Fastest VPN of 2024
Most VPNs will ruin your internet speeds. We tested VPNs to find the fastest on the market.
Our Experts
Best VPN for Speed
NordVPN
Best Privacy VPN
Mullvad
Best Cheap VPN
Surfshark
Best Open-Source VPN
Proton VPN
Best Overall VPN
ExpressVPN
The fastest VPN in 2024
If you're using a virtual private network for data-heavy online activities, including streaming, gaming, video conferencing or torrenting, your VPN speeds will be a major consideration. Even if your internet is fast, remember that many VPNs can cut your speeds in half, which can be a drag on your overall online experience. A fast VPN ensures that your streams are smooth, your games are lag-free, your calls are stable and your downloads are quick.
Determining the fastest VPN is a time-intensive, imperfect process. CNET's VPN experts have spent years testing and reviewing dozens of VPNs and have developed a speed-testing methodology to mirror what the typical VPN user would experience as closely as possible. This way, our analysis of the fastest VPNs can provide the most practical value to VPN consumers. Keep in mind that this is a list of the fastest VPNs as we measured them in 2024, and it should be referenced as a general guide to how you may expect these VPNs to perform. Your results may vary depending on a variety of factors, including what platform you're using, your location and the level of service you're receiving from your internet service provider.
With a fast VPN, your speed loss will be virtually unnoticeable.
VPN speeds compared
| 2020 tested speed loss* | 2022 tested speed loss* | 2023 tested speed loss* | 2024 tested speed loss* | Net change from previous test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 53% | 13% | 10% | 11% | Same in 2024 tests |
| Mullvad | N/A | 23% | N/A | 13% | Faster in 2024 tests |
| Surfshark | 17% | 19% | 17% | 17% | Same in 2024 tests |
| Proton VPN | 9% | 17% | 36% | 21% | Faster in 2024 tests |
| ExpressVPN | 51% | 2% | 18% | 25% | Slower in 2024 tests |
| IPVanish | 65% | 58% | 26% | 44% | Slower in 2024 tests |
| PIA | N/A | N/A | 24% | 49% | Slower in 2024 tests |
*Lower number is better.
What's the fastest VPN right now?
NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN, based on our latest speed tests. Out of the VPNs we speed tested, NordVPN's speeds were the most consistently fast across the board. NordVPN averaged just an 11% speed loss overall, Mullvad came in second place with a 13% average speed loss, Surfshark followed with a 17% overall speed loss. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN rounded out the list with a 21% speed loss and a 25% speed loss, respectively.
Other VPNs we tested
PIA
The speeds we measured through Private Internet Access (PIA) were underwhelming, with a middling 49% average internet download speed loss. Although that's fine for casual users with fast connections -- think fiber, not satellite internet -- it falls well below a 20% average, which we expect from the fastest VPNs. ExpressVPN clocked 24.8%, Surfshark 17%, Mullvad 13% and NordVPN 11%, leaving PIA in the dust. If you're unconcerned with speed loss but looking for an OG VPN provider that's cheap, delivers excellent privacy and offers unlimited simultaneous connections, then PIA is a good choice. Subscriptions cost $12 per month, $40 per year or $80 every three years, which makes PIA one of the most budget-friendly VPNs in the industry.
IPVanish
In our 2024 speed tests, we calculated an average 44% download speed loss with IPVanish, making it one of the slowest VPNs we tested. We registered the fastest speeds through WireGuard on MacOS, with an average speed loss of 17%, which is decent but not competitive with other VPNs’ WireGuard speeds. IPVanish’s abysmal OpenVPN speeds on both MacOS (58% speed loss) and Windows (67% speed loss) are what ultimately dragged it down and out of the running for CNET’s Fastest VPN. Speeds that bad will have a noticeable effect, regardless of how fast your base internet speeds are. We had issues while attempting to stream content through IPVanish’s UK servers. If you’re looking for a fast VPN, look elsewhere.
How we test the fastest VPNs
We conducted our 2024 VPN speed tests in conjunction with CNET’s Labs team from various testing locations in Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky. We tested each VPN’s OpenVPN and WireGuard (or the equivalent protocol) speeds on both MacOS and Windows computers. We tested ExpressVPN’s speeds through its proprietary Lightway protocol and NordVPN's speeds through its NordLynx protocol in lieu of WireGuard. Each VPN we tested underwent a minimum of 252 individual speed tests, consisting of three separate rounds of tests, each to six locations globally for each protocol on Mac and Windows devices.
Before each round of testing, we measured our non-VPN speeds three times to calculate the average speeds we were getting from our ISP. Then, we tested speeds three times each to VPN server locations in New York, the UK, Australia, France, Germany and Singapore. This way, we can get a good read on VPN speeds to popular locations across the globe. Once we completed the three rounds of testing at each location, we calculated our average VPN and non-VPN speeds to determine the percentage of speed lost overall through the VPN.
