VPN Download Speed Test
Download throughput is what matters for streaming, large files, and game installs. We compared every VPN against the same 487 Mbps reference baseline. Here are the results.
Download Speed Results
Download Throughput - All Providers
Protocol: WireGuard | Baseline: 487 Mbps | Higher = better
Real-World Download Times
To make the numbers concrete, here's roughly how long each VPN would take to download a 25 GB file (about the size of a large game) at its measured throughput:
| Rank | Provider | Download | Retention | 25 GB download (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | No VPN (baseline) | 487 Mbps | 100% | ~7 min |
| #1 | NordVPN | 433 Mbps | 89% | ~8 min |
| #2 | ExpressVPN | 414 Mbps | 85% | ~8 min |
| #3 | Mullvad | 409 Mbps | 84% | ~8 min |
| #4 | Surfshark | 404 Mbps | 83% | ~8 min |
| #5 | Mozilla VPN | 404 Mbps | 83% | ~8 min |
| #6 | Hotspot Shield | 399 Mbps | 82% | ~8 min |
| #7 | ProtonVPN | 399 Mbps | 82% | ~8 min |
| #8 | Private Internet Access | 394 Mbps | 81% | ~8 min |
| #9 | IPVanish | 390 Mbps | 80% | ~9 min |
| #10 | IVPN | 388 Mbps | 80% | ~9 min |
| #11 | Windscribe | 385 Mbps | 79% | ~9 min |
| #12 | CyberGhost | 380 Mbps | 78% | ~9 min |
| #13 | StrongVPN | 380 Mbps | 78% | ~9 min |
| #14 | PureVPN | 375 Mbps | 77% | ~9 min |
| #15 | hide.me | 375 Mbps | 77% | ~9 min |
| #16 | PrivadoVPN | 370 Mbps | 76% | ~9 min |
| #17 | VyprVPN | 365 Mbps | 75% | ~9 min |
| #18 | FastestVPN | 360 Mbps | 74% | ~9 min |
| #19 | TunnelBear | 360 Mbps | 74% | ~9 min |
| #20 | ZoogVPN | 350 Mbps | 72% | ~10 min |
Estimates assume sustained throughput at the measured rate. Real transfers vary with server load, distance, and the source's own speed.
Fastest Downloads: NordVPN
NordVPN led at 433 Mbps - 89% of our baseline - thanks to the NordLynx protocol. On a fast line the difference between providers is measured in a few minutes over a large download; on a slower connection, that gap matters more. For the fastest sustained downloads, NordVPN is our pick.
Risk-free - 30-day money-back guarantee