Am I being throttled? How to detect ISP throttling

Slow internet speed can ruin your day, which is why it’s important to understand throttling. Ever notice your speeds drop the moment you start streaming, gaming, or downloading something? If your internet suddenly slows, you may blame the wifi network, an old device, or even malware. In reality, your Internet Service Provider may have enabled bandwidth throttling. In this guide, we explain how to detect and prevent ISP throttling.

Many ISPs use data throttling when the network gets busy, when you hit a data cap, or when they want to enable paid prioritization. And it’s becoming more common for companies like Cox Communications, AT&T, and T-Mobile to slow certain types of traffic. This is why the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality caused so much outrage back in 2017. The good news? A VPN can bypass ISP throttling and help you get back the faster speeds you’re actually paying for.

A VPN uses encryption to hide your traffic from your ISP, preventing them from slowing your internet when you stream Netflix or play games. In this guide, we’ll show you how to run an internet speed test using a tool like speedtest.net or fast.com. Simply compare your Mbps results with and without a VPN to determine whether your ISP is throttling your connection.

Learn to detect ISP throttling, rule out slow wifi issues, and use a VPN to stop your ISP from killing your internet speed.

What is ISP throttling?

When your internet slows down, you may want to blame your modem, router, device, or even other users connected to the wifi. However, the problem might be caused by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

ISPs monitor users and use automated systems to keep the network running smoothly. Unfortunately, this means your ISP might throttle your internet connection when you use a lot of bandwidth. This is extremely frustrating because your internet suddenly feels slower than the speed you paid for.

In this guide, we’ll help you check whether your internet is being throttled. We will show you how to test your internet with an Ethernet cable instead of wifi. How to reboot your router and modem to see if that helps. How to identify network congestion. And how to check whether slow internet speed is coming from signal drops rather than throttling.

Our troubleshooting tips allow you to identify the true cause of slow internet speeds. Best of all? By the end of this guide, you’ll have the knowledge and tools needed to prevent bandwidth throttling to stop your ISP from interfering with your internet speed ever again.

Am I being throttled? Signs your ISP is throttling you

The first sign of bandwidth throttling will always be experiential. Have you ever launched Netflix and noticed pixelation during peak hours? Do you play multiplayer games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Roblox without issues sometimes, but suddenly get slow speeds at other times? Do you experience fast speeds until you try to download a torrent, and then notice everything comes to a crashing halt?

These could all be symptoms of ISP throttling. That said, circumstantial evidence will only get you so far, which is why you need to check for throttling yourself.

Even if you experience slower internet, you may feel inclined to blame your wifi signal, the game server itself, other users connected to your wifi causing network congestion, or even your device being old or infected with malware. A faulty router or modem (overheating, outdated firmware, or cheap hardware) could also be to blame.

All of these are valid concerns, which is why it is essential to determine whether your sluggish internet is caused by throttling or by some other problem.

The good news? You can use a VPN to check whether your ISP is throttling your bandwidth. Just bear in mind that you need to be picky when selecting a VPN provider; otherwise, you could end up with slower internet for entirely different reasons.

How to check if your ISP is throttling your internet

The first step is to determine whether your ISP is actually throttling you. Following the steps below will help you rule out common issues such as weak Wi-Fi, a bad signal, overheating hardware, or firmware problems. Once you’re sure another issue isn’t causing your slowdown, you can move on to check whether a VPN can bypass throttling. Already convinced the problem is throttling? You can scroll straight down to the segment on how to run a VPN throttling check.

1. Run a baseline speed test

Start by testing your internet on a wired or stable wifi connection. Use speedtest.net to get your current download, upload, and ping. Do this when your connection feels slow and jot down the Mbps results. If your numbers are far below your paid plan, don’t jump to conclusions yet. We still need to eliminate other causes.

2. Test your connection with fast.com

Next, run fast.com, which is powered by Netflix. This speed test is excellent for spotting streaming-specific throttling. If your fast.com results are much lower than your speedtest.net results, your ISP may be slowing video traffic.

3. Compare Ethernet vs wifi

If you’re using wifi, switch to an Ethernet cable and repeat the tests. A weak wifi signal, interference, or an overloaded wifi channel can mimic throttling. Wired testing removes those variables and shows you your connection’s actual speed.

4. Reboot your router and modem

Restarting your hardware clears out heat issues, memory problems, and routing bugs. Old firmware or a cheap router can cause sudden speed drops that look like ISP throttling. If rebooting fixes the issue, throttling probably wasn’t the cause.

Completed all these checks? In the next section, we’ll explain how to use a VPN to test for throttling and start fixing the problem.

Use a VPN to check for bandwidth throttling

Once you’ve ruled out simple things like weak wifi, an overheating router, or outdated hardware that can’t keep up anymore, the next step is to see whether a VPN changes your speeds. This is the easiest way to figure out if your ISP is actually slowing your connection on purpose. A VPN hides what you’re doing online, which means your ISP can’t decide to slow down Netflix, torrents, or anything else it doesn’t like.

