeds with IPVanish!
8. VyprVPN — Fast Speeds for Easy Access to Streaming Services
Key Features: VyprVPN is excellent at getting around content blocks, which makes it a great choice for watching your Netflix or Disney+ account while you’re abroad. While I did experience a big drop in speed when I connected to a server 15,000km away (92% slower), I could still stream in HD-quality video. I had to wait around 40 seconds for my content to buffer, but after that, my stream was smooth and lag-free. VyprVPN has several protocol options, including WireGuard and its proprietary Chameleon protocol. During my tests, I found WireGuard gave me the best speeds, although the Chameleon protocol was excellent at bypassing content blocks. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little speed to access online content, I recommend using VyprVPN’s Chameleon protocol. Otherwise, WireGuard is the fastest. With secure protocols, VyprVPN protects your data with AES-256-bit encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. It also features public WiFi protection, which automatically connects the VPN when your device joins an unknown or public WiFi network. I found this useful as I didn’t have to remember to switch on my VPN to remain secure at all times. Unfortunately, high ping makes VyprVPN a less favorable choice for online gaming. Popular servers in the US and Canada had a ping of around 90ms, which meant I experienced a small amount of lag while playing. Further away, ping was even higher which made my game unplayable. I’d recommend connecting to local servers for the lowest lag, or opting for a VPN like ExpressVPN for seamless gameplay on all servers. If you’re interested in testing the service, you can try VyprVPN’s fast local speeds risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. Canceling is easy and after contacting customer support, I had a full refund in 3 days. Get fast speeds with VyprVPN!
9. hide.me — Good Download Speeds on Global Servers
Key Features: Hide.me’s server network performs well when it comes to download speeds. I tested multiple servers and was pleased to find my speeds were fast enough for streaming, torrenting, and secure browsing with minimal lag. The fastest connection was only 34% slower than my standard ISP speed of 115Mbps. Hide.me uses the WireGuard protocol by default. I found this was faster than OpenVPN, but it’s not available on every server. However, hide.me’s OpenVPN connections were still reliably fast. Alongside secure protocols, hide.me uses AES-256-bit encryption to keep traffic anonymous and protected. This, along with the kill switch and leak protection prevents data leaking while still providing fast download speeds. Hide.me also has an audited zero-logs policy to guarantee your data security. The issue with hide.me is its low upload speeds. During video calls and online gaming, I experienced significant lag and interruptions. My Zoom calls froze frequently and in-game responses were delayed, making gameplay impossible. Unfortunately, it seems hide.me has prioritized download speeds for streaming and torrenting, so I don’t recommend it if you want to game online or upload files quickly. I suggest testing hide.me for yourself to make sure it’s right for you. Not only does it offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, it also has a free version you can use to sample the service first. Get fast speeds with hide.me!
10. ZenMate — Dedicated Streaming and Torrenting Servers Boost Speeds
Key Features: ZenMate has a selection of dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting. These servers are designed to provide top speeds and security while you’re watching your favorite shows or P2P file-sharing. I found ZenMate’s optimized servers were faster than its standard servers by around 40%. All of these dedicated servers use the OpenVPN protocol to maximize speeds for streaming and downloading. ZenMate is effective at creating a secure connection because of its top-tier security features. It has AES-256-bit encryption, a kill switch to protect your data if the connection is unstable, and leak protection. During my tests, I found ZenMate kept my data secure at all times — zero leaks! Unfortunately, ZenMate’s standard servers were very slow with high ping. The closest standard server to me in London only reached a speed of 16Mbps — a dramatic slowdown of 86%. For the best possible speeds, you should always connect to an optimized server. This is particularly important if your standard internet speeds are slower. I also found that connecting to ZenMate’s servers took a long time, up to 30 seconds in most cases. I found it frustrating to have to wait so long, but once I connected I didn’t have any issues with server interruption. All new users get a 7-day free trial of ZenMate so you can test the service. However, that isn’t long enough to really examine every feature. Luckily, there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test ZenMate risk-free and get a full refund if you’re not fully satisfied. Get fast speeds with ZenMate!
