Take a baseline before changing settings
Choose the device and network you normally use. Pause large downloads and note whether you are on Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Record download and upload throughput and latency without the VPN. Then connect to a nearby VPN location and repeat.
Keep the device, test server and approximate time consistent. One unusually high result is less useful than a pattern you can reproduce. We have not run a provider speed contest and do not label a service the fastest without that evidence.
Measure the task you care about
A video call depends on more than download throughput. Notice interruptions, delay and recovery after a brief network change. A large file transfer has a different priority. For a television, test the supported service itself rather than treating a speed-test score as proof it will play.
Write down the app version, connection location and protocol. Change one setting at a time. If a different location fixes the problem, record that rather than declaring the entire provider fast or slow.
Compare two candidates fairly
Use similar locations and repeat at a time you normally work or watch. Try the same routine on both services. Record failures as well as the best result. Check whether the subscription or refund terms let you evaluate without committing to a long term.
The provider comparison helps narrow candidates by devices and billing. Performance on your equipment should then form part of the final decision, alongside reliability and the renewal cost.
