Is your favorite Netflix show buffering like a sloth? Or are you unable to play PUBG on mobile? In both cases, your service provider may be throttling your bandwidth in Canada.
Since the Net Neutrality laws have given ISPs leeway to meddle with their bandwidth allocation, ISP throttling is a more common issue and requires immediate attention if you want to enjoy good network speeds.
If you are experiencing that, then you might be a victim of bandwidth throttling. However, fret not, as you can use a VPN to easily bypass ISP throttling. A VPN is an excellent tool to prevent ISP throttling and keep your internet connection as fast and reliable as possible.
This post will tell you about the 3 best VPN providers to bypass ISP throttling in Canada, starting with ExpressVPN – our #1 recommendation to free you from the shackles of bandwidth limit restrictions and data caps. As ExpressVPN works best with moist the ISPs around the world and is the best VPN for BT Broadband.
How to Bypass ISP Throttling in Canada on your Internet Traffic with a VPN
Here’s how to prevent ISP throttling in Canada using a VPN:
- Visit the app store of your device or your VPN’s website and download a premium VPN (ExpressVPN is our top choice, offering 49% Off!)
- Create the VPN account.
- Sign in to the VPN and connect to a server location (We advise you to use a nearby server).
- Enjoy your speedy internet connection.
ISP Throttling Explained
ISP throttling is when your Internet Service Provider deliberately limits your speed and internet bandwidth without informing you. Internet throttling results in speeds that are slower than what your Canadian ISP is offering you.
If your super-fast connection isn’t paid for or you’ve used up all of your monthly data allotment, you can face bandwidth throttling. Furthermore, regardless of the status of your contract, your ISP will frequently reduce your internet speeds.
Streaming video-on-demand services or gaming in high definition utilizes a lot of bandwidth. So, to prevent network layer, the ISP throttles or slows your internet so all users on the network can get a stable internet connection, even if the experience is slower. This is called content-based internet throttling.
Why Do ISPs Throttle your Bandwidth?
ISPs throttle your internet only to regulate your internet traffic and clear network congestion. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can also throttle their network users when they reach their data limit within a set period. However, throttling does get a bit questionable when ISPs use it to influence their users’ internet habits and derive profit from them.
There are multiple reasons for ISP to throttle your bandwidth in Canada. The most common reasons to throttle your internet speed and limit your data transmission speeds include:
- Tackling network congestion: Heavy internet usage will slow down the internet speeds of other people in the same area. To neutralize this problem, ISP may throttle the connection of anyone using high amounts of bandwidth.
- Usage regulation: If your internet connection has a data cap and uses a certain amount of bandwidth, your connection can become deprioritized. As a result, your connection could be the first to get throttled in periods of congestion on the network, or your speeds might stay reduced until the next cycle starts. You may even lose your internet contract.
- Deprioritization of certain services: Internet service providers are permitted to limit access to streaming platforms as part of their efforts to manage everyone’s connections. They can throttle the websites in Canada you visit and more. But you shouldn’t be denied parts of the internet for arbitrary reasons totally unrelated to you.
How to Tell If Your Internet is Being Throttled
There are various symptoms of internet throttling in Canada. These include:
- Slow download speeds
- Lagging and buffering of videos.
- Frequent disconnections on Wi-Fi connection.
- Slowers internet speeds than usual.
- Blocked and nonfunctional websites.
- Websites loading slowly.
However, you can confirm that your internet is being throttled by taking various tests in Canada. These are as follows:
Internet Health Test
If your internet speed seems slower than usual or you’re noticing other problems like trouble on websites, the Internet Health Test can help you figure out what’s going on. This ISP throttling test tool was created by freedom advocates that measure variations in speeds through a series of individual tests. The tool will perform a speed test to help you check your connection speeds.
If you see a pattern of huge variations in the measured speed when the tool connects to different servers, then this indicates throttling. A speed drop of more than 25-30% is abnormal and is caused by deliberate bandwidth throttling on the part of your ISP.
Internet Speed Test
If you want to double-check that you are indeed being throttled, you can use fast.com. Since many ISPs specifically throttle speeds on streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, this tool can help you judge if you’re indeed a victim of throttling.
