Does using a VPN affect your internet speed and overall performance?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a rapidly growing and popular tool for several reasons. Firstly, a VPN’s primary functionality is to protect its users from online harm. In the simplest of terms, it allows you to re-route your internet traffic to keep your time online as safe and secure as possible.

An encrypted communications line is established between the person’s device (aka your laptop or mobile phone) and the VPN server they are subscribed to. Via this secure server, you then connect to whatever online space you want, meaning your IP address and security details are protected, utilising the VPN server as a secure conduit.

READ MORE: What is a VPN and which one should I use?

Essentially, a VPN allows you to legally set up your own private network, routing your internet traffic through a remote server for security and online anonymity.

Another reason people use a VPN is to bypass geo-restricted content in certain parts of the world. Some territories may have exclusive access to particular sports or movies. Using one allows you to connect to a paid-for server located in that part of the world and gain access to otherwise restricted content. The VPN server’s location makes it look like you are located there, thus bypassing any restrictions.

Not only is the speed of your internet connection significant, specifically if you’re streaming live television or playing video games, but so are what's known as speed loss numbers. Using a VPN does tend to slow down your overall speed because you are re-routing the information via a remote server. However, the negative impacts can be minimal, with different VPN providers offering various speeds and levels of quality.

Just like your broadband at home, it’s wise to consider both download and upload speeds and the average ping. These all determine the overall quality of your internet speed, meaning whether it will be quicker or slower to download or upload content or stream and whether you experience any lag (the latency delay between the user executing an action and the server's reaction to carry it out).

READ MORE: Which is the best VPN to use in the UK?

NordVPN is considered the market leader because of its incredibly fast speeds, high customer satisfaction, and airtight security features. It’s easy to see why it’s popular among users. Online reviews and testing suggest NordVPN is the fastest, with speed losses amounting to just 11%, which isn’t much and is considerably better than its rivals.

NordVPN also offers the most comprehensive global coverage, with VPN services in 126 countries and over 8,100 servers, meaning wherever you are in the world, the quality of their service won’t dwindle.

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Yes, using a VPN will make your internet speed slower, but using a reliable provider like NordVPN renders it minimal, meaning you shouldn’t be able to notice any changes. Some VPN providers out there are not as impressive when it comes to speed loss.

Whether using a free VPN or paying for a market leader such as NordVPN, you will experience some speed loss, which might only be noticeable if you are, for example, tracking the download or upload progress of something. The bandwidth used to encrypt your information slows things down, meaning without it, your VPN would be a VN, so the small sacrifice is worth it to protect your personal details.

NordLynx is something you can add to your NordVPN subscription in order to reduce speed loss even further and optimise your connection.

READ MORE: How to set up a VPN to use in the UK

Each VPN provider has different levels of speed loss, ranging from barely anything to over 20%. This can encourage or dissuade users from signing up, but it’s also based on other factors such as cost, customer service, and reliability.

Here are how the top VPN providers have compared over the past five years (courtesy of CNET's testing), with NordVPN coming out on top.

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Here is what NordVPN has to offer, with monthly, annual, and two-year commitments available.

Each subscription offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, various levels of cloud storage, and added security functions. Generally, the longer you commit, the more benefits you receive (and the more cost-efficient your monthly charges become). That said, some payment plans can cost more but provide additional support.

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The short answer is yes.

While speed loss is a thing when it comes to using a VPN, the positives greatly outweigh any negatives. You can access geo-restricted content, still watch your subscription content while travelling abroad, and rest easy knowing your activity and personal data will be secure from hackers and any tracking third parties, without noticing any changes. The statistical downside is a slight numerical loss of speed, but there's no need for alarm. If you sign up with NordVPN then it simply won’t become something that hinders your online experience.

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