AV-TEST Compares VPN Services: Kaspersky VPN and Premium Show Strong Performance

IT security research institute AV-TEST published a comprehensive comparative report on several Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in November 2025. The tests, conducted in February 2025 on commission from Kaspersky, assessed the services' performance, security features, and vendor transparency.

The evaluation focused on download and upload speeds, latency, and file-sharing performance for both local and international connections. The tests adhered to guidelines developed by AV-TEST and AMTSO. Participating services included Avast SecureLine VPN, CyberGhost VPN, ExpressVPN, Kaspersky VPN, Kaspersky Premium, NordVPN, Norton Secure VPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and Turbo VPN.

For local connections, Kaspersky VPN and Kaspersky Premium demonstrated strong download speeds, with NordVPN and Kaspersky Premium leading in upload speeds. Several services, including Kaspersky VPN and Premium, recorded the lowest latency. In file-sharing tests, Kaspersky VPN and Premium significantly outperformed others.

Regarding international connections, Kaspersky Premium and Kaspersky VPN were fastest in downloads, while ExpressVPN and NordVPN showed strong upload performance. Kaspersky VPN and Premium also achieved the lowest latency for overseas connections. File-sharing tests from abroad also highlighted Kaspersky VPN and Premium's substantial lead.

The report notes that using a VPN generally results in some performance reduction due to encryption and routing overhead, but the extent of this impact varies significantly between providers. AV-TEST conducted the tests according to established protocols without excluding any results.