Fastest VPN Review – Top 5 VPNs of 2024
Editor's Pick December 2024
VPNs protect your security. They protect your anonymity. They help you download privately online. But is every VPN the same? Should you get a run of the mill “free VPN online” or a paid VPN service that won’t compromise speed or security? Here’s our review of the fastest VPNs in 2024.
When most people look for a VPN, their main concern is privacy. Hide your identity, protect your data, and do it with the most secure VPN around. End of story… or is it? An important consideration that often gets overlooked in the quest for anonymity is VPN speed. The nature of encrypting and rerouting traffic through different VPN servers can make a VPN slower than your average local service provider. Streaming movies suddenly take forever to load, and you can forget about online gaming and file sharing because of this VPN latency.
But, you’re not without options, because some VPNs are incredibly fast. Below is a list of the fastest VPNs, tested and reviewed by us.
Running short on time? Here’s the tl;dr of the best and fastest VPNs currently on the market:
- NordVPN – Best for Speed – Ironically, NordVPN was once considered slow; but this reputation is firmly in the past. Continuous updating of their server network now allows for more connections than any other, and faster speeds to boot.
- Surfshark – Anti-adware, cutting-edge encryption and tunneling, plus highly responsive apps.
- ExpressVPN – One of the fastest networks, with efficient cryptography and next-gen tunneling.
- IPVanish – An oldie but goodie, still fast as ever for buffer-free streams and fast downloads.
- VyprVPN – This provider owns and operates their own dedicated server network, keeping traffic loads low and performance high.
Extra privacy and security with a VPN doesn’t have to come at the expense of speed. A number of the best high quality, reliable VPN services understand the importance of a solid internet connection and have taken extra steps to ensure downloads remain fast without giving up anonymity or privacy.
How We Test VPN Speeds
When looking for the fastest VPN providers and looking at the comparisons, download and upload speeds were naturally at the top of our VPN review list. We found that some VPN services boast fast downloads but don’t have the data to back it up, third party or otherwise. For our fastest VPN review, we chose the best available VPNs that have been thoroughly tested and verified and who are upfront with their speed policies, traffic restrictions, and connection information.
It’s important to note that VPN latency and speeds will vary greatly depending on your location as well as the location of the VPN’s server you’re connected to. To remedy this, a good VPN will offer unlimited and uncapped bandwidth, allow multiple devices to quickly connect at once, and will also let you switch servers to find a faster connection without penalty, all without sacrificing the same data protection features offered by other VPN providers.
- Up and Down Speed Test – This is where raw numbers carry a lot of weight. We looked at reported download and upload speeds for each VPN provider along with avg pings and latency. We found that the figures vary depending on location and who was running the test, but several VPN services stood head and shoulders above the rest.
- Server availability – Although it can be useful to route your traffic through a VPN server located on the other side of the globe, the added distance can create noticeable lag and latency. Some VPN providers offer more server location options than others, giving you more choices when it comes to finding a fast, closer connection.
- Simultaneous Connections – Almost all VPN providers limit the number of devices that can quickly connect to the service at one time. This can quickly cause speed and latency problems if you have downloads running on a PC while trying to surf on your tablet or play games on a console.
- Traffic limitations – Some VPNs block certain types of traffic, including P2P file sharing and BitTorrent. If you want to stream movies or download torrent files, you need to make sure the VPN will allow it, otherwise, those blazing fast speeds will go to waste.
- Bandwidth limitations – Apart from connection limitations and file type restrictions, a few VPNs insist on throttling bandwidth after a certain transfer amount has been met. We made sure the best VPNs below don’t put a cap on the amount or speed of the data you use.
- Logging policy – Privacy is still top priority in choosing a VPN. Each VPN below follows a strict zero-logging policy and encrypts all traffic that passes through its servers, keeping your information safe, free from leaks, and anonymous.
Comparison Of The Fastest VPNs For Better Speed
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
What’s the fastest VPN for the best price? Our VPN reviews
1. NordVPN
NordVPN excels in speed, with over 5,000 servers in 60+ countries, covering every continent except Antarctica. This extensive network ensures you can always find a nearby server for optimal speed. NordVPN’s speed is enhanced by servers tailored for specific activities. Ultrafast TV servers are designed for streaming, providing high speeds worldwide. With servers optimized for P2P and torrenting, all with unlimited bandwidth, it’s no surprise this made our list of the fastest VPNs.
Read our full NordVPN review.
- Optimized servers for unblocking Netflix
- Mind-boggling number of servers
- No IP/DNS leaks found
- Extra-secure Double VPN for data encryption
- Money back guarantee policy
- Not much
- Can’t specify City or Province in App
2. Surfshark
Surfshark has a few things going for it that enable it to be one of the fastest VPNs on the market. With servers in 100 countries, you’re bound to find one close to you no matter where you live (closer means faster!). There’s also CleanWeb, which is a feature built-in to Surfshark that intercepts ads, popups, and malware links before they have a chance to load, saving you time and mobile data. And with a modern, RAM-only network, there’s always a highly responsive VPN connection nearby. Finally, Surfshark uses protocols like WireGuard to optimize performance and speed.
- Unblock 15 international Netflix libraries, including the US and Japan
- Every server is a speciality server
- Clean, dead-simple app interface makes constant security a no-brainer
- Absolutely no logging of connection data, IP addresses, bandwidth used, or traffic
- Get help any time of day via email, phone, or live chat
- Overall, not much to complain about
- Young VPN still has plenty of room to grow in terms of advanced functionality
3. ExpressVPN
The aptly named ExpressVPN takes its network speed seriously and is one of the quickest VPNs available. The service doesn’t just promise fast downloads, it builds the tools you need to test server lag right into the software. While running the Windows, Mac, and Android versions of the ExpressVPN app, simply access “speed test” from the menu to run a quick check on the current server’s latency, download speed, and overall speed index. Your VPN connection will vary depending on your location and which server you’re trying to access, but with 3,000+ VPN servers in 94 countries, you won’t be spoiled for choice.
