Best fast VPN 2023: which provider is fastest
In terms of usage, it’s plain sailing. The apps are robust and reliable, but still super simple to use. Nifty features like auto-selection of the best server, split tunneling, and a kill switch make it a simple choice for staying safe online – and its unlimited simultaneous connections policy means you’ll be able to install it on every device you own.
The Fastest VPNs in 2023: Our Top 5 Picks
VPNs can be very useful in a lot of scenarios. They help you stream movies and series, download files, get deals from international retailers, and plenty more. But what can you do to make sure the VPN’s fast enough for intensive activities, like online gaming?
We tested tested the speed of dozens of VPNs so you don’t have to, and here are our top five picks for the fastest VPN service:
- NordVPN: The fastest VPN available right now
- CyberGhost: VPN service with dedicated high-speed servers for different purposes
- Surfshark: Fast and affordable VPN provider
- PIA: VPN with military-grade security and loads of servers worldwide
- ExpressVPN: User-friendly VPN with blazing fast speeds
NordVPN emerged from our tests as the service with the fastest VPN servers. If you need speed and anonymity, there’s no better pick.
NordVPN
Scroll down for more detailed information about our tests of the fastest VPNs for both local and faraway servers.
Speed is key for any online activity you’ll use a VPN for. Gaming? You need a high-speed VPN to avoid FPS drops. Unblocking streaming services? Without a fast VPN, you’ll be stuck with low video quality and buffering. Downloading large files? If you don’t want to wait for days, a fast VPN is crucial.
But how do you know which VPN to pick? How do you even check a VPN’s speed? Luckily, you won’t have to do any testing. We researched dozens of VPNs to find the fastest VPN provider, and our results were clear. NordVPN has the highest speeds compared to all other services.
Read our article below to learn more about our speed tests and how to pick the perfect VPN for you.
Top 5 Fastest VPNs Right Now
The five VPNs in the table below are top-of-the-line regarding fast connection speeds. Thanks to their well-optimized servers, and efficient VPN protocols, they’ll make sure you maintain a good VPN connection when streaming, downloading, or just browsing the web. If you’re suffering because of ISP throttling, these VPNs can even improve your internet speed!
| Feature | #1 NordVPN | #2 CyberGhost | #3 Surfshark | #4 PIA | #5 ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 5,400+ | 9,000+ | 3,200+ | 33,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Number of countries | 60 | 90 | 100 | 84 | 94 |
| % of normal download speed | 96% | 95% | 95% | 94% | 94% |
| % of normal upload speed | 96% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 94% |
| Ping on nearby servers (ms) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Optimized streaming servers | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx (WireGuard) | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway |
| Price | $3.19/month | $2.19/month | $2.30/month | $2.19/month | $6.67/month |
| Purchase | Get NordVPN | Get CyberGhost | Get Surfshark | Get PIA | Get ExpressVPN |
Below we take a deep dive into the providers with the fastest VPN servers, among other essential features they offer.
1. NordVPN: The fastest VPN service on the market
What We Like
- Retained 96% of our normal speed
- Robust protocols to ensure high speeds and secure browsing
- Low ping, even when gaming or downloading on faraway servers
- Supports P2P file sharing
- Doesn’t keep logs
- Enhanced AES 256 encryption
What We Don’t Like
- Limited multi-language support
NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market right now. We’ve tested NordVPN‘s download and upload speeds extensively on dozens of servers. It never fails to live up to the highest standard of performance. That’s why we’ve successfully used it for many of our online activities.
We watched some of the best Netflix shows, like The Walking Dead, with no lag using NordVPN servers from different continents.
We also played games on faraway servers without interruptions and downloaded content at blazing-fast speeds.
NordVPN’s success is mainly due to its qualitative servers and efficient security protocols. OpenVPN, one of the main protocols NordVPN uses, is known for its great connection speeds. But NordVPN is not just the fastest VPN. It doesn’t keep any logs of your activity, and it can help you stay anonymous online with its enhanced AES 256-bit encryption.
You can leverage its 30-day money-back guarantee to try it for free.
