The fastest VPNs: Quickest VPN services in 2024

Our expert reviewers tested the market to find the fastest VPNs. Whether you want to stream in HD, play games, or torrent, here are BleepingComputer's top picks of the fastest VPNs.

When you connect to a VPN, it must encrypt your internet traffic and route your data to a remote location. These benefits make you more secure online but also cause a VPN to slow down your internet.

Many VPNs slow down your internet by 50% or more. This is frustrating because it means you are not getting the speeds you pay your ISP for. As a result, it becomes hard to stream, play games, and make video calls.

The good news is that some VPNs are faster than others. The best VPNs invest in a Tier-1 network with plenty of throughputs, and apps that provide speedy protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN UDP. This allows the fastest VPNs to keep your internet running at full speed.

Our list is based on speeds, which means you should read our summaries to find out what features each VPN has. The fastest VPN may not be the best for streaming or for torrenting. Before picking, you must consider which fastest VPN also has the features you need. If you're looking for a no-nonsense summary of the fastest VPNs, we've listed them below.

The fastest VPNs:

1. Mullvad: The fastest VPN we tested. Highly reliable and offers many advanced privacy and security features. Good for torrenting, but doesn’t unblock many popular streaming services.
2. Proton VPN: Fantastic speeds, no logs, strong encryption, and plenty of advanced features for users who revere privacy above all else. Not the best for streaming, but does work with Netflix US.
3. CyberGhost VPN: An incredibly fast VPN that is fantastic for streaming and perfect for beginners. Easy to use but lacks some advanced features, including port forwarding and split tunneling.
4. IPVanish: A fast VPN that runs on a proprietary server network. Servers in 20 US cities. Strong security features and a no logs policy, but fails to access international streaming services.
5. Atlas VPN: Excellent speeds and apps for all popular devices. Works with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and most other streaming platforms. Includes ad blocking and malware filtering.
6. TunnelBear: A speedy Canada-based VPN with a solid no-logs policy. However, it doesn’t consistently work with Netflix and is no good for torrenting.
7. VyprVPN: Excellent speeds, strong encryption, a no-logging policy, and servers in 63+ countries. Works with many popular streaming services, including Netflix.
8. NordVPN: Lightning-fast WireGuard fork makes it great for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Works with popular streaming services, but lacks port forwarding.
9. Surfshark: The fastest cheap VPN. Strong security, works with all streaming services, and lets you connect an unlimited number of devices. Perfect fast VPN for those on a budget.
10. ExpressVPN: Fast, secure, and reliable. It can access popular streaming services. Has fewer advanced features than some of our other recommendations and is a touch pricey.

When it comes to making a list of the fastest VPNs, the process is pretty cut and dry. All you must do is connect to the VPN and test its speed using the fastest (secure) protocol available. We wanted to be as fair as possible, which meant leaving the list of fast VPNs as intact as possible. With this in mind, we included all VPNs that meet the following minimum requirements: 

• Apps for all popular devices that are free from any IP, DNS, or Web RTC leaks.
• A trustworthy no-logging policy that promises never to track the user’s IP address, the servers they connect to, or their web habits.
• Provides (at minimum) 256-bit encryption and a kill switch.
• Has a decent global server network that gives you fast speeds and plenty of locations to pick from.
• Can securely access popular streaming services.
• Provides excellent customer support at no additional cost.

It is worth noting that in order to qualify for one of our top three positions, VPNs must usually operate a 100% diskless server network and have had their infrastructure audited by a reputable third party. All our other VPN recommendation lists follow this rule – to ensure we only recommend the most secure and trustworthy VPNs on the market.

Because this is our list of the fastest VPNs, this is not the case for this list. The order of this list is by speed alone and includes all the VPNs that met our minimum standards for security, as described in the criteria above.

The fastest VPNs: Detailed reviews

Here's our list of the fastest VPNs:

Mullvad has got you covered if you want a fast VPN. The VPN provides the speedy WireGuard protocol and a network of servers that are best described as supercharged. In our latest tests, it had an average global download speed of 665 Mbps. This makes it fantastic for playing games, streaming in HD, and torrenting.

