NordVPN Server Speed Test May 2026
Twelve NordVPN server locations measured on a 1 Gbps line in mid-May 2026, with full numbers for download, upload, ping and observed throughput retention.
- Fastest tested: Germany #990 at 340 Mbps down, 8 ms ping, 89% throughput retention.
- NordLynx protocol outperformed OpenVPN-UDP by 22% average across tested servers.
- Long-distance servers (US, AU, JP) lost 35-58% of baseline throughput – acceptable for streaming, suboptimal for trading.
- Server load matters: a server at 80% load delivered 130 Mbps less than the same server at 25% load.
- Quick Connect picked a sub-optimal server in 4 out of 12 test runs – manual server selection is recommended.
Test Conditions
All tests conducted between May 14-17, 2026, from a Swisscom 1 Gbps fiber connection in Zurich. Baseline (no VPN): 380 Mbps down, 360 Mbps up, 6 ms ping to fast.com’s Zurich endpoint. NordVPN client version v8.4.1, NordLynx protocol, kill switch on, no other VPN-affecting settings active. Each result is the average of three runs spaced 30 minutes apart.
Results: All 12 Servers
| Server | Download | Upload | Ping | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany #990 (Frankfurt) | 340 Mbps | 325 Mbps | 8 ms | 89% |
| Netherlands #1180 (Amsterdam) | 335 Mbps | 320 Mbps | 14 ms | 88% |
| Switzerland #214 (Zurich) | 312 Mbps | 305 Mbps | 4 ms | 82% |
| UK #2210 (London) | 290 Mbps | 280 Mbps | 22 ms | 76% |
| France #1450 (Paris) | 285 Mbps | 275 Mbps | 18 ms | 75% |
| Sweden #770 (Stockholm) | 275 Mbps | 268 Mbps | 32 ms | 72% |
| USA East #3411 (New York) | 240 Mbps | 225 Mbps | 140 ms | 63% |
| USA West #4150 (Los Angeles) | 200 Mbps | 192 Mbps | 165 ms | 53% |
| Singapore #890 | 180 Mbps | 170 Mbps | 180 ms | 47% |
| Japan #1990 (Tokyo) | 170 Mbps | 160 Mbps | 240 ms | 45% |
| Australia #560 (Sydney) | 155 Mbps | 148 Mbps | 290 ms | 41% |
| Brazil #320 (Sao Paulo) | 160 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 220 ms | 42% |
“Retention” = percentage of unencrypted baseline throughput retained on the VPN. Higher is better.
What These Numbers Mean for Your Use Case
Crypto Trading
For spot trading, anything above 50 Mbps and under 200 ms latency is fine. Every server tested cleared this bar. For high-frequency or scalp trading on derivatives, pick a server geographically near your exchange’s data center to minimize total latency.
4K Streaming
Netflix recommends 25 Mbps for 4K. Every server tested clears this 6x or more. Long-distance servers are fine for streaming because video buffering absorbs the latency.
Gaming
Ping matters more than bandwidth. The Europe-based servers (8-22 ms) are usable for competitive online gaming. Trans-Atlantic and Asia-Pacific servers exceed acceptable thresholds for FPS or fighting games.
Large Downloads
Throughput peaks during low server load. Reschedule large transfers for off-peak hours (early morning UTC for European servers) – the load delta can double effective speed.
Server Selection Strategy
- Pick by country, not by Quick Connect. Quick Connect optimizes for load, not for your latency.
- Prefer servers under 40% load. Visible in the app under “Server load %”.
- Test 2-3 servers in your country and bookmark the fastest. Connection conditions vary day to day; having a known-good fallback matters.
- Re-test monthly. Server fleet rotates; the fastest server today may not be the fastest next month.
Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Avg Download | Avg Ping | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordLynx (WireGuard) | 258 Mbps | 94 ms | Best speed, all platforms |
| OpenVPN UDP | 210 Mbps | 108 ms | Universal fallback |
| OpenVPN TCP | 165 Mbps | 118 ms | Only when UDP is blocked |
NordLynx is the default for good reason. Use OpenVPN only when troubleshooting compatibility issues with specific restricted networks (corporate firewalls, hotel Wi-Fi).