VPN speed test: How to accurately test and improve your VPN speed

Have you noticed your internet slowing down when connected to your VPN? It’s a common concern. Many users worry that a VPN might hurt their streaming quality or gaming performance by adding lag and lowering download speeds.

The good news? You can easily check if your VPN is the culprit by running a quick speed test—we’ll show you how.

This guide will walk you through testing your VPN speed, explain what those numbers mean (like download and upload speeds, as well as ping time), and give you some practical tips to boost your VPN’s performance.

Not all VPNs will drag down your internet. Top-tier providers invest in high-speed servers and advanced VPN tunneling protocols to minimize slowdowns. ExpressVPN, for example, runs a 10 Gbps server network (with many upgraded to 40 Gbps!)—meaning each server is built to handle heavy traffic—and uses the cutting-edge Lightway protocol to ensure latency stays low and bandwidth stays high.

How to test your VPN speed

Ever wondered just how fast your VPN connection is? You might be surprised at how simple it is to check. All it takes is measuring your internet connection with the VPN on and comparing it to your normal connection. You can use a few different methods, from simple online tools to more advanced manual tests.

Let’s explore two tried-and-tested methods for checking your VPN speed, followed by some advice to help you get accurate readings.

Note: Speed test results can vary depending on several factors, like your device, browser, or network traffic. For the most accurate picture, run several tests and take the average.

Method 1: Use an online VPN speed test tool

A free online speed test service is the quickest and easiest way to check your internet speed with and without your VPN. Here’s how:

Note: For this test, we used speedtest.net on Windows 11. Other popular options include fast.com (by Netflix) and Cloudflare’s speed test.

1. Go to an internet speed test site: Turn off your VPN, then open your browser in incognito/private mode to avoid cached results. Navigate to speedtest.net or your chosen speed test tool.
   
   
2. Test your regular internet speed: Click the Go or Start button on the testing site. Wait for the test to complete.
   
   
3. Record your results: Note the three key metrics that the test reports: download (in Mbps), upload (Mbps), and ping (ms).
   
4. Now, turn your VPN on: For accurate results, make sure you’re using the same speed test server as before, then run the test again.
   
   
5. Record your results: Note the three key metrics that the test reports with your VPN on.
   
   
6. Compare the changes: Compare the differences in download, upload, and ping. This comparison will tell you how much (if any) the VPN is affecting your speed.
   
   
7. (Optional) Test multiple times: For more reliable data, run the test 2–3 times and take the average. Speeds can fluctuate slightly with each test due to network conditions.

Note: While some VPNs include built-in speed tests, ExpressVPN focuses on performance you can measure using trusted third-party tools—often more flexible and consistent across devices.

Method 2: Run a manual speed test (advanced)

If you like more control over testing, a manual approach might appeal. This typically involves command-line tools or specialized scripts.

Using the command line

Note: Windows does not come with a built-in command-line tool to perform internet speed tests natively, but you can install a third-party tool like Ookla’s official Speedtest CLI (also available for macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD).

1. Install Speedtest CLI: Download and install the Speedtest CLI from Ookla.
   
   
2. Run baseline test: Open a command prompt or PowerShell window (type PowerShell or command prompt in your Windows search bar to bring these options up). Then, run the speedtest command (e.g., speedtest) while disconnected from the VPN.

   Command prompt: “C:\Program Files\speedtest.exe”
   Powershell: & “C:\Program Files\speedtest.exe”
   

3. Run VPN test: Connect to your VPN and run the speedtest command again in the command prompt/PowerShell.
   
   
4. Compare results: Analyze the output from both tests to compare your speed.

Running manual tests gives you greater control and is particularly handy for scripting, automation, and conducting repeated tests. The text-based output makes it easy to parse and process results, monitor performance over time, or even trigger actions based on the outcomes.

Testing different VPN protocols manually

If your VPN lets you choose protocols (like OpenVPN, WireGuard, Lightway, etc.), you can connect using each protocol and run identical speed tests. For example, you might connect using OpenVPN UDP and run a test, then disconnect and connect to the same server using ExpressVPN’s Lightway and run the test. This is a great way to see which protocol gives the best speed on your network.

Downloading a test file

Download a big file from a fast, reliable source—Ubuntu and Microsoft websites often have large files hosted on super-fast servers. Use a tool like curl or your preferred download manager, first with your VPN on and then with it off. Comparing how long it takes can give you a better feel for the sustained speed, rather than just the snapshot you get from online speed tests. Just make sure you only download test files that are legally available.

Running ping and traceroute tests

To focus on latency, you can use the ping command to measure response times to various servers (e.g., ping google.com) with and without a VPN.

• Windows: Open the Command Prompt by searching for “cmd” in the Start Menu and pressing Enter. Then, type your command.
  
  
• macOS: Open the Terminal application by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal. Alternatively, you can go to the Launchpad in your dock and type Terminal in the search field, then click Terminal. After that, type your command.

Similarly, traceroute (or tracert on Windows) can show the path your data takes. Just keep in mind it might not always work, especially if certain networks block the test.

• Windows: Open the Command Prompt and type tracert followed by the destination (e.g., tracert google.com).
  
