5 Best VPNs for CenturyLink (2025)

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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for CenturyLink if you want to beat the constant speed throttling.

The VPN achieves this through fast and stable connections via servers hidden from the internet service provider, making it hard for CenturyLink to interfere with your online activities. 

It also features IP and DNS leak protection, encryption, and a strict no-logs policy.

NordVPN (best privacy), PureVPN (best for live streaming), CyberGhost (largest server network), and Surfshark (unlimited simultaneous connections) are the other alternatives you can use besides ExpressVPN.

If you’re a regular CenturyLink subscriber tired of seeing your speeds throttled or getting hit with DMCA notices now and then, this is for you.

Speed throttling isn’t new to CenturyLink, although the media and DSL service provider vehemently denies that claim. Most ISPs discreetly reduce speeds during peak hours when the network congestion is severe, which is understandable.

However, there are instances where this is done to stop users from accessing competitor sites or unlawful content like torrent sites. This is illegal and goes against net neutrality codes, which dictate that the ISP has no right to control what a paying internet subscriber consumes.

Thankfully, you can use a VPN to beat speed throttling, snooping from your ISP, and DMCA notices. So, read this to the end to find out how to pull this off.

Speed Throttling Can Be a Pain but Here Are the 5 VPNs to Bypass This

I bet you’re frustrated with sudden slow speeds when you’re in the middle of something important. Try these 5 VPNs to wrest back control of your internet from CenturyLink.

  • ExpressVPN – Fastest Speeds With Automatic Obfuscation
  • NordVPN – Best Privacy With P2P Support
  • PureVPN – Best for Live Streaming With Secure WiFi
  • CyberGhost – Best for Unblocking With Streaming Servers
  • Surfshark – Unlimited Simultaneous Connections + Affordable Price Plans

A critical factor that influenced the ranking of these VPNs is connection speeds. 

For all the tests, I used base internet speeds of 30 Mbps.

The 5 Best VPNs for Bypassing Throttling on CenturyLink

Bypassing speed throttling isn’t the only thing you’ll learn to take care of today. 

You’ll also discover how to access geo-blocked content and keep yourself anonymous and free of surveillance using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Let’s get started.

BEST OVERALL

ExpressVPN - Fastest Speeds With Automatic Obfuscation

Location Servers Connections Average Test Speeds Best Deal
British Virgin Islands 3000+ 5 29 Mbps Show Offer

Bypassing Speed Throttling

expressvpn speed test result

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for CenturyLink by a mile. 

The VPN has always impressed me regarding speeds for downloading heavy files from PirateBay or streaming 4K content on Apple TV+.

So, I didn’t struggle one bit when it came to bypassing speed throttling from CenturyLink, thanks to the super fast and stable connections.

I averaged 29 Mbps with this VPN service, the fastest on this list, despite lacking streaming and torrent dedicated servers like CyberGhost, PureVPN, and NordVPN. A combination of unlimited bandwidth, super-fast servers, and the Lightway UDP protocol delivered these fast speeds.

User Privacy + P2P Support

Nobody likes having their online activities monitored. 

Unfortunately for most internet users, ISPs wield a lot of power and can see websites you visit; which is how they can apply targeted speed throttling.

ExpressVPN counters this through a few privacy features.

First is the AES 256-bit encryption, which creates an unbreachable wall between you, the ISP, and any other entity vested in tracking your activities. 

I rely heavily on this excellent encryption whenever I go to my favorite chilling spots like cafes and malls to keep public WiFi admins/hackers out of my business.

expressvpn network lock

Furthermore, ExpressVPN is equipped with a Network Lock kill switch for those moments when your VPN connection drops. I’ve had such drops several times during power blackouts, so it’s not unlikely.

This kill switch disables your internet, preventing CenturyLink from seeing your real IP address when you lose connection to the VPN server. 

It would be bad for you if you got exposed in the middle of a torrent download because that would attract DMCA notices, and CenturyLink could permanently revoke your subscription.

