How to Choose a VPN That Won't Slow You Down
Every VPN claims to be "blazing fast." Reality check: some cut your bandwidth in half and push latency into satellite range. After years of remote work from café tables and hotel desks, I've developed a checklist for picking VPNs that don't tank performance.
The Singapore Zoom Disaster (January 2025)
January 12, 2025. Singapore. I was working from a coworking space in Chinatown, preparing for a critical client presentation via Zoom scheduled for 15:00 SGT. My baseline internet speed at the coworking space: 500 Mbps down, 250 Mbps up, 8ms latency to Singapore servers. Perfect for high-quality video calls.
I connected to my VPN (a provider I won't name, but it's one of the big consumer brands advertised on YouTube). I chose their Singapore server since I was physically in Singapore—logic said it should be fast. I ran a speed test: 95 Mbps down (19% of baseline), 42 Mbps up (17% of baseline), 127ms latency. Awful. The VPN cut my bandwidth by 80% and multiplied latency by 16x.
I figured maybe the Singapore server was overloaded. I switched to their Hong Kong server (300 km away, should still be reasonable). Speed test: 78 Mbps down, 35 Mbps up, 189ms latency. Worse. I tried Tokyo (5,300 km): 45 Mbps down, 18 Mbps up, 287ms latency. Completely unusable for Zoom.
At 14:50 (10 minutes before the call), I disconnected the VPN and joined the Zoom meeting over the naked internet. The call worked perfectly—1080p video, no lag, no dropped packets. But I'd sacrificed security to maintain professionalism. The client never knew, but I was furious.
After that disaster, I spent a week testing 8 different VPN providers from the same Singapore coworking space with a scientific methodology: baseline speed tests, protocol comparisons, server load analysis, and real-world Zoom calls. I discovered the provider I'd been using had overloaded servers (85%+ load during Asia working hours), used outdated OpenVPN UDP by default (high overhead), and routed Singapore traffic through intermediate hops in the Netherlands (adding 300ms latency for no reason).
I switched to Mullvad VPN with WireGuard protocol. Same Singapore location, same coworking space: 420 Mbps down (84% retention), 210 Mbps up (84% retention), 12ms latency (only 4ms overhead). The difference was night and day. Here's the complete checklist I use now to evaluate VPN speed before committing.
1. Prioritize WireGuard or Modern Implementations
WireGuard consistently beats OpenVPN and IKEv2 in speed and CPU efficiency. When a provider offers its own protocol (e.g., NordLynx, Lightway), confirm it’s built on WireGuard or similar tech.
Providers that delivered for me: Mullvad, IVPN, Proton VPN. All run lean code, publish audits, and maintain unfiltered exit nodes.
2. Look for RAM-Only Servers and Residential Options
RAM-only infrastructure means fresh boots and no lingering data. Residential IP add-ons (like NordVPN Meshnet or ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer) help with streaming without sacrificing speed.
3. Inspect Server Footprint
Speed depends on exit node proximity. Providers with servers in cities you frequent will naturally perform better. I map my travel loop (Lisbon, NYC, Singapore, Tokyo) and choose VPNs with multiple locations nearby.
4. Run Real Speed Tests
Use a consistent methodology:
- Test baseline without VPN (
speedtest-cli --server). - Connect to the VPN server closest to you and re-run.
- Test a long-haul server (e.g., U.S. East Coast while in Europe).
- Record download, upload, latency, and jitter. A spreadsheet reveals patterns.
Acceptable drop: 10–15% for local servers, up to 30% for transatlantic. Anything worse—change provider or exit node.
5. Compare Protocols per Scenario
| Task | Best Protocol | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Streaming | WireGuard | Low overhead, supports UDP. | | Videoconferencing | WireGuard or IKEv2 | Stable latency and quick reconnects. | | Banking or login to picky sites | OpenVPN TCP 443 | Sneaks past filters; slower but reliable. | | Obfuscated usage | Shadowsocks or Outline | When regimes block common VPN ports. |
6. Check for Load Metrics and Status Pages
Providers like Mullvad, Proton, and IVPN publish server load metrics. Avoid servers above 60% load during peak hours. Bookmark the status page so you know when maintenance impacts speeds.