Easy Comparison Table: The Fastest VPNs in 2023
After extensive testing, ExpressVPN emerged as the fastest service. Its impressive global speeds and minimal slowdown make using ExpressVPN unnoticeable, even on slow internet connections. Plus, it accesses streaming sites and supports P2P file-sharing on all servers, so you can enjoy your favorite online content anywhere. To get an overview of the fastest VPNs in 2023, you can take a look at the table below. Get fast speeds with ExpressVPN
How I Tested and Ranked VPNs for Fast Speeds
Here is the testing methodology I used when I evaluated the best VPNs on the market:
Speed test: I ran an initial test on Speedtest.net to find my speed without a VPN. On average, my standard ISP connection is 115Mbps. I then used the same speed test tool to run tests for each VPN. Device: I performed all tests on a Windows 10 PC and an iPhone XS. VPN protocol: I let the VPNs automatically pick the fastest protocol available at the time. This was OpenVPN for the majority of VPNs. Local server location: I let the VPN choose the fastest server available using a “Smart Connect” or similar feature. This was a server closest to me in London, UK for most VPNs. International server location: I tested servers in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the US. This was so I could look at how speeds were affected over different distances. Time of testing: I ran tests at 3 different times of day — 9 am, 3 pm, and 8 pm. This is so I could see the impact of high and low traffic times on each VPN’s speed.
It’s important to note that despite all these factors, there are variables outside of my control. Fluctuations in internet speed and how my device was performing could impact my results. This means that if you run similar tests, you could get very different results. I’d recommend testing a VPN for yourself to see if it works for you — ExpressVPN is the fastest service, and you can try it now to see if it’s right for you. Get top speeds with ExpressVPN
What Impacts VPN Speed?
More often than not, using a VPN will cause your connection to slow down. A layer of encryption is added to your traffic, so your data moves through a secure tunnel. Your traffic also passes through the VPN’s server before reaching your intended online destination. However, the best VPNs are designed for speed so you can browse, stream, torrent, and more without lag or buffering. Top-tier VPNs have been known to improve speeds in some rare cases. If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) notices you’re performing data-intensive activities (like torrenting) it can limit your speed. By using a VPN, your ISP can no longer see your online activity and will stop imposing speed restrictions. It’s important to remember that your VPN can only really be as fast as your regular ISP connection. If your standard speed is slow, your browsing is more likely to constantly buffer when you connect to a VPN. Fortunately, with a top service like ExpressVPN that provides minimal speed loss, the drop is barely noticeable even if you do have bad internet. Get fast speeds with ExpressVPN
Need a Faster VPN? 5 Tips to Increase a VPN’s Speed
If you’re using a VPN and are still having issues with slow speeds, there are a few things you can try.
1. Choose a VPN With a Large Server Network
A VPN with a few hundred servers won’t be as fast as a VPN with thousands of servers. This is because the less available servers, the more user congestion — so your speeds will slow significantly during peak hours.
2. Change VPN Protocol
Most VPNs have several protocols to choose from, depending on your desired level of encryption and speed. I recommend using WireGuard or OpenVPN TCP as it’s a highly secure protocol with excellent speeds. Nobile users, you can try IKEv2 if it’s available through your VPN. The majority of VPNs automatically choose the fastest protocol unless specified otherwise. However, if you’re experiencing slower speeds, it’s a good idea to check which protocol your VPN is using.
3. Connect to a Nearby Server
Latency (or ping) is how long it takes to send data from your device to a server and back again. A factor for increased latency is distance — by connecting to a distant VPN server your data has to travel more and will take longer to get a response. High latency causes a considerable slowdown and buffering. Connect to a VPN server much closer to your physical location instead. A shorter distance for your data to travel should significantly improve your speeds. Your VPN should have the option to automatically connect you to the closest, fastest server. ExpressVPN’s Smart Location always picks the fastest server available based on your location. Alternatively, you can look at the VPN’s server menu to manually find a fast connection. Get fast connections with ExpressVPN
4. Set Up Split Tunneling
Split tunneling can boost your speeds by only routing certain apps through the VPN, with the rest of your traffic using your regular ISP connection. By being selective about the data that passes through the encryption tunnel, you reduce the amount of bandwidth it’s using. A smaller amount of traffic can pass much more quickly and improve your speed. Many VPNs offer split-tunneling through their clients, with easy step-by-step guides to set it up. I recommend configuring torrent or banking apps to always use the VPN as they contain sensitive data.