The VPN is based in Sweden, which has no mandatory data retention directives that apply to VPNs. In addition to a zero logs policy, it has a solid kill switch, Shadowsocks obfuscation, AES encryption, and DNS leak protection. You can even get rudimentary obfuscation using the WireGuard protocol by connecting via port 443, which makes VPN traffic seem like regular HTTPS. This makes it extremely solid when it comes to gaining online privacy and security.

The VPN allows torrenting throughout its networks, and it is perfect for this job thanks to its split tunneling and port forwarding features. It also comes with MultiHop connections, Tor over VPN, ad blocking, and malware filtering – making it one of the most fully featured VPNs we have ever encountered.

So, what are the drawbacks? Mullvad isn't necessarily suitable for home users who want to bypass streaming blocks. In our tests, it did not work to access US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, or ABC. Its advanced settings make it a bit trickier to use than services like Surfshark or CyberGhost VPN, which may put beginners off. However, it's still great if you're looking for the fastest VPN services, whether it's via nearby servers or a far-flung location. 

Mullvad charges a flat rate of €5 per month. This makes it a fantastic option for those who want a VPN to go on vacation, but pretty expensive compared to some of our other recommendations if you want a VPN long-term. A fast VPN that is perfect for tech users with an elevated threat model.

FASTEST VPN: Mullvad is a privacy-first service that is strong on security. Fully featured apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Perfect for gaming and torrenting. The fastest VPN provider during testing.  Has a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service. Doesn't work to access streaming sites. 

Read our full review of Mullvad.

Proton VPN was launched by the developers of ProtonMail in Switzerland in 2017. This gives the VPN outstanding provenance and means it is located in a jurisdiction with strong privacy protections. The VPN has a solid no-logging policy, AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, port forwarding, and split tunneling. This makes it a formidable option for gaining online privacy and security. It also makes it great for torrenting, no matter where you are in the world.

As you would expect from a market-leading VPN, users can connect using a choice of protocols, including OpenVPN UDP and WireGuard. We tested servers in New York, London, and Hong Kong, and found it has average global downloads of 303 Mbps. It’s a good option for playing games, streaming, and videoconferencing.

Proton VPN has servers in 71+ countries, and although it isn't the best fast VPN for streaming, its servers work to access Netflix US, Hulu, and HBO Max. This makes it a fantastic all-rounder. Plus, you can use this VPN on up to 10 devices, which makes it good for power users or families.

The only drawback is that the VPN is a bit pricey compared to our other recommendations. Even a two-year plan works out to $4.99 per month, more than double the cost of Surfshark. However, you can test it risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee to get a sense of its speeds on your own devices.

STRONG ON PRIVACY: Proton VPN has a free plan that lets you connect to three server locations. However, the free version is not as fast as its premium counterpart. Strong AES encryption, a kill switch, and stealth VPN protocol for added protection. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

CyberGhost VPN had average global speeds of 289 Mbps when we recently tested it. These impressive results are partly because of its WireGuard implementation, and partly due to its massive server network, comprising 10,000+ servers in 100+ countries. They allow it to effectively combat server congestion despite catering to hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.

This VPN makes it onto our list thanks to its no logging policy, reliable kill switch, DNS leak protection, and robust AES encryption. As a result, it is suitable for gaining online privacy whether at home, at work, or using public WiFi. It can block ads, trackers, and malware to keep you safe and improve page load times.

Bear in mind that this VPN lacks split tunneling, port forwarding, MultiHop, Tor over VPN, or any other advanced features. For this reason, it is less suitable for users who want to seed torrents, or host game servers, for example. 

With that caveat out of the way, we will note that this VPN is budget-friendly. It works to access around a dozen different Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and many other popular streaming services. This makes it a fantastic VPN for the average home user’s needs. 

