Privacy and speed are the most important things when looking for a VPN service. Speed is also important for a VPN. Privacy and anonymity are essential. Faster speeds can mean better streaming, faster file downloading, faster website load times and overall a better experience when using a VPN.
Download and upload speeds are the most important factors to consider when choosing the fastest VPN. Download speeds are likely to be the main concern as it is crucial that data from remote servers is transferred as quickly as possible when using the internet. Upload speeds are also important for some users. Gamers, for example need low server speeds to register their actions quickly.
We evaluate both upload and download speeds by focusing on the percentage that is maintained (or exceeds) the base speed. The percentage of the base speed that is maintained most accurately captures the real experience of using a VPN. This is due to the fact that numbers can vary quite a lot from ISPs to ISPs, devices to devices, and connection types to connection types.
Below are our top picks for fastest VPNs, along with our recommendations for the best upload speeds and VPNs that keep your identity private while still keeping you secure. (For more VPN options, see our comprehensive guide. roundup of the best VPNsIn all categories.
Last updated 12/1/2022Check out our latest review Windscribe Pro VPN. It barely missed the top of this list of fastest VPNs but it still has tons of great features. The affordable price makes it an excellent value VPN.
1. Hotspot Shield – Fastest VPN, period
Pros
- Very fast
- Large selection of countries and many servers
Cons
- Domain visits are tracked, but not tied to you
- Expensive
No surprise to readers of our VPN reviews, this is the first choice. The fastest VPN we’ve tested is HotSpot Shield and it’s not even close. HSS retains 67 percent of its base speed, which is a remarkable feat. This is a remarkable score. HSS has its issues, as we haven’t been fans of the company’s privacy policy, though it’s slowly getting better. HSS may just need the analytics it collects in order to operate at the speeds it does. We can’t really say. Regardless, if you’re interested in pure download speeds and nothing else matters then HSS is the one you want.
Please read our complete guide
Review Hotspot Shield
2. ProtonVPN – Second-fastest overall, fastest upload speeds
Pros
- Amazing speeds
- Multi-hop feature is easy to use
- Supports TOR via VPN connections
ProtonVPN came in second at around 57 per cent of the base download speed. ProtonVPN can be more expensive than other services, but its privacy policy is better that HSS in terms how much data is collected. It’s not as fast as HSS, but ProtonVPN is about as close as you can get with an improved privacy policy.
Upload speeds are a completely different story. In that competition, HSS doesn’t even crack the top 20. Proton however is the clear leader, holding more than 80 per cent of the base upload speed. ProtonVPN is the best choice if you are looking for privacy and fast upload and download speeds. ProtonVPN offers additional features, including SecureCore, a multihop VPN that supports Netflix and other streaming services, as well as TOR-friendly routers.
Other honorable mentions are for upload speeds Ivacy, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access. If upload speeds are more important that downloads, any of the VPNs above will work. Express, Nord and Ivacy are excellent options for extra features beyond upload and downloading speeds. These services offer similar features to ProtonVPN, such as Netflix compatibility and multi-hop VPNs.
Please read our full article
Review ProtonVPN
3. Mullvad – The most private speed demon
Pros
- Good speeds
- VPN services offer a higher level anonymity than the majority.
- Windows desktop is easy-to-use
Cons
- Netflix is not guaranteed to work
- It lacks the extra services offered by VPNs
- Your account is not protected by a password
If you don’t want to compromise on privacy and anonymity, while still getting solid speeds, then Mullvad is the best choice. This simple VPN allows connections to 38 countries and costs only 5 Euros per monthly (around $5.70 at the time of writing). We’ve often referred to Mullvad as the “Swiss bank account” version of VPNs, because Mullvad actively resists obtaining any of your personal information.
Instead of signing up for an account with the standard email and password, Mullvad assigns you a random account number and that’s it. There are no anniversary passwords or birth dates to share. One number and that’s it. We found that Mullvad was 6th in download speed, but it was only 6th in upload speeds. Its upload speeds were slightly slower, at just under 60% of the base speed.
After Mullvad, we have to turn back again to ProtonVPN since it’s so fast, and the privacy promises are good, though you won’t get the same amount of anonymity as you do with Mullvad, as email and password combos are the norm.
Please read our complete guide
Review Mullvad
4. ExpressVPN – The bronze medalist
Pros
- Consistently high speeds
- Easy-to-use desktop program
- Broad device support
Cons
- Logs data transfer amounts
- More expensive than other competitors
The current top-rated VPN overall is a great choice for speed. It is ranked third in our download speed tests and retained more than 53 percent of our base speed. It ranks among the top 20 for uploads, though the differences in speeds are much smaller than those for downloads. ExpressVPN is a VPN that costs $100 per annum. However, for that price, you get solid speeds and split tunneling. There is also a promise that it will work with Netflix. It is easy to use, and you can choose from a variety of countries.
Please read our complete guide
Review ExpressVPN
5. NordVPN – Honorable mention
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Both novices and power users will find enough features to be satisfied
- No-logs policy
- Diskless server
Nord regularly appears at the top of many VPN rankings, and it’s no surprise to see it here. NordVPN retained 49% of the base speed during our tests. This is a good result. It’s also inside the top 10 for upload speeds. NordVPN is the best VPN, surpassing ProtonVPN. It supports multihop connections, TOR Over VPN, ad- and tracker block at the server level, as well as a variety other options.
