The easiest way to run a VPN speed test in 2023

This might seem unusual, but the time of the day does impact VPN speed as different numbers of internet connections are established at different times . This point is closely related to the server overload I touched on before in this article. Then again, as I said, top VPN providers that invest in proper VPN hardware understand this problem and solve it by increasing bandwidth.

Surfshark speeds

For people considering purchasing surfshark the speeds i measured are up to 200mb/s up and down over wireguard protocol. But only up to 50mb/s up and down on UDP or TCP. I measured quite a few servers and my max down and upload speed is 200mb/s.

Edit: I found a way to route the traffic through WireGuard without any problems, i am able to almost reach my maximum ISP speed so i am completely satisfied. I use it for torrenting and in the torrent application you need to select which network interface to use for WireGuard to work

The easiest way to run a VPN speed test in 2023

Testing VPN speed is so easy we can cover the subject in the intro alone. Just open a speed test page without a VPN and run a test. Then repeat the test after connecting the VPN to either the fastest server or the server you intend to use the most. See? That’s easy. But if you need to know how to test VPN speed in greater detail, read on further.

Table of contents

How to test your internet speed properly

Important to remember: you should first test your internet speed two times — without a VPN and with a VPN . The goal is to determine how much your VPN impacts the internet speed .

Testing internet speed without a VPN

By assessing your internet speed without a VPN, you’ll be able to compare the results fairly. I suggest using a speed testing tool (e.g., speedtest.net) to test the speed without a VPN and then using the same tool to test it with a VPN. If you’re not sure what is considered good speed, I suggest looking up average internet speeds by country.

Testing internet speed with a VPN

After you’ve tested your regular internet speed, turn on a VPN , and rerun the test . Some VPNs have built-in speed testing features (Surfshark has a built-in speed test on the Windows app), but in most cases, internet speed testing websites or apps will do the job. Run a speed test throughout multiple platforms for even more accurate results .

3 steps to test the VPN speed:

Step 1 : Close programs and applications that require a lot of bandwidth (streaming sites, YouTube, torrents, etc.)

Step 2: Open an internet speed testing tool:

– speedtest.net is the most commonly used speed testing website.

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

Step 3: Click Go, and the calculations will begin automatically.

Testing the VPN speed with Surfshark’s VPN speed test

For now, the Surfshark VPN speed test is only available on the Windows VPN app. You can find the test in the Windows app settings.

Follow these steps to run the test:

Step 1: Disconnect from the VPN. You can only use this feature when a VPN is disconnected !

Step 2: Go to Settings on your Windows Surfshark app.

Step 3: Go to VPN settings and click Speed test .

Step 4: Click Run Test .

Step 5: After the test is done, you’ll find information about every server from Surfshark’s server list. You’ll see the download and upload speed, as well as latency.

How to increase your internet speed

Once you’ve finished testing your VPN speeds, you might find the results aren’t to your liking. No need to fret, though. Since there are a lot of factors that go into internet speed, there are definitely some you can change. Start by trying one of these quick fixes:

• Change your VPN’s server location ;
• Switch to a different protocol ;
• Use your ethernet cable ;
• Restart your router or device.

If your speeds are still a pain, check out our tips on how to boost VPN speed .

How to read the VPN speed test results

The internet speed test results may not always be easy to read, so we prepared some explanations.

Download speed — the higher, the better

When checking VPN speed results, you should pay the most attention to the download speeds. A higher number indicates faster internet speed for casual browsing, downloading, and streaming. Upload speed mostly matters if you’re the one sharing files or uploading content.

Disclaimer: We prohibit using Surfshark services for any unlawful purposes as it is against our Terms of Service. Please be sure to act in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of streaming service providers.

Latency — the lower, the better

Simply put, lower latency (or ping time) means better speeds. It’s the time it takes for a device (computer, phone, etc.) to send a data packet to a VPN server. Think of it this way: it would be a bit strange if the person you’re having a conversation with wouldn’t answer your question right away, even though they are standing right in front of you.

What affects the VPN speed: factors to consider

Before we jump into testing your VPN speed, let’s review the elements that have a direct impact on your connection speed:

Factor #1: Your internet speed.

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

Factor #2: Distance to server locations.

The best speeds always come from VPN servers near you — or even in the same country. But if you live in the UK and connect to a VPN server in Australia, a speed drop is expected . The further away you are, the longer it takes to connect to the server.

Factor #3: VPN server hardware.

Your internet speed can slow down if you’re connected to an overcrowded VPN server . High server loads are more likely when you connect to a popular VPN server location like the US or the UK.

Choosing a good VPN provider like Surfshark will guarantee servers with no less than a 1Gbps port connection — and sometimes up to 10Gbps . The higher the number, the faster the connection. It means that such tasks as streaming videos and downloading files won’t suffer 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 a service, a VPN has to encrypt your data to keep it safe from onlookers and then decrypt it so it doesn’t look gibberish to you.

The part of your bandwidth used to transmit data that serves encryption and decryption purposes is called encryption overhead . Strong encryption algorithms can result in slightly lower speeds, but keep in mind that the change in speed is minimal. This is especially true when talking about premium VPN services that invest a lot of money in building fast and secure VPN infrastructure.

Factor #5: VPN protocols.

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

Factor #6: Time of the day.

This might seem unusual, but the time of the day does impact VPN speed as different numbers of internet connections are established at different times . This point is closely related to the server overload I touched on before in this article. Then again, as I said, top VPN providers that invest in proper VPN hardware understand this problem and solve it by increasing bandwidth.

Now that you’ve learned about factors affecting VPN speed, let’s see how to test it.

VPN speed test comparison

VPN services aren’t all the same, even if it’s how it may appear to the untrained eye. In fact , a lot depends on how a provider implements their services, from the server numbers down to the bandwidth of the ports their servers use.

Over the years, we have evaluated how some of the largest VPNs out there stack up against Surfshark: