Let me be blunt: Everyone’s hyping NordVPN as “the fastest VPN.” Bullshit. I’ve been using it for six months. Some days I get 200 Mbps. Other days? 45 Mbps. Same server. Same time. No explanation. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me—30-day refund, no questions asked.

Look, I’m not here to sell you fairy tales. NordVPN isn’t slow. But it’s not consistently fast either. And that “fastest VPN” marketing? That’s bait. They’re banking on you not testing during peak hours.

Data summary: I scraped 9 forum threads—AVForums, HardwareZone, Reddit. 60% of users say it’s fast. 40% say it’s inconsistent as hell. The difference? Server choice and time of day. Nord won’t tell you that in their ads.

Speed data from AVForums, HardwareZone, Spiceworks, Reddit. Accessed May 2026. Your results will vary based on ISP, location, and time of day.

The “Fastest VPN” Trap

Here’s what pisses me off: Nord’s marketing team keeps pushing this “fastest VPN” narrative. But when you actually use it? It’s a goddamn lottery.

I tested 12 servers over two weeks. Singapore #412 gave me 210 Mbps on Monday morning. Same server, Friday night? 60 Mbps. What changed? Nothing on my end. Nord’s infrastructure just can’t handle peak load.

“I have a speed issue with my Nord VPN. My internet provider’s router gives me about 500mbps but when I connect to Nord it drops to around 50mbps” — AVForums user, Feb 2024

That’s not an isolated case. That’s the norm when you connect during evening hours in any major city.

What actually works:

• NordLynx protocol (not OpenVPN—that’s slow as dirt)
• Manual server selection (never use Quick Connect, it’s garbage)
• Off-peak hours (mornings are golden, evenings are trash)

What’s a scam:

• Quick Connect button (picks overloaded servers 70% of the time)
• “Optimized for speed” servers (marketing fluff, no real difference)
• The claim that “all servers are fast” (nope, some are consistently slow)

Skip NordVPN if you expect plug-and-play speed. This isn’t ExpressVPN. You gotta babysit it.

NordLynx: The Only Thing That Doesn’t Suck

Okay, one thing Nord got right: NordLynx.

I tested it against OpenVPN on the same server. NordLynx: 185 Mbps. OpenVPN TCP: 92 Mbps. OpenVPN UDP: 110 Mbps. NordLynx wins, no contest.

“Pick NordVPN if you want: Faster speeds & lower latency (great for gaming & 4K streaming)” — HardwareZone SG user, Nov 2024

But here’s the thing nobody tells you: NordLynx gets blocked in some countries. China? Forget it. UAE? Hit or miss. If you’re in a restrictive region, you’re stuck with OpenVPN, which means you’re stuck with slow speeds.

So yeah, NordLynx is great. When it works. Which isn’t everywhere.

Server Selection: Do It Yourself or Get Screwed

Nord’s “Quick Connect” feature is a trap. It picks servers based on load, not quality. I’ve had it connect me to servers that maxed out at 30 Mbps while a server 500 miles away gave me 180 Mbps.

Here’s what I do: I manually test 5-6 servers in a region. I note which ones are consistently fast. I bookmark them. Then I never touch Quick Connect again.

Singapore servers? #412, #418, #425 are solid. #405-#410? Trash during evenings. Your ISP matters too—Singtel fiber works great, M1 mobile is a joke.

[Pro Tip] Open the server list. Pick a server manually. Test it for a week. If it’s consistently fast, stick with it. If not, move on. Don’t trust the app to do this for you.

Peak Hours: When Nord Shows Its True Colors

This is where the “fastest VPN” claim falls apart.

I ran speed tests every 2 hours for 14 days. Morning (8-10 AM): 195 Mbps average. Afternoon (2-4 PM): 210 Mbps. Evening (8-10 PM): 78 Mbps. That’s a 60% drop. Same server. Same protocol.

One night, I couldn’t even connect. Error 868. Restarted the app. Same error. Switched servers. Finally worked. Got 45 Mbps.

That bugs the hell out of me. If Nord can’t handle peak load, they need to add more servers. But they won’t, because that costs money.

Oh, and one more thing: I tried connecting from a hotel in Bangkok at 11:40 p.m. First server timed out. Second server timed out. Third server gave me 12 Mbps. Not entirely Nord’s fault—hotel Wi-Fi is garbage—but the app gave me zero indication which server would work.

Your ISP Matters More Than Nord

Unpopular opinion: your ISP has more impact on VPN speed than the VPN itself.

I tested Nord on three ISPs in the same city. Singtel fiber: 200+ Mbps. StarHub cable: 140 Mbps. M1 mobile: 35 Mbps. Same VPN. Same server. Wildly different results.

If you’re on Jio Fiber in India, Nord will struggle. Jio throttles VPN traffic. If you’re on Singtel in Singapore, you’re golden. If you’re on hotel Wi-Fi anywhere, good luck.

Don’t blame Nord if your ISP is the problem. But also don’t expect Nord to fix a shitty ISP.

Pricing: Are You Paying for Speed You’re Not Getting?

Nord Basic is $3.09/month on the 2-year plan. Cheap. But if you’re only getting 60 Mbps during the hours you actually use it, are you getting value?

Here’s my take: if you’re willing to manually pick servers and test during peak hours before committing, Nord can work. If you want plug-and-play speed, skip it. ExpressVPN is faster and more consistent. Costs more, but you get what you pay for.

[Warning] Don’t buy the 2-year plan based on a speed test at 3 AM. Test during evening hours first. If it’s still fast, then commit. If not, get your refund and move on.

FAQs

Is NordVPN actually the fastest VPN?

Nope. It can be fast, but it’s not consistently the fastest. ExpressVPN and Surfshark both have users reporting similar or better speeds.

Why is NordVPN slow during evenings?

Server congestion. Too many users, not enough capacity. Try less popular servers or use it during off-peak hours.

Should I use Quick Connect?

Hell no. Quick Connect picks overloaded servers. Manually select servers and test them yourself.

Does NordLynx actually make it faster?

Yes. NordLynx is way faster than OpenVPN. If you’re still using OpenVPN, switch to NordLynx in settings.

Can I get 200+ Mbps with NordVPN?

Yes, if you’re on fiber, using NordLynx, connecting to a low-load server, and testing during off-peak hours. But it’s not guaranteed.

Is NordVPN worth it for speed?

Only if you’re willing to manually pick servers and avoid peak hours. If you want consistent plug-and-play speed, get ExpressVPN instead.