Our choice
Deal Save big with 68% off a two-year subscription + three months free!
2. CyberGhost: Fastest VPN with dedicated high-speed servers
What We Like
- Top speed results in our connection tests
- Dedicated streaming and gaming servers that offer higher speeds
- 45-day money-back guarantee, the most generous offer out of all premium VPNs
- No-logs policy and complete anonymity while browsing the web
What We Don’t Like
- Can experience slower speeds on distant servers
CyberGhost was almost tied with Surfshark for the second spot in our fastest VPN list. But even if it’s not the fastest VPN we’ve tested, hands-down, it’s still a very good (and blazing-fast) choice. When we reviewed CyberGhost‘s connection speed on nearby servers, we maintained as much as 95% of our base connection.
This is fast enough to stream your favorite sports, download large games, or watch any movie in HD. For example, we used CyberGhost to access some of our favorite shows on Paramount+. Even on faraway servers, we maintained as much as 94% of our connection, which is astounding.
So how does CyberGhost do this? Besides top protocols like OpenVPN, CyberGhost optimizes its servers for specific needs. For example, if we wanted to play games like Overwatch on a server in Korea, they had dedicated infrastructure for that specific use.
If you’re in Europe, and you want to watch movies on US Netflix, again, dedicated servers for that specific purpose. This personalized infrastructure maintains high connection speeds no matter what you want to do.
This VPN provider does not keep any of your personal information on its servers and ensures you stay completely anonymous online by using military-grade encryption for your data to keep it away from the prying eyes of your ISP and other third parties.
Not to mention, CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. It also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest such offer out of all VPNs. That means you have almost two months after purchase to decide if CyberGhost is fast enough for your needs.
Click the button below to give it a try.
Best fast VPN 2023: which provider is fastest?
When we choose our ISPs, connection speeds are at the top of our wishlists – so when picking the best VPN services, we should be considering the same. That’s why we hand-test the speeds of every provider we review, and factor them in to the scores we give them.
All the services listed here are seriously fast VPNs, but it’s worth noting that if you haven’t got access to a 1Gbps+ connection, you’re unlikely to feel the difference between any of them.
In that case, it’s worth going for the VPN that offers the best general privacy, or certain niche features you’ll use. However, if speed is your primary concern, we’ve rounded up the five fastest VPNs around.
What makes a great fast VPN?
In this guide we’re prioritizing speed over everything else. However, every fast VPN service featured here will also deliver top-quality privacy and security too, so you won’t have to sacrifice usability for class-leading speeds.
If you’re interested in what’s under the hood, you’ll notice that all the fastest VPN services use protocols other than OpenVPN – whether it’s plain WireGuard or an in-house protocol like ExpressVPN’s Lightway or NordVPN’s NordLynx.
And, if you’re super concerned about connection speeds, you’re likely looking to game and stream content in HD or 4K. It’s worth making sure that
NB: The order of this article is based on maximum connection speed. However, we have prioritized VPNs we consider to be better products when speeds are similar.
1. Surfshark – The best-value VPN on the market
If you’re looking for the fastest VPN on the planet, sign up to Surfshark. With virtually no slow-down, even on our ultra-fast connection, it’s quite simply unbeatable. Plus, it’s simple to use, super secure, and an absolute bargain at less than $2.50 a month.
2. NordVPN – Big name offers serious security
With speeds very close to Surfshark, NordVPN delivers a slightly more premium package but maintains its simplicity of use. It’s one of the most private providers around, and it’s remarkably affordable, too.
3. Hide.me – Incredibly fast in every situation
With blazing fast connections when using both WireGuard and OpenVPN, Hide.me is a speed freak’s dream. Its super-configurable apps are very powerful, and if you can cope with Hide.me’s complexity, it’s an excellent choice.