Apps are available for all popular platforms, and you can use the VPN on up to seven devices simultaneously. Live chat support is available 24/7, and you can test the VPN yourself to compare its speeds to our other recommendations thanks to its 45-day money-back guarantee.

PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS: CyberGhost VPN is easy to learn and has all the features the average home VPN user needs. Provides privacy at home and on public WiFi. Works with Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and other popular services. Generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

IPVanish is a US-based VPN that runs on a proprietary network of servers. This may put some privacy advocates off the service, due to the presence of the NSA, warrants, and gag orders. Despite these concerns, the VPN has a solid no-logging policy, which means it has no historical records to give the authorities even if it were served a court order.

To improve trust in its service, IPVanish has had a full audit of its infrastructure, policies, and apps. You don't have to take the VPN’s security claims on faith, and can trust it to protect your privacy against data snoops – no matter where in the world you connect.

Servers are available in over 50 countries, which is a little short compared to providers like Surfshark (100+ countries) and ExpressVPN (94+ countries). The good news is that IPV has servers in 20+ US cities, making it a particularly good option for users who want to bypass blackout games, access state-level TV networks, or use other regional US internet services.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Those apps come with a solid kill switch, AES encryption, XOR obfuscation, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling. However, it doesn’t have tracker blocking, ad blocking, or malware filtering. 

The biggest drawback is that this VPN is not the best for streaming. It works with Netflix US, but not with any other regions. It also fails with Hulu and many other international streaming services. So we recommend testing it with yours using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

The plus side? It registered average speeds of 268 Mbps, which makes it great for torrenting and gaming. It also has a KODI app, and it allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections to share your account with friends and family.

GREAT FOR KODI USERS: IPVanish is fast, great for streaming privately on KODI, and lets you use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices. Servers in 50+ countries. Excellent for accessing US IPs. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Atlas VPN is a US-based provider that was launched in 2019. In the few years since it was launched, it has become a consumer favorite due to its excellent service and low prices. The VPN provides the WireGuard protocol by default, which allows it to provide superb speeds. In our most recent tests, the VPN registered average global download speeds of 252 Mbps. This makes it a fantastic option for file sharing, streaming HD videos, and gaming. 

The VPN has apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS, so it suits most people’s needs. Best of all, you can install the VPN on an unlimited number of devices with a single account. Everyone in your family can connect at the same time from anywhere on all of their devices.

The apps come with a kill switch, DNS leak protection, reliable encryption, split tunneling, MultiHop connections, ad blocking, and malware filtering. These features make it a decent VPN option in terms of privacy and online security. The only caveat is that the kill switch leaks your IP for a moment during reconnection, so you should pause your torrents and refrain from any sensitive online tasks until the VPN is fully connected again.

Unlike some of the fast VPNs higher up in this list, Atlas VPN is fantastic for streaming. It works with Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and many more. Live chat support is available on its website but is only available for subscribers. You can compare it to other fast VPNs using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST NEW VPN: Atlas VPN is a fast VPN that has a basic free plan. Lots of useful features and works with popular streaming platforms. Split tunneling feature lets you decide which apps use the VPN. Live chat support for subscribers only. Unlimited simultaneous connections. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Atlas VPN.

TunnelBear is a provider based in Canada that has improved its speeds a lot in recent years. The VPN used to suffer from slightly sluggish performance, but it has since improved its network infrastructure – leading to average download speeds of 220 Mbps. This makes the VPN a decent option for making video calls, streaming, and playing games online.

The biggest caveat with TunnelBear’s service is that Canada is part of the 5 Eyes surveillance agreement with the US, the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Canada also has pretty invasive legislation in terms of privacy, which (like the US and the UK) makes it a less-than-desirable location for a VPN to be based. The good news is that TunnelBear has a no-logs policy, so even if the authorities were to serve it a warrant, it would have no historical data to hand over.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, and those apps come with AES encryption, automatic WiFi protection, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation to disguise VPN traffic as normal HTTPS traffic. It prevents ISPs, local networks, and other eavesdroppers from tracking you online.