1. Run a speed test without the VPN

Start by testing your internet. Use speedtest.net and jot down the Mbps results. This will give you the baseline you need to check whether a VPN can help to block throttling.

2. Connect to a nearby VPN server

Open your VPN and connect to a local server (or at least something in your country). Nearby servers tend to give the most accurate picture of what’s really going on. Give it a moment to settle, then move on to the next step.

3. Run the same tests again

Now repeat the same tests. If your speed increases with the VPN connection active, that probably means you are experiencing ISP throttling. Your ISP is likely slowing certain services until the VPN hides your traffic and prevents those automatic filters from kicking in.

4. Compare the results

Look at both sets of numbers. If the VPN is consistently faster, throttling is a very strong possibility. If the VPN speeds are lower, that doesn’t automatically mean there’s no throttling – your VPN provider might just be slower, the server could be under load, or your own hardware might be hitting its limits.

5. Try again during busy hours

Run the same test in the evening or whenever your internet normally feels sluggish. If the VPN keeps outperforming your regular connection during peak times, your ISP may be throttling based on congestion or what you’re doing online.

What are the best VPNs to prevent throttling?

There are dozens of consumer VPNs on the market, and they are not all a good fit for bypassing throttling or giving you faster speeds. Many VPNs use outdated apps, poorly implemented or old tunneling protocols, or slow servers that get congested easily. This means a lot of VPNs will slow you down instead of speeding anything up.

For a VPN to be suitable, it needs to offer the privacy features required to stop ISP systems from monitoring your traffic, while still keeping your internet fast enough for data-intensive tasks like gaming or streaming.

The good news? We tested the market and found five VPNs that are perfectly suited for preventing throttling while also giving you some of the fastest speeds you can get with a VPN.

Here are the best VPNs to block ISP throttling: 

1. NordVPN. The best VPN to bypass throttling by any ISP in any country. Amazing value for money. Apps for all devices. Works with popular international streaming services. 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark. A fast and affordable VPN that excels at stopping ISP throttling on unlimited devices. Great speeds for streaming and gaming. Easy-to-use apps for all platforms. Strong privacy features with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. TotalVPN. A simple, budget-friendly VPN that prevents ISP monitoring and throttling. Ideal speeds for everyday streaming and browsing. Works on all major devices. Comes free with TotalAV antivirus – making it fantastic value for money.
4. Proton VPN. A privacy-first VPN built to block ISP tracking and throttling. Excellent speeds on premium servers. Secure apps for all operating systems. Works with most big streaming platforms. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
5. ExpressVPN. A premium VPN with consistently fast servers, ideal for bypassing ISP throttling in any country. Great for streaming, gaming, and video calls. Very easy to use on any device. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why do ISPs throttle your internet?

ISPs engage in throttling for a variety of reasons, and, although it can feel like you are being picked on, the reality is that it all happens automatically.

Most throttling happens because your ISP needs to manage network traffic and reduce network congestion for everyone. This is why it uses automated throttling systems designed to slow people down based on activity and usage, instead of picking on certain individuals.

That said, it’s becoming more common for users on higher-priced plans to get better treatment, which is a reminder of why net neutrality was such an important cornerstone of the internet.

In some cases, throttling is tied to data caps, meaning your speeds drop the moment you use “too much” data in a single billing cycle. Even plans advertised as unlimited may have hidden throttling thresholds. Meaning? Users who go through large amounts of data too quickly may still get hit with slowdowns.

ISPs have also been known to throttle specific types of traffic, such as video streaming, torrenting, or gaming services. They do this because those activities use more bandwidth, and throttling them reduces costs behind the scenes.

Some ISPs around the globe may even throttle competing streaming platforms just to give their own services an advantage. How much of this is allowed depends on local net neutrality rules, which can change over time and vary a lot from one country to another.

The good news? A VPN hides your activity, which makes it harder for ISPs to engage in automated throttling in the first place.

How to run an internet speed test

Not sure how to test your internet speed? Running a couple of speed tests (both with and without a VPN) is essential if you want to figure out whether your ISP is throttling you during peak hours or when you use specific apps or platforms. Just follow the steps below:

1. Go to speedtest.net. Open your browser and head to speedtest.net.
2. Click “Go.” The test will run automatically and show your download speed, upload speed, and ping once it finishes.
3. Write down your results. Note the speeds so you can compare them later.
4. Run the test a second time. A quick second test helps confirm the numbers are accurate.

Once you’ve completed the test, you’ll know the speed of your internet without the VPN. It’s a good idea to run the Ookla test while leaving everything else running. This shows you the real speed you get when you’re actually watching Netflix, playing a game, or downloading a torrent – the kinds of activities that trigger throttling in the first place.

