13 Fastest VPNs for Buffer-Free Streaming and Gaming Compared for 2023

The fastest VPN can help you stay safe and secure online, even when using public Wi-Fi networks. It also helps you bypass geo-restrictions so that you can access websites from different countries without leaving your home — all without lag and buffer. But which is the fastest VPN?

After testing the industry’s leading providers, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 13. Our top picks include ExpressVPN, IvacyVPN, and AtlasVPN for their incredible speeds, robust encryption protocols, and user-friendly interfaces. Keep reading to learn more about these services and find the one best suited to your needs and budget.

Top 13 Fastest VPNs Ranked for 2023

With so many established and well-known VPN services on the market, it would take you ages to figure out which one best fits your needs. We’ve done all the legwork for you by researching and testing the 13 best VPNs for speed, security, and privacy.

Our research showed that ExpressVPN is an indisputable leader in terms of speed and reliability. Here’s a quick overview of the fastest VPNs in 2023:

1. ExpressVPN — The best VPN overall, which is fast and comes with no throttling or data caps.
2. IvacyVPN — Cheap VPN for buffer-free streaming and smooth torrenting, and with split tunneling available.
3. AtlasVPN — An affordable solution that provides excellent performance across multiple devices with no slowdowns.
4. CyberGhostVPN — Fast, powerful provider for accessing geo-restricted content while maintaining your privacy online.
5. NordVPN — Industry-leading premium service that delivers a high-speed connection with no bandwidth limits or throttling of your data.
6. PureVPN — A fast VPN with intuitive apps for all major platforms and a huge network of 6,500 servers across 78 countries.
7. VyprVPN — Consistently provides blazing-fast speeds without making any compromises on security measures.
8. ProtonVPN — Popular provider with all leading protocols to keep you safe online and with a great free plan available.
9. Surfshark — Perfect for families and businesses wanting to enjoy fast connection speeds over unlimited simultaneous connections.
10. PrivadoVPN — Leading service for anonymous browsing, with tons of features and great options for beginners.
11. TotalAV — Reliable VPN that comes with comprehensive antivirus and data breach monitoring for security-conscious users.
12. PrivateVPN — Top provider for high levels of security, with stealth tools included and an impressive range of global servers available.
13. Private Internet Access — Budget-friendly, speedy service with strong encryption for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Top 13 Fastest VPN Providers Reviewed

Let’s dig right in – here’s our comprehensive review of the fastest VPNs on the market.

1. ExpressVPN — The Best Fast VPN With No Throttling 

ExpressVPN is a mammoth in the VPN industry, and as it uses its own protocol called Lightway, it’s undoubtedly among the fastest VPNs on the market. Lightway allows you to encrypt your connections with advanced technology without impacting your speeds for easy streaming, browsing, and downloads.

Overall, it’s a powerful and reliable option that guarantees lightning-fast speeds and no bandwidth limitations, and therefore, an easy top pick for the best fast VPN.

You can stream all the content you want without having to worry about data caps or throttling. Plus, you can access all your favorite streaming services with no interruptions. Enjoy HD and 4K videos without buffering, as well as high-speed downloads for all your favorite apps and games.

Most importantly, ExpressVPN takes security seriously, offering a strict zero logs policy that ensures your browsing activities remain private — they’re never stored or shared with third parties.

Overall, as you’d expect from a leader in the industry, ExpressVPN boasts it all — the speeds, server distribution, and connection stability, immensely powerful unblocking power, and phenomenal security.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Fast speeds and reliable connection
• Offers a variety of security protocols
• Impressive server infrustructure

Cons

• Relatively expensive

Pricing

The monthly plan offers you unlimited bandwidth and support for up to 5 devices. For those who want more savings, ExpressVPN also has an annual plan which equates to a saving of 35%.

If you want a fast, secure, and private internet experience, ExpressVPN is the way to go. Despite having a hefty price tag, it’s well worth the money.

2. IvacyVPN — Cheap VPN for Buffer-Free Streaming and Smooth Torrenting

IvacyVPN is a cost-effective solution for gamers and families that want to watch their favorite TV shows and movies without issues. Thanks to its no-logs policy and military-grade encryption, it’s also one of the safest VPNs for torrenting that won’t lead back to your accounts.

IvacyVPN has a massive global presence, with over 5,700 servers you can connect to, allowing you to stream content anywhere in the world. It’s exceptional at unblocking BBC iPlayer, Hulu, US Netflix, and Amazon Prime. If you like to watch Netflix with your family, you’ll appreciate its ability to unblock various libraries, including UK, US, Japan, and Australia.

What makes it ideal for torrenting is its capable split tunneling feature that lets you decide which internet traffic will go through its encrypted tunnel. That means you can start downloading a large file through your VPN network while you casually browse or play games via your regular internet connection.

IvacyVPN’s unique feature, Smart Purpose Selection, lets you quickly connect to the fastest server for a specified purpose like secure downloading or streaming. You can forget about searching through hundreds of servers, as this fast VPN will automatically find the best one for you.

Pricing

IvacyVPN has one of the cheapest VPN plans on the market, including its 5-year-long plan that costs as little as $1/month.

In addition, you can get a Dedicated IP for just $1.99/month that includes Port Forwarding, allowing you to use a single IP to connect to your favorite streaming websites. Try IvacyVPN risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. AtlasVPN — Affordable Plans For Multiple Devices 

Another on our list of the fastest VPNs is AtlasVPN. This cost-effective solution provides secure connections with decent speeds across multiple devices, with no logging policy and unlimited bandwidth.

AtlasVPN is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and affordable VPN solution. Although it’s not the fastest by any means, the software provides consistent speeds so you can stream HD content without much buffering issues or long load times.

AtlasVPN also guarantees a no-logging policy and unlimited bandwidth, giving you the privacy and flexibility to use the Internet as much as you like. Despite having a small server count and less distribution, AtlasVPN is a solid choice for general browsing; plus, there’s a big benefit to using this VPN service.

Unlike most, the service offers plans for unlimited devices at reasonable prices, so you can use it on your computer, tablet, or mobile device without breaking the bank. So, if you’re looking for quality security and decent speeds for day-to-day activities, AtlasVPN is a worthy option.

Pricing

Choose between monthly, yearly, and 3-year plans with discounts for longer commitments, or sign up for a free plan with unlimited data. This makes it not only one of the best free fast VPNs, but it’s also among the most affordable:

If you’re looking for consistent speeds and a secure VPN with an affordable plan that covers unlimited devices, then AtlasVPN is a great choice.

4. CyberGhost VPN — Perfect for Geo-Restricted Content Access 

CyberGhost VPN is a fast and secure virtual private network (VPN) that provides access to geo-restricted content.

Don’t want to miss out on your favorite streaming content due to geo-restrictions? CyberGhost VPN is the perfect solution for you. With its optimized apps for streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, CyberGhost VPN helps you access any restricted content in no time.

It offers dedicated servers specifically designed for streaming so that you can enjoy all of your favorite media without any buffering or lag. It also keeps your data secure and encrypted while browsing, making it a great choice if you want to stay anonymous online.

Wherever you go, you can be confident that your data is secure and safeguarded from cybercriminals or any other malicious entities. Harnessing AES 256-bit encryption, the platform ensures that unauthorized access to your sensitive information is virtually impossible.

Furthermore, it comes with a strict no-logs policy and 24/7 customer support so that you always get the help you need in a timely manner. This ensures that your online activity is completely untraceable and secure, making it the ideal choice for those who prioritize privacy.

Pricing

With discounts available when subscribing for longer periods of time, your cheapest options is a competitive $2.19/month. The plans all offer the same features and services, so you can choose a plan that best fits your budget:

All in all, CyberGhost VPN is an ideal way to bypass geo-blocks and enjoy unrestricted access to entertainment from anywhere around the world.

5. NordVPN — High-Speed Connection without Bandwidth Limits

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs currently available, offering lightning-fast connection speeds with no caps on data usage.

NordVPN is the perfect solution for anyone who needs fast and reliable internet speeds without throttling. There are no data caps, which means you can enjoy unrestricted access to all your favorite content at blazing-fast speeds.

