Slow internet speeds are among the most infuriating things. This is even more prevalent when using low-quality VPNs that drastically reduce your network performance. For this reason, many are looking for the fastest VPN for the UK.
Unfortunately, the majority of VPNs on the market can’t boast of fast speeds. Neither they can do this regarding security and privacy. 01net exists to expose these services and bring out only the best, most reliable options that you can buy.
In this article, our task is virtually the same. You want a fast VPN for the United Kingdom and we’re here to give it to you. Whether you’re in the UK or you’re abroad and you need an IP from this country plus fast speeds, we got you covered. Now grab some British tea and don’t go anywhere.
What Makes the Fastest UK VPN?
Before unwrapping our list like your supermarket bill, we first must clarify what makes the fastest VPN for the United Kingdom in 2024.
By this, we mean the service with excellent speeds on British servers AND those abroad. We essentially want options that will preserve your internet performance regardless of the server.
This is pretty hard to achieve since the VPN’s speed drastically falters with long-distance servers. However, we made sure to include options with modern protocols, high-quality servers, and plenty of locations. This makes the network uncrowded and ready to deliver fast speeds.
Another aspect of a fast VPN for the UK is stability. The services listed below come with stable connections, so issues are few and far between. Let’s not forget about compatibility, which is crucial for enjoying lightning-fast performance on all your devices.
To make sure this is the case, we tested hundreds of services. We won’t talk about our speed test results here, as we have separate reviews for that matter. If you look at our reviews, you’ll actually see that these providers perform well. And we even tested the UK servers, just so you know!
The Fastest VPN for the UK [All Tested]
As you can guess, the list will consist of premium services. The reason is simple – they’re significantly faster. Since they offer thousands of servers abroad and in the UK, they’re perfect for people in and out of this country. Later, we’ll address two free, albeit slower providers.
Now, when someone asks you what is the fastest VPN for the UK, make sure you show him/her the list below:
And if someone asks why use these services… well, show them our quick reviews of each option – once again – below.
1. ExpressVPN
We’ve said it multiple times and we’ll say it again – the fastest VPN in the United Kingdom or anywhere else is ExpressVPN. Period.
It offers 3,000 servers in 94 countries, boasting hundreds in the United Kingdom (which makes it easy to obtain an IP address in the UK). The provider comes with the Lightway protocol which ensures staggering performance even on distant servers.
As the fastest and best VPN in the UK, ExpressVPN has no issues with torrenting or streaming. In fact, torrenting flows at full speed, while streaming in 4K looks crisp. We noticed no buffering or stuttering when watching sports on BBC iPlayer or enjoying HD movies and shows on Netflix.
One thing to note is that ExpressVPN is simple to use. It’s quick to install and set up, with connection times below 1-2 seconds. It’s instant and responsive, allowing you to swiftly encrypt your traffic with AES-256 encryption and become anonymous in a second.
Our team likes ExpressVPN’s Private DNS feature. It’ll handle all your DNS requests, throwing out your ISP from the equation. ExpressVPN’s servers are based on RAM, which gives additional privacy and prevents personal data from being stored. To that, we should also add a zero-logs policy.
With it, ExpressVPN guarantees that your personal info will never get into the wrong hands. Furthermore, ExpressVPN has 8 simultaneous connections – more than the other two services. This means the fastest VPN for the UK can perform well on up to 8 devices at the same time – nice!
And while it has no ad blocker, its Threat Manager can still block malicious sites. If you’re interested, grab its mighty 49% discount and 3 free months for the 1-year plan. Users can also get a refund in the first 30 days if they’re dissatisfied. But as you can guess, that happens rarer than a blue moon.
Get the Best Speeds in the UK With ExpressVPN
Pros
- The best all-around performer
- Servers in 160 cities
- It works with BBC iPlayer
- Lightway VPN protocol (UDP/TCP)
- 8 simultaneous connections
- 3 free months for the annual plan
Con
- It doesn’t have an ad blocker
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is close to ExpressVPN in terms of being the fastest VPN for the UK. It lacks in performance only a bit compared to it but that’s negligible. On the other hand, this service sports 9,500 servers in 91 countries, offering streaming and torrenting servers as an addition.
Often used for sports streaming, CyberGhost is characterized as pretty fast. People enjoy movies, series, and even online gambling with it, in addition to fast P2P on all platforms. CyberGhost’s performance comes mostly from the WireGuard protocol which makes everything flow smoothly.
We also like its ad blocker, which further accelerates page loading. Plus, there’s AES-256 encryption in conjunction with a kill switch, ensuring tight security. Like its sister company, ExpressVPN, this provider stores no logs and even has an audit to prove this claim.
While not the simplest to use, we can’t really complain. After all, this is a wallet-friendly service with nearly 10,000 servers and 7 simultaneous connections. Also, the provider has optional features, such as a dedicated IP, antivirus, and Security Updater, all of which will enrich the experience.
And if you’re wondering if your device supports it, it does. We’re talking about about capable apps for iOS/Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and many others. One thing to note is that the service lacks obfuscation, which can be remedied by purchasing NordVPN or ExpressVPN instead.
But if you’re in the money-saving mood, this one is irreplaceable. At the moment, you can obtain an exclusive discount for its longest plan, with a 45-day refund policy and the price of around $2 a month. Did you manage to find a better deal than this one? It’s a rhetorical question, don’t bother answering.
