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Its proprietary Lightway protocol is engineered to keep your connections fast without compromising security.
From our testing location in Dallas,we saw minimal speed loss on ExpressVPNs nearby servers.
For instance, connecting to Miami only dropped our speeds by 6% you’d barely notice the difference.
Most VPNs struggle to deliver half these speeds on distant servers.
The only downside is that ExpressVPN costs more than other options.
However,it offers frequent discounts throughout the year that make it much more affordable.
While it wasnt always as consistent as our top pick, the difference was barely noticeable during regular use.
NordVPN also offers OpenVPN, but it couldn’t match NordLynx’s speeds in any of our tests.
The performance was impressive on all NordVPN servers.
There was no buffering even when we were streaming YouTube in HD.
ThePresetsfeature on macOS lets you create custom server configurationsfor different activities.
Instead of switching configs manually each time, you might store your preferred server and protocol combinations as profiles.
For example, we set up a gaming preset with NordLynx and Miami servers for the lowest ping.
This saved us time from constantly adjusting prefs for different tasks.
My only problem with NordVPN is that you cant use NordLynx on all devices.
For instance, its not available on smart TVs, game consoles, or routers.
Even its regular distant connections held up well, with most staying under a 35% speed loss.
Some connections performed up to 30% better than they did without this feature.
However, there were also a few outliers the UK server slowed our speed by 73%.
However, for everyday browsing and streaming, you likely wont notice a big difference.
I requested a refund through its live chat and got my money back in a few days.
Despite all these devices hogging bandwidth at once, our connection stayed strong with no buffering or lag.
This is decent, but we’ve seen better from Surfshark before.
ExpressVPN and NordVPN consistently outperformed it, with lower speed drops even on distant servers.
One minor annoyance is that some servers take longer to establish a connection.
However,once we established a connection, performance remained stable with no issues.
Its long-term subscriptions offer excellent value at just$1.99/month.you might test it risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Just ask for a refund if youre not happy with the speeds.
These factors determine how well a VPN can handle activities like streaming, gaming, and downloading without slowdowns.
For a detailed breakdown of our testing process,check out our VPN testing methodology page.
How can I improve my VPN connection for gaming and torrenting?
Connect to servers close to your location or the game servers, and alwayschoose VPNs that offer fast protocols.
A wired connection and servers with low load will also help reduce lag and packet loss.
If your VPN offers port forwarding, enable it.
This creates direct connections to more peers and can significantly boost download speeds.
Some VPNs also support SOCKS5 proxy, which is lighter than full VPN encryption and can improve torrenting speeds.
Which VPN protocol is the fastest?
As a runner-up, OpenVPN produces decent speeds while providing strong security (but only with UDP).
Is Surfshark faster than NordVPN?
Surfshark isn’t slow by any means it handles 4K streaming and gaming without issues on nearby servers.
However, NordVPN’s performance puts it firmly ahead in the speed department.
Will a VPN speed up my internet connection?
However, there are some situations where a VPN might actually improve your speeds.
Just keep in mind thata VPN usually cant exceed the base speed you get from your internet provider.
What is the fastest VPN for Android and Firestick?
Whats the fastest free VPN?
Many also lack modern protocols like WireGuard that help maintain fast connections.
Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you cantest ExpressVPNs speeds risk-free.
If youre not satisfied, its easy to claim a refund.
To summarize, the fastest VPNs in 2025 are…
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