Servers are available in 47+ countries, which is a pretty small number compared to our other recommendations. Unfortunately, those servers don’t currently work to access Netflix US. It is not great for streaming. Support is also a little disappointing. It does not include live chat on its website, and responses by email sometimes take up to 72 hours.

Perhaps the biggest saving grace is that this VPN starts at just $3.33 per month, which is quite cheap. You can also use it on a limited basis for free. However, the free plan only provides 500MB of data per month, which is very limited. Despite being fast, there are better options in this top 10 that offer a better service, sometimes at a lower cost.

FAST AND HUMOROUS: TunnelBear is a cleverly marketed VPN that unfortunately lacks substance. Has a no-logging policy, solid encryption, and functional apps. But it struggles to unblock streams and has few advanced features. 

VyprVPN is a fast no logs VPN based in Switzerland. It has apps for all popular platforms that provide the WireGuard protocol for added connection speeds. In our latest tests, VyprVPN posted a global download average of 215 Mbps. VyprVPN is a solid option for data-intensive tasks such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

Being based in Switzerland puts the VPN out of reach of invasive jurisdictions like the US and the UK. Vypr provides a solid set of security features, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, AES-256 encryption, obfuscation (Chameleon mode), and split tunneling. This makes it an excellent choice for gaining online security and privacy.

The VPN has been audited by a third-party security firm, which means that the validity of its logging policies, apps, and server network have been independently verified. 

VyprVPN lacks some of the key features you get with some competitors. If you want a VPN with port forwarding for torrenting, built-in ad and tracker blocking, protection against malicious websites, MultiHop connections, or Smart DNS, then you will need to shop elsewhere.

On the plus side, VyprVPN is a decent option for users who want to stream. The VPN has servers in 64+ countries, and it works to access popular US streaming services such as Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, ESPN, MLB.tv, and Disney Plus. However, it costs $5 per month, which is about double the price of some of our other recommendations. 

SOLID PERFORMANCE: VyprVPN is a reliable and secure VPN that is well-suited to the average home user. It has plenty of useful features, is fast, and works to access popular streaming services. It has been independently audited and is based in Switzerland, a country with strong privacy protections. You can test it using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN might be down in 8th position, but it still registered an average global download speed of 196 Mbps, which is faster than most people’s home broadband and would have little effect on their internet speed.

The VPN has over 6.000 servers in 60+ countries, which gives you plenty of options for bypassing internet censorship or region locks. Those servers are consistently fast, and the VPN provides a custom WireGuard fork called NordLynx, which is specifically designed to let you stream, play games, and torrent while maintaining the best speeds possible.

NordVPN has outstanding apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick devices. It also has a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. This makes it a solid option for people seeking to gain privacy whether at home, at work, or connected to public WiFi.

Considering the relative low cost of a subscription, which starts at just $3.49 per month, this VPN is packed with impressive features. Users get access to a kill switch, DNS leak protection, AES-256 encryption, obfuscated servers, split tunneling, DoubleVPN, Tor over VPN, Smart DNS, ad blocking, and malware filtering.

Also, NordVPN's Meshnet private tunnel feature for Windows, macOS, and Linux is now free for everyone. This includes users who do not have a subscription to NordVPN.

To seal the deal, this VPN allows torrenting throughout its network and works to access almost every streaming service we have ever tested it with, including around a dozen Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, and ITV Hub. Live chat support is available around the clock, and you can test the VPN yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST ALL-AROUND FAST VPN: NordVPN is fast, reliable, excellent value for money, and offers the best all-around service for average home users. Well worth trialing using its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full NordVPN review.

Surfshark is a great fully futured VPN that is fast but also low cost. The VPN was launched in 2018, and modeled its service on various market-leading competitors, adopting many of their best features.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. It can also be installed manually on VPN-compatible routers, and it has a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. The VPN apps can be installed and used on an unlimited number of devices, which means you can easily share your account with friends and family.

