Unfortunately, it’s completely legal for AT&T to throttle your connections. It’s also completely legal to avoid throttling using a premium VPN service. An encrypted VPN connection masks your online activity, so AT&T can’t discriminate against your online activity and slow your speeds, so you can continue to enjoy fast, smooth connections on AT&T. I tested 30+ services, and ExpressVPN is the best for avoiding throttling. Its premium tools keep your activity hidden, and blazing-fast speeds won’t slow your connections. I suggest you try ExpressVPN with AT&T and see how well it works for you. Avoid throttling with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Bypass AT&T Throttling
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Why Does AT&T Throttle Speeds?
AT&T can legally throttle your speeds and bandwidth, and does so for multiple reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons you’ll experience a throttled connection with AT&T:
Exceeding Your Data Limit
If you’re subscribed to an internet plan with a data limit, you’ll find your speeds and bandwidth are throttled when you hit your data limit. AT&T sends a text message alerting you when you’ve used 75% of your data, so you can manage your data use and avoid connection slowdown. Even if you have an unlimited plan, AT&T has soft data caps that result in slower speeds when you reach them. Unfortunately, this is the one circumstance in which a VPN can’t help. While a VPN can mask your online activity, your data is still sent through the AT&T network so the amount of data you use remains the same.
Data Deprioritization
Officially, AT&T doesn’t deprioritize your connection based on your online activity. This means you should be able to stream, torrent, play games online, and more without noticing any slowdown. However, on closer inspection, I found AT&T does reduce video streaming quality to SD when video content is detected — essentially, deprioritizing your connection based on your online activity. I also found that AT&T will “occasionally need to limit the flow of traffic from certain locations” if there is a perceived security threat. This could be applied to torrenting or online gaming (in the case of DDoS attacks). Using a high-quality VPN is the best way to avoid data deprioritization, as the encrypted VPN connection hides your online activity from AT&T. As your ISP cannot see what you’re doing online, it can’t slow your speeds for streaming, torrenting, gaming, or other data-heavy activities. On the plus side, AT&T claims your connection won’t be deprioritized based on your use of specific apps, devices, or services in favor of others. The ISP won’t prioritize particular connections to benefit affiliates or to receive compensation (monetary or otherwise).
Overcrowded Networks
The most common reason for AT&T throttling is user congestion, which occurs when there are many devices connected to the network at the same time. This throttling is to ensure there is enough bandwidth available for all users, so speeds are reduced primarily for users who are engaged in data-heavy activities like streaming, torrenting, or online gaming. AT&T not only throttles the data of users who have a data cap but also unlimited subscribers too. As stated on the AT&T website: While throttling should be a temporary issue during periods of network congestion, it’s still frustrating to experience slowdowns, especially when you’re on an unlimited plan. However, you may find a VPN can help with ISP overcrowding. A VPN connection routes your traffic through less busy servers than those provided by your ISP, creating a more direct route to your online destination.
Short on Time? Here Are the Best VPNs to Stop AT&T Data Throttling
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Best VPNs to Bypass AT&T Throttling (Updated in 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Quality Security Features Avoid AT&T Throttling, Plus Blazing-Fast Speeds
Key Features: ExpressVPN keeps your connections secure against AT&T throttling with its high-quality features that are available on every server. I was pleased to find ExpressVPN’s apps are fully configured for premium security and privacy on download, so no manual configuration is necessary. ExpressVPN includes the following features:
AES-256-bit encryption — hides your online activity from AT&T so your connection won’t be deprioritized when streaming, torrenting, gaming online, and more. Data leak protection — stops accidental DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks from exposing your data to AT&T. Split tunneling — lets you encrypt connections to services that AT&T may throttle, like streaming services or data-heavy activities (like torrenting and gaming). Server obfuscation — hides your VPN use to ensure AT&T won’t discriminate against your connection. TrustedServer technology — uses RAM-based servers that cannot physically store your data for total anonymity, further proven when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server but could not recover any user data. Audited zero-log policy — independently verified by KPMG and Cure53 to confirm the privacy policy is accurate.
