The Fastest VPNs 2024

We tested six popular virtual private network (VPN) services to see which has enough speed to keep up with downloading files and torrents, streaming shows, gaming, and browsing the web. Read on to find out why we chose Surfshark, IPVanish, and CyberGhost as the top speed demons for their lightning-fast connections, rock-solid security features, and more.

The best fast VPNs 2024

We conducted speed tests with the following VPNs: Proton VPN, CyberGhost, IPVanish, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. We established our baseline download and upload speeds and latency from our location in Los Angeles, California, without connecting to a VPN. 

Baseline internet speeds:

• Download speed: 250 Mbps
• Upload speed: 25 Mbps
• Latency: 20 ms

Next, we tested these six VPNs and connected to each of their servers located in another city in the U.S., the U.K,, and Australia for VPN speed comparisons. 

Afterward, we assessed the impact of each VPN based on our baseline connection speed and performance.

As a result, we came up with our list of the three fastest VPNs:

• Surfshark: Best for online gaming and streaming
• IPVanish: Best for torrent enthusiasts
• CyberGhost: Best for privacy-conscious internet users

Top 3 fastest VPN services compared

VPN	Surfshark Our Pick	IPVanish	CyberGhost
Starting price	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $2.03/mo (billed every two years)
Max speed test result	205.59 Mbps	157.96 Mbps	168.95 Mbps
Number of connected devices	Unlimited	Unlimited	7
Server count	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	2,400+ servers in 130+ locations	Unlisted in 100 countries
Streaming support	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, and more	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, Kodi, and more	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, and more
Torrenting support
Learn more	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get IPVanish Read IPVanish Review	See CyberGhost Pricing Read CyberGhost Review

Surfshark: Best for online gaming and streaming

Surfshark speed test results

Surfshark is the go-to choice for online gamers and streamers due to its blazing-fast speeds. Our speed tests revealed that Surfshark is not just all talk — it truly delivers on its promise of high-speed connections.

We were impressed with Surfshark’s download speeds, which revealed a minimal difference from our baseline download speeds when not connected to a VPN. This was especially clear when we chose a server in Las Vegas, Nevada, outside of our location in Los Angeles, California. 

And yet, there was only a 22.7% difference in download speeds, which is a much smaller difference than the other VPNs we evaluated.

Then, we connected to Surfshark's VPN servers in London, United Kingdom, and Sydney, Australia, and compared those to our baseline speeds. We found that Surfshark had faster speeds overall and less latency (ping) than the other VPNs we tested. Low latency is important for ensuring a high-quality gaming and streaming experience without any lag.

Look at Surfshark’s speed test results across various regions in the table below.

Surfshark speeds

Connection	US to US	US to UK	US to AU
Download speed	205.59 Mbps (22.7%)	156.69 Mbps (47.3%)	143.21 Mbps (56.3%)
Upload speed	14.33 Mbps (47%)	9.62 Mbps (94.1%)	16.06 Mbps (34.2%)
Latency	29 ms (44.4%)	145 ms (150%)	244 ms (207.5%)

What we liked

Surfshark is among the best gaming VPNs, delivering fast speeds and offering excellent features that enhance security and privacy. When we tested it, our U.S. download speeds were 205.59 Mbps, close to our baseline speeds. This is likely because Surfshark uses the WireGuard protocol, which is lightweight, secure, and makes fast download speeds possible.

Surfshark’s VPN encrypts your online traffic and has powerful features like an ad blocker and antivirus, split tunneling, a rotating IP address, ad and malware blockers, and more. This makes it a good fit if you’re concerned about safety and privacy while web browsing.

Although its latency levels were not ideal in the U.K. and Australia, it had latency of less than 60 ms when connected to a U.S. server.

What we didn’t like

We didn’t like that Surfshark couldn’t bypass restrictions when we tried to watch Netflix and stream on Hulu, which wasn’t the case when we previously tested Surfshark.

However, we also noticed that the rest of the VPNs we tested were also blocked from using Netflix and Hulu (regardless of what server location we connected to), including those that could bypass restrictions previously, like NordVPN and CyberGhost.

For example, when we tried to connect to Hulu from various server locations worldwide (including a U.S. server location), it warned us that Hulu is available in the U.S. only and cannot be used with an anonymous proxy service. This happened when we also selected a static IP address in New York, but we couldn’t test it with a dedicated IP.

It appears that streaming platforms are continuing to crack down on VPN providers. However, we were able to test streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and it worked flawlessly without any interruptions or laggy buffering issues.

Surfshark specs

Price range	$1.99–$17.95/mo
Free version	No
Max speed test result	205.59 Mbps
Number of connected devices	Unlimited
Server count	3,200+ servers in 100 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
No-logs policy	No logs
Streaming support	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, and more
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get Surfshark Read Our Surfshark Review

IPVanish: Best for torrent enthusiasts

IPVanish speed test results

We chose IPVanish as the fastest VPN for torrent enthusiasts because of its lightning-speed VPN connections and P2P-friendly servers, making it a top choice for seamless file sharing.

During our speed tests, IPVanish delivered fast download and upload speeds across different server locations, indicating its capacity for optimal torrenting performance. It also had decent latency, contributing to a smooth and reliable file-sharing experience.

Below are IPVanish VPN’s speed test results in the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

IPVanish speeds

Connection	US to US	US to UK	US to AU
Download speed	145.59 Mbps (55.4%)	157.96 Mbps (46.6%)	98.30 Mbps (90.6%)
Upload speed	21.84 Mbps (1.8%)	8.78 Mbps (92.9%)	8.35 Mbps (96%)
Latency	40 ms (92%)	150 ms (154.7%)	176 ms (168.1%)

What we liked

We enjoyed that IPVanish is the best torrenting VPN because it allows you to connect to 2,400+ servers globally that support torrenting and provides access to a SOCKS5 proxy, which helps make torrenting a breeze since many torrent clients support it and can help bypass ISP throttling and geo-restrictions. It also lets you choose between the tunneling protocols OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and especially WireGuard, known for its fast connections and strong security.

