Digital Security

10 Ways to Make Download Speed Faster with VPN [Proven Tips]

How does a VPN affect internet speeds?  Will a VPN make my internet connection faster or slower? If you are confused by these questions, your search ends here.

No one likes to experience slow speeds, but it can happen sometimes while using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Your internet may slow down slightly due to server location or traffic.

After intense research, I tried a few methods to increase my internet speed with a VPN. So, let’s understand the causes of speed variations and discuss the 10 effective ways to make download speed faster with VPNs.

Why Does a VPN Slow Down Your Internet?

Usually, a VPN can slow down your internet connection because it adds extra steps, such as routing traffic through a VPN server and encrypting data. These steps use bandwidth, which can affect the speeds. 

However, the impact is minimal with good and reliable VPNs like Surfshark and NordVPN. The slowdown depends on several factors, like your internet speed and the location of the server. Let’s understand the reasons for lower speeds in more detail:

• The farther the VPN server, the slower the speed. That is why most VPNs automatically connect you to the nearest server. 

• VPNs encrypt your connection to improve privacy, which requires bandwidth. Stronger encryption, like AES-256, uses more resources to offer advanced security.

• Another major reason is the server capacity and load. Popular servers (like New York or California) may experience high traffic, reducing speeds.

Can we do anything about this issue? Is there a way to increase speeds while using a VPN? Let’s find out in the next section.

Can VPN Make Internet Faster?

Yes, a VPN can sometimes boost your internet speed if your ISP (Internet Service Provider) uses bandwidth throttling to slow your connection based on your activity. In this case, you can make download speed faster with VPNs, as it can help you avoid ISP bandwidth throttling.

VPN effectively masks your activity so that your ISP cannot track your behavior and implement bandwidth throttling. However, if the throttling affects the entire network, a VPN won’t bypass it but can still help you with targeted slowdowns.

How to Make Download Speed Faster with VPNs? (10 Solutions)

Does VPN boost internet speed? Usually, it does not due to additional steps involved in the process. However, the following 10 tips will help you significantly improve your internet speeds with a VPN.

As we discussed earlier, switching to a server close to your location can significantly increase the speed and performance. Shorter distances between you and the server reduce the chances of lag. You can check your VPN provider’s server list and pick the nearest one to enjoy better speeds.

Overloaded servers can also lead to sluggish speeds. To help you identify low-traffic servers, many VPN providers show the current load on each server. Select the one with lighter usage for faster speeds. 

If no data is available to you, try to experiment with different servers to find the quickest one. It may take a few tries, but trust me, it’s worth it.

VPN protocols use different encryption techniques to secure your connection. Some providers prefer security to speed, while some focus on performance.

For a better performance, I would recommend you switch to WireGuard. While IKEv2 and OpenVPN are reliable alternatives, WireGuard is the newest and quickest protocol right now.

In case you still choose to continue with OpenVPN, try to switch between TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). OpenVPN supports both TCP and UDP. UDP is typically faster, making it an ideal choice for activities like video streaming. However, it is less reliable for data delivery. 

Enable the feature of split tunneling, if supported by your VPN. This allows you to route only specific traffic through your VPN while leaving the rest to use your regular internet connection.

For example, if you are streaming movies and shows, you can adjust the settings of the VPN to handle streaming data. By reducing the amount of data traveling through the VPN, the free bandwidth will help you get a stable and faster internet connection.

A Wired connection is typically faster and more stable than Wi-Fi or VPN with cellular data. Multiple devices on the same home network often compete for resources, leading to more congestion and slower speeds.

Connecting your device directly to your router with an Ethernet cable can help you eliminate this issue. This will provide a more reliable connection for your VPN.

Firewalls and antivirus software can sometimes slow down VPN performance by filtering outgoing data. To identify if they are causing such issues, temporarily disabling them can be a good option.

However, you should proceed with caution. For consistent protection, it is advisable to keep your firewall, antivirus, and VPN running together, even if it slightly reduces the internet speed.

While it may appear counterintuitive, MultiHop or Double VPN can sometimes increase the speed of your connection. This feature routes your connection through 2 different servers. In some cases, the network between these servers is faster than a direct connection.

So, if your VPN provider supports MultiHop, do give it a try to potentially boost the performance and speed.

Background apps that are sitting idle in the background can drain resources and hamper your internet speed. It might sound insignificant, but take a moment to check for unnecessary running and close them to free up resources and improve internet speed.

Last but not least. If your connection is slow, a simple restart of your router or modem can help fix issues like memory leaks. 

Additionally, if you are using a VPN on your router, consider switching to a VPN connection on your device instead. Device connection is usually faster. Also, you should avoid using the VPN on both the router and device at the same time. It can further slow your connection.

Additional Tips to Make Home Internet Faster with VPN

If you are still experiencing speed issues on VPN with cellular data and Wi-Fi, here are a few additional things you can try:

• Choose a high-speed VPN with a solid reputation. Free VPNs have more chances of slowing down your connection. Look for one with several server locations for better speed.

• Test the VPN at a different location, like a café, to check whether the issue lies with your ISP.

• Switching to a good third-party DNS server may help if the VPN’s DNS is causing issues.

Furthermore, find out the optimal MTU for your network and adjust it if necessary. However, it is important to remember that you may need to change it again when switching systems.

Final Words

Does a VPN increase internet speed? After reading this informative guide, I hope you are well-informed to answer this question for others. Speed drops of 10-20% are normal, as security and privacy are the primary focus of a VPN.

Also, you can always try the solutions mentioned in the article to achieve the best possible download speed faster with VPNs. Please share these tips with your friends as well.