What’s more, NordVPN offers up to 6 simultaneous connections, so you can connect multiple devices at the same time without having to worry about reduced speed or latency.

This is especially useful for those who need to access content from multiple devices while staying secure and private online — whether it’s your own devices or that of family, cover them all for peace of mind and complete online freedom.

With military-grade encryption protocols and NordVPNs secure servers, your data is safe and secure even when you’re using public Wi-Fi networks that are notorious for their vulnerabilities.

NordVPN is the go-to solution for accessing geo-restricted content, streaming without interruption, gaming, and safe browsing — try it risk-free now for a full month to see why it tops lists like this time again.

Pricing

NordVPN offers three different packages to fit your needs:

The Standard plan comes with plenty of features. However, for the Data Breach Scanner and cross-platform password manager, you’ll want to opt for the Plus plan. The Complete plan includes an additional 1TB of encrypted cloud storage.

All in all, NordVPN is the perfect solution for anyone who needs fast internet speeds without throttling. With its no data caps, ample servers distributed around the globe, and military-grade encryption protocols, it ensures total privacy and security while providing lightning-fast connection speeds.

6. PureVPN — Fast Service with a Huge Server Network

PureVPN is an incredibly fast VPN that boasts a network of over 6,500 servers, making it an excellent choice for users who want to access region-locked content with ease.

With a substantial server fleet, you’ll never experience over-crowded servers with PureVPN. Plus, this fast VPN provider’s widely dispersed server network means that no matter where you’re located, you can easily unblock regional content from all over the world.

What’s more, PureVPN allows you to prioritize your traffic with split tunneling. This makes streaming, gaming, and other activities much smoother by ensuring that only select traffic is sent through the encrypted tunnel.

And if you’re concerned about your online security, PureVPN’s NAT Firewall protects you from incoming threats. It blocks malicious traffic before it can even reach your device, making sure that you remain safe and secure at all times.

So, it’s quick, secure, and as a bonus, incredibly competitively priced.

Pricing

PureVPN offers a variety of pricing plans, ranging from monthly to yearly subscriptions. Their popular annual plan is the most cost-effective option ($2.08 per month), offering users unlimited bandwidth and access to PureVPN’s full fleet of servers.

With its many servers, broad geographical range, and extra features like split tunneling and NAT Firewall, PureVPN delivers on speed and safety alike. Plus, you have a free trial and a lengthy money-back guarantee to take advantage of.

7. VyprVPN — Great Speeds and Top Security Features

VyprVPN’s focus is largely on security and privacy, allowing you to use the VPN in areas that restrict online freedom — such as China. Although not the quickest, VyprVPN providers stable speeds for browsing.

If you’re looking for a reliable VPN that won’t sacrifice your security or slow down your connection, VyprVPN is a perfect choice. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your data and ensures that you remain anonymous online.

It also features a kill switch for added protection, so if the VPN connection drops, your internet access will be blocked until it’s restored. The company also has its own Chameleon protocol to outsmart firewalls and get around geo-restrictions.

This feature is particularly useful for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and gambling websites that are blocked in certain regions. Despite lacking in server count compared to others on this list, VyprVPN boasts good global distribution and consistent speeds for minimal buffering.

On the whole, you shouldn’t have hassles with streaming video, gaming, and torrenting.

Pricing

Offering 2 types of plans, VyprVPN provides users with a monthly or yearly subscription. The annual plan provides a hefty discount making it the more cost-effective option:

Overall, VyprVPN is an excellent choice for those seeking decent speeds and unparalleled security. Boasting a comprehensive range of features, it’s clear why this VPN service is renowned in the market today.

8. ProtonVPN — Multiple Protocols for Maximum Safety

ProtonVPN is a fast and reliable VPN that offers OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard protocols for the best security.

ProtonVPN provides the highest level of encryption available so you can enjoy secure browsing with peace of mind. The OpenVPN protocol is easy to use and provides fast speeds, while IKEv2/IPSec ensures reliable connections even in unstable networks.

And if that wasn’t enough, they offer WireGuard as well, which is known to be one of the most efficient protocols for security and speed. But besides this, the unlimited bandwidth makes ProtonVPN perfect for streaming and downloading.

