VPN Speed Test 2026: 8 VPNs Benchmarked and Scored for India

Quick Verdict

NordVPN is the best all-round VPN for Indian users in November 2026, scoring 84/100 — A Tier.ExpressVPN (83/100 — A Tier), Surfshark (82/100 — A Tier) and Proton VPN (81/100 — A Tier) sit just behind, all in A Tier. Proton VPN is the pick for privacy (91/100 — S Tier), Surfshark is the fastest in the largest speed dataset, and Mullvad is a privacy specialist that is a poor fit for most Indian buyers (65/100 — C Tier).

We compared eight VPNs using four published speed benchmarks and every provider's official pricing, audit and server pages, then rated them on thebenchmarksutra VPN Score. No single benchmark covers all eight VPNs on every metric, so this article fills those gaps and shows exactly where the data comes from.

Evidence label:Researched. Speed figures come from published third-party benchmarks; prices, audits and features come from official provider pages checked on 4 November 2026. benchmarksutra has not hands-on tested these VPNs for this article. See ourVPN testing methodology.

Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links. Our scores are not influenced by commissions.

Why We Built This Comparison

VPN speed tests on the web each measure something different, from a different country, for a different set of providers. One tests from London, one from Texas, one from Türkiye. One covers eight providers, another covers four. None of them tests from India, and none tests streaming.

So we put the four benchmarks side by side, mapped which metric exists for which VPN, and filled the gaps with official provider data. Where nobody has published a measurement, we say so instead of guessing.

On top of that, we checked every VPN's official pricing page (as shown to Indian visitors), refund terms, latest no-logs audit, India server status, kill switch, split tunnelling, device limit and support channels.

benchmarksutra VPN Score: All 8 VPNs Rated

Every VPN is rated on the sameGeneral VPN Score: seven categories, each rated out of 10 and weighted to a total of 100. Grades: 90–100 S Tier, 80–89 A Tier, 70–79 B Tier, 60–69 C Tier, below 60 D Tier.

How each category was rated

• Speed (20):the average of Comparitech's speed-kept percentage and AllAboutCookies' speed kept (100 minus the average slowdown), each divided by 10. These are the only two benchmarks that cover all eight VPNs.

• Streaming reliability (20):none of the four benchmarks tested streaming, and neither have we for this article. Ratings reflect official streaming support and server reach and are kept conservative, as our methodology requires for untested claims.

• Privacy and security (20):the VPN's Privacy VPN Score (below) divided by 10.

• App experience (10):connect speed and connect success rate (Comparitech), platform coverage, kill switch and split tunnelling (official).

• India relevance (10):India location type, published India-exit speed, rupee pricing and India-friendly payments.

• Pricing and value (10):intro price, renewal price, refund window and device limit.

• Support experience (10):official support channels (24/7 live chat scores higher than email only). Support response times were not tested.

VPN Speed Test Results

Speed kept through the VPN (Comparitech)

Comparitech measures how much of the direct-connection download speed each VPN keeps, weighted across 23 destination countries over a rolling 90-day window. Surfshark keeps the most (86%), followed by NordVPN (84%) and ExpressVPN (83%). PureVPN keeps the least (63%).

Slowdown compared with no VPN (AllAboutCookies)

AllAboutCookies has re-tested each VPN 6–9 times since May 2024 on US, Canada, UK and Australia servers. NordVPN averages just 1.6% slower than no VPN; PureVPN averages 33.7% slower.

Throughput, latency and system load (AIMultiple)

AIMultiple ran one session per VPN from Türkiye to German servers on a MacBook Air. It is a useful single snapshot, not a trend. Its Surfshark test failed to hold a connection from a Turkish IP, so Surfshark has no result; IPVanish, CyberGhost and Mullvad were not tested.

On AIMultiple's two combined indices, PureVPN sits in the best corner (fast network, light app), Proton VPN is in the middle, and NordVPN and ExpressVPN trade a heavier app footprint for their results. This is one test session, so treat it as a snapshot. Why NordVPN still ranks first overall: this is one session from Türkiye to Germany covering four of our eight VPNs, and the indices stretch small gaps (NordVPN downloaded 95.2 Mbps vs PureVPN's 98.6 Mbps; its weak spot was a 126 ms ping that session). Our Speed rating relies on the two long-running datasets that cover all eight VPNs, where NordVPN is first or second and PureVPN is last in both. Speed is also only 20 of the 100 points.

Speed by country (Comparitech, median download)

All figures in Mbps, measured from a London test rig. Proton VPN is strong in Europe and the US but weak to Japan and Australia, which matters if you use Asia-Pacific servers from India.

