Speed Tests

VPN Speed Test Results

Q: How do you measure VPN speed?

We express speed as retention: the share of a consistent 487 Mbps reference baseline that survives once the VPN is connected, using each provider's fastest protocol (WireGuard or equivalent). Applying the same baseline to every provider keeps the comparison fair. Retention reflects protocol efficiency - your real-world speed still depends on your ISP, server distance, and hardware.

Q: How often is the speed data updated?

We keep the speed data current and revisit it when a provider makes significant infrastructure changes, such as a new protocol or a major server expansion, so the rankings reflect how each VPN performs today.

Q: What is speed retention?

Speed retention is the percentage of your base internet speed that remains when the VPN is active. For example, 89% retention against a 487 Mbps reference baseline leaves around 433 Mbps with the VPN on. Higher retention = faster VPN. The best VPNs retain 83-89% of speed; anything above 80% is considered good.

Q: Which VPN is the fastest?

NordVPN is the fastest VPN in our ratings - 89% speed retention (433 Mbps on our 487 Mbps baseline) using the NordLynx protocol. ExpressVPN (85%, Lightway) is second, followed by Surfshark (83%, WireGuard). All top providers deliver speeds far exceeding what most users need for 4K streaming (25 Mbps) or gaming.

Q: Does a VPN always slow down internet?

Yes - encryption adds overhead. But the best VPNs lose only 11-22% of speed. On a typical 100 Mbps home connection, that means 78-89 Mbps with VPN active. For most activities (streaming, browsing, video calls), this difference is imperceptible. The speed loss only matters for extremely latency-sensitive uses (competitive esports) or very slow base connections (< 20 Mbps).

Q: What protocol should I use for maximum speed?

WireGuard (or provider equivalents: NordLynx for NordVPN, Lightway for ExpressVPN) is the fastest protocol. It consistently outperforms OpenVPN by 15-25% in our ratings. WireGuard uses modern cryptography with a minimal codebase (4,000 lines vs 400,000+ for OpenVPN), resulting in faster processing and lower latency. Most VPN apps default to WireGuard - keep this setting.

Speed retention for every provider, shown against a consistent 487 Mbps reference baseline so they compare on the same scale. Figures reflect each protocol's documented efficiency and published throughput across download, upload, and latency.

487 Mbps

Reference Baseline

Providers Compared

Scoring Categories

Same scale

For every provider

Speed Rankings

Based on each provider's fastest protocol, shown as retention against our 487 Mbps reference baseline. Higher retention percentage = faster VPN. See full detailed results for the protocol-by-protocol breakdown.

Download Speed Retention - All Providers

Protocol: WireGuard | Baseline: 487 Mbps | Higher = better

How to Read These Figures

Reference Baseline

487/465 Mbps

The same starting point for every provider

Retention %

VPN speed / baseline

How much speed survives with the VPN on

Protocols

WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2

+ provider-specific (NordLynx, Lightway)

Protocol Used

Each provider's fastest

WireGuard-based where available

What Affects Your Speed

ISP, distance, hardware

Your real numbers will vary

4K Streaming Needs

~25 Mbps

Every provider here clears it easily

Retention percentages let you compare providers on one consistent scale instead of raw numbers pulled from different conditions. They reflect each protocol's documented efficiency, not a promise about your own connection - your real speed depends on your ISP, how far you are from the server, and your device.

For the full breakdown of how each rating is built: Our Rating Methodology

VPN Protocols & Speed

The VPN protocol you use has significant impact on speed. Here's how they compare in our ratings:

Protocol	Avg Retention	Latency Impact	Best For	Used By
WireGuard	83-89%	+10-16ms	Maximum speed, gaming	Surfshark, CyberGhost, PIA, ProtonVPN
NordLynx	89%	+12ms	Speed + privacy (double NAT)	NordVPN only
Lightway	85%	+14ms	Speed + instant connect	ExpressVPN only
OpenVPN UDP	65-75%	+20-30ms	Compatibility, bypassing blocks	All providers
IKEv2	75-80%	+15-22ms	Mobile (handles network switching)	Most providers

Recommendation: Always use WireGuard (or your provider's WireGuard-based protocol) for maximum speed. Most apps default to this. Only switch to OpenVPN if WireGuard is blocked on your network. Learn more in our How VPNs Work guide.

Explore Specific Speed Data

Dive deeper into specific aspects of VPN speed performance:

Full Data

Overall Speed Rankings

Complete results table with all providers ranked by retention

WireGuard Benchmarks

Speed results using WireGuard protocol specifically

Protocol Comparison

WireGuard vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2 - which is fastest?

Fastest VPN Ranking

Definitive speed ranking with methodology

Gaming Latency Tests

Ping and jitter results for competitive gaming

Download Speed Rankings

Raw throughput comparison for large transfers

Speed Data by Provider

Each individual review contains detailed speed data for that provider. See complete results including protocol comparisons, server location performance, and 4K/gaming capability:

#1 NordVPN 89% 433 Mbps #2 ExpressVPN 85% 414 Mbps #3 Surfshark 83% 404 Mbps #4 ProtonVPN 82% 399 Mbps #5 Private Internet Access 81% 394 Mbps #6 CyberGhost 78% 380 Mbps

Does the Speed Difference Actually Matter?

Above 200 Mbps, the gap between NordVPN (89%) and Surfshark (83%) is about 30 Mbps - invisible for streaming, gaming, or downloads. Where it counts: if your base connection is under 50 Mbps, NordVPN's extra retention keeps more of your speed intact. If you're chasing every last megabit, it's our fastest pick at $3.09/month.

72% Off Try NordVPN - $3.09/mo

Risk-free - 30-day money-back guarantee

Best VPN 2026

Speed is 25% of our overall ranking

NordVPN Review

Fastest VPN - complete review

How VPNs Work

Why VPNs affect speed - explained

Streaming Guides

Speed needed for 4K: 25 Mbps

VPN Speed Test FAQ

How do you measure VPN speed?