In terms of features, Surfshark is impressive. It comes with DNS leak protection, a choice of protocols (including OpenVPN and WireGuard), a watertight kill switch, AES encryption, obfuscation, malware filtering, ad blocking, split tunneling, and a unique No-Borders mode to help you circumvent VPN blocks in countries like the UAE and China.

Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and has a solid no-logging policy. It underwent a full audit of its policies and infrastructure and runs on a network of diskless servers for added security. This allows the VPN to instantly erase any server in an emergency.

The VPN is perfect for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and making video calls thanks to its speedy server network. You can connect to servers in 100+ countries, and it registered average global download speeds of 188 Mbps, which is blisteringly fast for most home users.

Live chat support is available 24/7 to help you set up or use the VPN, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee to let you test the service. It works with all the popular streaming services we tested it with, including around 15 different Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, iPlayer, and many more.

BEST CHEAP FAST VPN: Surfshark represents incredible value for money. Fantastic speeds for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It can be used on all your devices simultaneously. Has strong security features and a no-logs policy. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee to compare the service to other fast VPNs. Works with popular streaming services.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is a veteran VPN that offers a well-rounded service. The VPN has over 3,500 servers in 105+ countries, and it provides exceptional speeds thanks to its Lightway protocol. In our recent tests, its average global download speed averaged 176 Mbps, which makes it more than fast enough to cope with the most data-intensive games, HD streaming, and video conferencing.

ExpressVPN has reliable apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It makes its own router firmware, and has one of the best VPN browser extensions available on the market (it controls the full VPN client rather than simply providing a proxy connection). 

The apps also come with a kill switch, OpenVPN with native obfuscation, and DNS leak protection. Every plan bundles a Smart DNS service called MediaStreamer that helps you unblock US streams on consoles and other devices that won't let you install a VPN directly. It also provides tracker and malware blocking, implements a trustworthy no-logging policy, and has diskless servers for added security.

Torrenting is allowed throughout its network, and the VPN is great at circumventing blocks, working to access around 20 Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, iPlayer, and many more major streaming platforms. The only real drawback is that this VPN is a little pricey when compared to our other recommendations. However, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee and live chat support, which means you can take it for a test run and ask any questions that may arise during your trial period.

STRONG ON PRIVACY: ExpressVPN is easy to use and has all the features you need to stay secure online, whether at home or on public WiFi. Excellent speeds for gaming and streaming. Allows torrenting, but not port forwarding. Works with Netflix. Has 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Methodology: How we recommend fast VPNs

It's easy for someone to say a particular VPN is the best or the fastest. In fact, many VPN providers make these claims in order to drive sales, which is why it can be hard to find a reliable VPN. We go the extra mile to verify VPN providers’ claims.

We use a strict method and specific criteria to recommend VPNs that are not only fast but also meet our minimum standards for digital privacy, usability, and performance. Here are a few of our guiding principles:

• Robust privacy features: At BleepingComputer we only recommend VPNs that are reliable and trustworthy. We prioritize the privacy of our readers and rigorously test VPNs for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. And to check they have a strict no-logs policy, reliable encryption, and other important privacy and security features, including a kill switch. To make it onto our list, VPNs must be fast but also meet our minimum standards for data security.
• Fast servers and protocols: VPNs must provide fast servers and speedy VPN protocols suitable for streaming, gaming, torrenting, video conferencing, and other data-intensive tasks. The difference in speed will be helpful for tasks like online gaming, anonymous browsing, and more.
• Reliable customer support: We reach out to each VPN’s customer service via both email and live chat to assess their knowledge and responsiveness. This helps us ascertain whether the VPN is capable of catering to the needs of beginners and seasoned users alike.
• A global server network: We seek out VPNs that have a vast, speedy global server network that works to evade censorship, bypass region locks, and provide you with limitless online freedom. 
• Advanced security features: We analyze each VPN service to find providers that offer superb value for money and useful features like Tor over VPN, MultiHop connections, obfuscation, tracker and ad blocking, protection against malicious websites, split tunneling, and port forwarding.