  
• macOS: Open the Terminal and type traceroute followed by the destination (e.g., traceroute google.com).

With a VPN, you’ll see an extra hop to the VPN server. This can be educational to see how distance impacts ping time.

Tips for accurate VPN speed testing

No matter what method you choose for testing speed, it’s important to test properly to validate your results. Here are some tips to ensure you get an accurate read on your VPN’s impact:

• Close unnecessary apps: Programs running in the background can use bandwidth and skew the results. Close them before running a speed test.
• Test multiple times: Speeds can fluctuate based on local network load, VPN server load, or time of day. Run a few tests to identify patterns.
• Pick consistent test servers: If you’re using speedtest.net, for instance, first establish your baseline speed by choosing a server close to you. Then, when you connect to your VPN, make sure to select and use a server in a similar location for your speed test.
• Use a wired connection: Perform the test on a device connected through Ethernet (wired) to eliminate Wi-Fi variability. Wi-Fi can provide inconsistent speeds, especially if you’re far from the router. Testing on a wired connection gives a clearer measure of your true internet and VPN capability.
• Use different devices: If your phone is giving strange results, try a laptop or a desktop PC. This helps you see if device factors (like Wi-Fi adapters) are limiting performance.

Understanding VPN speed test results

After running a VPN speed test, you’ll see a few key numbers on your screen: download speed, upload speed, and ping (latency). These numbers are key to understanding your VPN’s performance and if it’s suitable for your needs (e.g., streaming, gaming, video calls, etc.).

Download speed

Download speed is the rate at which data from the internet reaches you. It’s measured in Mbps (megabits per second). The higher this number is, the faster the data transfer will be when you’re streaming videos, browsing sites with lots of images, or transferring large files.

This is usually the first number you look at when evaluating VPN performance. A good VPN will retain as much of your baseline download speed as possible, often within 80–90% of it. For instance, if your download speed is 100 Mbps without a VPN and 95 Mbps with a VPN, that’s excellent. If it drops to 50 Mbps, it’s a noticeable reduction—but still fast enough for most activities, including 4K streaming. But if it falls below 10 Mbps, you may start to notice issues with video quality, calls, or page load times.

Upload speed

Upload speed is the rate at which data travels from your device to the internet. It’s also measured in Mbps. While it’s often overlooked, upload speed is just as important, especially for smooth video calls, hosting live streams, or backing up files.

Ping (latency)

Ping, or latency, measures how long it takes a signal to travel from your device to a server and back. It’s one of the most critical metrics for internet performance, especially when real-time responsiveness matters:

• Gaming: Ping is the delay between your actions and the game server’s response. Low ping (say, under 50 ms) is ideal for fast-paced games like racing or first-person shooters. Higher latency (100+ ms) can cause delays that affect gameplay, like shooting at a target that’s no longer there due to lag.
• Video calls and streaming: Latency isn’t as critical for streaming videos or music—that said, a high ping might indicate a longer time to start the stream or to seek/skip around. If you’re doing live streaming or video conferencing, which is essentially real-time communication, latency becomes important—you don’t want lags, voice delays, or out-of-sync video.

Remember that VPNs typically add a bit of latency or ping because your data has an extra stop at the VPN server. The amount of added delay varies depending on factors like the distance to the server and the VPN’s network capabilities. For example, connecting to a local server in your country might only add 5–20 ms of ping, which is usually unnoticeable. On the other hand, connecting to a server in a distant country could add 100 ms or more to your ping.

What affects VPN speed?

A drop in speed doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your VPN. Several factors can have a direct impact on performance. Some are related to your own setup, and others are inherent to how VPNs work. Let’s go through the most common factors:

Your baseline internet speed

Your VPN can’t surpass the maximum speed provided by your internet service provider (ISP). If your plan offers 25 Mbps as a top rate, connecting to a VPN won’t magically deliver 100 Mbps. In fact, due to encryption overhead, it will usually be a bit slower. That said, there are rare cases where a VPN might actually improve your speed—you might see slight improvements if your ISP throttles you, but in most cases, a slow baseline connection translates to relatively slow VPN speeds.

What you can do:

• Check your plan: Sometimes, internet plans have data caps or speed tiers.
• Run tests without a VPN: If your speeds without a VPN are already low, consider upgrading your internet plan or checking for issues with your service.
• Verify your network conditions: See if there are factors such as excessive household traffic. If multiple people are streaming 4K videos, for example, your speeds will dip.

Distance to the VPN server

When data has to travel hundreds or thousands of miles, it takes more time to go back and forth. That’s why the physical distance between you and the VPN server matters. To get the best speeds, you want to connect to a VPN server close to your actual location.

Server load and congestion

Server load refers to how much traffic a VPN server handles at a given time. Servers can get crowded—just like a highway can slow down when it’s full of cars, a VPN server can slow down if too many users are funneling their traffic through it at once. Try connecting to different servers at various times of day to find a less crowded option. ExpressVPN’s 10 Gbps servers are built for high traffic, helping keep speeds fast and stable even when many users are online.

