Does NordVPN Slow Down The Internet?

All Virtual Private Network services slow down internet speeds. There’s no doubt about that. But you won’t notice the difference if you use the best VPNs in the market, like the NordVPN app. The rate at which this VPN service slows internet connection speeds is minimal, and it might improve your speeds in some cases. We will answer the question “Does NordVPN slow down internet speeds” below to see how the premium VPN performs. Take a look!

Table of Contents

How NordVPN Can Affect Internet Speeds

NordVPN leads to slower speeds because the internet traffic goes through the extra step of passing through VPN servers. But it can affect the upload and download speeds in other ways, such as the following.

Eliminating ISP Throttling

Internet service providers have a habit of bandwidth throttling based on your online activities. Usually, they throttle the bandwidth of various customers to decongest the network during internet rush hour. But the providers use IP traffic to determine who needs throttling.

Using a VPN tunnel hides your IP traffic from everyone, including your ISP. So your provider can’t pick your IP to throttle your internet connection because it is impossible to see what you have been doing.

Distance to Server

Most VPN providers have servers installed in various parts of the globe. And since data must pass through their servers, the shorter the distance to the NordVPN server, the faster data packets will travel to and from their destination. So picking the closest server to your physical location increases your internet speed, while choosing a server far away leads to a speed drop.

Encryption Power

One of the primary functions of VPN connections is to encrypt your data. High encryption standards give the best data security to hide your IP from hackers, government agencies, and corporations. However, this powerful encryption comes at a cost; a drop in speed.

Data encryption using a VPN 

Data encryption using a VPN 

On the other hand, lower encryption standards give faster internet speeds, but the cost is poor privacy and security.

Server Load

Most free VPNs use few servers, meaning they handle a significant load at all times. High loads overwork the systems, leading to slow speeds. But premium VPNs, like NordVPN, have a large installed server capacity that handles all customer traffic quickly, resulting in faster speeds.

A data center with multiple servers

A data center with multiple servers

Causes of Latency

Speed and latency are closely related terms but mean two different things. Upload and download speeds measure the amount of data you can upload or download at a time. On the other hand, latency defines how quickly your connected devices can communicate.

A remote control station for operating a car in real-time (requires low latency)

A remote control station for operating a car in real-time (requires low latency)

And like speed, VPNs affect latency because the data has to go through the extra step of passing through VPN servers. So some of the causes of latency include the following.

Server Location

Not only do short distances between servers improve internet speeds, but they also reduce latency. Short latency means better response when doing real-time online activities like gaming. So unless you must pick a server in a specific location, such as when you want your traffic to appear to originate from a particular country, always choose a nearby server.

NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, and you will get one near your country. But it is vital to note that you can only get obfuscated servers with a double VPN and dedicated IP in the US and Canada. Servers in other countries have varying features but don’t meet all three conditions.

Server Load

Speed and latency drop if you have too many users connected to a single server. NordVPN has a quick-connect button feature that automatically connects you to the nearest server with the lowest load and fastest speeds. However, free VPNs will give you slow services because there is no financial incentive. These services have few servers to handle multiple clients, making them operate while overloaded. 

Encryption Quality

The encryption process enables you to browse in privacy but can increase latency if poorly executed. The typical block cipher algorithm used in current encryption standards is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). It usually comes in different levels, such as 128-bit and 256-bit. The higher the number, the stronger the encryption, but with higher latency.

Encrypted data to enhance privacy online.

Encrypted data to enhance privacy online.

NordVPN implements AES-256 military-grade encryption into its OpenVPN and IPsec/IKEv2 protocols in an intelligent way that does not increase the latency as much. But you still have to consider what you value more. Is it speed or data privacy? You can’t get the best of both worlds.

ISP Internet Speeds

Lastly, your internet speed and latency can only be as good as what you would get from your ISP. VPNs cannot increase internet speeds and reduce latency more than what you get from your provider, except for one unique case; if your ISP throttles your connection. It is the only instance where a VPN can give you a faster connection with lower latency.

How To Make Your NordVPN Connection Faster

Since we have established that VPNs make your internet connection slower, there are ways to make them run a little bit faster. But first, you need to check your internet speed to determine if it is the VPN. If it is the VPN, try these tips to boost the internet speeds.

An internet speed test was done on a 5G network

An internet speed test was done on a 5G network

Adjust Your Protocol Settings

NordVPN gives you the option of switching between TCP and UDP internet protocols. UDP is faster but might be unstable. On the other hand, TCP is slower but gives a stable connection. Switch between the two several times to test them. This VPN also offers NordLynx, a fast connection protocol that balances speed and high-quality encryption.

Adjust The Encryption Level

Heavy encryption is better for maximum privacy, so pick the IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN protocols when using NordVPN. However, if the difference in internet speed is significant, try to lower the encryption level.

Restart Your Devices

Modems and routers need a reset every once in a while to fix glitches, bugs, patch memory leaks, etc. Keep in mind running the VPN from your router will make your entire network safe but slow unless it is a powerful device. So it would be better to run the VPN connection from your phone or computer. And just like the modem or router, your phone or computer might need a reboot to get things in order. This old-fashioned trick might be the solution.

The rear part of a dual-band router

The rear part of a dual-band router

Try Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you pick which applications go through the VPN tunnel for encryption & privacy and which applications access the internet directly. Technically, this feature will increase speeds for the apps that don’t need much security without using any VPN service. But if you are after the fastest internet speeds, try it.

Change Server Location

As explained earlier, switching to a closer server increases your VPN speed because the packets don’t have to travel that far.

Turn Off Your Firewall and Antivirus Software

Firewalls and local security software like Antivirus tend to slow VPN connections because they go through all the outgoing data. We don’t recommend disabling these tools because they enhance your data’s security, but turn them off for a short while to see if there is a difference in speed.

Switch to a Wired Connection

Wireless connections are convenient but can experience speed losses due to various factors, such as interference, distance, and obstructions. So try switching to wired connections for your computer to get the fastest speeds.

A laptop with an ethernet cable plugged in

A laptop with an ethernet cable plugged in

Conclusion

In summary, NordVPN does slow down internet connection speeds. But the premium service has a high-quality implementation that only slows down your internet speed by a tiny margin. So you should use the tips above if you notice a significant speed reduction unassociated with your ISP. And check out our ethernet vs. WiFi comparison to see why ethernet is faster and more reliable. Make sure to drop a comment below if you have any questions, and we’ll get back to you asap.

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