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 can they 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 abroad and need an IP from this country plus fast speeds, we’ve 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 2025.
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 have stable connections, so issues are few and far between. Let’s not forget compatibility, which is crucial for enjoying lightning-fast performance on all your devices.
To ensure this is the case, we tested hundreds of services. We won’t discuss our speed test results here, as we have separate reviews for that matter. However, if you look at our reviews, you’ll see that these providers perform well. 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 the fastest VPN is for the UK, show them the list below:
If someone asks why you should use these services, show them our reviews of each option—once again—below.
1. NordVPN
The 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 8,100+ servers in 125+ countries. Second, this protocol boosts the performance quite a bit, making the provider highly versatile.
NordVPN is stacked 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 25+ Netflix catalogs at any moment.
People who want great performance can also use Threat Protection Pro. It’ll clean your devices from malware and viruses and your browsing from ads, making everything buttery-smooth. NordVPN’s apps are easy to use and snappy—a premium experience indeed.
In addition, 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 in 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 Basic 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.
Get the Best Speeds in the UK With NordVPN
Pros
- The fastest UK VPN in our tests
- In-house protocols for security and speed
- WebRTC blocking in the browser extension
- Panama-based (no logging)
- Compatible with all devices
Con
- Seldom connection issues
2. ExpressVPN
We’ve said it multiple times, and we’ll say it again—ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. It offers 3,000 servers in 105 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 Turbo 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. ExpressVPN is simple to use. It’s quick to install and set up, and connection times are 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 provides additional privacy and prevents personal data from being stored. We should also add a zero-logs policy. With it, ExpressVPN guarantees that your personal information will never get into the wrong hands.
Furthermore, ExpressVPN has eight simultaneous connections—fewer than NordVPN, but still sufficient. This means the fastest VPN for the UK can perform well on up to eight devices at the same time—nice!
While it doesn’t have Multi-hop or Double VPN, its Threat Manager can still block malicious sites, trackers, and ads. If you’re interested, you can grab a 61% discount and four free months for the 2-year plan. Users can also get a refund in the first 30 days if they’re unsatisfied.
Pros
- Fast Lightway Turbo protocol
- Servers in 160+ locations
- It works with BBC iPlayer
- Impeccable privacy
Cons
- Not many advanced features
- It could be slightly cheaper
3. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is close to NordVPN 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 12,500 servers in 100 countries and offers 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 13,000 servers and seven simultaneous connections. The provider also offers optional features, such as a dedicated IP, antivirus, and Security Updater, all of which will enrich the experience.
If you’re wondering if your device supports it, it does. We’re talking 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
- Support for WireGuard
- AES-256-bit encryption
- Very affordable
Cons
- No obfuscated servers
- Only seven simultaneous connections
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 NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost.
Free providers that offer fast speeds are usually limited in bandwidth. Betternet VPN has a free plan with unlimited traffic, yet it’s not the fastest pick, even as a free VPN. If you want a fast VPN for the UK that’s also free, the choice boils down to these two:
- Proton VPN
- PrivadoVPN
Here’s what we think of these providers.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is probably the best free VPN for the United Kingdom. Its free version has unlimited bandwidth, which is a big green flag. However, despite offering just servers in the US, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the Netherlands, Proton VPN isn’t a particularly slow service.
When comparing Proton VPN to NordVPN, we can see that the latter is faster, though. Still, for a free option, this service would be stellar for streaming or even torrenting if the latter were allowed. 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. However, it isn’t the best for Netflix and doesn’t support simultaneous connections. That’s why paid options like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost are the clear winners.
If you’re in dire need of a fast VPN for the UK, you can check Proton 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 Proton VPN – but that’s debatable. This time, we’re talking about a provider with limited traffic, and unfortunately, 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, and 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 Proton VPN or even Hide.me. You’ll get 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.
We should add the lack of a proper Linux app, simultaneous connections, and an ad blocker to that. 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. Expect more, and you’ll be gravely disappointed.
Conclusion
Today’s article taught you a few new things. The fastest VPN for the UK is usually a premium provider. NordVPN fits the bill perfectly, with above-average performance, unlimited bandwidth, streaming capabilities, torrent-friendly servers, and excellent overall compatibility.
Then, we have ExpressVPN, which has fewer advanced security features but offers more server locations and user-friendly applications. Finally, there’s CyberGhost and its cutting-edge WireGuard protocol, which will attract even the most speed-demanding users.
Free options include Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN – less recommended. With a grand total of five 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.
