How to Choose a VPN That Won’t Slow You Down
Look, I’ve been that guy hunched over a café table in Lisbon, trying to upload a work file while my VPN choked the life out of my internet speed. Nothing tests your patience like watching a 2MB image take 45 seconds to send. It’s not fun.
So yeah, VPNs are great for privacy, but let’s not pretend they don’t sometimes act like a digital brake pedal. That’s why picking the right one really matters. I’ve tested a bunch, and honestly, ProtonVPN with WireGuard is one of the fastest I’ve used for uploads. NordVPN has something called NordLynx that sounds fancy but just works. If speed’s your dealbreaker, either one’s a good call.
Why VPNs Make the Internet Slower (Sometimes)
Here’s the short version: when you connect to a VPN, your traffic gets routed through an encrypted tunnel, usually to a remote server in another country. That added distance plus encryption overhead = slower speeds.
But not all VPNs are built the same. I’ve tested a bunch across 40+ countries, and some are night-and-day better than others.
What to Look For (So You Don’t Rage-Quit Your Wi-Fi)
1. Choose a VPN with a Fast Protocol
There are a few VPN protocols out there, and they seriously affect speed.
- WireGuard is the new kid and honestly the MVP. It’s lightweight, fast, and secure.
- OpenVPN is solid but can be slower, especially on mobile.
- IKEv2 is great for switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, like when you’re on the move.
If your VPN doesn’t support WireGuard in 2025, it’s already behind.
[TECHNICAL NOTE: WireGuard has less overhead and better performance for mobile users, which is why it’s almost always faster.]
2. Pick Servers That Are Actually Close
I once connected to a US server from Istanbul… that was physically located in LA. Speeds? Garbage. You want to pick servers geographically close to where you are or where the content you’re accessing is hosted.
Some VPNs will auto-connect you to the “fastest” server, but always double-check. Sometimes “fastest” just means “not on fire.”
3. Look for Load Balancing Features
This one’s underrated. Good VPNs manage server load, which means they don’t shove thousands of users onto the same server. That keeps speeds decent even when everyone’s online at once.
Some even show you current server load before you connect. Use that.
4. Avoid the “Too Cheap to Be Real” Options
Real talk: if a VPN is $1 a month, they’re cutting corners somewhere. Usually with server quality. Or support. Or, worst case, they’re selling your data.
Speed and stability cost money. That doesn’t mean you need the priciest one, but don’t go dirt cheap and expect butter-smooth streaming.
My Speed-Test Trick While Traveling
Whenever I settle in a new spot, I test my VPN before I do anything else. I run three speed tests:
- Local Wi-Fi with no VPN
- VPN connected to a close server
- VPN connected to a streaming server (like US Netflix)
If I’m getting more than a 25% speed drop, I switch protocols or try a different provider. It’s that simple.
Last month in Medellín, I was getting 80 Mbps without a VPN, and around 68 Mbps with NordVPN using WireGuard. Totally usable. But Surfshark’s IKEv2 dropped me to 43 Mbps. Still fine—but noticeable if I’m uploading big files.
Final Thoughts (Without the Fluff)
If you care about speed, don’t just click the first flashy VPN ad. Check for WireGuard support. Look at server options. Read reviews from actual users, not weird fake blogs.
And maybe, just maybe, avoid running five Zoom calls at once while streaming Netflix and uploading to Google Drive. Even a VPN can’t fix that kind of bandwidth chaos.