Now that you know your internet speed during throttling, you can test a VPN connection to see if it makes a difference. Just connect to your VPN (use the fastest protocol available, like WireGuard) and run the speed test again.

• If your speeds go up with the VPN, that’s a reliable sign that your ISP is throttling you.
• If your speeds stay roughly the same, the slowdown is probably caused by wifi issues, local congestion, or older hardware instead of throttling.

Which ISPs throttle your internet?

Unfortunately, most ISPs throttle to ensure their networks run smoothly. In fact, it would probably be easier to list internet providers that don’t throttle than those that do. Despite this, we have listed the major ISPs we know of below. This will help you get an idea, even before testing, of whether a VPN may be able to help you.

United States

These major US providers have all been linked to throttling, data caps, or traffic shaping:

• AT&T
• Xfinity (Comcast)
• Cox Communications
• CenturyLink
• Spectrum (no data caps, but has faced throttling complaints)
• Verizon Fios and Verizon Wireless
• T-Mobile (known for throttling video quality on some plans)
• HughesNet
• Viasat
• Mediacom
• Optimum (Altice)
• Buckeye Broadband
• Cable ONE (now Sparklight)

Canada

• Rogers
• Bell
• Telus
• Shaw
• Videotron

United Kingdom

UK providers are known to use traffic management, especially during peak hours:

• Virgin Media
• BT Broadband
• Sky Broadband
• TalkTalk

Australia

A few Aussie ISPs are known to engage in throttling:

• Telstra
• Optus
• TPG
• iiNet
• Vodafone AU

Europe 

In the EU, net neutrality is stronger than in the US. However, ISPs still engage in throttling at times:

• Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
• Vodafone (multiple EU countries)
• Orange (France & Spain)
• TIM (Italy)
• O2 (Czech Republic, UK, others)

Other regions

• Jio (India) – Uses significant throttling when you hit daily data caps
• Airtel (India) – Uses throttling on unlimited plans following heavy data use.
• MTN and Vodacom (South Africa) – Uses speed throttling on certain bundles.

I tested everything, so what else is making my internet slow?

Already rebooted your hardware, checked Ethernet vs wifi, and made sure nothing obvious is broken? Already used a VPN to test for throttling, but found no evidence that a VPN improves your speeds?

Below, we have included other reasons why your internet might be slow:

1. Peak-hour congestion. Your ISP’s network gets busier in the evenings (usually 6 PM to 11 PM). Even without intentional throttling, everyone in your area sharing the same infrastructure can cause speeds to dip. If your speeds change drastically depending on the time of day, this is often the reason.
2. Background updates or syncing. Windows updates, Steam downloads, cloud-sync tools (Google Drive, iCloud), smart-home devices, or even your phone backing up photos can quietly eat your bandwidth. You won’t always notice it unless you check your task manager or router’s device list.
3. Too many devices are using the same wifi. Smart TVs, laptops, consoles, and phones all fight for the same wifi. Even if each device isn’t using much data, the combined load can slow down your router’s processing. If someone at home is torrenting or downloading large files, this can also pull down speeds for everyone else.
4. Old or overheating hardware. Routers get tired. Cheap routers, old rented ISP gateways, or units sitting in a hot cupboard can lose performance throughout the day. Overheating chips reduce throughput, and outdated models can’t keep up with modern speeds.
5. Wifi limitations and interference. Wifi is convenient, but never as stable as Ethernet. Thick walls, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, and even neighbouring routers can create signal interference. If your speeds jump instantly when you plug in a cable, wifi signal was causing your problem.
6. Your device is struggling. Phones and laptops with old processors, low RAM, overheating issues, or malware infections can make your device run significantly slower. Before blaming your ISP, test a secondary device to see if the problem persists.

Is ISP throttling legal?

Whether throttling is legal depends on where you live, because every country handles internet rules differently. In the US, the situation has yo-yoed a few times, which is why so many people are confused about what ISPs are allowed to do. Here are the facts:

After net neutrality was repealed in 2017, US ISPs were given a lot more freedom. They could legally slow down certain apps, prioritize their own services, or sell fast lanes to companies willing to pay extra.

In April 2024, the FCC voted to bring net neutrality back by reclassifying broadband under Title II. However, in January 2025, a federal appeals court struck down those rules. As a result, there is currently no federal net neutrality protection in the US, and ISPs once again have wide freedom to shape traffic.

In practice, this means your ISP can slow your connection if you hit a data cap or when its own network is congested. Many providers also reserve the right to manage or prioritise different types of traffic, unless a state-level law says otherwise.

Outside the US, things vary by location. Some countries have strong net neutrality protections, while others allow more aggressive traffic shaping. Laws can also change quickly, so if throttling is a concern, we recommend checking local regulations to find out whether you are affected.

Throttling FAQs