NordVPN
All-round choice: simple apps and up to 10 devices
- Up to 10 devices on one account
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No-logs policy checked by independent auditors
VPN guide
★ Our pick
Fastest VPN in 2026
Speed comparison: NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN tested for encryption overhead and server performance.
All VPNs add encryption overhead, but the best ones keep it small. NordVPN uses the NordLynx protocol (based on WireGuard) for near-native speeds. Surfshark and Proton VPN also support WireGuard. The real-world difference depends on server distance and network conditions.
Surfshark
Big households: unlimited devices on one account
- Unlimited devices on one account
- 30-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase
- No-logs policy independently assessed (2025 report)
Proton VPN
Try before you pay: a free plan for one device
- Free plan to start (1 device)
- Up to 10 devices on the Plus plan
- Swiss company, also behind Proton Mail
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Side by side
Fastest VPN in 2026
Facts from each brand's official site, checked 27 Oct 2026. Prices change often: today's price is on the official site.
| NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days (first purchase) | 30 days (paid plans) |
| Devices | Up to 10 | Unlimited | 10 on Plus · 1 on the free plan |
| Free option | No free plan | 7-day free trial (conditions on the official site) | Free plan (1 device) |
| Company base | Panama (parent company in the Netherlands) | Netherlands (Surfshark B.V.) | Switzerland (Proton) |
| Best for | All-round choice: simple apps and up to 10 devices | Big households: unlimited devices on one account | Try before you pay: a free plan for one device |
| NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
Tips
Tips
Use WireGuard when available
WireGuard-based protocols (NordLynx, Surfshark WireGuard, Proton WireGuard) are faster than older OpenVPN connections.
Pick the nearest server
Distance is the biggest factor in VPN speed. A server in your own country usually delivers the fastest connection.
Test multiple servers
Speed varies by server load. If one server feels slow, switch to another in the same region.
Questions
How much speed do you lose with a VPN?
With a good VPN and a nearby server, expect 5–15 % speed reduction at most. WireGuard-based protocols are the fastest.
Is NordLynx faster than WireGuard?
NordLynx is NordVPN's implementation of WireGuard with an additional privacy layer. Performance is very similar to standard WireGuard.
Can a VPN make my internet faster?
In rare cases, a VPN can bypass ISP throttling, but generally it adds a small overhead. The security benefit is the primary reason to use one.
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