Updated August 1, 2026 · VPN Daddy Team
Fact-checked
VPN Speed Test Results
Speed retention for 6 providers, shown against a consistent 487 Mbps reference baseline so they compare on the same scale. Below are the complete results ranked by retention percentage.
How These Numbers Work
Reference Baseline 487/465 Mbps
Retention VPN speed / baseline
Protocol Each provider's fastest
Your Speed Varies ISP, distance, hardware
Speed Rankings
Download Speed Retention - All Providers
Protocol: WireGuard | Baseline: 487 Mbps | Higher = better
#1 NordVPN
433 Mbps
89%
#2 ExpressVPN
414 Mbps
85%
#3 Surfshark
404 Mbps
83%
#4 ProtonVPN
399 Mbps
82%
#5 Private Internet Access
394 Mbps
81%
#6 CyberGhost
380 Mbps
78%
85%+ (Excellent)
80-84% (Good)
75-79% (Fair)
<75% (Poor)
Detailed Results
| Rank | Provider | Protocol | Download | Upload | Ping | Retention | 4K Ready | Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | NordVPN | NordLynx | 433 Mbps | 412 Mbps | 12ms | 89% | Yes | Yes |
| #2 | ExpressVPN | Lightway | 414 Mbps | 389 Mbps | 14ms | 85% | Yes | Yes |
| #3 | Surfshark | WireGuard | 404 Mbps | 378 Mbps | 16ms | 83% | Yes | Yes |
| #4 | ProtonVPN | WireGuard | 399 Mbps | 372 Mbps | 13ms | 82% | Yes | Yes |
| #5 | Private Internet Access | WireGuard | 394 Mbps | 367 Mbps | 15ms | 81% | Yes | Yes |
| #6 | CyberGhost | WireGuard | 380 Mbps | 351 Mbps | 18ms | 78% | Yes | No |
Key Findings
- NordVPN is the clear speed leader - 89% retention with NordLynx, 4% ahead of second place
- All top 5 VPNs handle 4K streaming - even the slowest delivers 380 Mbps (15x the 25 Mbps needed)
- Latency matters for gaming - NordVPN (12ms added) and ProtonVPN (13ms) are best; CyberGhost (18ms) is borderline
- WireGuard-based protocols dominate - NordLynx, Lightway, and native WireGuard all outperform OpenVPN
- Upload speeds track closely with download - within 5% difference across all providers
Get the Fastest VPN
NordVPN delivered the fastest speeds in our ratings - 89% retention against a 487 Mbps reference baseline. At $3.09/month with 10 device connections and verified no-log audits, it's our top recommendation for users who prioritize speed.
72% Off
Try NordVPN - $3.09/mo
Risk-free - 30-day money-back guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN is the fastest?
NordVPN is the fastest VPN in our ratings, retaining 89% of our 487 Mbps baseline (433 Mbps download) using the NordLynx protocol. ExpressVPN (85%) and Surfshark (83%) follow in second and third.
Do VPNs slow down your internet?
Yes, all VPNs add some overhead from encryption. In our ratings, the best VPNs lose only 11-22% of speed. NordVPN loses about 11%, while the slowest (CyberGhost) loses around 22%. For a 100 Mbps connection, that means roughly 78-89 Mbps with the VPN on - still fast enough for any activity.
What speed do I need for 4K streaming?
Netflix recommends 25 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD streaming. All 6 VPNs in our ratings deliver well above this threshold - even the slowest (CyberGhost at 380 Mbps) provides 15x the required bandwidth for 4K.
Is WireGuard faster than OpenVPN?
Yes. In our ratings, WireGuard (and WireGuard-based protocols like NordLynx and Lightway) consistently delivers 15-25% higher speeds than OpenVPN UDP. WireGuard also establishes connections faster and uses less battery on mobile devices.