Another handy aspect of this VPN provider that has helped me a lot when dealing with CenturyLink is the strict no-logs policy.

Although the chances of an ISP like CenturyLink singling you out are low, you get peace of mind knowing that ExpressVPN would never share your sensitive information with anyone, even under the threat of a court order.

Bypassing Geo-Locked Content

expressvpn connected to south korea

ExpressVPN offers 3000+ server locations, the smallest on this list, but that doesn’t impact the VPN’s ability to unblock restricted content from anywhere using CenturyLink. For example, using a South Korean VPN server, I quickly unlocked top Korean pop music playlists featuring BTS, which I couldn’t access in the US.

But if ExpressVPN has the most inferior server network, how did it top this list?

ExpressVPN has one unique feature other VPNs lack: fast and automatic obfuscation. While obfuscation (hides your VPN traffic and usage) in the other options only works with OpenVPN protocols and is slow, the one on ExpressVPN is fast and works with all protocols/servers.

The best part? There’s no button you need to toggle to activate the feature; once you launch ExpressVPN, it’s on.

Multi-Platform Support

You can install ExpressVPN on daily-use devices like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux with up to 5 simultaneous connections

This is flexible if you have multiple devices that need to be secured from CenturyLink’s tentacles.

The only drawback in my book is the price tag. ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN listed, although its features warrant that to some extent.

You can get a 30-day money-back guarantee alongside our exclusive discounts to make it more bearable.

Pros

Cons

BEST PRIVACY

NordVPN - Best Privacy With P2P Support

Location Servers Connections Average Speeds Best Deal
Panama 5300+ 6 27 Mbps Show Offer

Bypassing Speed Throttling

nordvpn speed test result

NordVPN is another speed monster that has come through for me on several occasions where heavy bandwidth usage was necessary. 

With average speeds of 27 Mbps, NordVPN was joint second with Surfshark, and I had no trouble streaming FLAC files on Apple Music or 4K content on BritBox.

Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN relies on a unique protocol called NordLynx for its incredible and stable speeds. There are no data caps, so you can do whatever you want without worrying about speed throttling from CenturyLink.

This VPN provider is one of the few on this list, alongside CyberGhost and PureVPN, with P2P dedicated servers optimized for torrenting speeds.

I use these servers even for streaming and gaming since they’re high-speed operations. Try and see how things work out for you.

User Privacy + P2P Support

Privacy and security are NordVPN’s most significant strengths, with several features to keep CenturyLink out of your business. 

First is the standard military-grade encryption, which blocks all external surveillance and unauthorized access, including snooping from the ISP and hackers.

Furthermore, with P2P support, you can partake in activities forbidden by CenturyLink (like torrenting) without risking getting banned over DMCA violations. You’ll never catch me opening Pirate Bay without an active NordVPN connection.

Like the other alternatives on this list, NordVPN keeps you safe on public networks run by CenturyLink. Otherwise, you may fall victim to conversation hijacking, man-in-the-middle attacks, and other public WiFi dangers at the mall, supermarket, or cafe.

nordvpn reliable kill switch

There’s also a reliable kill switch (two on Windows) that disables your internet to prevent accidental leaks of your actual IP address. 

If you fail to activate this, CenturyLink can immediately pinpoint your location and see some of the websites you visit during the brief VPN connection drop. 

I don’t need to tell you how bad that could be.

On top of all this, NordVPN is very protective of its customers, adhering to a strict no-logging policy. So, nothing tied to your online activities is ever saved. This helps protect you against DMCA warrants if you’re ever slapped with one, which is rare.

Bypassing Geo-Locked Content

nordvpn connected to australia

With 5300+ servers, NordVPN comes third to PureVPN and CyberGhost. 

This impressive server haul ensures you can unblock geo-restricted content in the US. You may also be interested in the specialty servers like Double VPN servers which encrypt your internet traffic twice and obfuscated servers that allow you to hide your VPN activities from CenturyLink.