Imagine having access to all your favorite shows and movies without having to worry about buffering or lagging. With ProtonVPN’s unlimited bandwidth, you don’t have to worry about data caps.

Pricing

Proton offers a free plan as well as a range of paid plans with additional features and benefits. The paid plans are also competitively priced:

Overall, ProtonVPN is a great choice for users who are looking for a high-speed connection with top-notch privacy protection.

9. Surfshark — Ideal for Families and Businesses with Unlimited Devices Supported

Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections with one subscription, providing great value for families and businesses.

Surfshark is the perfect solution for families and businesses looking to stay connected without breaking the bank. With one subscription, you can enjoy unlimited simultaneous connections — perfect for households with multiple devices or remote workers on the go.

It also offers enhanced security with DNS whitelisting for trusted networks and servers so you can stay connected no matter where you are. With the MultiHop technology, you can also connect to two different locations at the same time for double protection against trackers and malware.

In terms of speed, Surfshark is renowned for being a top choice for streaming and unblocking geo-restricted content with ease.

For the perfect combination of speed and security, Surfshark is well worth considering, especially as you can cover unlimited devices — you, your whole family, employees, or friends — protect them all at an incredibly low price.

Pricing

Surfshark offers a range of pricing plans, starting at $2.49/month for a 24-month subscription. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for all its plans, allowing users to test the service risk-free.

Overall, Surfshark is a fast and affordable VPN service that offers high-speed connections, unlimited simultaneous connections, and robust security features.

10. PrivadoVPN — Free But Powerful Service

PrivadoVPN is your choice if you want to try a VPN app for free. It’s a reliable and secure solution that keeps your data safe from prying eyes.

PrivadoVPN will provide you with a 10GB data allowance each month; if you’re a casual user, you’ll find this more than enough. Beyond this, you’ll also get access to servers in 12 countries and the means to surf the web without any worry. 

This is because, unlike most free VPNs, PrivadoVPN offers its freemium users the exact same security as those who opt for the premium plan.

Despite being free, PrivadoVPN is also packed with features that make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to stay safe online. The speeds are sufficient, and you won’t have to worry about much buffering or lagging, especially for day-to-day activities like browsing, online shopping, etc.

Pricing

Once you’ve maxed out its free 10GB data limit, PrivadoVPN offers a highly competitive subscription plan with unlimited data and access to all of its features:

Moreover, this VPN has been tested rigorously by third parties to ensure its security credentials are rock solid. Why not try it now? It’s free.

11. Total AV — Reliable VPN Service for Privacy-Conscious Users

Total AV is an ideal solution for people who like to have all their cybersecurity tools in one place. Its VPN service is part of a comprehensive internet security package that includes its antivirus, ad-blocker, browser shield, and more.

Total AV lets you encrypt your internet traffic using its high-speed VPN servers, masking your activity and preventing your ISP from throttling your connection. That means you can enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies without connectivity issues, buffering, or lag. It also ensures you are safe while browsing the internet, with or without VPN, by automatically blocking malicious URLs that lead to phishing scams or cryptocurrency mining viruses.

Besides its fast and reliable VPN service, Total AV protects your devices from viruses, malware, and spyware, and it can help you optimize your devices by cleaning clutter files that slow them down. In addition, its PC and mobile apps are lightweight and won’t put a heavy load on your devices while they run in the background or while you perform scans.

Privacy-conscious users will appreciate its AES 256-bit encryption, as it ensures your data is unreadable by malicious actors, WiFi hotspot owners, and your ISP. Unlike most VPNs, Total AV comes with a Data Breach Monitor, a feature that continuously scans the internet for bits of your information and notifies you if it detects a leak.

Pricing

Total AV has a single, well-priced subscription plan that costs as little as $39/year and includes all the features mentioned above.

You can simultaneously protect up to five devices using this VPN service, allowing you to rest easy knowing all your devices are protected. Thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try Total AV risk-free today.

12. PrivateVPN — User-Friendly and with Strong Security Protocols

PrivateVPN’s purple-themed user interface is designed with user-friendliness in mind. It comes with a wide range of features and strong security protocols to ensure online privacy and data security.