Below, we have provided additional information about how we test each VPN’s speed. 

How we test VPN speeds

We test VPNs using a 5 Gbit test server located in the US. The speed tests are carried out using the stand-alone Ookla Speedtest app. Each VPN location is tested using a test server located close to the VPN server.

We test each VPN provider three times, at three-hour intervals, using servers in Hong Kong, London, and New York. The results from all nine tests are used to arrive at the global averages in this article. This allows us to show you the VPN’s top speed. 

If you want to know more about how each VPN provider performs under normal home conditions, you can get additional information in our stand-alone VPN reviews. 

• Mullvad
• ProtonVPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• IPVanish
• AtlasVPN
• TunnelBear
• VyprVPN
• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN

Remember: a VPN can’t speed up your internet. Instead, the fastest VPNs provide you with plenty of overhead to ensure that using the VPN does not unnecessarily slow down your internet. You'll be able to check performance for yourself with a variety of online speed testing tools, to see if a provider suits your online activities. 

Fast VPNs that didn't make it onto our list

Here are further VPNs offering the fastest speeds which weren't able to make it onto our list:

1. Zenmate: In our recent tests, Zenmate had global download averages of 335 Mbps. This makes it the second-fastest VPN after Mullvad. Unfortunately, however, the privacy policy has a few gray areas, which makes it hard to know what data the VPN collects from its users. It is also worth noting that Zenmate has been acquired by CyberGhost VPN. Since May 2023, all users must migrate over to CyberGhost VPN’s apps. For these reasons, we have excluded it from our list.
2. Bitdefender VPN: We recently tested Bitdefender, and it had speeds of 293 Mbps, which is very fast. However, the VPN runs on Hotspot Shield’s server network and uses the company’s proprietary tunneling protocol Hydra. This is a closed-source protocol, which means we can't verify its security. In addition, there are some gray areas surrounding Hotspot Shield’s privacy policy, which makes using its infrastructure seem risky.
3. HideMyAss: This VPN had a global download average speed of 238 Mbps. However, it is based in the UK. Under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, UK-based internet providers must keep records of their customers' internet activity for up to 12 months, including browsing history and IP addresses. HMA claims to keep no logs, but its obligations under UK law gives us cause for concern.

Fastest VPNs: FAQs

Can a fast VPN speed up my internet?

No. A VPN is a privacy service that encrypts your data and routes your traffic to a remote server on the way to its final destination. This process inevitably incurs some loss of speed. A VPN does not replace your internet service provider.

Many VPNs have slow servers, badly implemented apps, and sluggish VPN protocols. They often also lack servers leading to server congestion at peak times. This makes those VPNs useless for data-intensive tasks like streaming and gaming. 

The fastest VPNs have Tier-1 server networks, plenty of servers to meet the demand of their users, and fast protocols like OpenVPN UDP and WireGuard. This allows those VPNs to route your internet without affecting your speeds. In our experience, a fast VPN will only slow down your internet by around 10 percent (and sometimes less).

The important thing to remember is that even the fastest VPNs will not speed up your internet. The speed of your internet is determined by your internet service provider. Thus, even a fast VPN will slow down your internet slightly. This is because it must encrypt your data and route it to a remote location, resulting in some latency.

Can a VPN speed up my internet if I am being throttled?

Although a fast VPN will usually slow down your internet slightly, there is one specific circumstance in which a VPN may be able to help. Some ISPs engage in bandwidth throttling to prevent network congestion, particularly during peak times. If this happens, you will notice your internet slow down when doing specific tasks, like streaming or torrenting, or when using a specific service, like Netflix.

If you have reason to believe that your ISP is engaging in bandwidth throttling, it is worth testing a fast VPN to see if it helps. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and prevents your ISP from knowing what you're doing. This stops the VPN from automatically throttling you when you use Netflix, YouTube, Fortnite, or other data-thirsty services.

If your ISP is actually throttling you, the VPN connection may well be able to solve the problem and give you unrestricted use of the speeds you pay for. 