However, you’ll lose significant speeds with these servers, so only use them for lightweight activities (like highly secure browsing and communications, but not streaming/downloads) that don’t require heavy bandwidth.

Multi-Platform Support

This VPN software has native Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux apps with up to 6 simultaneous connections. That’s more than ExpressVPN; enough to cover your core devices and leave a slot or two for a friend.

Regarding the price plans, NordVPN stands between PureVPN and ExpressVPN, so it isn’t that cheap. But it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can activate anytime before it expires. 

Plus, check out these fantastic discounts to get the best prices.

Pros

Cons

BEST FOR LIVE STREAMING

PureVPN - Best for Live Streaming With Secure WiFi

PureVPN website
Location Servers Connections Average Speeds Best Deal
BVI 6500+ 10 26 Mbps Show Offer

Bypassing Speed Throttling

purevpn speed test result

I’m a heavy streamer, especially of live events, and if you’ve tried to watch something live, you know how vital stable connections are. 

Unlike a movie or a TV show that you can pause and continue later, you can’t afford to miss a single second of a live match, for instance.

That’s where PureVPN comes in.

With 26 Mbps average speeds and unlimited bandwidth, I seamlessly streamed live games from my Macbook without buffering. 

This proved that PureVPN easily bypassed any speed throttling from CenturyLink.

This speed was also fast enough for quick downloads, all thanks to torrenting servers combined with fast WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols.

User Privacy + P2P Support

PureVPN has torrent-dedicated servers, which automatically means the VPN provider offers P2P support. Don’t hold back when it comes to forbidden sites because there’s nothing CenturyLink can do about it, since PureVPN hides all that activity.

In addition, you get the industry standard encryption and a kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection. The encryption keeps you safe from CenturyLink surveillance and stops hackers from accessing your traffic over public networks.

purevpn internet kill switch

The kill switch protects your anonymity during VPN connection drops by disabling the internet until the server connection is restored. 

That’s why the first thing I do whenever I use PureVPN is checking the kill switch to ensure it’s on.

PureVPN, like the other alternatives, will never share your browsing history, DNS queries, traffic metadata, or IP addresses, thanks to its strict no-logs policy.

This personal information is gold, and CenturyLink would do anything to get its hands on it.

Bypassing Geo-Locked Content

purevpn servers

PureVPN has the second largest server network (6500+ in 78+ countries), including streaming, torrenting, and port forwarding servers.

Depending on what you want to unblock, choose what servers work best for you.

I mostly use streaming servers to catch live games in the Premier League without interference from CenturyLink.

Worried about your VPN connections getting blocked? 

PureVPN offers obfuscation which makes your VPN traffic look regular, bypassing DPIs employed by CenturyLink. However, your speeds will take a hit since the feature only works with OpenVPN protocol, the slowest. 

So, defer to ExpressVPN to enjoy faster obfuscation.

Multi-Platform Support

PureVPN is compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. 

So, you can switch between devices as much as you want, depending on your immediate needs, without losing the all-important encryption. 

You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, second after Surfshark, enough to cover your devices and leave slots for your friends and family.

purevpn pricing

For those on a tight budget, you’ll be happy to know that PureVPN is the cheapest VPN on this list, with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s one better: if PureVPN is your choice, grab your subscription using these amazing discounts.

Pros

Cons

CyberGhost - Best for Unblocking With Streaming Servers

Location Servers Connections Average Speeds Best Deal
Romania 9000+ 7 27 Mbps Show Offer

Bypassing Speed Throttling

cyberghost speed test result

CyberGhost is a one-of-a-kind VPN provider with what it takes to deal with speed throttling and other interferences from CenturyLink. 

The VPN packs impressive speeds, 27 Mbps on average, similar to NordVPN.

This provider has some of the most efficient and user-friendly streaming and torrenting servers across all devices. This is the VPN I turn to when downloading heavy torrent files from RARBG or Limetorrents because its servers can hide my activities from CenturyLink.