Made for VPN beginners and experienced users alike, PrivateVPN is the go-to VPN for anyone looking to stay secure and private online. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate, so you can quickly connect to the internet and start browsing.

With strong security protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, and PPTP, PrivateVPN ensures that your connection is safe from any external threats. And with its military-grade encryption, you are free to browse without worrying about data leakage or being hacked.

Despite having fewer server locations than some of its competitors, PrivateVPN still offers a good connection speed, especially if you’re after a quality VPN for day-to-day activities like browsing the web, making secure online payments, etc.

Pricing

The pricing for PrivateVPN is quite reasonable, particularly with long-term plans. Additionally, there’s a 7-day free trial if you’d like to test the service before committing:

PrivateVPN isn’t just pretty to look at; it’s also a reliable and secure VPN. Although the service is fairly new, it’s already made a name for itself as one of the most reliable VPNs.

13. Private Internet Access — Great for Streaming, Gaming and Torrenting

Private Internet Access comes in third but is certainly one of the fastest VPNs out there that can accommodate your streaming, gaming, and torrenting needs.

Private Internet Access has dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting that make it a top-tier choice for gamers and streamers. The service offers consistent speeds, ensuring you don’t experience any lag or buffering in the middle of your streaming or gaming session.

Over 20,000 servers distributed in over 80 countries contribute to the blazing fast speeds you’ll experience with PIA. No matter where you are or what geo-restricted content library you’re looking to access, PIA is a top choice.

So, whether you’re streaming a movie or engaging in online gaming, the service will ensure that your downloads and uploads remain unaffected. Plus, when it comes to keeping your data safe against hackers and cybercriminals, PIA provides multiple forms of protection.

The service offers split tunneling and an automatic kill switch, which makes sure you aren’t exposed if your VPN connection drops while torrenting or streaming.

Pricing

Private Internet Access offers several pricing plans. It also offers a discount for longer subscription terms, with the best value being the 3-year-plus-three-months plan at $2.03/month. Here are your options:

PIA is definitely one of the most popular VPN services among torrenting and streaming enthusiasts, as it supports P2P activity and provides fast and stable connections. Try it risk free now for a full month — you have nothing to lose.

Top 13 Fastest VPN Service Providers | Compared

We ranked the following 13 VPN services based on their average speed from different server locations. Check out this comparison table for a quick overview:

Why Do I Need a Fast VPN?

A fast VPN is essential for numerous reasons. It can enhance your online experience with faster internet speeds, improved connection stability, and heightened privacy and security.

A reliable, high-speed VPN can help you circumvent geographical restrictions, unlock streaming services and ensure your online privacy — this is precisely why most people invest in a VPN for personal use.

With a fast, trusted VPN at your disposal, you can enjoy all the advantages of an unrestricted online life.

What’s the Fastest Free VPN Service? | Free Vs. Paid VPNs

The fastest free VPN service is PrivadoVPN. PrivadoVPN offers a free version of its VPN service, which is great for trial purposes. However, the free version has some limitations – such as its 10GB monthly data allowance, limited speed, server access, and unreliable unblocking power.

Although PrivadoVPN’s free version is safe, other free VPN services may not be, and it’s not uncommon for them to sell your data. Therefore, it’s important to choose a free VPN service that provides the same level of security as its premium plan — as is the case with PrivadoVPN.

With all that said, paid VPNs offer more features and better performance compared to free VPNs. They usually have larger server networks, faster speeds, better security, and more reliable unblocking power.

Paid VPNs are a better option for those who need a fast and secure VPN service for more than just regular use. As such, we recommend taking advantage of the lengthy money-back guarantees on offer with Premium VPNs.

How We Ranked the Fastest VPN Services

In ranking the fastest VPN services, we considered several key criteria, including performance, speeds, connection stability, privacy policies, overall security, unblocking power, value for money, user feedback, server network, and customer support.

We weighed these factors to ensure our ranking reflects the best VPN services in terms of speed and overall performance. Our results are based on comprehensive testing and evaluation, providing you with the most reliable information available.

Fast VPN FAQs