Why Your VPN Is Slow and How to Fix It

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is considered to be a crucial tool for online security and privacy. It helps in protecting your data from ISPs, hackers, & government. However, sometimes a VPN can likely slow down your internet speed. This can prove to be frustrating, especially when streaming, gaming, or even browsing.

A slow VPN makes it extremely difficult to download large and heavy files, watch HD videos, or even perform simple tasks like browsing websites. Several VPN users experience issues while buffering, major lag in online games, or delays in video calls. These problems make people wonder if a VPN is worth using at all.

In this post, we will explain the reasons why your VPN connection might prove to be slow and how to fix the issue. We will also provide useful tips to improve the speed & performance of your VPN.

Why is Your VPN Slow?

Numerous reasons can be responsible for a slowed VPN connection. Understanding all of these reasons can considerably help you in troubleshooting as well as fixing the issues effectively. Here are a few of the common causes:

Distance from the VPN Server

• • The farther you are from the VPN server, the longer it would take for the data to travel.
  • A VPN server in another country is likely to witness higher latency as compared to a server in your own country.
  • Choosing a nearby server can very significantly improve your speed.

Overloaded VPN Server

• • In those cases, where too many users are connected to the same VPN server, the server witnesses a considerably slow-down in speed.
  • This usually happens because the server has limited bandwidth, and too many users sharing the same leads to major congestion.
  • You should ideally look for servers with lower loads to receive better performance.

Low-Quality VPN Provider

• • Some providers of VPN have slow servers and at times, poor infrastructure as well.
  • Free VPNs often limit speeds in order to encourage users to purchase premium plans.
  • Paid VPNs usually have faster speeds & more reliable connections as well.

Encryption Overhead

• • Absolutely strong encryption is necessary for security but this can also considerably slow down your connection.
  • Some of the protocol like WireGuard and OpenVPN offer absolutely strong security with faster speeds.
  • Lighter encryption can likely improve the overall speed but it may reduce the aspect of security to a certain extent.

ISP Speed & Throttling

• • Some of the ISPs considerably slows down VPN traffic intentionally.
  • They may detect and limit the usage of VPN to control the consumption of bandwidth.
  • Using a stealth VPN mode or obfuscated servers can largely help in bypassing throttling.

Slow Internet Connection

• • In case your base internet speed happens to be slow, your VPN speed will also certainly be slow.
  • Check your ISP plan & upgrade whenever necessary.
  • Run a speed test without the VPN in order to compare the difference.

Congestion in Network

• • Too many devices using the same Wi-Fi network can ultimately slow down your connection to a large extent.
  • Gaming, streaming, and large downloads on multiple devices can likely reduce the performance of the VPN.
  • You should make it a point to limit the usage of network while you opt to use a VPN.

Incorrect VPN Protocol

• • Some VPN protocols are usually faster as compared to others.
  • IKEv2 and WireGuard are popularly known for their high-speed performance.
  • OpenVPN (UDP) is a great balance between speed and security.

Background Apps & Downloads

• • Other apps using the internet can likely slow down the speed of your VPN.
  • Close all the other unnecessary applications or pause heavy downloads before using the VPN.

Security & Firewall Settings

• • Some of the firewalls, antivirus software, as well as security settings can considerably interfere with VPN traffic.
  • Adjust the settings or temporarily disable the security software in order to see if the speed improves remarkably.

How Do You Fix a Slow VPN?

If your VPN is slow, then try the following solutions:

Connect to a Closer Server

• • Choose a VPN server that is near to your location and reduce latency to a certain extent.
  • The closer the server, you will experience a faster connection.

Switch to a Lesser Crowded Server

• • Some VPN apps show server load. You should pick a server that has fewer users.
  • You should try to avoid servers in highly populated areas where traffic is very high.

Upgrade Your VPN Provider

• • You should use a premium VPN service that offers high-speed servers.
  • It is wise to avoid free VPNs as they often have slow data limits and speeds.

Change Your VPN Protocol

• • You should try different protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKev2.
  • WireGuard is one of the fastest and most secure options.

Disable Unnecessary Features

• • Some of the VPNs offer extra security features that may eventually slow down the speed.
  • Turn off Onion over VPN, Double VPN, or Kill Switch if you do not need them.

Check the Speed of Your Internet

• • Disconnect from the VPN & then test the speed of your internet.
  • In case your base internet is slow, then you should contact your ISP.

Restart Your Modem and Router

• • Restarting your router can significantly clear the congestion in the network.
  • Place your router in an open area for receiving better signal strength.

Use a Wired Connection

• • Wi-Fi signals are often unstable. You should preferably use an Ethernet cable for establishing a stable connection.
  • This can improve the overall speed and reduce the lag as well.

Choose Background Apps & Downloads

• • You should stop any downloads or updates that are running in the background.
  • Close all the unnecessary apps that consume data without offering any value to you.

Try a Different Device

• • In case your VPN is slow on one device, then you should try using the same on another.
  • Some devices handle VPN encryption better than the others.

Use a Dedicated IP Address

• • Some of the VPNs offer dedicated IPs for achieving faster speeds as well as better performance.
  • Shared IPs can slow down considerably due to multiple users.

Upgrade Your Internet Plan

• • In case your ISP plan has low speeds, consider upgrading to a plan which is faster and more efficient.
  • Higher speeds provide a better VPN experience.

Best VPNs for Fast Speeds in 2025

If you require the fastest VPN experience, then you should surely consider the following top VPNs:

• • NordVPN – Offers high-speed servers with WireGuard protocol.
  • ExpressVPN – Reliable and fast with several server locations.
  • CyberGhost – Optimized servers for gaming and streaming.
  • Surfshark – Fast, affordable, & supports unlimited devices.
  • ProtonVPN – Secure and offers very fast speeds with no logs.

Conclusion

A slow VPN can prove to be frustrating, but there are several ways to fix the same. You may try different solutions like changing protocols, switching servers, or upgrading your VPN provider. In case your internet is slow even without any VPN, then you should necessarily contact your ISP.

By the usage of right settings as well as choosing a good VPN provider, you can likely enjoy a secure and fast browsing experience. It is crucial to test and adopt different solutions until you finally find what actually works best for you. A VPN with fast speed also ensures better security, privacy, as well as a smooth internet experience.