A VPN can make a connection slower because it encrypts your traffic and sends it through an additional server, but a noticeable slowdown is not automatically the VPN’s fault. Compare your connection with the VPN off and on, then check server distance, protocol, Wi-Fi, router, device, and network-route conditions in that order.
First, find out whether the VPN is the cause
Run a speed test with the VPN disconnected and connected, using the same device, local network, and test service as close together in time as practical. Record download speed, upload speed, and latency (often shown as ping). A connection can have adequate throughput but still feel sluggish if latency is high.
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- Disconnect the VPN and run a test. Note the results and whether ordinary browsing or calls feel slow.
- Connect the VPN and repeat the test using the same server and test service, if you are comparing changes later.
- Compare both sets of results. If performance is poor in both states, investigate the ISP connection, modem or router, Wi-Fi, and device before treating the VPN as the culprit.
There is no universal percentage by which a VPN should slow a connection. The result depends on the route, network conditions, device, and VPN setup. Mozilla Support identifies local bandwidth, ISP conditions, operating system, device compatibility, and server distance among factors to consider (Mozilla VPN troubleshooting, updated July 15, 2025).
Common reasons a VPN feels slow
The VPN server is far away or busy
Traffic has to travel to the VPN server and back toward its destination. A geographically distant server can add latency, while congestion or server load can reduce performance. Start with a nearby server. If the app displays load information, treat it as a comparison clue—not a guarantee of faster end-to-end performance. Mozilla and Proton VPN both recommend considering server location and nearby options (Mozilla Support; Proton VPN Support).
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Your protocol may not suit the current setup
VPN protocols differ, but no one option is guaranteed to be fastest on every device and network. If your VPN app lets you choose, try another supported protocol and repeat the comparison under similar conditions. Proton recommends trying protocols available in its apps; Private Internet Access suggests WireGuard as an alternative to OpenVPN in its own guidance. Those are provider-specific recommendations, not universal performance guarantees (Proton VPN Support; Private Internet Access support).
Wi-Fi, router, or device limits are involved
A weak Wi-Fi signal, router settings or processing capacity, or a device struggling to handle its workload can affect performance whether or not a VPN is running. A router running VPN software may have its own processing limits; results also vary with hardware, firmware, protocol, server distance, and internet connection, according to Private Internet Access’s router guidance (Private Internet Access support).
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The ISP or route to the VPN server is congested
Network routing and upstream congestion can affect the path to a remote VPN endpoint even when your local connection is otherwise healthy. A slowdown that appears with a VPN does not, by itself, prove that your ISP is throttling VPN traffic. Compare your baseline, nearby servers, and available protocols before drawing that conclusion. Proton VPN notes that links upstream of the user’s network can affect the route (Proton VPN Support).
A self-hosted VPN has an upload bottleneck
If you connect to a VPN server you operate yourself, the server’s internet upload capacity can limit your download speed at the client. The server’s location, connection, and hardware therefore matter as well as the client’s own internet plan. GL.iNet documents server-side upload capacity and processing cost as possible constraints (GL.iNet documentation).
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Fixes to try, in order
- Choose a nearby server. If the VPN-off connection is healthy, connect to a VPN server geographically closer to you and compare latency and throughput. Change one variable at a time so you can tell whether the result changed.
- Try another available protocol. Use the VPN app’s protocol setting, if it offers one. Repeat the test on the same device and network; keep the server location consistent where possible.
- Check the local connection. Move closer to the router or compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet if your device has a compatible port or adapter. A wired comparison is a diagnostic, not a general VPN speed cure: it cannot fix a distant server, protocol issue, or problem on the ISP-to-server route. TP-Link’s troubleshooting guidance covers wired and wireless checks (TP-Link support).
- Restart network equipment as a basic check. If you suspect a router or modem issue, restarting it may help diagnose a local problem, but it is not a guaranteed fix. For a router-based VPN, consider whether the router hardware and configuration can handle the workload.
- Repeat the comparison at another time. If results vary, congestion or changing network conditions may be involved. Keep the device, test service, local network, and server location as consistent as practical.
If you use Ethernet only to test Wi-Fi, check that your device supports the connection and choose a cable long enough to reach the router. The cable is useful only for comparing local wired and wireless performance; it does not address remote VPN-server or ISP-route limits.
When to contact your VPN provider
If the slowdown persists across nearby servers and the protocols available in your app, contact the provider with details that help isolate the problem:
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- Your device model and operating-system version
- The VPN protocol and server location used
- VPN-off and VPN-on download, upload, and latency results
- The local network type (Wi-Fi or wired) and when you ran the tests
Private Internet Access’s support guidance indicates that connection details can help its team investigate (Private Internet Access support). If both VPN-off and VPN-on results are poor, contact your ISP or investigate your local network instead.
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How to compare servers or VPN services fairly
Use the same device, network, speed-test service, and time window as far as possible. Compare latency as well as download and upload throughput, and look for nearby server choices and protocol options in the specific apps you use. Results depend on your location, ISP, device, and route; the available guidance does not establish a universally fastest provider or a guaranteed improvement from switching.
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