VPN Myths: Do They Slow down Internet Speeds for Gamers?

June 14, 2024 By Janne Smith No Comments 4 minutes

A growing number of gamers use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to play games online from their preferred device, mainly to protect their privacy, enhance security, and reduce latency. The question being asked here is, do VPNs slow down internet speeds for gamers? Let’s dive in to find out.

Note: Using a random free VPN can cause VPN issues, such as bandwidth limitations, privacy leaks, and limited servers. Ensure that you only use a reliable VPN, like FastestVPN, for premium features at an affordable price. Leverage an unlimited bandwidth, military-grade encryption, robust privacy protocols, and much more!

What Is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a downloadable computer program or piece of software that can do many things. VPNs protect your online privacy and help you remain anonymous while surfing the internet.

When connected to a region (a secure server) on your VPN, an encrypted end-to-end tunnel is created between your device and any websites that you visit. They hide your true location (IP address) and make it appear as though you/your device is in a different location.

They hide your browsing history, reduce latency, and protect you from fraudsters, hackers, and other cybercriminals trying to hijack your personal data and sensitive information. In other words, using VPNs makes your online activity untraceable.

They enable you to access websites that are otherwise restricted to people in your location and side-step any geo-location restrictions in place on that website. The market is flooded with VPN options, and they are becoming increasingly popular with online gamers.

Some players have been known to use VPNs to access online casino websites and other fully licensed and regulated iGaming sites to play their favourite slots like Sweet Bonanza and The Goonies Megaways or place sports bets on their favourite sports.

Other people use VPNs to access TV shows and movie streaming websites. Without using a VPN, people wouldn’t be able to access their favorite restricted digital content.

Are VPNs Safe?

A legitimate VPN tool is perfectly safe, and there are many to choose from. If you are on a tight budget, you can find a handful of free VPN tools, whereas others require a one-off payment or monthly/yearly rolling subscription fee.

However, that’s not the case with FastestVPN. Offering premium features, you don’t have to worry about cost cuts. From military-grade encryption to 800+ servers, all at affordable subscription plans.

Most VPNs take seconds to download and install on smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers. They are easy to use and do their job to ensure that your online activity remains anonymous and better protected.

Do VPNs Slow Down My Internet Speed?

Yes and no. Unfortunately, some VPNs can slow down your internet speed. However, most of the time, the speeds at which they slow your internet down will be hardly noticeable. In other words, using VPNs to play online games won’t dramatically affect your online gaming experience.

In fact, some VPNs can actually give you slightly faster internet speeds. It all depends on the distance of the server you end up connecting to.

For example, if you live in the United States and try to connect to a VPN server in the furthest European country away from your current location, the data packets have to travel greater distances, which could slow down your internet speed.

Unless you need to connect to a specific region, try to stick to VPN servers that are as close to your true location as possible.

Final Note

If you experience slow internet speeds, simply disconnect your VPN from the current region and try changing to another server in a different location, which tends to fix the issue and will give your internet speeds a much-needed boost.

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