The Fastest VPNs for 2026

The Fastest VPNs We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag

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Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag.com's parent company.

Table of Contents

p~*:not(#readMore,#trust-badge,#commerce-group,.editors-note)]:!hidden" x-data="{ readMore: false }" :class="{ '[&>p:first-of-type~*:not(#readMore)]:!block': readMore }"> When you use a VPN, your traffic passes through an additional server, providing an extra layer of security by keeping it encrypted and hidden from potential snoopers. Encryption takes time, and that time equates to reduced performance. We've been testing VPNs for more than 10 years at PCMag, and part of that process includes speed tests. The results below are ranked by speed, but note that your experience may vary depending on local traffic, time of day, and regional infrastructure. In addition, no matter which VPN you use, it will impact your latency and speeds. In our latest round of speed tests, NordVPN emerged as the top performer, earning it a PCMag Lab Award for fastest VPN. Scroll down for more on Nord and to see the rest of the fastest VPNs we tested.

Our Top Tested Picks

div:nth-of-type(n+6)]:hidden" :class="{ '[&>div:nth-of-type(n+6)]:!flex': showMore }"> Fastest Overall NordVPN Available at NordVPN Check Price Bottom Line Editors' Choice 4.5 Outstanding this.$refs.template.innerHTML, onCreate: (instance) => this.tippyInstance = instance, onShow: (instance) => { this.escapeHandler = (e) => { if (e.key === 'Escape') instance.hide(); }; window.addEventListener('keydown', this.escapeHandler); }, onHide: (instance) => { if (this.escapeHandler) { window.removeEventListener('keydown', this.escapeHandler); this.escapeHandler = null; } }, onMount: (instance) => { const closeBtn = instance.popper.querySelector('[data-tooltip-close]'); if (closeBtn) closeBtn.addEventListener('click', () => instance.hide()); }, }; }, }">   What Our Ratings Mean 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies. ({ allowHTML: true, appendTo: document.body, maxWidth: window.innerWidth $refs.template.innerHTML, }), }" x-on:keydown.escape.window="$refs.trigger._tippy?.hide()">

NordVPN

Fastest VPN Read More About NordVPN Read More About How We Test

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NordVPN offers a comprehensive suite of privacy and security features that extend far beyond traditional VPN protection, including advanced encryption, threat detection, and more. Jump To See More Details product_name }} Review" x-track-ga-click>NordVPN Review Pros li]:leading-normal"> Support for multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections Excellent speed results Global server coverage