A VPN can slow your connection a little, because your traffic travels through the VPN server and is encrypted on the way. With a modern protocol such as WireGuard and a server near you, most people don't notice the difference. Distance, a busy server and the protocol matter most. Test your speed with the VPN on and off to see.
Why can a VPN slow down your internet?
Without a VPN, your traffic goes from your phone to the site. With one, it goes to the VPN server first, encrypted, and from there to the site. The detour adds a little time to each round trip, and encryption adds a little work and a few bytes to each packet. With WireGuard and a nearby server, both stay small.
What affects VPN speed
| What it changes | What you can do | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to the server | Each round trip takes longer: you notice it in the ping | Connect to a nearby server |
| How busy the server is | A full server shares its bandwidth between more people | Pick a location that isn't busy |
| The protocol | WireGuard over UDP is light; tunnels over TCP are slower | Leave the protocol on Auto |
| Your own connection | A VPN works on top of your Wi-Fi or mobile signal | Test without the VPN first |
| Encryption | A little extra work for the phone | Nothing: WireGuard's encryption is light |
How to check whether your VPN slows you down
- Disconnect the VPN and run our speed test. Note the download, upload and ping.
- Connect the VPN and run it again from the same place, on the same network.
- Compare the two. Test a couple of times, because speed changes with the time of day and the room you're in.
Our test measures the path between your phone and our server in Europe, so the numbers themselves depend on where you are. The comparison with and without the VPN, from the same place, is what shows the difference the VPN makes.
How to make your VPN faster
- Let Smart Location choose: it weighs latency, load, stability and distance each time you connect.
- Choosing yourself? In Locations, use Fastest to sort by the latency from your phone, and skip locations marked Busy.
- Keep the protocol on Auto, which uses WireGuard over UDP. Use Stealth on networks that block VPNs: it gets through, a little more slowly.
- On Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or use its 5 GHz network.
Can a VPN make your internet faster?
Sometimes. Some networks slow down particular kinds of traffic, such as video or calls. A VPN hides what kind of traffic it is, so that kind of slowdown no longer applies. PryVPN's ad and tracker filter can also make pages lighter, because what it blocks never loads. Your plan's speed stays the ceiling.
Does a VPN slow down your phone or drain the battery?
Not in a way most people notice. WireGuard is a lightweight protocol, and PryVPN only keeps a connection alive while it's protecting you. If you want a break, pause it for 5, 15 or 60 minutes and it reconnects by itself.
Key takeaways
- A VPN adds a short detour and light encryption, so a small change in speed is normal.
- Distance, server load and the protocol make the biggest difference.
- Compare a speed test with the VPN on and off, from the same place.
- A nearby server, WireGuard over UDP and a location that isn't busy keep it fast.