If this test registers a speed slower than your base internet connection, then this is another indication that your internet provider is throttling Netflix and probably other services as well.
Wehe’s an app for mobile users that can test if your Wi-Fi or data provider is throttling speeds on your phones.
Blocked Ports Test
Sometimes throttling can occur when you are gaming online using open ports. You can run Blocked Port Test to check if specific ports are blocked:
- Go to WhatsMyIP.org.
- Hop on to Port Scanners at the left.
- Then click Game Ports Test and perform it.
- You might have a throttling issue if you find the port as ‘Rejected.’
- You can fix it by trying ‘Port Forwarding.’
If all the tests performed through the aforementioned tools point towards the possibility of throttling, then there’s a good chance your ISP is involved in throttling your connection.
Luckily, you can bypass ISP bandwidth limits with a VPN. Using a VPN, you don’t have to worry about going over your data usage limit. ISPs use various techniques to throttle internet speed, but using a VPN is an efficient way to bypass it.
3 Best VPNs to Bypass ISP Throttling in Canada
We have conducted an in-depth analysis of the best VPN providers in Canada that you can use to bypass internet throttling in Canada and achieve maximum internet speed:
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN to bypass throttling in Canada
- 3,000+ Servers in 94 Countries
- Hard disk free infrastructure (RAM only)
- 256-bit Military-Grade Encryption
- Excellent unblocking capability for Netflix, Hulu & more
- 5 Multi Logins
- Zero-knowledge DNS
ExpressVPN is the best VPN to bypass throttling and get super-fast speeds in Canada. The VPN’s Lightway protocol and military-grade AES 256-bit encryption combine and prevent your ISP from detecting your VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN encrypts your entire traffic and passes it through your chosen remote server. It then assigns you an IP for the server location before you reach the destination. This way, your content, and the new IP address is completely hidden from your ISP in Canada, preventing it from throttling your connection that’s one of the reasons it is also the best VPN for IPTV in Canada.
ExpressVPN’s server network consists of 3000+ servers in 94 countries including 4 locations in Canada that enable internet users to obtain unlimited, uninterrupted, and unlimited access to various streaming, dating, shopping, and trading websites.
This VPN service offers fast speeds for 4K Ultra-HD video streaming and lightning-fast torrent downloading and is one of the fastest VPNs in Canada in the VPN industry. Its throttling prevention capabilities make it one of the best VPN services for streaming in Canada.
When we conducted an ExpressVPN speed test in Canada to confirm how fast its speeds are, the VPN delivered a downloading speed of 87.78 Mbps and an uploading speed of 42.22 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.
We received these fast speeds after circumventing ISP throttling on our 100 Mbps connection.
It is also known for offering best-in-class security and online privacy to internet users due to its strict no-logs policy. No-logs policy makes ExpressVPN the best offshore VPN in Canada out there. Also its DNS leak protection, and TrustedServer technology that completely hides the fact that you are even using a VPN by disguising your VPN traffic.
You can subscribe to ExpressVPN for CA$8.96/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan), and its premium subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
To learn more about this provider, check out our ExpressVPN review Canada.
- High-speed servers cater to throttling in any part of the world
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Secure VPN protocols to give maximum
- Bypass throttling
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Minimize ping and lag during streaming videos
- Offers five multi-logins only
2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN with Optimized Servers
- 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
- RAM-only servers (no hard disks)
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Unblocks Netflix and More
- 24/7 Customer Service
Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN to overcome bandwidth throttling. Internet users in Canada can bypass geo-restrictions and enjoy streaming online without throttling, thanks to its 3200+ servers in 100 countries including 4 locations in Canada.
We conducted a Surfshark speed test in Canada and discovered this VPN’s super-fast streaming and torrenting speeds in Canada. In our test, the ping was quite stable, and there was no lag at all. On our 100 Mbps connection, we received a downloading speed of 81.32 Mbps and an uploading speed of 76.12 Mbps.