I expected my speeds to be significantly impacted by these high-level features but was impressed to discover ExpressVPN is the fastest service I’ve tested. On average, ExpressVPN’s connections only reduced my speeds by 18%, even when I tested long-distance servers. This is partly due to ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, designed for the best speeds without compromising on security. These speeds are blazing-fast, making ExpressVPN a top choice for streaming lag-free on Netflix, torrenting files, playing fast-paced online games, and browsing — all while successfully avoiding AT&T’s data throttling. ExpressVPN can connect to the following streaming services: The only downside to ExpressVPN is its price, as it’s a little more expensive than other options. ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67/month for a 1-year subscription, but I think it’s worth the extra cost for blazing-fast speeds and premium security that easily avoids data throttling. If you’d like to try ExpressVPN for yourself, you can make your purchase with confidence as every plan is backed by a 30-day guarantee. Should you change your mind, you can request a full refund with no questions asked, and the process is simple; I contacted the 24/7 live chat and the agent arranged my refund in just a couple of minutes. I had my money returned within 5 days. Avoid AT&T throttling with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Provide Fast, Reliable Connections and Stop AT&T Data Throttling
Key Features: CyberGhost’s optimized servers are ideal for avoiding AT&T’s data throttling, providing secure and reliable connections for streaming, torrenting, and online gaming. These servers are regularly tested to ensure you get optimal connections for your online activities. Plus, each server is protected by top-tier encryption so AT&T can’t throttle your connection. CyberGhost’s intuitive interface makes it easy to choose the best server for your activity too, displaying all optimized servers in clear menus. All you have to do is pick your chosen streaming service or a low-ping nearby server and click connect. Even better, CyberGhost’s optimized servers are consistently faster than its regular servers. I suggest using the optimized connections whenever possible, especially alongside the WireGuard protocol. This ensures you get reliably fast connections that are secured against AT&T throttling. During my tests, my speeds were up to 30% faster with the optimized servers. I had no issues streaming in UHD, playing COD: Warzone without interruption, and torrenting large files lag-free. You’ll find CyberGhost offers optimized streaming servers for the following services: All of CyberGhost’s servers are fully secured and private, with top-tier tools and features to ensure your connections are anonymous and avoid AT&T deprioritizing your data based on your online activities. CyberGhost’s security and privacy features include:
AES-256-bit encryption — masks your data and activity, hiding it from AT&T and other prying eyes. Data leak protection — stops accidental DNS and IP leaks from revealing your activity or personal data. Automatic kill switch — blocks internet access if the VPN connection is interrupted to avoid exposing your activity. Split tunneling — helps avoid AT&T throttling based on specific apps or websites. Zero-logs policy — RAM-based servers and third-party audit confirm CyberGhost never logs or stores your personally identifiable data.
It’s a shame that CyberGhost’s short-term plans are so expensive. I suggest choosing a long-term plan for the best value overall, which starts at $2.11/month (a discount of 84%). Long-term plans are backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee so you can try CyberGhost with AT&T risk-free. If you change your mind, you can get a full refund, and the process is simple; I spoke to an agent using the 24/7 live chat and my refund was arranged in less than 5 minutes. I had my money back within a week. Avoid AT&T throttling with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Network of 35,000+ Servers for Easy Connections that Bypass Throttling
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has an enormous server network, with more than 50 US server locations. With more than 35,000 connections, it’s easy to connect to a local PIA server and avoid AT&T throttling from wherever you are. A large network also ensures you won’t experience congestion when you connect to a server, which can happen on smaller networks at peak traffic times (like evenings and weekends). Even during busy online periods, I could connect to a PIA server in seconds, with no user congestion at all. With thousands of servers, PIA can provide reliably fast speeds on local connections. During tests, my speeds on local servers dropped by less than 20%, with speeds fast enough for UHD streaming, torrenting, gaming, and uninterrupted online browsing. Long-distance connections can be much slower, but this is typical for VPNs. I suggest using the WireGuard protocol and connecting to servers with the lowest latency for the fastest speeds. To ensure you can successfully avoid AT&T throttling your connection based on your online activity (like streaming), PIA has the following security and privacy features that work on all servers:
AES-256-bit encryption — hides your online activity from AT&T so your speeds won’t be slowed due to streaming, torrenting, and other data-heavy traffic. Automatic kill switch — cuts internet access if the VPN is unexpectedly interrupted to ensure your data and activity are always secure. Multi-Hop server obfuscation — masks your VPN traffic by routing your connection through multiple servers. Split tunneling — helps keep speeds fast and unthrottled for apps and services AT&T is likely to slow. Audited zero-log policy — guarantees your data and activity are never stored on PIA’s servers.