Week-to-week consistency

A fast average can hide bad weeks. CyberGhost had the widest swing (its slowest week was 473 Mbps), while ExpressVPN was the most consistent, staying within a 31 Mbps band.

Connection speed and reliability

ExpressVPN connects fastest (2.1 s median) and IPVanish most reliably (99.9% success). Mullvad is the outlier at 23.3 s.

India-Specific Results: Servers, Speed and Pricing

Since CERT-In's 2022 directions on data retention, most international VPNs have moved away from physical servers in India. Most now offer avirtual India location: you get an Indian IP address, but the server sits elsewhere, usually Singapore. Read more inIs VPN legal in India?.

Only Comparitech publishes India-exit speeds, and only for four VPNs. For the other four, no benchmark has published India figures, so we do not estimate one.

Price vs Renewal: The Real Cost in Rupees

Every VPN except Mullvad uses a discounted first term. The number that matters is what you pay after it ends.

USD prices converted at ₹94.75 and EUR at ₹105.92 (ECB reference rates, 3 November 2026). Prices are Black Friday-period intro offers shown to Indian visitors on 4 November 2026; GST may apply. Always check the renewal price before buying a long plan.

Privacy and Security Compared

Privacy is rated separately on thePrivacy VPN Score, which weighs no-log clarity, audit recency, jurisdiction, leak protection and track record.

Disclosed incidents on official channels: a single rented NordVPN server in Finland was breached in 2018 (disclosed 2019); an ExpressVPN Windows bug let some Remote Desktop traffic bypass the tunnel (fixed 2025); Swedish police searched Mullvad's office in 2023 and left without customer data.

VPN-by-VPN Verdicts

NordVPN: 84/100 — A Tier

Privacy VPN Score:86/100 — A Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹331/mo → ₹1,098/mo · Devices: 10 · Refund: 30 days

• Fastest on average across the two all-provider speed tests: 84% of baseline speed kept (Comparitech) and only 1.6% slower than no VPN (AllAboutCookies).

• Best India-exit speed in the data: 702 Mbps median through its virtual India location (hosted in Singapore).

• Six Deloitte no-logs assurance engagements, latest report December 2025; Panama jurisdiction.

• Renewal is the catch: $3.49/month intro on the 27-month plan, then $139.08 a year.

ExpressVPN: 83/100 — A Tier

Privacy VPN Score:84/100 — A Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹283/mo → ₹789/mo · Devices: 10 (Basic), 12 (Advanced), 14 (Pro) · Refund: 30 days

• Fastest to connect (2.1 s median) with 99.7% connect success, and strong India-exit speed (654 Mbps).

• Two virtual India options (via Singapore and via UK); KPMG no-logs assessment in 2025.

• Only 2-year plans are listed for India visitors; renews at $99.95 a year; refund only for first-time users.

• A 2025 Windows bug let some Remote Desktop traffic bypass the tunnel; ExpressVPN disclosed and fixed it.

Surfshark: 82/100 — A Tier

Privacy VPN Score:84/100 — A Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹236/mo · Devices: Unlimited simultaneous devices · Refund: 30 days

• Top of the Comparitech speed table (8.2/10, 86% speed kept) and second in AllAboutCookies (7.6% slower).

• Unlimited devices on every plan, Deloitte no-logs assurance in 2025.

• Cheapest intro among the big four ($2.49/month for 27 months) but the renewal amount is not published.

• No India-exit speed result published; India locations are virtual.

Proton VPN: 81/100 — A Tier

Privacy VPN Score:91/100 — S Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹331/mo → ₹662/mo · Devices: 10 (Plus/Unlimited); 1 (Free) · Refund: 30 days

• Highest Privacy VPN Score here: Swiss jurisdiction, fifth consecutive Securitum no-logs audit (2026), open-source apps.

• Fairest renewal of the paid big names: $3.49/month intro, then $83.88 a year (about $6.99/month).

• Speed is uneven by region: weak to Japan (117 Mbps) and Australia (290 Mbps) in Comparitech data; 495 Mbps to India.

• Live chat is a Plus-plan feature with no published hours.

CyberGhost: 77/100 — B Tier

Privacy VPN Score:79/100 — B Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹178/mo → ₹415/mo · Devices: 7 · Refund: 45 (6-month and 2-year plans); 14 (monthly)

• The only provider here that shows Indian visitors rupee pricing: ₹177.7/month for 28 months.

• Longest refund window on long plans: 45 days.

