# Surfshark Slow Download Speeds **URL:** \ **Category:** Security\ **Tags:** streaming\ **Created:** [October 15, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403 "2023-10-15T00:14:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/miki/32/27657_2.png) [@Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Miki)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/21 "2023-11-07T13:32:12Z")
Could simply be that your ISP didn’t have the necessary coding for the Wireguard protocol. Personally I never use “automatic” but on every device I have I test each protocol on 10 different servers throughout the country and make a note of each result. Yes it takes a good hour to do, but gives me a great picture of what works best, and of how my system works best. ---
**Author:** ![Anthony2](https://troypointinsider.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anthony2](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Anthony2)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/22 "2023-11-07T16:09:55Z")
Yes, I have also. With the update, I’m getting what my ISP is rated at ---
**Author:** ![tman](https://troypointinsider.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d78d45/32.png) [@tman](https://troypointinsider.com/u/tman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/23 "2024-05-17T19:12:20Z")
Definitely not impressed with the thruput performance of any of the VPN services. Maybe the industry needs to develop custom VPN accelerator chips. ---
**Author:** ![Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/miki/32/27657_2.png) [@Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Miki)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/24 "2024-05-17T19:17:59Z")
I have no speed drop with my Proton VPN and in fact get aaround 150 to 160 MBs down on a 150 rated service. Proton has “speedup” tech which you can search and read about. You can use their free VPN to test this for yourself. Server and countries are limited in the free VPN but you will at least get a good idea of speeds. ---
**Author:** ![AJS1](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/ajs1/32/20456_2.png) [@AJS1](https://troypointinsider.com/u/AJS1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/25 "2024-05-17T20:07:45Z")
Surfshark doesn’t slow down my speed, in fact I get 60 megabytes per second out of a 50 mb per second system AT&t. However this morning I lost my IPTV stream and had a surfshark off and turn it back on to get my streaming going again. My download speed checker still gave me 60 Mbps but my streaming was cut off. So I had to shut off again like I said I had to shut off and reset surfshark. At one time I was able to get up to 700 hours on surfshark without having to reset it, now I barely get over 80 before it resets or I have to reset it. ---
**Author:** ![ben9ron](https://troypointinsider.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@ben9ron](https://troypointinsider.com/u/ben9ron)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/26 "2024-09-12T22:03:58Z")
Why does surfshark drop my 1gb Internet to 50mbps on Android boxes but only maybe 20% in windows? My firesticks, Onn boxes both 4k and pro all drop to anywhere between 40mbps to 100mbps but windows just takes a much smaller hit? Is there any fix? Tried surfshark and expressvpn. I am guessing the boxes and sticks are just not powerful enough without bottlenecking somewhere but hoping someone smarter then me knows for sure. Windows I get 750mbps with VPN off and 610mbps with it on. Anyway to get the android based boxes/sticks up to speed? ---
**Author:** ![Dukeweaver](https://troypointinsider.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Dukeweaver](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Dukeweaver)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/27 "2024-09-13T02:52:33Z")
i recently installed my vpn on my router… vpn off 500m, vpn on router 250m, vpn on steaming device 80-100m. using an older router… asus rt-ac86u. very little speed loss using the rt-ac86u pro per Troy. ---
**Author:** ![Wizzard](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/wizzard/32/5680_2.png) [@Wizzard](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Wizzard)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/28 "2024-09-13T12:44:28Z")
Well you’re using their servers now and your bandwidth from your ISP is no longer a factor. I use SS as well, used to use Ipvanish. They of course both did the same. That bandwidth is quite sufficient for streaming as long as the source is viable. Strange that the odd time I download something on my PC using SS, the bandwidth is quite high so I just figure its something about the boxes or the app. ---
**Author:** ![Timwort](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/timwort/32/22382_2.png) [@Timwort](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Timwort)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/29 "2024-09-14T12:24:48Z")
The primary reason is CPU and encryption, VPNs don’t actually change the Internet connect at all, they just put a bunch of packets on the network. What you actually see is the CPU is using a lot of cycles in the encryption/decryption processing. Your streaming device generally doesn’t have the most powerful CPU which is understandable, but now ( with a VPN) it has to not only process packets but first encrypt the packets and after processing incoming packets must decrypt them, a ton of CPU cycles. Your phone, your laptop all have much more powerful CPU and in some higher end device can off load encrypt/decrypt operations to different silicon. ---
