VPN Speed Test Results: We Tested 10 VPNs from the UK in February 2026

Speed is one of the most important factors when choosing a VPN, and marketing claims do not always match reality. We conducted comprehensive speed tests from a London-based connection to evaluate how each of the top 10 VPN providers performs in real-world conditions. Here are our findings for early 2026.

Our Testing Methodology

All tests were conducted from a central London location using a Virgin Media broadband connection with a baseline speed of 1,130 Mbps download and 52 Mbps upload. We tested each VPN using its recommended protocol (typically WireGuard or its proprietary equivalent) and connected to the fastest available UK server.

Each VPN was tested five times at different times of day (morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late night), and we calculated the average results. We measured download speed, upload speed, latency (ping), and connection time.

The Results: UK Server Performance

NordVPN: The Speed Champion

NordVPN delivered the best overall performance, with average download speeds of 1,063 Mbps on its NordLynx protocol. This represents a speed loss of just 5.9% compared to our baseline, which is remarkably close to an unprotected connection. Upload speeds averaged 49 Mbps (5.8% loss), and latency added only 2ms to our baseline.

ExpressVPN: Consistently Fast

ExpressVPN's Lightway Turbo protocol produced average download speeds of 1,018 Mbps (9.9% loss). While slightly behind NordVPN, ExpressVPN offered the most consistent performance across different times of day, with minimal speed variation between peak and off-peak hours.

Surfshark: Impressive for the Price

Surfshark achieved average download speeds of 987 Mbps (12.7% loss) on WireGuard, which is excellent for a VPN that costs just £1.49 per month. The introduction of 100 Gbps servers in October 2025 has clearly improved performance.

Proton VPN: Strong Speeds

Proton VPN delivered 952 Mbps average downloads (15.7% loss), with particularly strong performance on its Swiss and Netherlands servers. The UK servers were well-optimised and provided stable connections throughout testing.

CyberGhost: Solid Mid-Range Performance

CyberGhost averaged 891 Mbps download (21.2% loss) on UK servers. The dedicated streaming servers performed well for media consumption, though general-purpose servers showed more speed variation.

International Server Performance

Speed matters even more when connecting to distant servers. We tested connections to New York, Tokyo, and Sydney to evaluate how each VPN handles long-distance routing.

NordVPN again led the pack for US connections, maintaining 785 Mbps to New York servers. ExpressVPN excelled on the Tokyo route, delivering 612 Mbps where competitors averaged closer to 450 Mbps. For Australian connections, Surfshark surprised with 523 Mbps, beating several more expensive rivals.

What These Speeds Mean in Practice

For most UK users, any speed above 25 Mbps is sufficient for HD streaming, and 50 Mbps handles 4K content comfortably. Even the slowest VPN in our testing delivered speeds well above these thresholds. The speed differences become more relevant for users with gigabit broadband connections, frequent large file downloads, or online gaming where latency matters.

Protocol Comparison

We also tested each VPN across different protocols where available. WireGuard-based protocols (including NordLynx and Lightway) consistently outperformed OpenVPN by 30-50%, while IKEv2 fell between the two. For UK users seeking maximum speed, WireGuard should be your default protocol choice.

Our Speed Recommendation

Based on our testing, use our VPN comparison tool to filter providers by speed score and find the fastest option within your budget. NordVPN is the clear winner for speed-sensitive users, while Surfshark offers the best speed-to-price ratio. All top-tier providers deliver speeds that are more than adequate for everyday UK internet use.