Virtual private networks (VPNs) can slow down your internet speeds. This happens because your data is encrypted and redirected to another server by the VPN. While most users experience a slight decrease, some may encounter significantly lower speeds that can affect your online activities. However, you can fix this issue and boost your internet speed while using a VPN.
What Affects Your Internet Speed?
VPNs work by encrypting your connection and sending it through a secure VPN server. Since they add an extra layer between you and your internet, it slows down your internet speeds. But, you can use some tips and tricks to fix this issue and improve the speed of your connection.
What Causes Latency?
Here are some of the main causes of network latency:
Server Load
Your connection speeds drop when too many users are connected to the same server. With free VPNs, you will most likely experience overload issues because the VPN fits too many users into a few servers to let users in. However, users with premium VPNs are less likely to have latency.
Your Internet Speeds
If your internet service provider (ISP) offers slow internet speeds, then your VPN is not the only cause of sluggish speeds. Moreover, your ISP may throttle your speed. You may notice this when your internet slows down at certain times or while browsing specific websites. As a result, you may face difficulty while downloading files or streaming videos.
In such situations, it is best to use a VPN as it can bypass any content or speed limitations imposed by your ISP.
Distance to the Server
The lesser distance you keep with your VPN server, the better speeds you will get. For example, if you are using an Australian server while living in the UK, it will take longer for the data packet to travel. Therefore, you need to choose a nearby server to get faster speeds.
Does a VPN Make Your Internet Faster?
In certain situations, you can improve the speed of your internet using a VPN. It occurs when your ISP targets you with bandwidth throttling which slows down your connection to reduce pressure on the wider network. Your VPN works in the following ways:
- It helps in avoiding bandwidth throttling. If your ISP limits your internet speeds for certain online activities, such as streaming live sports during peak hours, your connection will most likely slow down. However, with a VPN, your ISP remains unaware of the websites you are browsing. Hence, they can’t affect your online experience anymore.
- It helps improve the ISP routing process. Since your ISP doesn’t always route data through the fastest channels, you can bypass these limitations by using a VPN.
How to Make Your VPN Faster?
Your internet speed may decrease while using a VPN. This happens when your web traffic is routed through a VPN server, which can delay your data transfer process. But, you can use the following methods to get the best VPN speeds:
1. Check Your Protocol Settings
Most premium VPNs let you change security settings and other factors that influence your VPN speed. Go to Advanced Settings and switch to another internet protocol. You can also select UDP to get faster speeds but it can cause instability to your connection. If you want a slower but stable connection, choose TCP.
2. Restart Your Router/Modem
You can simply restart your router or modem if it is working slow due to memory leaks or other issues. In addition, you need to understand that a VPN connection on your router will be slower than connecting to the VPN through your device. However, if your VPN connection on your router has slow speeds, then it is better to use it on your phone or computer only.
3. Use a Wired Connection
While your Wi-Fi connection may be more convenient, it can slow down your speed if you connect it to multiple devices on the same network. Since wireless connections have a shared channel to transmit data to multiple devices on your home network, they will give slower speeds. In such situations, you should consider switching to Spectrum Internet. With a wired connection, you will have faster connectivity. Get in touch with servicio al cliente de Spectrum to see which internet plan matches your requirements.
4. Switch to a Premium VPN
Free VPNs are great, but they have hidden costs that you may not know about. For example, if they are providing free services to you, they will cover their costs by selling your data. Hence, with poor security and less stability, you will get slower speeds with free VPNs.
On the other hand, premium VPNs have proper server networks with better encryption protocols. They focus on protecting your privacy and security; hence, you will have a much better experience.
5. Adjust Your Encryption Level
You may be able to change your encryption type, depending on your VPN, platform, and device. Before adjusting your protocols, you need to understand the difference between them and their potential risks.
Conclusion
As you can see, many factors influence the speed, performance, and latency of your internet connection. With a VPN, you can have a good browsing experience with minimal or no latency. You can use the abovementioned ways to improve your speeds while using a VPN.
