How using a VPN can help you avoid ISP internet throttling (2024)

How using a VPN can help you avoid ISP internet throttling (1)

We all know that having access to a broadband connection to your home has been a major technological breakthrough - and that's understating it by quite some way. But even now in the 2020s, home internet is rife with niggles. And speed throttling is high on the list.

Typically, you subscribes to your broadband service from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) on a monthly basis, agreeing for a monthly fee to receive a certain amount of download and upload speed.

But in some cases, the ISP oversells its network and if each of its users utilized their broadband connection at maximum speed, the ISP’s network would be overloaded and not able to handle the heavy load of internet traffic. In those cases, an ISP will then put the brakes on the heavier users and apply internet throttling - also known as bandwidth throttling.

One reliable solution to throttling is to put your internet traffic through a VPN. We'll explain why below.

  • Discover today's very best VPN providers
  • Open up a world of shows and movies with a streaming VPN
  • What is a VPN? Get back to basics with our explainer

Throttling is a worldwide issue

We understand throttling to a degree, and we see how some load balancing does sometimes need to be applied to the network. It's a bit like the electrical grid on a hot day with the power company implementing rolling brownouts to keep all users connected.

However, as you pay for your internet plan based on the bandwidth selected, it is easy to see how frustrated users will get when their, by way of example, 100Mbps download speed gets cut down to those pokey dial up speeds of yesteryear. This becomes especially noticeable with multiple users online simultaneously, when streaming of HD or 4K video content.

Some folks think the ISPs do this to counter the trend to ‘cord cutting’ as the online streaming content directly competes with cable video offerings.

Think this is all a conspiracy theory? Studies based on worldwide data collection found a multitude of ISPs across several different countries throttling.

A straightforward solution

So what is the solution? One approach is to change to a different ISP, although this is not easy and it may be unknown if the next ISP is going to have a similar broadband throttling practice.

But avoiding speed throttling is probably one of the lesser-discussed VPN uses (alongside more well-known security, privacy and international streaming). By sending and receiving the data for your streaming video through the encrypted tunnel of the VPN, and away from the prying eyes of your ISP, it keeps it from being classified as from a throttled site and therefore it should proceed at full speed.

Furthermore, there can also be peering conflicts that slow data transfer down. This is when two ISPs connect and exchange traffic, which can cause one of the involved ISP’s to exceed a previously agreed upon traffic ratio as they take the Netflix traffic from another ISP. By keeping the traffic in the encrypted tunnel of a Netflix VPN, this protected data then gets shuttled on a private network via the most direct and uncongested path and avoids any slowdowns.

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How using a VPN can help you avoid ISP internet throttling (2)

Jonas P. DeMuro

Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.

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How using a VPN can help you avoid ISP internet throttling (2024)

FAQs

How using a VPN can help you avoid ISP internet throttling? ›

Yes, a VPN will stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. It does this by hiding your IP address and web use. If your ISP can't tell who you are and what sites you visit, it can't throttle certain sites or activities. It also means your ISP can't tell when you reach your data limits.

How does VPN prevent ISP? ›

The best way to stop your ISP from tracking you is to use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your data so your ISP can't see what you're doing online. A good VPN won't log any usage data, so what you do online is known only to you. Get PIA and browse privately without the watchful eyes of your ISP or anyone else.

How do I prevent internet throttling? ›

What's the best way to bypass bandwidth throttling? If your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, and switching providers is not an option, the easiest solution is to connect through VPN. Your ISP won't be able to inspect the data packets, so it won't be able to throttle that traffic based on what service you're using.

How does VPN improve Internet speed? ›

If an ISP throttles communication speeds with a specific service, a VPN could circumvent this throttling, because the VPN encryption will prevent the ISP from knowing which services the user is communicating with.

Does a VPN bypass ISP restrictions? ›

With a VPN, your ISP only sees encrypted data and can't distinguish your streaming activity from other types of traffic, preventing ISP throttling. A VPN can also help bypass geographical restrictions on content, allowing you to access a wider range of shows and movies globally.

Does a VPN use your ISP? ›

Yes, your ISP can see your VPN server's IP address. But it can't see anything else. This means that your ISP can probably tell that you're using a VPN, but it cannot track your online activity, see the pages you visit, the files you download, or anything else you do on the internet.

Does VPN block searches from ISP? ›

A VPN hides your search history from your ISP, governmental entities, and cybercriminals. Once it encrypts your internet traffic, your online data going through the VPN server turns into indecipherable codes. It's practically impossible for anyone to crack the code and figure out what you're doing online.

Which VPN is best for ISP throttling? ›

Our team recommends ExpressVPN as the fastest service in 2024. It's perfect for preventing ISP throttling if it's not based on your internet plan (read below). Here's how to use it: Get ExpressVPN's subscription and claim the discount below.

Is it illegal for my ISP to throttle my internet? ›

Also known as data throttling or bandwidth throttling, internet throttling is legal if your ISP expresses the possibility of limiting your internet speed in the fine print of your contract. The exception is if your ISP falsely advertised unlimited data but went on to place a cap on your service.

Will a VPN stop hotspot throttling? ›

A VPN can help bypass throttling by encrypting your data so your carrier can't see what you're doing with it. This means they can't throttle your speeds based on what they think you're doing. To get started, you'll need to choose a VPN. There are many available.

Does using VPN reduce internet speed? ›

While VPNs, or virtual private networks, are great at protecting your privacy, there's an unavoidable trade-off: slower internet speeds, often by 50% or more. It's the nature of how VPNs work, where your data has to bounce to another server to be encrypted, and there's really no way around it.

Why use a VPN? ›

A VPN protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP address, leaving their browsing history and location untraceable. This greater anonymity allows for greater privacy, as well as greater freedom for those who wish to access blocked or region-bound content.

Which free VPN is fastest? ›

The Best Free VPNs of 2024
  • Surfshark - Best VPN Free Trial.
  • Hotspot Shield - Fastest Free VPN.
  • NordVPN - Best Full-Featured VPN with Free Offers.
  • PrivadoVPN - Best Free VPN for Unlimited Devices.
  • Atlas VPN - Best Free VPN for Privacy.
  • TunnelBear - Best Server Network.

What does a VPN not hide? ›

You might use a VPN to hide your IP address and encrypt your online traffic. However, a VPN typically won't prevent you from clicking on suspicious links, downloading harmful programs, or being at risk from cybercriminals if you're on a public Wi-Fi network, for example. Learn more about malware and what it can do.

Can ISP see torrenting with VPN? ›

Encryption in VPNs is standard, and while it doesn't prevent your ISP from seeing that you're using their services, it stops them from peeking into your traffic to see what you're downloading. Torrenting by itself is also risky. Bear in mind that you're connecting directly to random internet users.

Can my ISP see what sites I visit with Tor? ›

When using Tor Browser, no one can see the websites that you visit. However, your service provider or network admins may be able to see that you're connecting to the Tor network, though they won't know what you're doing when you get there.

Can my ISP see what sites I visit? ›

Yes, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see what apps you download. They have the ability to monitor all your online activity, including the websites you visit and the files you download. However, they usually don't monitor individual activities closely and often collect data in bulk.

Will my ISP tell my parents? ›

Another question often asked is, “can parents see internet history on wifi bills?” So the answer to that question is No, they cannot because the ISPs don't provide this information on the bill.

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