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I want to know how well they can handle not just browsing, but also heavy traffic loads of gaming, streaming and torrenting. That's also why I'm more interested in measuring the amount of speed lost with a VPN (which, for most VPN clients, is usually half or more) across both slow- and high-speed connection types. Finally, if you eliminate all potential variables - from network interference to individual machine quirks - to create a lab-like test setting, you're essentially testing a VPN service's product in a digital environment that bears little resemblance to the operating environment most of us live and work in.įor these reasons and more, I prefer to generate a VPN testing environment that resembles what you, the typical VPN user, will probably experience. There's also the impact of underlying internet speeds in the US, which will vary widely depending on your VPN provider and the state you live in - the fastest VPN in one area might not be the fastest VPN in another. Not only that, but the use of any VPN, no matter how fast, will somewhat hamper your browsing speeds. For one, the speed of a VPN can shift from day to day. That's why we hands-on tested all the major VPN players to find the fastest ones.īefore we dig into what our test results revealed, there are a few things to keep in mind: First, it's not easy to speed-test a virtual private network in a way that translates to practicable consumer advice. Whether you're gaming or working from home, you need a fast VPN that can handle massive amounts of data. While these things are important, you don't want to overlook speed.
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You have to consider the VPN's reliability, security strength and cost. Choosing the best VPN service to boost your online privacy and security is a big decision.
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