We like how fast ExpressVPN is, which is why we often recommend it as an affordable way to watch geo-restricted content like Netflix, Hulu or BBC iPlayer. You can stream all day and never worry about buffering. Rounding out ExpressVPN’s offers are unlimited speed, unlimited bandwidth, and no restrictions on what types of files you stream or download. In addition to being one of the fastest VPN services, it also hits all the right marks as far as privacy and anonymity are concerned.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
- SPECIAL OFFER: 3 months free (49% off – link below)
- Fastest servers we have tested
- Torrenting/P2P allowed
- Keeps no logs of personal data
- Great support (24/7 chat)
- Priced slightly higher
4. IPVanish
IPVanish offers a massive variety of servers: 1,900 in 65+ countries. Our fastest VPN review found that speeds can vary greatly depending on your location and the server’s origin, often more so than some of the other providers on the list, but IPVanish’s US-based servers show consistently high speeds that may be the fastest on the market. Further sweetening the deal, IPVanish doesn’t monitor or throttle bandwidth, allows unlimited server switches, and doesn’t restrict P2P or torrent access (though these downloads may be noticeably slower).
Read our full IPVanish review.
5. VyprVPN
VyprVPN bills itself as the network made for speed and is a popular choice with gamers. The company owns all of its VPN servers, writes code optimized for fast connections, and uses hardware specifically designed to handle high speed traffic, even under a full load. You won’t encounter any bandwidth or speed cap restrictions, either, and VyperVPN allows unlimited server switching so you can find the VPN connection that’s fastest for you. With 700 server locations in 70 countries, we’ve found that this fast VPN service provides plenty of options at your disposal.
Read our full VyprVPN review.
Best and Fastest VPNs – How to Speed Up Your VPN While Keeping Your Privacy and Security
If you’ve chosen a reliable, high-speed VPN provider but are still having trouble with slow speeds, don’t worry, there’s hope! More often than not sluggish internet is a result of too much traffic already passing through a single server. It may be the middle of the night where you’re sitting and waiting for a download to finish, but if your VPN server is across the world in a different time zone, it could be rush hour. If waiting for the VPN congestion to dissipate doesn’t correct the problem, try the speed tips below.
1. Change servers – The physical distance between you and the server you’re connected to has a profound impact on VPN speed. If you don’t need to connect to a certain country’s VPN servers, try switching to a closer location to see if the connection issue resolves.
2. Switch devices – Some internet connected devices just aren’t built for speed. If the internet feels sluggish on your phone, try connecting from a laptop, desktop PC, or tablet to see if the problem persists.
3. Use a wired connection – Wi-Fi can be unreliable when it comes to speed, especially if you live in an area where lots of other wireless networks are in close proximity. Simply switching to a hard network cable connection can fix a number of speed issues.
4. Disable local security software – Firewalls and antivirus software can cause serious lag issues with internet connections as they scan incoming packets of data. Disable them temporarily to see if that clears up the speed issue with the VPN.
5. Change ports or protocols – VPN software connects using a specific port number and protocol. Some local networks restrict the speed of these ports which will cripple your connection no matter how fast the service provider delivers. Check your VPN software’s options to switch ports for an instant boost in speed.
6. Reboot – When all else fails, close your VPN software and restart your device back up.
DID YOU KNOW? You can unblock Netflix in school, here’s how
Beware of Fake Speed Boosters
There are a number of browser extensions and third-party apps that claim faster VPN connections on any device. Some come with promises of free VPN service, while others tout a mysterious ability to speed up your connection no matter which VPN service or provider you use. The rule for virtual private networks is that if it’s free and costs zero money, you don’t want it. Deals that guarantee services and results as good as this should be read with suspicion. This holds true for third-party apps as well. Unless the software was made by your VPN service, it won’t speed up your connection, won’t be useful, and is simply not worth downloading.
Why Do VPNs Tend to Be Slow and Have Latency Problems?
VPNs tend to be slow and have latency problems because they route your internet traffic through additional servers, adding extra distance and steps to the data’s journey. This process involves encrypting and decrypting data, which can slow down the connection. The distance to the VPN server, load on the physical server, and the strength of the encryption used all contribute to increased latency and reduced speed.
ALSO READ: How to Get a US IP address from anywhere in the world
FAQ
Can VPN increase internet speed?
Not usually. In fact, a VPN often makes the internet slower because all your data has to go through an extra server (sometimes two). However, in rare cases, if your internet service provider is slowing down certain websites, a VPN might help by hiding your activity from the ISP.
Does a VPN affect internet speed?
Yes. Since your data has to travel through an additional server and get encrypted, it can slow down your connection. The distance to the VPN server and the server’s load also influence how much your internet speed is affected on a VPN.
What is the fastest free VPN?
Some of the better free high-speed VPNs, are ProtonVPN, Windscribe, and Hotspot Shield. They offer decent speeds for free users, but their performance can vary based on server load and location. Keep in mind that free VPNs often have limitations compared to paid ones.
WORTH READING: How to fake your IP location and pretend you’re in another country
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
IPVanish does not offer the quoted rate/discount above
Totally agree with this. I’ve used multiple VPN services and ExpressVPN was always the fastest.