Pros
- P2P and streaming servers are lightning-fast
- Optional antivirus
- Support for WireGuard
- AES-256-bit encryption
- Very affordable
Con
- No obfuscated servers
3. NordVPN
The last fastest VPN for the UK is NordVPN. You’ve heard about it and you know it’s good. First, it comes with a revolutionary NordLynx protocol, accompanied by 5,500 servers in 60 countries. Second, this protocol boosts the performance quite a bit, making the provider extremely versatile.
NordVPN is filled to the brim with features that we can’t mention all of them. But hey, when talking about speeds, it’s vital to clarify that it’s P2P-friendly with torrent-optimized servers. Streaming is impeccable too, as NordVPN works with 10+ Netflix catalogs at any moment.
People who want great performance can also use Threat Protection. It’ll clean your PC from malware/viruses and your browsing from ads, making everything buttery-smooth. NordVPN’s apps are easy to use and snappy – a premium experience indeed.
On top, the service comes with a heap of security features to accentuate its excellence. Here, we need to mention bank-grade encryption, split tunneling, and a kill switch. However, NordVPN includes WebRTC blocking as a part of its browser extensions to fully hide your whereabouts.
Do we need to mention its no-logs policy? Obviously not – it’s a standard feature. Obfuscated servers aren’t, though, and they’re here to help circumvent censorship in China, the UAE, or Turkey. The best thing about NordVPN is not that it’s a blazing-fast VPN for the UK – it’s the price.
It’s almost as affordable as CyberGhost, with a remarkable 2-year plan for some serious savings. Using the button below, you can snatch this awesome deal and get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Don’t ask for more because you’ll get everything here – even more than you need.
Pros
- NordLynx protocol ensures fast speeds
- Lots of UK servers
- WebRTC blocking in the browser extension
- Based in Panama (no logging)
Cons
- Increased price in some countries (VAT)
- Very rare connection problems on Windows
Are Free VPNs for the UK Fast?
Okay, so after our extensive selection of the fastest VPNs for the UK, it’s time to answer the burning question. Are free VPNs even worth your time when talking about speed and performance? Well, the simple answer would be no.
One of the main reasons for that is intentional speed throttling, which should “force” you to purchase a premium plan instead. Once you go for the premium plan, the provider “uncaps” the performance and you can usually enjoy 10 Gbps servers as with ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, or NordVPN.
Free providers that offer fast speeds are usually limited in bandwidth. ProtonVPN has a free plan with unlimited traffic, yet it’s one of the slowest free providers we tested. If you want a fast VPN for the UK that’s also free, the choice boils down to these two:
- Atlas VPN
- PrivadoVPN
Here’s what we think of these providers.
Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN is probably the best free VPN for the United Kingdom. Its free version is limited to just 5 GB a month, which is a big red flag. However, despite offering just servers in the US and the Netherlands, Atlas VPN isn’t a particularly slow service.
Comparing Atlas VPN to NordVPN, we can see that the latter is faster, though. Still, for a free option, this service is stellar for streaming or fast torrenting if it wasn’t for its critically low bandwidth. Other than that, the provider is safe and secure – another vital bit of information.
It stores no logs, offers AES-256 encryption, and supports WireGuard. Bear in mind that it isn’t the best for Netflix, however, and it has no simultaneous connections. That’s why paid options like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN are the clear winners.
If you’re in dire need of a fast VPN for the UK, you can check Atlas VPN using the button below. Again, have reasonable expectations. Otherwise, disappointment will hit you in the head like a 10-ton truck. And that can be unpleasant – you’ll agree.
PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN might even be a faster UK VPN than Atlas – but that’s debatable. Once again, we’re talking about a provider with limited traffic but this time, you’re getting 10 gigs. Sounds enough? Read again – 10 GB a month. There’s not much space for streaming or torrenting here, even though PrivadoVPN is suitable.
For example, Netflix US will work with it, while P2P activities will be fast and secure. We reviewed PrivadoVPN’s free version and concluded that it’s pretty good. It’s based in Switzerland and stores no logs, plus, it uses bank-grade encryption and offers WireGuard in the free version.
Most notably, we’re talking about a provider with 12 server locations, significantly more than Atlas VPN or even ProtonVPN. You’ll be getting servers in the United Kingdom, the US, France, Brazil, and many other countries. The trick is that it has no security audits – unlike the four previous VPNs.
And to that, we should add the lack of a proper Linux app, no simultaneous connections, and the lack of an ad blocker. PrivadoVPN isn’t going to reinvent the wheel but you can download it for free and test it. With low expectations, it should perform well.
Conclusion
In today’s article, you learned a few new things. The fastest VPN for the UK is usually a premium provider. ExpressVPN fits the bill perfectly, with above-average performance, unlimited bandwidth, streaming capabilities, and excellent compatibility.
Then, we have CyberGhost with a slightly lower level of quality but cheaper prices, more servers, and a 45-day refund policy. Finally, there’s NordVPN and its cutting-edge NordLynx protocol that will attract even the most demanding users.
Free options include Atlas VPN and PrivadoVPN – less recommended. With a grand total of 5 VPNs presented in today’s guide, you have plenty of choices. With lots of choices comes a lot of doubt. Still, if you’ve read our guide carefully, you’ll know which one to choose.
Or perhaps, you still don’t know. In that case, go back and read it again. That should make things a lot clearer.