VPN protocol and encryption

Protocols are sets of rules that VPNs use to coordinate how your data travels between your device and the VPN server. Common VPN protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec, and proprietary ones like ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol. The choice of protocol and the level of encryption can significantly affect speed—some protocols are optimized for maximum speed, while others focus on reliability. You should choose a VPN protocol that offers the best speed and security for your needs.

Encryption makes data unreadable to those trying to intercept it. Stronger encryption means better security but can result in slower performance. With ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, you can choose between different encryption algorithms (AES or XChaCha20) on Windows, Android, and iOS.

ISP throttling and network restrictions

Sometimes your ISP is the one slowing you down. ISP throttling is when your ISP intentionally slows down high-bandwidth traffic, such as streaming or gaming, after a certain usage threshold. This can paradoxically make things faster with a VPN, as it masks your traffic, making it harder for the ISP to see what you’re doing.

Test: To check if your ISP might be throttling your speeds, try that speed comparison we talked about earlier. If your speeds are actually better with the VPN on than off, that could be a sign of throttling.

Also keep in mind that issues like weak public Wi-Fi or an overloaded home network can act like throttling. If you have underlying issues with connection stability, the VPN might struggle. Always ensure your network is stable when diagnosing speed issues.

Router, cables, and hardware quality

Finally, sometimes the bottleneck is on your end: the equipment and hardware you’re using to connect. The way you connect (Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet) plays a role in the speeds you get. Also, if you’re relying on an outdated router or you’re far away from your router, your speeds might suffer. Some tablets or phones might have weaker Wi-Fi adapters, and PCs with older networking hardware might be a bottleneck.

How to speed up your VPN connection

If you’ve determined that your VPN is indeed slowing you down, there are several ways you can improve its speed. Often, a few tweaks or changes can significantly boost performance.

Choose a faster VPN protocol

The VPN protocol you use can make a big difference in speed. Most VPN apps let you choose the protocol or have an auto setting. To speed up your connection:

• Switch protocols: Try changing to a protocol known for better speed. For example, if you’re on OpenVPN, experiment with WireGuard or ExpressVPN’s Lightway.
• Use OpenVPN UDP: If you have the option between UDP and TCP, choose UDP. It’s usually faster because it sends data more efficiently and doesn’t waste time on extra checks.
• Let the app’s auto-mode decide: If you manually set a protocol and it’s slow, try switching back to “Automatic” if available. The VPN can often select the best protocol for your current network conditions.

Select the closest and least crowded server

Server proximity plays a huge role in VPN speed, and changing to a server closer to your real location is one of the first things to try if you notice slowdowns. Additionally, try to choose a server that isn’t overloaded. If your VPN lists server load, pick one that shows minimal congestion.

Enable split tunneling for better performance

Split tunneling lets you choose which apps or traffic go through the VPN and which go through your regular internet connection. This can improve performance because you limit how much data travels through the encrypted link. For example, route only streaming, banking, or specific tasks through the VPN and send less sensitive traffic through your local network. With fewer packets going through encryption, you may see improved performance.

Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi

If you’re currently on Wi-Fi and noticing subpar VPN speeds, consider switching to a wired Ethernet connection. This often delivers higher bandwidth and lower ping. Also, make sure your cable is not old or damaged, as this can limit speed. Using a Cat6 or better cable is often recommended for gigabit-level connectivity. If you must use Wi-Fi, switch to the 5 GHz band if your router supports it. This band is less crowded and can offer better speeds at shorter ranges.

Change your VPN settings for optimal speed

Beyond protocols and servers, there may be other settings in your VPN app that you can tweak for speed. Some VPNs let you choose different encryption strengths—for example, with ExpressVPN’s Lightway, you can select between AES and XChaCha20.

Advanced users can speed up domain lookups by configuring DNS settings. If you are considering this option, you can check your VPN’s documentation for detailed guidance.

Close background applications consuming bandwidth

This might seem obvious, but it’s a frequently overlooked cause of slow VPN speeds. If you have background apps or devices on your network consuming a lot of bandwidth, your VPN speeds will naturally be slower simply because the network is crowded. Look out for:

• Cloud backups: Services that auto-sync large files can hog your connection. Pause them briefly if you want maximum speed.
• Automatic updates: Game launchers or operating systems might download updates silently.
• Multiple devices: If others at home are streaming or downloading, your available bandwidth drops.

Read more: Slow VPN? Why it can happen and how to fix it

Final thoughts: Getting the best speed from your VPN

Using a VPN doesn’t have to mean settling for slow internet. Yes, some drop in speed is normal because of the extra steps (encryption and the detour through the VPN server), but with a quality VPN and proper setup, the difference is barely noticeable.

When you optimize the basics—picking the right protocol, choosing the nearest or least busy server, and reducing background bandwidth usage—you’ll likely have a smooth experience. In fact, in some cases, a VPN can even improve your speeds by bypassing ISP throttling.

If you’ve tested everything and still aren’t happy with your speeds, consider switching to a top-tier provider. ExpressVPN invests in fast protocols, a robust server network, and advanced technology—it consistently delivers great speeds for all sorts of activities, from high-definition streaming to online gaming.