Why your VPN is slower — fixes for Aussies

💡 Why your VPN feels slower than usual (and why that’s normal)

Most people in Australia install a VPN to protect privacy, avoid ISP throttling, or unblock streaming. Then — bam — Netflix buffers, downloads crawl, video calls lag. It feels like the VPN is doing the opposite of what you paid for.

Here’s the straight talk: a VPN never magically speeds up a weak base connection. It relies on whatever your ISP hands it. On top of that, it adds two things that affect speed: encryption (which takes CPU time) and traffic redirection through a relay server (which adds distance and latency). If your broadband is shaky, your router’s ancient, or your mobile coverage is patchy, a VPN will usually make things a touch slower, not faster.

A few common Aussie scenes I see: someone on an NBN copper run with upload congestion, someone tethering on a crowded 4G tower, or a house with ten devices streaming at once. Add a VPN and the slowdown becomes obvious. The good news: most of the time the hit is small and fixable. This article walks through the reasons, what to test, fast wins, and when it’s on your VPN provider — not you.

📊 Quick performance snapshot: what drags VPN speeds down

This table shows quick, real-world causes and realistic speed drops. The headline: server distance and congestion often cause the biggest slow-downs. Encryption choice and device CPU matter too, but they usually cost less than poor routing or overloaded servers.

😎 MaTitie SHOW TIME

Hi — I’m MaTitie. I test VPNs for a living and break them in weird ways so you don’t have to. VPNs are awesome for privacy and streaming, but they’re not magic speed boosters. When speed matters (streaming live sport, doing a client video call, or gaming), pick the right server and protocol.

If you want one shortcut: try a modern provider that offers fast protocols like WireGuard or their custom lightweight stacks (for example, NordWhisper from NordVPN recently landed on iOS — handy if you use Apple kit) [Clubic, 2025-09-23].

If you’re after a no‑fuss try: 👉 🔐 Try NordVPN now — 30‑day backing.
MaTitie earns a small commission if you sign up through that link.

💡 Troubleshooting checklist — quick wins (do these first)

• Test baseline: run a speed test with VPN off (same server region) to know your starting point.
• Try a nearby server: lower distance = lower latency. If you’re in Sydney, try Sydney or Melbourne servers first.
• Switch protocol: choose WireGuard (fast) or NordWhisper-like options if your provider offers one. Older OpenVPN TCP is slower but more stable sometimes.
• Use Ethernet for big transfers — Wi‑Fi adds variability.
• Kill background uploaders: cloud backups, game updates, bittorrent clients — they hog upstream.
• Reboot router and device — sounds basic, but it often helps.
• Check CPU on older phones or PCs — heavy encryption can max out low-end chips.
• Avoid free servers: they’re often crowded and slow. Paid providers maintain capacity.
• If using a router VPN, check router hardware — many consumer routers can’t handle WireGuard at high speed.

🔬 Deep dive: why distance, encryption, and server load matter

On the technical side two things always affect a VPN: encryption and relay routing.

Encryption: when your device encrypts packets, that uses CPU cycles. Modern protocols like WireGuard are designed to be CPU-efficient, reducing the encryption overhead. Some providers build custom stacks (e.g., NordWhisper) to sidestep censorship and keep speeds up — a good dev on the provider side can make a real difference [Clubic, 2025-09-23].

Routing: if your traffic has to bounce from Sydney → Singapore → US West and back to reach a streaming server, latency and throughput tank. Good VPN providers optimise routes and maintain peering relationships with major backbones. Cheap or free providers often route via congested links.

Server load: when a server is full, per-user throughput drops. That’s why paid providers often advertise load balancing and many server locations. Free VPNs — or a popular server during peak hours — will slow you down dramatically.

Practical example: connecting from France to a US server increases ping and reduces transfer speed because of distance and extra hops. Same principle for Australians connecting to distant locations — keep it nearby unless you need specific geolocation.

🔧 When the problem is your VPN provider (and what to look for)

If you’ve eliminated local issues (baseline speed, hardware, apps) and your VPN is still far slower than expected, suspect the provider. Red flags:

• Slow speeds across multiple nearby servers.
• Large user complaints about overloaded servers.
• No modern protocol options (WireGuard/NordWhisper).
• Provider customers report inconsistent routing to popular services.

If that’s the case, test with a trial or money‑back guarantee. Switching providers is sometimes the fastest fix. Also watch for promotions — competitive providers often run deals (e.g., big discounts on long plans) that make upgrading easier [CNET France, 2025-09-23].

🧩 Router vs app VPN — which is faster?

App VPN (desktop/phone): Usually faster per device because encryption is handled by the device CPU and routing is direct. It’s easier to switch servers and protocols.

Router VPN: Protects everything on the network, but consumer routers often lack the CPU to handle WireGuard or high-throughput encryption. If you want router-level protection without speed loss, buy a router that supports fast VPN offload or use a dedicated mini-PC.

If you’ve installed vendor-specific clients (e.g., AVM’s FRITZ!Fernzugang to connect to a Fritz!Box), note that small office/home solutions are geared for remote access rather than mass streaming — their performance trade-offs are different [netzwelt, 2025-09-23].

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Why does a VPN make my internet slower even though my ISP is fine?

💬 Because a VPN adds encryption and routes traffic through a relay server. If your base connection is weak, a distant server is chosen, or the VPN protocol is heavy, you’ll see lower speeds. Try a closer server, lighter protocol, or test without the VPN to compare.

🛠️ How do I pick the fastest server or protocol on my device?

💬 Start with the VPN app’s ‘recommended’ or ‘fastest’ server, switch protocols (WireGuard/Light→ faster; OpenVPN TCP→ slower), and reboot your router or app. If streaming, pick a server geographically near the content’s region.

🧠 When should I ditch a slow VPN and switch providers?

💬 If you’ve tried server swaps, protocol changes, and local network fixes and still get poor speed vs a clean baseline, the provider may have overloaded servers or poor routing — that’s a legit reason to switch.

🧾 Conclusion

VPN slowdowns are usually solvable. Start local: test baseline speeds, switch servers, change protocols, and kill background tasks. If those steps don’t fix it, your provider or routing likely causes the drag — try another reputable service with modern protocols and plenty of server capacity.

If you care about streaming, gaming, or work calls, invest a bit of time in testing. It pays off: small configuration tweaks often restore most of your speed while keeping your privacy intact.

📚 Further Reading

🔸 “How to watch Waterloo Road Season 16 ft. Jon Richardson online for free from anywhere”
🗞️ Source: TechRadar NZ – 📅 2025-09-23
🔗 Read Article

🔸 “How to watch ‘The Lowdown’ online — stream the gritty Ethan Hawke series from anywhere”
🗞️ Source: Tom’s Guide – 📅 2025-09-23
🔗 Read Article

🔸 “Cum setezi VPN pe iPad și protejezi confidențialitatea online”
🗞️ Source: PlayTech – 📅 2025-09-23
🔗 Read Article

😅 A Quick Shameless Plug (Hope You Don’t Mind)

Most VPN review sites recommend NordVPN for a reason: strong modern protocols, broad server network, and steady speed tests. If you want a fast, low‑hassle pick with a trial window, NordVPN is worth testing.

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Affiliate disclosure: MaTitie may earn a small commission if you buy through the link.

📌 Disclaimer

This article blends first‑hand testing guidance with public reporting and product notes. It’s for educational purposes and not legal or technical warranty. Check providers’ sites and do your own testing for critical use cases.