ISP Throttling: How to Tell If You Are Bring Throttled? Sep 2026

One common question on the internet is “Am I being throttled?” ISP throttling is a common issue in many countries. However, on April 25, 2024, the FCC reintroduced Title II classification for ISPs, reinstating net neutrality rules. These regulations had been rolled back in 2016, which allowed ISPs to throttle internet speeds in recent years. With the new decision, such practices are no longer permitted, and you should no longer face throttling from ISPs.

Sometimes while visiting a website, you would have observed that your internet speed has decreased significantly. But when you visit another website, it works fine. Why does it happen? Experts call this phenomenon ‘internet speed throttling or bandwidth throttling.’

There are many reasons for internet speed throttling and mostly it is done by the Internet Service providers (ISPs). A few reasons why they can throttle internet speeds include:

• Minimizing bandwidth congestion
• Regulating network traffic
• Decreasing video streaming
• Indicating to users that the data package has been used up
• Online gaming with high latency
• Too many users using the internet from your IP address
• Torrenting from multiple sources and increasingly taking more bandwidth

Am I Being Throttled? How to Check

There are various methods to check if your internet speed is being throttled by your ISP service. The simplest one is to test your internet speed and then match it with the speed of that site loading on your browser. One way to do that is to test your speeds using a VPN.

Go to the speed test tool and run it. It will show you the current internet speed you have. For example, in the picture, we have around 12.23MBs of internet speed. This is the speed that we get from the ISP for browsing the internet.

After connecting to a VPN service like Surfshark, which provides a solid firewall against ISP throttling we get the following results using Stockholm servers:

The difference is pretty identical since we are getting a better internet speed after connecting to a reliable VPN service. In fact, it is 15.34 Mbps which is a clear improvement of 3.11 Mbps using the same internet connection.

This is mainly because our connection was being throttled by Sky Broadband, which is our internet provider these days.

How to Stop ISP Throttling with VPN

There are multiple VPN networks out there that protect users from ISP throttling. These include ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, NordVPN, and many others.

Whatever VPN network you subscribe to to stop ISP throttling, make sure to check that they have the following features available.

DNS leak protection: If the VPN service doesn’t offer DNS leak protection, meaning that your IP can get exposed and your ISP will know which sites you visited. It can then pretty much throttle your internet speed.

Kill switch: The kill switch can automatically disconnect you from the internet in case your VPN network gets turned off for some reason or the other.

No-log policy: While this one doesn’t concern your ISP directly, it can help you get a good night’s sleep. Without a no-log policy, most VPN networks can share your information with governments, spy agencies, and even advertisers.

Enhanced Security: Most VPN networks offer military-grade protection so that no hackers can eavesdrop on your communication or sniff packets. Make sure to check AES 256-bit encryption when buying a VPN service.

Money-Back Guarantee: Make sure to check that the VPN you want to subscribe to offers a complete money-back guarantee. This will allow you to check if the VPN fulfills your purpose of subscribing to it in the first place.

Number of Servers: More VPN servers would allow you to get more bandwidth for your connection. In simple terms, more servers mean more speed for browsing websites and streaming video content

Server Locations: Similarly, check the number of locations a VPN service offers. Since you will be streaming content of most services based in the US, UK, and Europe, make sure that the VPN network has servers at these locations.

Recommended VPNs to Stop ISP Throttling

1. Surfshark: Overall Best VPN Service 

Servers — 3200 servers in 100 countries.

Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.

Torrenting — Offers P2P optimized servers for Torrenting.

Simultaneous connections — Offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

Logs — Strict no-log policy

Money-back guarantee — 30-day refund policy.

Visit Surfshark

Surfshark is an affordable VPN service that offers 3,200 servers in 100 countries. It has over 80 servers in the USA alone making it a lucrative option for streaming online content on Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. 

Surfshark protects you from internet speed throttling by providing you with split tunneling, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, OpenVPN, and PPTP protocols for added security.

Surfshark’s versatility also extends to device compatibility, allowing you to enjoy your favorite Sporza shows on various platforms, including iOS, Windows, Android, and Mac.

Priced at just $2.49/mo (Save 85% and get 3 extra months FREE with 24-month plan), Surfshark is a budget-friendly option for accessing Sporza in USA. Moreover, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.

Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs according to Reddit users. For a comprehensive analysis of Surfshark’s features, explore our detailed Surfshark review.

2. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN with LightWay Protocol

Servers — VPN Servers in 105 Countries.

Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.

Torrenting — Offers Network Lock for secure Torrenting.

Simultaneous connections — Offers 12 simultaneous connections.

Logs — Strict no-log policy

Money-back guarantee — 30-day refund policy.

Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers a vast network of 3,000+ servers spanning 105 countries. The company protects internet traffic with the assistance of DNS servers. The high-end encryption prevents attacks from even the most advanced attacks from snooping on your activities.

The split-tunneling system enables users to control the choice of apps that utilize the VPN. This can help the user manage the traffic more efficiently with their regular internet connection.

ExpressVPN ensures seamless compatibility across many devices, allowing you to enjoy Sporza content on platforms like Amazon Firestick, Nvidia Shield, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Smart TV, and more.

Priced at $2.49/mo, ExpressVPN provides exceptional value for its feature-rich service. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.

To explore its performance, features, and pricing in-depth, dive into our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.

3. NordVPN: Secure VPN with NordLynx Protocol 

Servers — 8,353 servers in 127 countries.

Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.

Torrenting — Offer obfuscated and P2P optimized servers.

Simultaneous connections — Offers 10 simultaneous connections.

Logs — Strict no-log policy

Money-back guarantee — 30-day refund policy.

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN comes with over 6,343 servers spread across 111 countries and most of its servers are located in the USA. It also offers a kill switch, no-log policy, DNS leak protection, and obfuscated servers.

With obfuscated servers, you can even connect to websites that have blocked VPN servers and their IP addresses. NordVPN also offers user-friendly native applications for a wide range of devices. Moreover, a single NordVPN account supports simultaneous connections on up to 10 devices.

It is known as one of the best VPNs for small business due to its powerful security features. NordVPN has a mid-level price range and you will get more benefits by subscribing to its 2-year VPN package.

NordVPN offers exceptional value, available at just $3.49/mo (Save 69% with 24-month plan and get 3 extra months). Additionally, the service includes a 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.

For a comprehensive overview of NordVPN, take advantage of our detailed review.

Can I Bypass ISP Throttling without a VPN?

The answer to the question ‘Can a VPN bypass ISP throttling’ is both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. There have been cases where you can bypass internet speed throttling without the use of a VPN service. Here is what you will need to do.

1. Renegotiate your internet package: You can renegotiate your package with the ISP by asking them to provide you with a minimum bandwidth for watching/streaming content.
2. Create a Proxy server: You can set up your proxy server that will reroute traffic from the proxy to the website. The ISP will have only access to that proxy server. So the provider will think that you are connected to a specific server. In reality, you will be using that proxy to connect to the actual website you intend to visit. However, this process may not always work because ISPs are smart. For detailed reasoning check out our guide on VPN vs Proxy.
3. Upgrade your internet package: Last resort is to upgrade your internet package. You cannot always get the best of both worlds. If you want to stop your ISP from throttling your internet speeds, then it is better to upgrade your internet package. This will give you more room to stream video content, get an uninterrupted gaming experience, or download torrents.

What is ISP Bandwidth Throttling?

If you are getting a direct fiber connection from the ISP provider, then only your ISP can throttle internet speeds. However, if you are getting a connection from a middleman such as a network operator, they can also throttle your internet speeds without your ISP knowing about it.

Depending on the nature of speed throttling, it will directly impact your day-to-day tasks. If the internet speed is throttled, you will probably experience slow speed and all websites will load slowly. However, if the ISP has imposed site-specific throttling, then you will experience slow speeds on a particular website.

For example, let’s say you visit YouTube. Your internet speed is smooth when you browse all other websites. But as soon as you start YouTube videos, the speed decreases and the endless cycle of video buffering starts. This is because your ISP has throttled video buffering speed on YouTube.

Similarly, the ISPs can throttle torrenting speed, social media video streaming, and use of other websites that you visit most often.

A few years ago a paper named, “A Large-Scale Analysis of Deployed Traffic Differentiation Practices” showed that major services like YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, NBC Sports, and others are prone to throttling by their ISPs.

What are Different Types of Internet Throttling?

There are two ways in which ISPs can throttle the speed of a user’s connection. The two ways are:

1. Bandwidth Capping

In bandwidth capping, the ISP prevents individuals from consuming the server’s transmission capacity. A lower cap means reduced bandwidth for the user. It is a defensive mechanism and is usually used when users are on a shared connection and actively using server resources.

2. Throttling

On the other hand, ISP throttling is the process of reducing or throttling internet speed. It means the server will accept fewer data at a time and increase packet delay. Throttling also helps ISPs reduce server buffering and keep a constant flow of traffic.

Here is a list of countries with the highest ratio of ISP throttling.

