How to Test VPN Tunnel Speed: Getting the Optimal Performance

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VPN Speed Tests Help You Fix Slow VPN and Get the Best Internet Speeds

VPNs have become essential tools for privacy, security, and accessing geo-restricted content. However, one common concern among users is the potential impact on internet speed.

Understanding how to test VPN tunnel speed effectively can help you optimize your connection and ensure you're getting the best possible performance from your VPN service. Speedify can help with both VPN tunnel testing and getting you the best internet.

Why Speedify's VPN Tunnel is Unbreakable vs Other VPNs

Most VPNs stop working the moment one of your internet connections has a problem. If your Wi-Fi glitches, or your device briefly switches between 4G / 5G and Starlink, you can suddenly lose your VPN connection.

Speedify is built to prevent that. Instead of relying on just one connection, Speedify can use all your available internet connections at the same time: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G / 5G cellular, even Starlink or other satellite. If one connection slows down or drops, Speedify instantly moves your traffic to another internet source so your VPN stays connected and your online activity isn’t interrupted.

In this video, you’ll see how Speedify keeps your internet connection secure, smooth, and reliable by intelligently spreading your encrypted data across the available connections. The result: an unbreakable VPN tunnel.

Combining multiple internet sources like WiFi, 4G, 5G, & Starlink together makes Speedify's secure VPN tunnels unbreakable

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Combine internet connections for better bandwidth and signal strength

No matter how secure your VPN is, if you experience a drop in your Internet connection, either your VPN tunnel will break leaving you unprotected, or you’ll be stuck offline. Speedify is the only VPN that seamlessly combines all of your connections, including WiFi, 4G, 5G, Ethernet, and Starlink, into one unbreakable connection to keep you online and secure.

Speedify will automatically detect any available Internet connections on your device, encrypting and intelligently distributing your online traffic between them for optimal performance. If you need help we have quick start guides available for most common set ups.

Join multiple mobile personal hotspots at the same time

Speedify's Pair & Share is a feature that enables you to connect to multiple personal hotspots at the same time and wirelessly share LTE, 4G, and 5G cellular connections back and forth between multiple Speedify users on the same local network to create a faster, more reliable connection for everyone.

With Speedify, all of your available internet sources - even shared personal hotspots - are combined inside the secure VPN tunnel with your encrypted traffic intelligently distributed between them, while split tunneling allows blocked sites to bypass. So, if any connection slows down or drops out, the VPN tunnel stays active and the other connections will automatically take over to keep you securely, seamlessly connected.

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Why VPNs Can Slow Down Your Internet Connection

Before diving into testing methods, it's crucial to understand why VPNs typically reduce internet speeds. When you connect to a VPN, your data takes a longer route to reach its destination. Instead of connecting directly to websites and services, your traffic first travels to a VPN server, gets encrypted, and then forwarded to the intended destination.

This process introduces several factors that can affect speed:

Encryption overhead adds processing time as your device encrypts outgoing data and decrypts incoming traffic. While modern processors handle this efficiently, it still requires computational resources.

Server distance plays a significant role in latency. Connecting to a server thousands of miles away will naturally increase ping times and reduce overall responsiveness.

Server load affects performance when multiple users share the same VPN server. High traffic periods can lead to congestion and slower speeds.

Protocol efficiency varies between different VPN protocols. Some prioritize security over speed, while others aim for better performance.

How to Test VPN Tunnel Speed Accurately

To properly assess your VPN's impact on internet speed, you'll need to conduct baseline tests and compare results. Here's a comprehensive approach to testing VPN tunnel speed:

Step 1: Establish Your Baseline

Before connecting to any VPN, run multiple speed tests using reliable services like speedtest.net, fast.com, or maybe your ISP's speed test. Record your download speed, upload speed, and ping results. Run these tests at different times of day to account for network congestion variations.

Step 2: Test with VPN Connected

Connect to your VPN and repeat the same speed tests using identical testing locations and times. For accurate results, test multiple server locations, especially those geographically close to you and in countries you frequently need to access.

Step 3: Analyze the Results

Calculate the percentage of speed loss by comparing your VPN speeds to baseline measurements. A 10-20% reduction is typical for quality VPN services, while losses exceeding 50% may indicate issues with your chosen server or VPN provider.

Step 4: Test Different Protocols

Most VPN clients offer multiple protocol options. Test OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and other available protocols to determine which provides the best balance of speed and security for your needs.

Fixing Slow VPN Tunnel Speeds

When your VPN connection is slower than expected, several troubleshooting steps can help improve performance:

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Choose nearby servers to minimize latency. Select servers in your country or region when possible, unless you specifically need to appear in a different location.

Switch protocols to find the fastest option. OpenVPN UDP typically outperforms TCP for most applications.

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Adjust encryption settings if your VPN client allows it. While maintaining adequate security, some providers offer different encryption levels that can impact speed.

Update your VPN client to ensure you're using the latest optimizations and bug fixes.

Check your local network for issues. WiFi interference, outdated router firmware, or ISP throttling can affect VPN performance.

Speedify: Optimizing Internet Performance

For users seeking maximum internet speeds without sacrificing security, Speedify offers a unique solution. Unlike traditional VPNs that route traffic through a single server, Speedify employs channel bonding technology that can actually improve your internet speed by combining multiple connections.

Speedify simultaneously uses Starlink, Wi-Fi, 4G / 5G cellular, DSL and other connections, aggregating their bandwidth for faster overall performance. This approach not only provides redundancy but can deliver speeds that exceed what you'd achieve with a single connection. The service automatically balances traffic across available connections and seamlessly switches between them if one becomes unreliable.

For professionals and tech-savvy users who require consistent high-speed internet access, Speedify's intelligent routing algorithms optimize performance based on real-time network conditions, making it an excellent choice for video conferencing, large file transfers, and bandwidth-intensive applications.

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Get started today!

With Speedify you can combine multiple internet sources into one bonded super-connection to improve livestreaming, video calling, gaming, web browsing, and everything else you do online.

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We love talking about connectivity!

On our social channels, Alex Gizis and the engineers from Speedify discuss and explain interesting connectivity technology including Starlink satellites, Wi-Fi 7 routers, Apple networking features, Fiber optics, broadband internet, 5G mobile networks, AI, networking protocols, and much more.

Alex and the Speedify team are always exploring the latest in networking and security technology—like 5G, 6G, WiFi 7, laser and satellite internet—and sharing it in new discussion content across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn every week.

Got a tech question? Let's go deeper! Pop into Speedify Office Hours live every Wednesday at 10 AM Eastern. Speedify CEO Alex Gizis and our network engineers are standing by to break down your questions about networks, tech updates, and Speedify features.

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