**Author:** ![Wizzard](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/wizzard/32/5680_2.png) [@Wizzard](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Wizzard)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/30 "2024-09-14T12:29:38Z")
> [@Timwort](#): > > The primary reason is CPU and encryption, VPNs don’t actually change the Internet connect at all, they just put a bunch of packets on the network. I understand they don’t change our internet connection from our modem/router but as soon as we hit their server, it’s their bandwidth that we are limited to, no longer ours. I can get 500 down from my Isp but a VPN? I can understand easily that the vpn uses our CPU because I even see the difference on how long it can take to connect on two different systems, using two old operating systems. ---
**Author:** ![Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/miki/32/27657_2.png) [@Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Miki)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/31 "2024-09-14T12:43:14Z")
The reasons you state are part of why I use Proton. Their Servers are actual brick and mortar physical servers and not “Virtual” servers. I have never had a single issue with their speeds. @Timwort is correct, most desktop and even high end laptops have better and more powerful CPUs and often far better WiFi components. ---
**Author:** ![JerryJ](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/jerryj/32/16901_2.png) [@JerryJ](https://troypointinsider.com/u/JerryJ)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/32 "2024-09-14T17:29:22Z")
I posted something like this in another thread to better understand the chain of events. I’ve added more detail to this. Is this the typical path utilizing a VPN? User request (encrypted) \> ISP \> VPN server (decrypted) \> Source (Addon/Real Debrid?) \> VPN server (encrypted) \> ISP \> User (decrypted) ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/anonymous/32/21413_2.png) [@Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 10:10am UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/33 "2024-09-17T10:10:52Z")
**Hey Miki,** Does Proton VPN get blocked from certain websites? Do you think you really need a VPN for streaming? I watched the Tom Scott video on the “eleven Forums” **As usual, thank you for your help and guidance, you’re the best.** ---
**Author:** ![Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/miki/32/27657_2.png) [@Miki](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Miki)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/34 "2024-09-17T12:16:02Z")
I always use a VPN. I never connect to the net without one. I have not found any sites that I cannot access. Of course I haven’t been to every site and I never use you tube or Amazon Prime or netflix, so I suppose there may be some. ---
**Author:** ![SoloWarrior](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/solowarrior/32/20436_2.png) [@SoloWarrior](https://troypointinsider.com/u/SoloWarrior)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/35 "2024-09-17T12:30:29Z")
Hey @Anonymous hope you are good. Just to give you a different perspective I’ve been streaming since 2016 and do NOT use a VPN. Have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![snowstreamer](https://troypointinsider.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@snowstreamer](https://troypointinsider.com/u/snowstreamer)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/36 "2024-09-17T14:50:55Z")
The way that I look at it is that it costs about 2 bucks per month and better safe than sorry. I got letter from ISP (signature required) when using IPVanish with Stremio and if I got another one they were going to terminate my service. If the streaming app you’re using relies on torrent technology this is where you will have problems because you are sharing the same video you are watching with others through some of those addons. When you do this you are xposing your ip address which will identify you. When I got this warning my ipvanish had become disconnected. Now that I use Surfshark with killswitch never had a problem again. So, in my opinion, yeah it’s worth the 2 bucks per month. I only have one choice for Internet in my area and if I get shut down I am SOL! ---
**Author:** ![AJS1](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/ajs1/32/20456_2.png) [@AJS1](https://troypointinsider.com/u/AJS1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/37 "2024-09-17T17:52:09Z")
Ditto with snow streamer! I received a notification of copyright infringement from my ISP AT&t because I forgot to have the vpn on my PC when downloaded movie. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/anonymous/32/21413_2.png) [@Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/38 "2024-09-17T18:02:48Z")
**Thanks, MarkxG. I appreciate your response.** ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/anonymous/32/21413_2.png) [@Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/39 "2024-09-17T18:03:34Z")
**Thanks, Snowstreamer. I appreciate your response.** ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/user_avatar/troypointinsider.com/anonymous/32/21413_2.png) [@Anonymous](https://troypointinsider.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403/40 "2024-09-17T18:04:34Z")
**Thanks, AJS1. I see your logic.** [Previous page](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403.md?page=1) [Next page](https://troypointinsider.com/t/surfshark-slow-download-speeds/98403.md?page=3)