Does VPN reduce internet speed? If yes, then how much does it impact the overall speed of the connection, and why does it do so? Do you want to know answers to all these and similar questions? If yes, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will tell you whether using a VPN decreases the internet speed or not and explain the reason behind the reduced internet speed. We will also explain how to avoid such kinds of situations so that you can enjoy a full-speed connection without any issue whatsoever.
So without any further ado, let’s get into it!
Does VPN Reduce Internet Speed?
The direct answer to this question is yes, Virtual private networks reduce internet speed severely. However, not all of them do. There are several reasons why some VPNs may slow down your internet speed while others don’t. Let us look at each one of them in detail:
1. Congested Servers
The first issue due to which VPN slows down your internet speed is congestion on servers. The more users there are, the more load they put on the server. This means that when thousands of people use the same server at once, its performance may be affected.
Most companies provide multiple servers for their customers to prevent this from happening. So if you connect to one of those servers, you won’t experience any issues with regards to your internet speed. But the problem arises when you choose a less popular server.
For example, you may find yourself connecting to a server located in China instead of choosing an American server like Google, Facebook, or Twitter. Now, since Chinese servers are usually very congested, you’ll notice a drastic reduction in your internet speed.
2. Bandwidth Limitations
Another factor that affects the speed of your internet is bandwidth limitations. When you’re connected to a VPN, you are actually sharing the company’s resources that provide the service.
In other words, you will be sharing the bandwidth of the company as well as the data transfer limits imposed by the provider.
If you exceed the limit, you will be charged extra money for exceeding the limit. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a high-speed connection, you need to make sure that you stay within the bandwidth limits set by the company.
3. Data Encryption
Data encryption is another key factor that causes a significant slowdown in your internet connection speed. Since the information being sent through the network is encrypted, it takes time to decrypt it. And since the process involves decryption, it reduces the speed of your internet considerably.
4. Connection Issues
Connection issues are yet another reason why VPN slows down your internet connection. The main reason behind this is that when you connect to a VPN, you lose the ability to control your IP address. This means that even though you might have a stable internet connection, it could still disconnect unexpectedly.
5. Poor Network Quality
Poor network quality is yet another reason VPN speeds up or slows down your internet connection drastically. If your internet connection has poor signal strength, it will take longer to send and receive data. As a result, your internet connection will become slower than usual.
This mainly happens because your VPN provides encrypting and during the encryption time some of the packets might be lost due to which your internet speed will be reduced to a significant amount.
How to Avoid Such Issues?
Now that you are aware of the fact that a poor VPN will surely degrade your internet connection performance, you might be thinking about how to avoid this issue. The best way to get rid of such issues is to do some research before choosing your VPN.
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before selecting the right VPN for your needs which are as follow:
Make sure that VPN has a sufficient amount of servers. The number of available servers should be at least ten so that you can always connect to a server that is not overloaded. You can check the availability of the servers on the website of the VPN company.
Check whether there is a free trial version available. Many companies offer a free trial version of their services so that you can test them out before purchasing. Check the privacy policies of the VPN company. Make sure that they don’t share any personal information with third parties.
You also need to consider the security features offered by the VPN. Check whether the company provides kill-switch features, firewall protection, and anti-malware software.
You must also ensure that the VPN company supports all the devices you use. Some VPNs only support Windows operating systems, while others support both Android and iOS platforms. So, make sure that you choose one that works well with all the devices that you currently use.
Conclusion
VPNs are very useful tools, but they come with certain drawbacks too. To avoid these drawbacks, you need to be careful when selecting a VPN. By following the tips mentioned above, you can easily find a good VPN that won’t slow down your internet connection.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our article and found it helpful. Please leave us a comment if you have any questions regarding this topic. We would love to answer them.