Please read our full article
Review NordVPN
How we tested
It’s very easy to test. We test the speeds in five different countries, each location three times. These countries are usually the U.S.A, Australia, Germany, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. However, this can change depending on which locations the VPN offers and any testing requirements.
To calculate a daily average speed, we average the daily speeds. To account for variations, we test three days at different times during the day. The average of all three days is then used to calculate an overall average. The overall average is then expressed in percentage of the base speed. This gives a rough idea of how fast a VPN retains speed versus hard numbers. These numbers can vary depending on internet service providers, routers and other equipment, time, day, etc.
How to choose a VPN
VPNs are a complex subject. First of all, many security experts often don’t have a very high opinion of VPNs. That’s due in part to shenanigans from early VPN companies, as well as the fact that the entire use of a VPN is based on trust. You have no way of knowing for sure if your service is doing what it says it’s doing, hence the need for trust. VPN companies are doing a lot to improve trust by using third-party audits and defending their privacy promises in court.
Company leadership
How can you trust a VPN? There are a few things you can do. First, find out who is behind the company. It’s easier to trust a company if you know where they are located and who is running the show. Next, consider VPNs that aren’t in exotic locations half a world away. You can raise objections about the so-called “Fourteen Eyes” all you want, but if you’re using a VPN to access Gmail, Facebook, and Twitter, then far more sensitive information than your browsing history could potentially be exposed under force of law.
Logging policy
Once you’re comfortable with the company providing your service, it’s time to see what kind of information they’re logging from your activity, if any. Some VPNs promise not to log any data, while others collect a lot of data to improve their networks. Ideally, you want a VPN that logs as little data as possible, especially when it comes to which websites you’re visiting–though if speed is your primary concern, you may be able to forgive HotSpot Shield for collecting the TLDs you visit on an anonymized basis.
Server count
Next, consider how many servers a VPN offers. You will experience less congestion and slower speeds if there are more servers. It is also easier to switch servers within the same country if you need to view Netflix or for other reasons.
Free vs. Paid
You should be a paying customer of a VPN whenever possible. Free and paid VPNs can have differing privacy policies, and free VPNs often have paltry data limits that aren’t helpful. Many VPN services offer monthly commitments for as low as $5 to $10, which is ideal if you only require a VPN for a short time.
Final points
Once you start to go down the speed rankings behind HSS or ProtonVPN the speeds begin to group up into tiers within the top 10. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are also available. Perfect PrivacyThey make up the third tier, after the two leaders. Then, Mullvad, Surfeasy and Private Internet Access. Air VPN, HMARounding out the top 10 download speeds are
Upload speeds drop off more slowly, making any of these services a good choice if you are concerned about this.
Speeds aren’t the only consideration one can have for a VPN, but for many people it’s the primary one. We’ll also be looking soon at the best VPNs for other uses including streaming, torrents, mobile, and more.
FAQ
What does a VPN do??
VPN (virtual private networks) encrypts and disguises your identity as you browse the internet. VPNs will anonymize your internet traffic and prevent ISPs or third parties from spying on your internet browsing.
VPNs also allow you to connect with servers around the globe. So if you’re looking to access location-restricted content, such as streaming services, you can connect to the appropriate country’s server and gain access that way.
What is a VPN?
A VPN hides your IP address through redirection to a remote server hosted at the VPN company. The VPN server becomes the source of your data and not you, which is obvious to anyone who sees it. These remote servers can be located in your country or in other countries around the globe. All network traffic from your computer to the VPN goes over a secure encrypted connection.
A VPN acts as an intermediary between your computer’s computer and a website when it is connected to the VPN. Your computer sends a request through the VPN, which then forwards it to a website. The website sends back its response to the VPN. This forwards the traffic through your secure connection. All traffic rerouted via the VPN is shown as coming through their server, not yours. This prevents your ISP or other third parties monitoring your internet activity.
Is it possible to use a VPN to view Netflix?
Yes! If you’re located in a country where particular Netflix content isn’t accessible, you can use a VPN server located in a different region to access that content. While certain streaming services try to prevent VPN connections, you can usually find a server that isn’t blocked.
VPN companies that are reliable offer thousands of servers to connect to from around the globe. The most important things to consider when using a VPN to access streaming services such as Netflix is speed and availability. (See our roundup on the best VPNs. best VPNsFor our recommendation of Netflix streaming, and a host other uses cases.
Is a VPN going to slow down my internet speeds?
VPNs were once known to slow down internet speeds. But nowadays it’s the exception rather than the norm.
A VPN reroutes traffic through its servers when you connect to it. The distance between these servers can result in a higher ping. While one of the great features of VPNs is to encrypt your data, this can lead to slower download and upload speeds because it takes time to encrypt and decrypt your data—affecting everything from page load times to video buffering speeds. These impacts have been significantly reduced thanks to modern VPN providers’ improvements in encryption technology and server optimization.
Do VPNs protect against computer viruses and malware?
Unfortunately, a VPN cannot protect you from viruses and malware. If you use a VPN and accidentally click on a malicious link or download a file containing a virus, there isn’t anything a VPN can do to help. A VPN is strongly recommended. an antivirus program. A VPN provider may also offer additional threat protection features that will help you stay safe.
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