These top-tier features make it easy to avoid AT&T throttling with PIA, especially when streaming — AT&T openly admits to reducing stream quality. You can use PIA to access the following streaming services: You can try PIA with your devices risk-free and see if it works for you. Plans start at just $2.11/month for a 2-year + 3 months subscription. If you change your mind, you can get a full refund within 30 days. I requested a refund using the 24/7 live chat, and my request was approved within minutes. I had my money back in less than a week. Avoid AT&T throttling with PIA
4. PrivateVPN — Customizable Encryption Keeps Speeds Fast While Avoiding Data Throttling
Key Features: PrivateVPN’s customizable encryption levels are a great tool for keeping speeds fast on slow networks, all the while avoiding AT&T’s data throttling. It’s easy to reduce encryption from the standard AES-256-bit to AES-128-bit — this won’t impact PrivateVPN’s security (AES encryption is unbreakable), but lesser encryption can give you a speed boost. You can configure PrivateVPN’s encryption in the app Dashboard. Even with a lower level of encryption, PrivateVPN can easily get around AT&T throttling with its range of security and privacy features. These include:
Stealth VPN server obfuscation — hides your VPN traffic from AT&T to prevent deprioritization for VPN use. DNS and IP leak protection — avoids accidental leaks that could compromise your data or activity anonymity. Kill switch — keeps your connection secure by cutting internet access if the VPN is ever interrupted. Zero-log privacy policy — ensures your data is never logged or stored when connected to PrivateVPN’s servers.
I was pleased to find PrivateVPN provides fast connections across its server network. During my tests, even long-distance connections were reliably fast. My speeds didn’t drop by more than 25% on average and were fast enough for torrenting, UHD streaming, gaming, and more without interruptions or lag. These great speeds also make PrivateVPN a solid choice for streaming on your local accounts, and you can access the following: Setup is simple with PrivateVPN’s apps, taking just a couple of minutes to download and get connected to a secure server. I found it easy to download PrivateVPN to my Windows PC and iPhone XS, and the app requires no manual configuration for top security so it’s great for beginners. Plus, you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time. My issue with PrivateVPN is its small network, which can have issues connecting at peak traffic times. I found I had to wait up to 2 minutes to connect on occasion, and I sometimes had to choose a different server as the connection timed out. However, once a connection was established, I didn’t have any problems or interruptions. You can see how well PrivateVPN avoids AT&T throttling for a low price — it’s one of the most affordable monthly VPNs available, with plans starting at $2.00/month. If you change your mind, you have up to 30 days to claim a refund. I sent an email request to customer service and had a response the same day, with my money back in a week. Avoid AT&T throttling with PrivateVPN
5. IPVanish — unlimited Device Connections Bypass AT&T Throttling at Home and On the Go
Key Features: IPVanish is the only recommended VPN to offer unlimited device connections on a single subscription, making it useful for protecting all of your devices from AT&T’s throttling. I found having unlimited connections ideal, as it meant I didn’t have to choose which devices to cover. I could connect to IPVanish whenever I wanted to, securing my connections from throttling on my home network and my mobile devices. Usually, multiple connections have a big impact on speed, but IPVanish is reliably and consistently fast. My speeds with IPVanish barely changed with 1 connection versus 8 device connections — I could always stream in UHD quality, torrent files, and play games without interruption. IPVanish makes it simple to choose the best server by listing ping and user load. By picking a server with low ping and load, my speeds were always fast. By choosing the best connection, you get top speeds for streaming while avoiding the SD-quality restrictions imposed by AT&T. IPVanish provides connections to the following services: You can avoid AT&T’s throttling with IPVanish’s top-tier security and privacy features, which are available on every server. These tools include the following:
Military-grade encryption — protects your data from AT&T’s prying eyes to stop throttling based on your online activity. Secure connection protocols — keep your connections safe with WireGuard and OpenVPN, both designed for top security and fast speeds. Scramble obfuscation — masks your VPN activity so AT&T can’t discriminate against your connection. Zero-log policy — IPVanish underwent a third-party audit to confirm it never logs or stores personally identifiable data.
