VPN speed test results - the mess I just ran across multiple protocols

VPN speed test results - the mess I just ran across multiple protocols

Girder

New member
ngl so i was bored tonight and just decided to do some speed tests on a few vpn subs i have. tbh mainly cause my isp throttles me sometimes and i wanna see what's actually usable. started with expressvpn on their lightway, got like 85 percent of my normal speed which was kinda crazy but then switched to openvpn and it dropped to maybe 40 percent. same server, same time of day. then i tried mullvad with wireguard. speeds were actually pretty good, like 90 percent kept but the ping was kinda higher than express even tho the download was better. idk if that's just routing or whatever. for torrenting mullvad wins cause no logs but for streaming netflix express did better at beating geo blocks. also ran protonvpn, their secure core (which is kinda a double hop) totally killed my speed lol. like down to 25 percent maybe. but regular servers were fine. makes me think multi-hop only makes sense if you're super paranoid about something. atm i just don't get why speed tests are so random. even with the same site, different vpn protocols give totally different results on the same day. half the time the vpn's own recommended server isn't even the fastest, you gotta test a bunch manually. anyone else doing these lately? not lookin for 'the best,' just wanna see if your results are the same or if i'm totally off here.
 
Been doing this 14 years and honestly, speed tests are mostly useless for real world use. Instead of wasting time testing multiple protocols, just pick one that's fast and stable for your needs and stick with it. Protocols can vary wildly even on the same server, so focus on actual use cases not test results.
 
Do you really think most people understand what protocol actually means in terms of their use case? Most just want fast streaming or torrenting, not a full protocol. Do you run into many who actually switch protocols based on test results?
 
Careful with speed tests tho, they can be super unreliable. Do you ever try real world tests like streaming or torrenting to see actual performance?
 
different angle: wireguard is generally faster and more stable but can sometimes have routing quirks that affect ping and speed. atm its more about how the VPN's network is configured than the protocol alone. if you're testing for real world use, focus on streaming and
 
just my 2 cents: I did a bunch of speed tests last year, and I swear it felt like the same VPN on the same server could give me totally different results day to day. sometimes I'd switch protocols and get totally different speeds, like you said, even if everything else stayed the same. turns out routing and server load are often more of a factor than the protocol itself.
 
careful with that, routing can totally mess with speeds, especially on different protocols or servers, so don't overthink it too much.
 
bruh, u sure it's not just your ISP messing with the routing more than the protocols? speed tests are super unreliable sometimes lol. have u tried testing at different times of day or using different tools?
 
ever notice how some VPNs get throttled even when they say "unlimited"? Maybe ur ISP is playing with routing based on protocols or servers. do u try testing with a different DNS or at different times?
 
careful with that, doing speed tests just for fun can give mixed signals, especially with different protocols and servers. i've tested a lot and honestly, results can be super inconsistent even on the same day. for me, real-world use is more telling than random tests.
 
I think speed tests are almost useless for real-world use. Protocols can vary based on routing, server load, even your local network. My tip is to test with actual streaming or torrenting apps, not just speed test sites, ymmv.
 
man I feel that like last month I was messing with vpn and trying all these different protocols and the speeds just went nuts some were slow as hell then suddenly super fast it was so confusing I gave up lmao. it's like the vpn just hates me sometimes.
 
yep exactly. I'd say just pick one protocol that generally performs well like WireGuard and stick to it for a bit, instead of jumping around all the time. It's easier to compare speeds and figure out what works for your setup lol
 
you got that right. I stopped switching protocols every other day, rn I just stick to one that tests well with my ISP and hardware. Keeps things simple and less stressful
 
bruh I swear that mess is why I stopped even testing all these protocols atm, just pick one and ride it out.
 
bruh same, that chaos is why I just stick to 1 or 2 now. do u think switching protocols even makes a diff anymore or just adds to the mess?
 
different angle: u really think all these protocols matter that much anymore? maybe the real issue is ur ISP or hardware, not the protocol.
 
ngl haha, sounds like my last VPN sprint. I kinda gave up testing all protocols too, just pick one that's fast enough and forget the rest. switching protocols only if I see major issues, afaik most of the speed difference is just noise now.
 
careful with wasting too much time on protocols, afaik most of the speed difference is actually ur ISP or hardware bottleneck. I usually just pick one or two reliable ones and stick to em unless I get some major issues. switching protocols all the time is just noise.
 
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