Whether you’ll notice the change in speed is difficult to say. With some VPNs, depending on the situation, you might not even notice the difference.

The distance between you and your server location The type of encryption your VPN uses Whether the server you use has bandwidth limitations

While there are some privacy benefits to choosing a different location from where you are, try picking a server that’s located in a neighboring city or state. If you’re not too concerned about your server location and you prefer fast internet, go with something close by. On the other hand, PPTP is one of the fastest VPN encryptions. Many VPNs use IKEv2 or L2PT/IPSec, which are known for being reliable both for security and for not slowing down your speed too much. Of course, you’ll want to make sure your modem and all your hardware is working as it should. If you’re interested in testing different VPNs without committing to a subscription, here we break down the best VPN free trials.