Surfshark bypassed ISP throttling and improved our speeds by 10%
The whole network is capable of constantly delivering a good connection speed to not only defeat ISP throttling but also allow you to stream your favorite streaming services in Ultra-HD video playback quality like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more. Surfshark is one of those VPNs which works with unlimited devices simultaneously, it is also known to be the best VPN for Firestick in Canada and other devices etc.
Its privacy-enhancing features, such as WhiteLister, Internet Kill Switch, and MultiHop, make it easy for you to stop throttling. Its essential features include a no-logs policy, secure DNS, open-source code, and military-grade AES-256-bit encryption.
The service is available for just CA$ 3.09/mo (US$ 2.30/mo) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can also use a Surfshark free trial in Canada to try this service risk-free.
To learn more about this provider, check out our Surfshark review Canada.
- It supports all major devices
- 24/7 live chat support
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Solid zero-logs policy and robust AES encryption
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Bypass ISP throttling in Canada
- Top-notch privacy and security
- Customer support gets down sometimes
- No port forwarding
3. NordVPN – Top-notch Security with Obfuscation Technology
- 5100+ servers in 60+ countries
- Military-grade encryption (Double VPN encryption)
- CyberSec protects your device from intrusive ads
- Strict no-logs policy
- Automatic Kill Switch
- DNS leak protection
- 6 Multi-logins
- Live chat support
- Easy-to-use app
NordVPN is the most secure VPN for bypassing ISP throttling. Based in Panama, a highly secured place, and operating in the market since 2012. The users of NordVPN can access 5500+ servers in 60 countries including 440+ servers at 4 locations in Canada.
This VPN is free from IP and DNS leaks, and PwC Switzerland has carefully audited its no-logs policy to ensure that all processes are secure and safe. NordVPN also offers you many important features for extra privacy, such as Onion Over VPN, DoubleVPN, and Kill Switch.
We tested the VPN by connecting it with US servers and streamed our favorite shows without any buffering issues or throttling in Canada. We are impressed with its ultra-fast speeds that guarantee the best performance while surfing the web in Canada.
In our NordVPN speed test in Canada, we achieved a downloading speed of 83.82 Mbps and an uploading speed of 44.64 Mbps.
With NordVPN, our speed improved by 7% after defeating ISP throttling.
Although this provider focuses more on online security and privacy, its users can easily bypass any form of online censorship with its server network. As a result, you can easily unblock popular streaming services such as Disney Plus, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime with NordVPN in Canada at 4K Ultra-HD quality.
This ISP throttling VPN in Canada is available for just CA$ 5.36/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. To learn more about this provider, check out our NordVPN review in Canada.
- Kill Switch
- Available for all platforms
- 6 simultaneous connections
- Bypass bandwidth throttling
- Obfuscation technology allows you to stream for hours without getting throttled.
- No data caps
- Desktop app comes with a few glitches
How Do VPNs in Canada Help Bypass ISP Throttling?
A VPN helps you bypass ISP throttling in Canada by masking the content you’re accessing from your ISP. Your ISP cannot throttle your connection across all services, so if the ISP cannot view what you’re doing, it won’t throttle your activities in Canada.
A VPN is a private network that allows internet users to connect to the internet through a secure path from their device/PC to the end node or server. It is different from a conventional network as it adds a layer of encryption to your data packets as soon as they leave your system.
Rather than communicating directly with the website or server that you want to access via your ISP’s server, a VPN uses remote servers that work on your behalf to do all the communication for you.
As such, a VPN guards your secrecy by implementing AES-256-Bit encryption and keeping your real identity masked from the eyes of your ISP.
Un-encrypted internet connection without VPN (visible to the ISP)
Since a VPN conceals your internet activities, your ISP can no longer monitor your internet traffic. Additionally, a VPN cloaks your original IP address and replaces it with the address of a VPN server, thus hiding your true location and identity in Canada.
Encrypted connection with VPN tunnel (invisible to the ISP).
You virtually become a ghost that your ISP can’t keep track of. So, even if they wanted to throttle your internet connections, they’d be basically shooting in the dark.
