How to Do a VPN Speed Test

Many people apply a VPN to both secure their digital lives and open up up parts of the internet that may have been barred to them. Just whatever their goal is, internet speed is critical to their endeavour. That's why a VPN that slows downward their connection and brings out buffering icons can be a dealbreaker. That's why it makes sense to run a VPN speed test before you commit. How do you do it? And what factors are essential when assessing the results? This article covers information technology all!

Earlier the speed exam: Factors to consider

Before we leap into testing your VPN speed, let'southward review the elements that accept a direct touch on on your connection speed:

Cistron #1: Your internet speed.

Sometimes information technology might seem that a VPN is responsible for the slow down when, in reality, your internet connectedness wasn't impressive in the first place. So, be sure to test out the performance without a VPN too.

Factor #two: Distance to server locations.

The all-time speeds always come from VPN servers virtually you lot – or even in the same state. Simply if y'all alive in the UK and connect to a VPN server in Australia, a drop in speed is to be expected. The further away you are, the longer it can have to connect to the server.

Cistron #iii: VPN server hardware.

Your internet speed can tiresome downwards if you're continued to an overcrowded VPN server. High server loads are more than likely when you lot connect to a popular VPN server location similar the United states of america or the UK.

Choosing a expert VPN provider like Surfshark will guarantee servers with no less than 1Gbps port connected. For servers with higher bandwidth (the US and the Uk), the number increases to 2x10Gbps. The higher the number, the faster the connection. Information technology means that such tasks equally streaming videos and downloading files don't endure from lagging and buffering.

Factor #4: VPN encryption.

Why does a VPN affect internet speed at all? One of the answers is encryption . When you're using a VPN to access a website or service, a VPN has to encrypt your data to keep information technology safe from onlookers and so decrypt, so it doesn't expect gibberish to you.

Encryption overhead is the term for the part of your bandwidth used to transmit information that serves encryption and decryption purposes. Strong encryption algorithms can result in slightly lower speeds, but keep in heed that the change in speed is minimal . This is peculiarly truthful when we're talking near premium VPN services that invest a lot of money in edifice fast and secure VPN infrastructure.

Factor #v: VPN protocols.

Not all VPN protocols were created equal. Some offer better speeds (east.g., OpenVPN UDP), while others are more than stable (e.k., OpenVPN TCP). Some top VPN providers allow users to tinker with protocol settings. With Surfshark, for example, you can choose betwixt Wireguard , IKEv2 , OpenVPN UDP and OpenVPN TCP .

Factor #half-dozen: Time of the mean solar day.

This might seem unusual, simply the time of the day does touch VPN speeds equally different numbers of net connections are established. This point is closely related to the server overload I touched on before in this commodity. Then again, every bit I said, elevation VPN providers that invest in proper VPN hardware empathize this problem and solve information technology past increasing bandwidth.

Now that you've learned nearly factors affecting VPN speed, let'south run into how to exam it out.

How to run a VPN speed test

speed test by ookla

Important to remember: You should test your net speed ii times . First without a VPN, and and so with a VPN. The goal is to find out how much your VPN impacts cyberspace speed.

Testing cyberspace speed without a VPN

By assessing your net speed without a VPN, y'all'll exist able to compare the results fairly. I suggest using a speed testing tool (e.g., speedtest.net ) to examination the speed without a VPN then utilise the aforementioned tool to examination it with a VPN. If you're not sure what is considered skilful speed, I propose looking upward average internet speeds past country.

Testing internet speed with a VPN

Afterward you lot've tested your regular cyberspace speed, plow on a VPN, and rerun the test. Some VPNs accept born speed testing features (Surfshark has a congenital-in speed test on the Windows app), but in most cases, internet speed testing websites or apps volition practice the job. Run a speed test throughout multiple platforms for even more authentic results.

3 steps to examination VPN speed:

Step 1. Shut programs and applications that require a lot of bandwidth (streaming sites, Youtube, torrents, etc.)

Step 2. Open an cyberspace speed testing tool:

– speedtest.net is the almost unremarkably used speed testing website.

– fast.com is an net speed test created by Netflix.

Step iii. Click Go , and the calculations will begin automatically.

Testing VPN speed with Surfshark's VPN speed test

For now, the Surfshark VPN speed test is just available on the Windows VPN app. Yous can notice the examination in the Windows app settings.

Follow these steps to run the examination:

Pace 1. Disconnect from the VPN. Yous can only apply this characteristic when a VPN is disconnected!

Step ii. Go to Settings on your Windows Surfshark app .

Step 3. Go to Advanced and click Speed test .

Step four. Click Run Test .

Pace v. Subsequently the test is done running, you'll notice all the information regarding any server from Surfshark'south server list. You'll encounter the download and upload speeds, too every bit latency.

How to read VPN speed examination results

The internet speed test results may not always be easy to read – that's why we prepared some explanations.

Download speed – the higher, the meliorate

When checking VPN speed results, you should pay the well-nigh attention to the download speeds. A higher number indicates faster net speed for casual browsing, downloading, and streaming. Upload speed by and large matters if you're the one sharing files or uploading content.

Surfshark does not encourage using a VPN in ways that would potentially violate the Terms of Service of other service providers.

Latency – the lower, the meliorate

Simply put, lower latency (or ping fourth dimension) ways better speeds. It'southward the amount of time that it takes for a device (computer, telephone, etc.) to send a data packet to a VPN server. Think of it this manner: it would exist a flake strange if the person you're having a chat with wouldn't answer your question right away even though he or she is continuing correct in front of yous.

Go a fast VPN for your needs

A VPN speed examination will let you to choose the best VPN service for your individual needs. Don't forget about the factors that ultimately impact speed results, like VPN server location or your usual internet connection speed. If yous need more than tips, read this commodity on boosting VPN speed. Or just skip all the busy work and just become Surfshark VPN, where speed is all but guaranteed!