Calculating the percentage of speed lost through the VPN allows us to clearly represent how you can expect these VPNs to perform for you. Your base internet speeds may be a lot faster or slower than what we got through the internet connections we used during our testing. Saying that we achieved speeds of 341.5 Mbps with NordVPN doesn't paint the full picture without putting it into the proper context of how much of a speed drop that was in relation to our base speeds.
We conducted all of our tests through the Ookla speed-testing platform because it's user-friendly and among the most widely used speed-testing sites. It's also the tool that most VPN users will likely use to measure their own speeds.
Factors to consider in a fast VPN
Based on our years of experience testing VPNs for privacy, usability and speed, these are the most important factors to consider when purchasing a fast VPN:
Speed
If you're looking for the fastest VPN, then speed will naturally be your top consideration. There are a lot of VPNs that struggle with speeds and can slow your internet by 50% or more. Look for a VPN that drops your speed by only about 20% or less.
Privacy
Privacy is a major consideration for any VPN, regardless of its speed performance. The VPNs we've highlighted above all deliver top-notch privacy paired with fast speeds, so you'll get the best of both worlds with any of our recommended options. Look for basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy (preferably audited and/or tested in the wild). Other privacy features to look out for include obfuscation, multi-hop connections and Tor over VPN.
Protocols
Some VPN protocols can deliver faster speeds than others. We recommend using the OpenVPN protocol for the best combination of speed and security. If you want to get the most speed out of your VPN, then you can use a lightweight protocol like WireGuard or your VPN provider's proprietary (usually WireGuard-based) VPN protocol.
Server network
You'll want a VPN service with a large network of servers worldwide. This will help ensure that you'll have access to fast, stable VPN connections wherever you may be located. Generally, around 75 server locations and above is a decent network. Some VPNs even have servers in 100 or more countries. The main thing you'll want in your VPN's network is servers located near where you are or where you plan on traveling. If a VPN only has servers in 50 countries, but covers all of the regions you plan on using, then its server network should suffice.
Cost
If you're on a budget, then the overall value of your VPN will be a major consideration. If you want the largest savings, opt for a yearly plan, which will generally afford you better value over time than going month-to-month. A budget-friendly VPN can cost about $40 to $60 per year, while a more expensive VPN can run you upwards of $100 per year.
Fastest VPN FAQ
How do I speed up my VPN connection?
There are a few things you can try if you want to speed up your VPN connection. In theory, WireGuard and newer proprietary VPN protocols that more providers offer should offer faster speeds than OpenVPN. You can try one of these protocols to boost your speeds if gaining maximum speed is your primary objective and you’re not getting what you want out of your OpenVPN connection.
If location is not a concern, you’ll want to connect to the server location closest to your physical location. This will cut down on the physical distance your data travels and, in turn, will deliver faster speeds.
Connecting to a server overloaded with users can result in slower speeds. Many VPN apps include information regarding server load, so try to look for a server indicating a light load for optimum speeds.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speeds?
Generally, yes, due to factors including the distance between you and the VPN server you’re connecting to, the encryption used by the VPN and the overall load on the server you’re using.
Can a VPN speed up my internet?
In certain cases, your VPN can actually help increase your internet speeds. If your internet service provider is deliberately throttling your internet connection, a VPN can help because it hides your activity from your ISP.
Do I need a VPN?
You need a VPN if you want to maintain your privacy online and hide your internet activity from your ISP, government entities and other snoops. If you want to evade online censorship or unblock geographically restricted content, you need a VPN. VPNs can also be beneficial for gaming, torrenting, finding deals online and speeding up your internet connection if your ISP is deliberately throttling your speeds. Anyone who uses the internet can benefit from a VPN in one way or another.
How can I test my VPN speeds?
You can test your own VPN speeds using an online speed testing tool like the one provided by Ookla. First, test your base internet speeds with the VPN disengaged and make a note of your non-VPN speeds. Then, connect to a server through your VPN app, run a new speed test and note the speed change. It's a good idea to run multiple tests both with and without the VPN turned on to get a fuller picture of the VPN's speed performance. Most VPNs also offer a money-back guarantee, so it's a good idea to test your VPN speeds during that trial period. If you're not getting acceptable speeds even after trying different server locations and VPN protocols, you may want to give another VPN a try before the trial period ends.
What's the best free VPN?
If you need to use a free VPN, we recommend using Proton VPN's free version. It's the only free VPN worth using because it's secure, comparatively fast and doesn't impose usage or data caps. Otherwise, we don't recommend using most free VPNs because the majority of them are essentially useless, if not downright dangerous. Free VPNs typically impose data and usage limits, employ weaker encryption and offer fewer server locations than their paid counterparts. Free VPNs also need to make money somehow, so you can expect them to sell your data to third-party advertisers. Some have even been known to contain malware.