Speed is vital on the Internet. A slight buffering on your videos or a few-second extension on loading web pages can make you blow a fuse. Nobody wants to tolerate extended waiting time, especially when you have something important to do online.
But then, many users keep on questioning whether their VPN is slowing their Internet speed or not. Such concerns have been circulating among VPN users, as they can affect their experience with their VPN servers. Can a VPN really slow down Internet speed?
The answer can be hot and cold. Yes, your VPN server can slow down your Internet network connection speed. But, there are also instances when your Internet speed is faster when using a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a reliable tool if you want to maintain privacy and anonymity with your online activities. If you do not want websites or online platforms to know your location or who you are, a VPN service is your friend. It encrypts your data and reroutes you to a different location, so it appears that you are accessing the Internet from somewhere else and not from your actual area.
Most of the best VPNs for Windows have servers spread across multiple locations around the world, making their data encryption process more efficient. Once connected, your VPN service will provide you with a new IP address.
Is your VPN Slowing Down your Internet Connection Speed?
Now, given all the rerouting and making various detours before you get connected to the website or service you are trying to load, you would imagine the process may take up a lot of energy and resources. That is the reason why your VPN service can slow down your Internet speed.
Still, that’s not a reason enough for you to instantly leave the world of VPN and stay unprotected, exposing your private data online. VPNs may indeed decrease your Internet network speed but only to a minimal degree. Oftentimes, you would not even notice any difference or that your Internet speed is slowing down.
Various factors affect your Internet speed when connected to a VPN server. These factors may or may not contribute to the slow speed you experience with your connection. However, it helps to identify them.
First, there is the distance between your location and your chosen VPN server. The longer the distance between these places, the more time your data needs to travel to get to its destination. Another factor to consider is the encryption process. Depending on the VPN service you choose, its encryption method can decrease or increase your network speed.
You also have to take note of the server load of the VPN provider. If a particular server is accommodating more users, the tendency for your connection to decrease is expected. In some cases, your Internet setup can also trigger your VPN to slow down network speed on your PC. The device you are using may also contribute to the efficiency of your Internet connection. The fact is, loads of other factors may make your Internet run slower or faster when utilizing a VPN service.
How Can a VPN Make your Internet Network Connection Speed Run Faster?
If you’ve been asking whether running a VPN service can make your Internet network connection speed run fast, the quick answer is a resounding yes! The good news is that your VPN service can even make your Internet speed go faster as compared to not using one. But for you to get there, you need to consider several determining elements.
While free VPNs are attractive to most users cost-wise, they may not give you the maximum benefit. Free VPNs cannot guarantee a faster connection due to their limited resources. As they get nothing from you monetarily, these companies will need to skimp their resources when you use their services.
Paid VPNs, on the other hand, may mean a monthly cost. However, you are actually paying for the benefits and advantages you can get as opposed to using a free version. You will get to enjoy more diversity in available servers on premium VPN services, which means faster Internet connection and more server location options for you.
Using a paid VPN service can also reroute your traffic path. For instance, if many users take the same route to a streaming platform, it would only mean a slower connection speed. But, your premium VPN service will change and use a different traffic path, which bypasses the choking route, making your Internet speed faster.
Can you get all these benefits from a VPN service? The answer again is yes. By working with some of the best VPNs for Windows 10 PC, you can get the full advantage of a VPN without compromising your Internet connection speed.
Reliable and popular VPN names online will assure you of high-quality encryption, more server resources, better server location option, optimized privacy procedure, and a better network connection speed. You may need to pay for it, but all the benefits you can get out of a good VPN service will make it all worth it.
What do you think of the effect of a VPN server on your Internet connection speed? Will you be using one soon? We would love to know your thoughts, so please drop us a comment below.