How to Bypass ISP Throttling on iPhone in Canada
A VPN is the most effective option to bypass ISP throttling on your smartphone in Canada. It bypasses any restrictions that your internet service provider puts on your speeds and offers a stable internet connection.
Follow the steps below a step-by-step guide:
- Select a premium VPN service for your smartphone (ExpressVPN is the best VPN to stop throttling).
- Install a VPN app on your iOS or Android smartphone.
- Connect to any server you prefer.
- Enjoy super-fast speeds on streaming, browsing, and torrenting.
How to Bypass Data Throttling on Android in Canada
Here’s how you can bypass data throttling on Android:
- Sign up for a premium VPN (We recommend ExpressVPN, but Surfshark and NordVPN are also great alternatives).
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and choose a server location.
- Tap the Connect button.
- Your VPN connection will be enabled within a few seconds.
FAQs – Bypass ISP Throttling
How to avoid ISP throttling while torrenting in Canada?
As explained above, a VPN is the easiest, fastest, and most effective way to bypass ISP throttling in Canada. A VPN conceals your online activities by encrypting your data from your ISP, so they’re unable to target you from torrenting, downloading, and streaming.
Out of all the VPNs, ExpressVPN is fully capable of concealing your online activities from your ISP so that you can avoid bandwidth throttling and download torrents with ease.
How can I bypass AT&T throttling in Canada?
Here’s how to prevent bandwidth throttling in Canada using AT&T:
- Register for a VPN provider (ExpressVPN is our #1 recommendation).
- Download and install the ExpressVPN application on your device.
- Open the app and choose a server location.
- Tap on the Connect button.
- Wait for the connection to be successful. Once it’s done, you’ll be prompted with a notification.
That’s how you bypass ISP throttling with a VPN. In the same way, you can bypass ISP throttling on Android and iOS.
How to bypass data throttling without a VPN in Canada?
You can use a web proxy to bypass data/ISP throttling without a VPN in Canada. However, a proxy lets you bypass throttling without routing your traffic through an encrypted server. This way, your online activities can still be viewed by your ISP. So, using a VPN is always the best way instead of bypassing ISP throttling without VPN.
Will a VPN stop ISP throttling in Canada?
Yes, a VPN will stop ISP throttling by masking your online activities from your ISP in Canada. This way, your internet service provider won’t know what you’re doing online and will be unable to throttle your internet.
Now that you know how to stop ISP throttling, it’s time to get a premium VPN like ExpressVPN for yourself. Please note that we do not recommend using a free VPN to bypass throttling in any case due to its overall bad reputation and performance.
Is ISP throttling illegal?
No, ISP throttling is not illegal. Throttling an internet connection is a sneaky task that shortchanges the customers. However, throttling is legal until ISPs sufficiently explain how it works to their customers. But, it’s illegal if the ISP doesn’t inform its customers about throttling. So, if you’ve been thinking ‘Is internet throttling illegal,’ then you already know the answer.
Can you use a VPN to bypass throttling in Canada?
Yes, you can use a VPN to bypass throttling in Canada. A VPN is the easiest solution to mask your actual IP address so you can surf the web anonymously. This way, the ISP won’t be able to throttle your bandwidth.
We hope this answers your ‘Can you bypass ISP throttling’ query.
Does bandwidth throttling affect mobile data?
Yes, if the internet connection of your mobile is being throttled, it will lead to higher usage of mobile data. This is quite advantageous for ISPs since higher mobile data usage urges users to buy more data. If you want to know how to stop mobile data throttling, then you need a VPN like ExpressVPN to do so.
Conclusion
To summarize, if you’re experiencing throttling from your internet service provider, such as AT&T, you can only bypass ISP throttling and bandwidth limits with a VPN.
By redirecting your network traffic through VPN servers, you can stop your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from monitoring websites you visit and setting bandwidth limit restrictions.
For bypassing ISP throttling, ExpressVPN is our recommended option. This VPN obfuscates your internet traffic, so your ISP never knows that you’re using a VPN. It also offers fast speeds and thousands of servers, using which you can circumvent throttling without issues.
This ends our ‘how to bypass ISP throttling in Australia with a VPN’ guide. Get a VPN and defeat throttling now!