Why do I need a fast VPN?

Most VPNs have slow servers that make it impossible to watch HD videos, make video calls, download torrents, or play games. If you intend to do any of these tasks, we strongly recommend getting a fast VPN. 

Unfortunately, the vast majority of VPNs are slow, which means you have to pick carefully. In this guide, we have carefully tested a wide selection of market-leading VPN services to find the fastest VPNs available. 

All of our recommendations offer great speeds to ensure you can make the most of your internet connection, no matter where you happen to connect.

Can I get a fast free VPN?

No. In our experience, free VPNs have very few servers that are highly subscribed with users all over the world. This makes those free VPNs extremely slow. To make things even worse, free VPNs usually have cheap servers that have very little bandwidth. This makes those free VPNs useless for watching videos and other data-intensive tasks. 

Free VPNs only have a few server locations. You may not be able to connect to a VPN server where you need to for optimal speed.

Finally, we recommend staying away from the vast majority of free VPNs for privacy and security reasons. Free VPNs suffer from leaks, have app and server vulnerabilities, lack encryption, and even use tracking libraries and spyware in their apps. Many free VPNs are a huge risk to the health of your devices and your data privacy. 

Will a fast VPN work with Netflix?

Although it is true that you need a fast VPN to watch Netflix, not all fast VPNs will work to access it. You must check the summary for each VPN we have recommended to find out whether it has reliable servers for streaming Netflix and other services.

The good news is that we have recommended many fast VPNs that work with Netflix. Find a VPN provider in your price range that works to watch Netflix on vacation, at work, in school, or anywhere else that it is blocked.

Which VPN protocol should I use to get the best speeds?

Nowadays, the fastest VPNs usually provide the Wireguard protocol. This is a lightweight protocol that provides fantastic speeds for streaming and playing games. Alternatively, we recommend you use either OpenVPN UDP or IKEv2, two highly secure protocols that are also fast. 

The nice thing about OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard is that in addition to being fast, they also provide strong encryption for your data. This ensures that nobody can track you online no matter which websites you use or where you connect to the internet.

Which VPN server should I use to get the best speeds?

Generally speaking, a VPN server that is located physically closer to you will give better speeds. You should use a server either in your own country or in a country that is nearby. If you require an IP address in a specific location, consider whether your VPN provider has multiple servers in that county, and if it does, connect to a server that is closer to you.

Is there a way to make my VPN faster?

If you have already got a VPN subscription and it is causing your internet to be very slow, the unfortunate reality is that you might need to cancel your subscription and switch to a different provider.

The vast majority of VPNs save money by renting cheap servers for their network. These servers are not equipped with the capacity needed for users to engage in data-intensive tasks, such as streaming in HD, torrenting, gaming, and videoconferencing. 

In fact, during our tests, we discovered that nearly 80% of VPNs slow down your internet by 30% or more. Some VPNS even slow down your internet up to 90%, leaving you with a connection that is barely even able to download web pages quickly, nevermind letting you play games or watch YouTube videos.

If you have tested your speed without a VPN and with your VPN and it is reducing your speed by more than 10%, then you should definitely consider switching providers. The VPNs we have recommended in this guide have lightning-fast servers that can keep your internet running at the same speed as usual.

Our top three providers were found to drop home broadband speeds by less than 3%, which is barely even noticeable in practice! That is what we call a fast VPN! With all of that said, it is worth noting that there are a few things you can try to make your VPN faster. You can try these methods with any VPN, to see whether it improves your performance:

1. Connect to a VPN server that is closer to you physically.
2. Try connecting to a VPN server closer to the service you are using (such as near to the game server you want to play).
3. Change VPN protocol to OpenVPN UDP, WireGuard, IKEv2, or a proprietary protocol designed for faster speeds (if your chosen VPN has one).
4. Try closing some of the tabs in your browser and any programs you aren't using. If your computer is a bit slow, closing tabs and programs could take the strain off your system's resources, reducing latency and allowing your VPN to perform better.