I found IPVanish easy to download and configure on multiple devices, with native apps for many popular platforms. The apps provide useful information for each configurable option, making it simple to customize the apps for your needs. Unfortunately, IPVanish doesn’t have many additional features, making it an expensive VPN for what it offers. Plans start at $3.33/month for a 2-year subscription, but you won’t find tools like split tunneling, optimized servers, or malware blockers — features you get with CyberGhost for a lower monthly cost. If you want a simple but effective VPN for avoiding AT&T throttling, you can try IPVanish risk-free. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and getting a refund is simple. Just head to the “Subscriptions” tab in your IPVanish account and click “Cancel Now.” I did this through my browser and had my money back the next day. Avoid AT&T throttling with IPVanish
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPNs to Bypass AT&T Throttling
Stop AT&T throttling with ExpressVPN
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs to Stop AT&T Throttling
I tested and ranked more than 30 services to find the best VPNs in 2023 for avoiding AT&T throttling according to the following criteria: Try ExpressVPN with AT&T risk-free Avoid AT&T throttling with a premium VPN Commonly, AT&T throttles data due to network congestion, to ensure there is enough bandwidth for all users to maintain reasonable speeds. AT&T can also throttle data if you’re a heavy data user (even if you have an unlimited data plan), if there is a security threat, or if the ISP detects that you’re streaming video content — AT&T is known to reduce stream quality to SD level. Fortunately, it’s also legal to use a VPN to avoid throttling. A quality VPN hides your online activity so AT&T cannot detect what you’re doing online, whether you’re streaming, torrenting, gaming, or browsing. A VPN will also hide your IP address, so your ISP cannot use your IP to slow your speeds. If your network is congested, you can connect to a VPN server nearby to create a more direct route to your online destination, improving speeds and avoiding AT&T network throttling.
Network congestion — many users connecting to your local network at the same time) Deprioritization of your online activity — could impact you if you’re a heavy data user and frequently stream, torrent, game online, or perform other data-intensive activity Hitting your data limit — AT&T throttles your connection once you’ve hit your data cap. AT&T also implements soft data caps for unlimited users, which could also result in throttling.
Fortunately, the top recommended VPNs for avoiding AT&T’s throttling all have mobile apps for Android and iOS. This means you can easily connect to a VPN server from your smartphone and avoid AT&T throttling whether you’re at home or on the go. However, if your ISP is throttling your speed due to you reaching your data limit, a VPN can’t help. Despite masking your online activity, your data use is still recorded by your ISP and your connection will be slowed down if you exceed your limit. You may find your ISP won’t throttle data when prioritizing its own services. For example, AT&T users can stream movies and shows on DirecTV and U-verse TV (both owned by AT&T) without impacting their data plans or experiencing slowdowns. A service like Netflix won’t get the same treatment unless it pays for the privilege. The best way to avoid having your ISP throttle your data is by connecting to a top-tier VPN first. The encrypted VPN tunnel hides your online activity from your ISP, so you can’t be penalized for what you choose to do online. You could also try purchasing additional data specifically for hotspot use, or if you’re an Android user, the PdaNet+ app is a useful tool for sharing hotspot connections with other devices. AT&T and other ISPs often prioritize on-device connections over hotspot or tethered connections. Even if you’re subscribed to a more expensive plan, AT&T has a high-speed data limit of 40GB for hotspot connections, after which you’ll find your speeds are slowed. Free VPNs typically have strict data caps and limited server connections, causing user congestion. You’ll also find most free services throttle speed and bandwidth to prompt you to upgrade to the premium service and to prioritize the connections of paying users. Even the best free VPNs in 2023 aren’t recommended for avoiding throttling. It’s a better idea to try a premium VPN with a long money-back guarantee. A service like CyberGhost has a generous 45-day guarantee that lets you test every feature with AT&T risk-free. If you change your mind or find it isn’t right for you, you can get a full refund with no questions asked. I spoke to a live chat agent for less than 5 minutes to have my refund processed. I wasn’t asked to change my mind or troubleshoot any issues, and I had my money back within a week.
Stop AT&T Data Throttling With a VPN Today!
Data throttling is so frustrating — you should be able to torrent files, game online with friends, and stream your favorite content without worrying about slow speeds on a congested network. Fortunately, you can use a top-quality VPN to keep your speeds fast and avoid having your connection throttled. Not all VPNs have the features and speeds necessary to avoid throttling and keep your connections blazing fast. That’s why I tested more than 30 services to find the best VPNs to use with AT&T, and ExpressVPN is the top choice in 2023. Its impressive security and privacy features keep your online activity hidden from your ISP, preventing deprioritization. Plus, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN I’ve tested, so you can enjoy super-fast connection speeds across its server network. Best of all, you can try ExpressVPN with AT&T risk-free to make sure it’s right for you. Every ExpressVPN plan is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund with no questions asked.
