Best fast VPN 2020: which provider is fastest?

A fast VPN gives you the best of both worlds – the privacy and security you'd expect from the one of the best VPN services on the market alongside connections so swift you won't even notice it's there.

However, every VPN has an impact on your connection thanks to the simple fact your traffic is going further, so making sure that slow-down is as minimal as possible is a top priority. Without subscriptions to all the fastest VPNs yourself it can be hard to judge this, so that's why we've put together this list to help you make an informed decision.

What makes a great fast VPN?

In this guide we're prioritizing speed over everything else. However, every service here will also deliver top-quality privacy and security too, so to max out your connection there shouldn't be too many sacrifices to be made.

For those interested in the tech behind it, you'll also notice that most of the fastest VPNs use protocols other than OpenVPN. While the old favorite is still swift and reliable, new protocols like list-topper Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra and the burgeoning WireGuard are leading the way in terms of sheer speed.

If you've got a pretty standard Internet connection that tops out below 100Mbps, it's unlikely you'll notice any difference in speeds between the fast VPN services below – and in that case we'd recommend our overall best-rated VPN ExpressVPN. However, for those on ultrafast lines, there are a few other blistering options out there to pick from.

The best fast VPNs available today

Hotspot Shield is the best fast VPN available today, and it's evident from the numbers that it's perfected the art of the unfettered VPN connection

The (not so) secret lies in its use of the proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol, which absolutely trounces OpenVPN-based services, and is still considerably faster than those that have adopted WireGuard – although these competitors are gradually catching up.

The fact Hotspot Shield only supports Catapult Hydra does present a couple of issues – most notably the fact that you won't be able to manually set up VPN connections, and you'll be limited to Hotspot Shield's own apps. However, for the vast majority, that won't be a problem at all.

In terms of making use of these speeds, you'll be able to access just about any online streaming service you can think of, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and more. This is a great improvement since our last testing of the software, in which it struggled to access a couple of sites. And, on top of that, a good range of server locations means you'll also be able to watch tons of overseas content.

Hotspot Shield doesn't offer the greatest amount of in-depth features, but for most people that'll be a non-issue – and if you're looking for the fastest VPN speeds money can buy, it's your only option.

ExpressVPN is an excellent fast VPN, and out of all the fastest VPN services on the market, none come close to Express's versatility and ease of use. However, it just can't quite reach the heady heights of Hotspot Shield, so in this case, at least, it might not be your best choice.

However, with average speeds of around 220Mbps it's no slouch, and the current integration of the proprietary LightWay protocol could see these speeds ramp up in the next few months. Plus, if your Internet connection maxes out at anything below 200Mbps, your decision should be made elsewhere.

ExpressVPN makes it super simple to install and get access to these great speeds, plus you'll have great streaming performance – Netflix, Hulu and the rest are all no match for Express, although iPlayer is currently unavailable.

The apps themselves are more comprehensive that Hotspot Shield's, and include some really nifty features like a built-in speed test, DNS and WebRTC leak detectors, as well as an effective kill switch and split tunneling. 

If anything ends up not working as it should – or you've got any questions about how to use it – ExpressVPN's support is also unrivalled. In all of our testing the live chat operators have been very knowledgeable and quick to respond, and it boasts the best library of setup and troubleshooting articles in the industry.

So, if you're after a fast VPN – albeit not the fastest – with all the bells and whistles, ExpressVPN is the one to go for.

If you've heard of just one VPN, it'll be NordVPN. The old favorite is practically a household name now, with a huge public presence gained from television advertising and, frankly, a great overall service.

For those looking for a fast VPN, NordVPN can provide. Using the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol, speeds reached a seriously competitive 350Mbps, However, in our testing OpenVPN connections did seem to suffer, with some dropping below 100Mbps. If you think you'll ever need to use OpenVPN instead of NordLynx, be aware that it's not as stellar as others – but even 100Mbps is more than usable.

Other than its excellent connections, you might be drawn to Nord because of its security-focused service. With its powerful and additional features like Onion over VPN and Double VPN it's a hacker's nightmare, and is all but guaranteed to keep you anonymous online.

A slight issue we have is with the layout of the otherwise polished and exceedingly usable mobile apps – the interface is cribbed directly from its desktop counterpart, and while it works well on larger screen, the map-based design is a bit awkward on phone screens. However, that's unlikely to truly put anyone off, as you'll only be in the app for a minute or two to select a server or adjust settings.

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs around, and with great security paired with top-tier streaming performance, it's well worth a look.

Sign up now on the NordVPN website

What's this – another VPN using Catapult Hydra? Yep, that's right. Antivirus stalwart Bitdefender's foray into VPN is getting in on the incredible speeds on offer from Hotspot Shield's homebrew protocol, and the tempting thing is that Bitdefender Premium VPN is a fair bit cheaper than the original, too.

With speeds topping out at over 400Mbps, it's clear that Catapult Hydra has something special going on, so if you're after incredible speeds at a bargain price, this might be a good option.

However, that's where the similarities end. Unfortunately Bitdefender doesn't share Hotspot's excellent streaming power, and can only really access Netflix and YouTube. If you don't have an Amazon Prime or Disney+ account, and don't want to watch iPlayer, that'll be fine, but for many it's a deal breaker.

But, if you can look past that and the admittedly simplistic apps, Bitdefender is a properly affordable way to get some of the fastest VPN speeds available today – and as the brand establishes itself in the VPN area, we can only see it getting stronger.

Sign up now on the Bitdefender website

There's a lot in a name. Speedify is just that – very speedy – and it's evident that being a fast VPN is provider's main objective.

To reach speeds of up to 403MB on a 600MB line, Speedify uses some very clever tech which can combine any and all connections it has at its disposal. While other fast VPNs might only use your regular internet connection, or your mobile data when out and about, Speedify can tap into all of these and deliver searing speeds – at the expense of any data cap you might have, that is.

If you just want swift day-to-day browsing Speedify will do the job well, but if you're looking to stream geo-blocked content you're out of luck. It's unable to access any streaming site except for the virtually unprotected YouTube, and it's telling that there's a dedicated option to route streaming traffic through your unprotected connection if the VPN is turned on. If they've made the effort to do that, it doesn't look promising that this issue will be fixed any time soon.

However, for a relatively cheap yet seriously fast VPN, Speedify is a great option – just make sure you can live with its weaknesses.

Sign up now on the Speedify website

• Short of cash? Check out the best free VPN services
• If you stream on the go, explore the best Fire Stick VPNs
• Apple users should see if they need the best Mac VPN