7. Evaluate Device Limits and Apps
If you run VPN on routers, smart TVs, and consoles, ensure the provider allows ample simultaneous connections (at least 5–10). Test their apps for stability—crashy clients ruin productivity even if the backend is fast.
8. Use Policy-Based Routing
Route bandwidth-heavy services via VPN only when needed. My GL.iNet router pushes work devices through Mullvad while the Apple TV exits locally to avoid unnecessary encumbrance.
9. Edge Cases: Streaming Services and Work Platforms
- Hulu/Netflix: Prefer providers with smart DNS or residential IP options.
- Zoom/Teams: Measure latency to the service’s region, not just raw speed. Run
ping zoom.usbefore calls. - Banking: Some banks block known VPN IPs. Keep a secondary provider or WireGuard server on a VPS you control.
10. Support and Pricing
Fast support matters when you're troubleshooting on a deadline. Mullvad's flat €5/month (~$5.40 USD) has been a lifesaver—no tiers, no upsells, just a simple VPN that works. I keep two active subscriptions at all times (Mullvad + IVPN at $6/month = $11.40/month total); redundancy beats scrambling for a trial account mid-project when one provider's servers go down.
My VPN Speed Test Results (Real Data, January 2025, Singapore)
Baseline (no VPN): 500 Mbps down, 250 Mbps up, 8ms latency
Mullvad (WireGuard, Singapore server): 420 Mbps down (84%), 210 Mbps up (84%), 12ms latency (+4ms overhead)
IVPN (WireGuard, Singapore server): 398 Mbps down (80%), 195 Mbps up (78%), 14ms latency (+6ms overhead)
Proton VPN (WireGuard, Singapore server): 312 Mbps down (62%), 148 Mbps up (59%), 22ms latency (+14ms overhead)
NordVPN (NordLynx, Singapore server): 287 Mbps down (57%), 132 Mbps up (53%), 28ms latency (+20ms overhead)
[Redacted Consumer VPN] (OpenVPN UDP, Singapore server): 95 Mbps down (19%), 42 Mbps up (17%), 127ms latency (+119ms overhead)
Clear winner: Mullvad and IVPN for speed retention. The redacted consumer VPN is unusable for video calls. The Singapore Zoom disaster taught me to test VPNs scientifically before trusting marketing claims.
When Slow VPNs Cost You Money
The Singapore Zoom disaster could've cost me a $40,000/year client relationship. If I'd joined that call with 287ms latency and choppy video, the client would've assumed I was working from an unreliable environment and questioned my professionalism. Instead, I disconnected the VPN and took the security risk to preserve the business relationship.
Since then, I've made VPN speed testing a non-negotiable part of my remote work setup. I test every VPN before traveling to a new city, document which servers work for video calls (latency <50ms, bandwidth retention >70%), and keep backup providers ready. The $11.40/month I spend on two VPN subscriptions is cheap insurance against missed deadlines and damaged client trust.
Slow VPNs aren't just annoying—they're expensive. A 5-minute Zoom lag can cost you weeks of relationship-building. A buffering Netflix stream wastes your limited downtime. A failed deployment because your VPN disconnected mid-push can trigger hours of cleanup. Choose your VPN provider like you'd choose your ISP: with data, not marketing promises.
Final Checklist Before You Commit
[ ] WireGuard or modern protocol available
[ ] Servers near your base cities + streaming regions
[ ] Transparent load metrics / status page
[ ] Allows router installations and multiple connections
[ ] Publishes speed benchmarks or independent tests
[ ] Offers residential IP or smart DNS if you need streaming
Measure actual performance, keep logs of what works, and rotate providers annually. Your VPN should fade into the background—not become the reason you miss a deadline.