IPVanish also has strong security features like AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy that has been audited and verified, a kill switch, and more. These features ensure a safe and anonymous torrenting experience. Plus, it can support unlimited devices, which is always a win in our book.

What we didn’t like

We didn’t like that IPVanish fell short in terms of streaming support and was unable to unblock popular platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. Keep in mind, however, that Netflix and Hulu appear to have recently tightened restrictions on VPN platforms since other VPNs we’ve tested that used to access them are now unable to.

Although IPVanish could not access Netflix and Hulu, it supports streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Max, Kodi, and others.

Additionally, its latency speed results in the United Kingdom and Australia didn’t fare well compared to the U.S., which can be a problem for American online gamers who want to play games outside their country without lag.

IPVanish specs

Price range	$2.19–$12.99/mo
Free version	No
Max speed test result	157.96 Mbps
Number of connected devices	Unlimited
Server count	2,400+ servers in 130+ locations
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
No-logs policy	No logs
Streaming support	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, Kodi, and more.
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get IPVanish Read Our IPVanish Review

CyberGhost: Best for privacy-conscious internet users

CyberGhost speed test results

We chose CyberGhost as a top choice for privacy-conscious users who want a VPN that provides both fast connections and robust security features.

Compared to most of the VPNs we tested, CyberGhost had better download and upload speeds, meaning it performs better when it comes to browsing the web, sharing files, online gaming, or engaging in remote work by facilitating quicker file transfers and smooth conference calls.

In our testing, CyberGhost had a latency speed of 38 ms, ranking second-best after Surfshark. Low latency is important for a seamless internet user experience with uninterrupted online gaming, smoother video and audio calls, faster website load times, and even better responsiveness in remote desktop sessions.

Check out CyberGhost's speed test results across various regions in the table below.

CyberGhost speeds

Connection	US to US	US to UK	US to AU
Download speed	157.77 Mbps (46.4%)	168.95 Mbps (37%)	40.63 Mbps (181.1%)
Upload speed	17.03 Mbps (27.4%)	9.65 Mbps (93.6%)	9.58 Mbps (94.7%)
Latency	38 ms (80.8%)	184 ms (180%)	186 ms (181.9%)

What we liked

We liked CyberGhost's extensive network of servers in 100 countries worldwide — a larger server network lets you swap servers for better connection speeds and reliability. The VPN also works with different protocols, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPsec.

CyberGhost also has a verified and audited strict no-logs policy and strong encryption to ensure your online activities remain private and secure.

CyberGhost also supports streaming on popular platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Max and offers torrenting support. And while we prefer unlimited simultaneous connections, CyberGhost does allow up to seven connected devices, making it suitable for families or individuals with multiple devices.

While most VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, CyberGhost one-ups the rest with a 45-day money-back guarantee if you’ve subscribed for six months or more.

What we didn’t like

Even though CyberGhost performs well in many areas, its latency speeds for international connections — specifically to the U.K. and Australia — were relatively high compared to some other VPNs we tested. This could reduce the quality of streaming, browsing the web, and more, which isn’t ideal if you need to connect to VPN servers in distant locations.

Keep in mind that individual experiences may vary as factors such as your internet speed, device, bandwidth throttling, network connections, and more can impact speed results.

CyberGhost specs

Price range	$2.03–$6.99/mo
Free version	No
Max speed test result	168.95 Mbps
Number of connected devices	7
Server count	Unlisted in 100 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs
Streaming support	Yes — Amazon Prime Video, Max, and more
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read Our CyberGhost Review

Other fast VPNs 

NordVPN

NordVPN is a close runner-up to our top three picks because of its fast VPN speed and advanced security features, such as its double VPN technology, secure encryption, smart DNS, its proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol based on WireGuard, and more.

Despite its top-notch security and performance, NordVPN fell short of our top three VPNs due to slightly slower speeds.

Read Our NordVPN Review

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another worthy contender as the fastest VPN since it delivers high-speed connections for a seamless browsing and streaming experience. Additionally, its Lightway protocol further enhances its speed and security, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize both.

However, it didn’t make it to our top three list mainly because of its expensive cost — and it doesn't offer a free trial. Additionally, it supports simultaneous connections for up to eight devices.

Read Our ExpressVPN Review

Proton VPN

Although Proton VPN was the slowest of all six VPNs we tested, it has reasonable speeds and offers security and privacy features. Plus, it has a free VPN plan for low-budget users. This makes Proton VPN ideal for anyone who prioritizes privacy and security but also wants to save on subscription costs.

Read Our Proton VPN Review

FAQs

Bottom line: The fastest VPNs for streaming, gaming, and torrenting

Our top picks for the fastest VPNs are Surfshark, IPVanish, and CyberGhost. These VPNs boast exceptional speeds and performance, ensuring a pleasant online experience. And although Netflix and Hulu blocked access with these VPNs — an issue we didn’t experience before — Amazon Prime Video and other services streamed seamlessly without any lag.

Close runners-up include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN, demonstrating solid performance. 

3 best fast VPNs

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
Surfshark	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Best for online gaming and streaming	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review
IPVanish	Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years)	Best for torrent enthusiasts	Get IPVanish Read IPVanish Review
CyberGhost	Starts at $2.03/mo (billed every two years)	Best for privacy-conscious internet users	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review