The best fast VPNs available today
1. Surfshark
Incredible speeds and unbeatable value
Number of servers: 3,200+ | Server locations: 100 | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited | Streaming sites unblocked: Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu | WireGuard or alternative modern protocol?: Yes | Maximum tested speed on 1Gbps line: 950Mbps
+3 months free
Surfshark 24 Months
Surfshark 12 Months
Surfshark 1 Month
The fastest VPN we’ve ever tested
Unblocks just about anything
Excellent value
OpenVPN speeds are mediocre
Over the four or so years it’s been on the scene, Surfshark has been making some serious waves. Starting off a something of a minnow and gradually growing into its namesake, it’s now a well-rounded VPN that’s private, pleasant to use, and – most importantly – really freakin’ fast!
In our last Surfshark review, it was the fastest VPN we tested bar none. We’ve seen improvements in speeds over the last year or so, but it blew us out the water this time with peaks of up to 950Mbps on our 1Gbps connection. That’s almost impossible to top.
It’s not just a swift swimmer, though. Surfshark’s one of the few providers who that can unblock just about any streaming service, from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime to smaller services like All4 and 10Play.
In terms of usage, it’s plain sailing. The apps are robust and reliable, but still super simple to use. Nifty features like auto-selection of the best server, split tunneling, and a kill switch make it a simple choice for staying safe online – and its unlimited simultaneous connections policy means you’ll be able to install it on every device you own.
If you’re planning on using OpenVPN a lot, it’s worth checking out providers below like Hide.me or Mullvad. The vast majority of users will be using the default WireGuard protocol, though, so this won’t be an issue.
Overall, it’s a complete package, and to top it all off it’s an absolute bargain. if you’re looking to surf the web at a real rate of knots, Surfshark’s your best option.
Surfshark is the fastest VPN on the market
Whether you’re just looking to secure your browsing or want to unblock overseas streaming or torrent in safety, Surfshark is a hugely tempting proposition. At less than $2.50 a month it’s very cheap compared to the competition, but it punches well above its weight.
2. NordVPN
Searing speeds from the privacy giant
Number of servers: 5,500+ | Server locations: 60 countries | Maximum devices supported: 6 | Streaming sites unblocked: Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu | WireGuard or alternative modern protocol?: Yes, NordLynx (WireGuard) | Maximum tested speed on 1Gbps line: 820Mbps
NordVPN 2 Year
NordVPN 1 Year
NordVPN 1 Month
Great speeds in every situation
Good streaming performance
Tons of servers worldwide
Privacy-focused experience
App UI isn’t perfect
If you’ve heard of just one VPN, it’ll be NordVPN. The old favorite is hugely well-known, and with marketing ploys ranging from YouTube plugs to sports team sponsorships and TV ads, Nord’s certainly not afraid of shouting about itself.
And with good reason. Ranking as our second-favorite VPN overall after our most recent NordVPN review, when it comes to connection speeds it’s impressive. On our superfast 1Gbps line, we consistently reached speeds of up to 820Mbps when using the NordLynx protocol (active by default in just about all the apps).
To put that in perspective, the average US home has a connection capable of around 100Mbps, and in practice NordVPN will be totally undetectable in terms of Internet slow-down on an average line.
Other than its excellent connections, you might be drawn to Nord because of its security-focused service. With its powerful and additional features like Onion over VPN and Double VPN it’s a hacker’s nightmare, and is all but guaranteed to keep you anonymous online.
A slight issue we have is with the layout of the otherwise polished and exceedingly usable mobile apps – the interface is taken directly from its desktop counterpart, and while it works well on larger screen, the map-based design is a bit awkward on phone screens – rivals such as ExpressVPN are just a little more usable. However, that’s unlikely to truly put anyone off, as you’ll only be in the app for a minute or two to select a server or adjust settings.
Overall, if you’re after a combination of ease of use, excellent speeds, and powerful streaming ability, NordVPN could well be your choice.
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested
With super fast and reliable connections, NordVPN is a great choice for speed. Not only is it fast, but it’s secure, powerful, and has apps for just about every device. Plus, its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can give it a test drive risk-free.
3. Hide.me
Incredibly fast, and super configurable
Number of servers: 2,000 | Server locations: 75 | Maximum devices supported: 10 | Streaming sites unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ | WireGuard or alternative modern protocol?: Yes | Maximum tested speed on 1Gbps line: 880Mbps