5. Use an Ethernet Cable
Connecting your device to your router will result in faster speeds. A wireless connection (Wi-Fi) isn’t 100% direct so will be slower. Connecting your device to your router using an ethernet cable creates a direct line so data is transferred faster. As a bonus, an ethernet connection is more reliable and secure than a WiFi connection. By connecting with an ethernet cable and a VPN, you can increase your speed and maximize security at the same time. Download the fastest VPN in 2023
What’s the fastest VPN for streaming?
I especially liked that ExpressVPN works on devices without VPN support (like game consoles or smart TVs). The MediaStreamer SmartDNS feature is a proxy DNS server that can grant you access to streaming services on PlayStation, Xbox, LG smart TVs, and more.
Which VPN is fast enough for gaming?
According to test results, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN for gaming. I experienced minimal lag during high-intensity gameplay, easily playing online games like PUBG and Overwatch without any interruptions. This is due to ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, which is designed to reduce ping (or latency) across all its servers. Lightway is also less resource-intensive so you’ll notice less drain on your desktop or phone’s battery life!
How can I improve my VPN’s speeds when gaming?
There are several ways you can improve your VPNs speeds. First, you should run a ping test. Many online games will display your ping on your in-game dashboard so you can check it before and after connecting to your VPN server to see the impact. If you need to check manually, you can by following these steps:
What’s a fast VPN for torrenting?
The fastest VPN for torrenting is ExpressVPN. Every one of its 3000 servers supports quick and secure P2P file-sharing. During my tests, I downloaded a 40GB file in just an hour while streaming in HD at the same time. Plus you’re protected by military-grade encryption, leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy to guarantee you can torrent anonymously. There are other VPNs offering port forwarding as a way to boost speeds — this designates a particular port to be used for P2P file-sharing, reducing the amount of data passing through the port. You can configure your torrent client to use that port for faster downloads. However, keep in mind that port forwarding makes it much easier to track your online activity.
Which free VPN has the fastest speeds?
Unfortunately, 100% free and fast VPNs don’t really exist — even the best free VPN services have speed restrictions to encourage you to upgrade to a premium subscription. Slow speeds are mainly caused by the limited number of servers, which creates congestion due to so many users on 1 server. This slows your speeds dramatically as there simply isn’t enough bandwidth for everyone. Worse still, many free VPNs aren’t actually safe to use. Some free VPNs have even been known to use malware and spyware to steal your data, putting you at risk of identity theft without you knowing. Others log and store user data to sell to third parties as a way to generate revenue, compromising your privacy. If you want a free option, I recommend getting a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee. For example, you can use CyberGhost for free for 45 days (as long as you ask for a refund within the money-back guarantee period). You’re guaranteed fast speeds — and you don’t have to worry about your data being logged or leaking from the encrypted tunnel.
What’s the fastest VPN for my device?
Does a VPN slow down internet speed?
You can expect a slight drop, although the fastest VPNs are designed to minimize speed loss. Aside from choosing a fast VPN, I recommend choosing a nearby VPN server with a low user load. If many users are connected to a server, data is transferred much more slowly. The further a server is from your location, the longer it takes for your data to be sent from and received by your device.
How do I test VPN speed?
Some VPNs have a built-in speed test (like ExpressVPN). Alternatively, you can use Speedtest.net to perform a speed test when your VPN is connected. Ideally, a VPN will provide speeds that are very close to your baseline. A minimum speed of 25Mbps is recommended to browse, stream, and download without significant lag or interruption.
4 Easy Steps: How to Test VPN Speed
Enjoy fast speeds with ExpressVPN
Get Fast Speeds and Top Security With a VPN in 2023
Using a VPN will impact your speed, but the best VPNs are designed to mitigate speed loss so you don’t even notice it. All of the VPNs on this list provide fast connections and high-level security so you can stream, torrent, game, browse, and more without lag or interruptions. After rigorous testing, the fastest VPN in 2023 is ExpressVPN. It has consistently fast connections on all servers and its proprietary Lightway protocol ensures top speeds. But don’t take my word for it — you have the option to test out ExpressVPN for yourself risk-free. If you’re not satisfied (although I think you will be), you can easily get a refund with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