1. Cuba: In Cuba, governments throttle internet speeds to prevent the spread of information.
2. EU: Most European countries throttle traffic to keep a constant flow of traffic. It helps with server management.
3. US: Many private internet providers such as Comcast and Verizon are known for server throttling.
4. Singapore: Singapore passed the net neutrality bill in 2011. Still, many ISPs in Singapore throttle internet speeds even after warnings from governments.

The paper discussed earlier also suggests country-wise findings with respect to the rate at which the service gets throttled.

3. Protocol Throttling

Protocol throttling targets specific online activities based on the protocols or technologies they use. For example, activities like video streaming or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing may be slowed down during specific times or when certain limits are reached.

Protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, BitTorrent, or even gaming protocols can be singled out. If a user is engaged in activities that use a lot of data, such as streaming HD videos or downloading large files through P2P networks, the ISP might intentionally limit the data transfer speeds for those protocols, while leaving other types of traffic unaffected.

4. Application-Specific Throttling

Application-specific throttling targets particular applications or services, slowing down their performance regardless of the underlying protocol. This type of throttling is often used to manage bandwidth consumption for high-data applications that are not as essential as others.

ISPs or network administrators can detect and slow down traffic from specific apps like Netflix, YouTube, Skype, or even social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

This kind of throttling is often used to prioritize other types of internet traffic (like web browsing or corporate VPN traffic) that are considered more critical.

5. Device-Specific Throttling

Device-specific throttling restricts the bandwidth available to specific devices connected to a network. For example, a network administrator might throttle the internet speeds of smartphones, laptops, or gaming consoles to manage overall network performance.

Device-specific throttling works by identifying the type of device making the request (based on IP address, MAC address, or even device fingerprints) and applying different bandwidth limits to those devices.

For example, a network administrator could prioritize bandwidth for critical devices like workstations or servers while limiting bandwidth for entertainment devices like smart TVs or gaming consoles.

6. Time-Based Throttling

Time-based throttling restricts bandwidth during specific times of the day, often when network traffic is at its highest. This type of throttling helps manage peak usage times and ensures that users do not overload the network, especially in areas with shared infrastructure.

ISPs or network administrators monitor network traffic and apply throttling measures during periods of high demand.

For example, during evening hours when many people are home and using the internet, throttling could be applied to limit the amount of data each user can consume. Alternatively, network traffic may be slowed during weekends or public holidays when demand spikes.

Is it Illegal to Throttle Internet Speed? What Do FCC & FTC Say About it?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for controlling the internet companies. While the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) maintains control over internet bandwidth. Also, the FTC oversees all industries and passes acts to control mishaps.

The concept of net neutrality emerged in 2003, when the FCC recognized the internet as a vital service, thus giving them greater authority over how ISPs operate.

One of the key aspects of net neutrality was the regulation that limited ISPs from throttling specific websites, which aimed to ensure a more competitive and open online market by preventing ISPs from deliberately slowing down competitors’ sites.

However, in 2016, these regulations were repealed, allowing ISPs to throttle internet speeds as they saw fit. But the landscape shifted again in April 2024, when the FCC reclassified ISPs and reinstated net neutrality rules. Under the updated regulations, throttling is permissible in the following circumstances:

• Data Caps: If your internet contract includes a data limit and you exceed it.
• Network Congestion: If your ISP’s network is experiencing high traffic and needs to manage load.
• Transparency: If your ISP provides a clear explanation for why throttling is happening, as long as it’s not targeting specific websites.

In essence, throttling is typically allowed as long as it applies equally to all users and websites. ISPs can’t engage in discriminatory practices by favoring or penalizing particular sites.

Reasons: Why Does an ISP Throttle Bandwidth Data?

The above-mentioned statement clearly says that internet throttling by the ISPs is legal in government books. ISPs can offer these as the reasons for throttling the internet speeds of their users.

1. Traffic congestion
2. Suspecting behavior
3. Lack of subscription
4. Overhauling server usage
5. Clogging server data
6. More buffering
7. Packets getting stuck
8. Centralized server systems

But you can also complain to the government if you think that ISPs are illegally throttling the server bandwidth. The case will then be determined by the government. Even if you may not get to win the case, it will lead to more debate on net neutrality and ISP traffic throttling.

If you want to know the solution of ‘how to stop data throttling’? VPNs offer a plausible solution to bypass ISP throttling.

Conclusion

We hope that you are now clear about what ISP internet throttling is, and how it can affect your daily internet use. As per our suggestion, a VPN service like ExpressVPN or Surfshark will be a great option to prevent ISP throttling.

Moreover, we have also provided information about the legality of ISP throttling and why you should use a VPN service as your last resort to tackle the internet throttling problem. If you still have any pending questions that we didn’t answer in this write-up, feel free to ask them in the comments below.