The performance you’ll get out of a VPN depends on several factors. The most important of these is the protocol you choose, which significantly impacts performance. Usually, you’re going to get a choice between OpenVPN and WireGuard when using a top-tier VPN. We’ve found that WireGuard typically delivers speeds 30 to 50% faster than OpenVPN. Server distance also plays a crucial role, as connecting to nearby servers almost always provides better speeds than distant ones if all other factors are equal. Server load can dramatically affect your experience, with overcrowded servers creating bottlen
WireGuard consistently outperforms other protocols in our testing, delivering impressive speeds with only a 3% to 25% average speed loss based on our benchmarking. More traditional protocols lag behind, with IKEv2 and OpenVPN demonstrating greater typical speed loss in comparison to WireGuard or equivalents. For maximum speed, you should choose either WireGuard or a WireGuard-based proprietary protocol whenever available. NordVPN’s implementation, NordLynx, showed the best overall performance with an impressive 3% overall average speed loss, making it the current fastest VPN according to our t