• Slower and less consistent: 74% speed kept (Comparitech), 30.4% slower than no VPN (AllAboutCookies), weakest weekly low.

• Renewal text says ₹4,975.6 a year after the first term, the same as the whole intro bill.

PureVPN: 74/100 — B Tier

Privacy VPN Score:79/100 — B Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹204/mo → ₹379/mo · Devices: 10 · Refund: 31 days

• Keeps a virtual India (Mumbai) location and the cheapest renewal of the paid VPNs ($47.95 a year on 2-year plans).

• Best single-test result in AIMultiple (98.6 Mbps download, lowest jitter and CPU use).

• But lowest speed retention in Comparitech (63%) and the biggest average slowdown in AllAboutCookies (33.7%).

• Its checkout shows two conflicting renewal statements; refunds exclude renewals, app-store and crypto payments.

IPVanish: 71/100 — B Tier

Privacy VPN Score:72/100 — B Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹208/mo → ₹790/mo · Devices: Unlimited · Refund: 30 days

• Most reliable connections in Comparitech (99.9% success, 3.1 s) and unlimited devices.

• Lowest throughput of the eight (575 Mbps cross-country average, 369 Mbps to India).

• US jurisdiction (Ziff Davis); Schellman no-logs audit April 2025.

• Renews at $99.99 a year after a $2.19/month intro; refunds only on yearly and 2-year plans.

Mullvad: 65/100 — C Tier

Privacy VPN Score:89/100 — A Tier· Intro → renewal: ₹530/mo · Devices: 5 · Refund: 14 days

• Strongest privacy design: no email needed, cash accepted, always-on kill switch; police search in 2023 found no customer data.

• Flat €5/month with no intro trick and no renewal jump.

• Not built for Indian buyers: no India location, no streaming claim, email-only support, 14-day refund.

• Slowest to connect (23.3 s median) though throughput is solid (729 Mbps cross-country average).

Which VPN Should You Buy in India?

For streaming-specific picks, seeBest VPN for Netflix India. For a deeper look at one provider, read ourNordVPN review for India. Weighing a free option? Readfree VPN vs paid VPNandare free VPNs safe?.

What This Comparison Does Not Tell You

• No India-based speed test.All four benchmarks test from outside India. Your speeds from Indian broadband will differ.

• No streaming test.Nobody in this dataset tested Netflix, Hotstar or BBC iPlayer; streaming ratings reflect official claims only.

• Benchmarks disagree.AIMultiple's single test ranks PureVPN fastest; the two long-running datasets rank it slowest. We weight the repeated, all-provider tests.

• Prices move.Intro offers change often, especially around sales.

Scores reflect published data and official terms as of 4 November 2026.

FAQs

Which is the fastest VPN in 2026?

Surfshark leads Comparitech's 90-day dataset (86% of baseline speed kept, Speed 8.2/10), while NordVPN has the smallest average slowdown in AllAboutCookies' tests (1.6% slower than no VPN). Across both, NordVPN and Surfshark are the two fastest of the eight.

Which VPN is best for India?

NordVPN scores highest on the benchmarksutra VPN Score (84/100 — A Tier) and has the fastest published India-exit speed (702 Mbps). ExpressVPN and Surfshark are close alternatives.

Do VPNs have servers in India?

Most leading VPNs removed physical India servers after CERT-In's 2022 directions. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, CyberGhost and PureVPN offer virtual India locations; IPVanish lists Mumbai without saying whether it is physical; Mullvad has no India location.

Which VPN is best for privacy?

Proton VPN has the highest Privacy VPN Score in this comparison (91/100 — S Tier), followed by Mullvad (89/100 — A Tier).

Which VPN is cheapest in India?

CyberGhost has the lowest intro price (₹177.7 a month on its 28-month plan, shown in rupees). PureVPN has the lowest renewal price among paid VPNs ($47.95 a year).

How much does a VPN slow down internet speed?

In AllAboutCookies' repeated tests the eight VPNs averaged between 1.6% (NordVPN) and 33.7% (PureVPN) slower than no VPN. In Comparitech's data they keep between 63% and 86% of direct speed.

Is Mullvad good for Indian users?

Mullvad is excellent for privacy but has no India location, no streaming claim and email-only support, so it scores C Tier for general use in India.

How does benchmarksutra rate VPNs?

We use a 100-point General VPN Score: Speed 20, Streaming 20, Privacy and security 20, App experience 10, India relevance 10, Pricing and value 10, Support 10. Each category is rated out of 10 and weighted.