Besides these speed-optimized specialty servers, CyberGhost has the WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols that offer both speed and state-of-the-art security. However, the Android version only offers WireGuard, but that does the job.

User Privacy + P2P Support

CyberGhost will keep CenturyLink, hackers, and government agencies from snooping in on the websites you visit, the shows you stream, and the files you download with its AES 256-bit encryption.

Cracking through this encryption is impossible, even for the best hackers using the most sophisticated computers. This is why even the US government uses this technology to protect sensitive documents.

The VPN also has a dedicated public WIFI protection feature which, when toggled, keeps malicious entities that prowl public networks from messing around with your traffic. Many shopping malls in my area use CenturyLink hotspots, which is reason enough for me to always walk with the feature activated.

cyberghost automatic kill switch

Furthermore, CyberGhost has a kill switch against IP and DNS leaks when your VPN server connection is compromised. This could be due to a power blackout or switching between networks from WiFi to mobile data from a CenturyLink modem.

With its location in Romania, CyberGhost doesn’t have to honor any data request warrant against any of its customers since it’s outside the US jurisdiction. Thanks to its strict no-logs policy, there won’t be anything to hand over in the first place.

This is good news for people who love torrenting since CenturyLink is mandated by law to take action against such users.

Bypassing Geo-Locked Content

cyberghost connected to france

At 9000+ servers, CyberGhost has the largest capacity to bypass restricted content from anywhere. You can choose regular servers to unblock content or make your work easy by connecting to streaming/torrenting servers that are already optimized to unblock different content types.

I connected to these servers to unblock BBC iPlayer from the UK, Japan-Netflix libraries, and Qobuz, my favorite international music streaming service. The only unfortunate bit is the lack of obfuscation which means CenturyLink may restrict CyberGhost by blocking VPN traffic.

Multi-Platform Support

CyberGhost has native Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux apps. Whether you want to stream content on your smart TV from the comfort of your house or need to go for a run while listening to music, CyberGhost facilitates that.

Additionally, you can connect up to 7 simultaneous devices, third after PureVPN and Surfshark.

The VPN provider is affordable and has the most prolonged money-back guarantee of 45 days (for long-term plans). Remember to grab your subscription using these unbeatable discounts.

Pros

Cons

Surfshark - Unlimited Simultaneous Connections + Affordable Price Plans

Location Servers Connections Average Speeds Best Deal
The Netherlands 3200+ Unlimited 28 Mbps Show Offer

Bypassing Speed Throttling

surfshark speed test result

Surfshark wraps up our mini-reviews with an impressive 28 Mbps average speed, second to ExpressVPN. I achieved these fantastic speeds using P2P servers, and that was enough to handle 4K streaming, fast downloads, and gaming with minimal latency.

At no point did I feel like I was being throttled by CenturyLink, proof that Surfshark deals with this annoying habit without problems. 

Like CyberGhost and PureVPN, Surfshark uses the WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols that combine the best security and fastest speeds for the best experience.

User Privacy + P2P Support

Surfshark’s military-grade encryption ensures no one can access your private browsing. The only thing snoopers will see is gibberish texts and symbols they can’t use.

Furthermore, like the other alternatives, Surfshark offers blanket protection against unauthorized access to your traffic when you switch to public WIFI.

This is an underrated convenience as it means you can carry on with whatever you do, even when moving, without major online privacy concerns.

surfshark vpn settings

You’ll also get a kill switch (two on Android) that stops your IP address from falling into the wrong hands when the VPN connection drops. 

It’s like a fail-safe button that prevents further damage until order is restored, so you won’t access the internet until the VPN connection is back up.

Finally, with P2P support and a strict no-logs policy, you can comfortably torrent files as much as you want without CenturyLink slapping you with DMCA notices or threatening you with court orders. 

Surfshark doesn’t save your online activities either; everything is wiped clean once you close the session.

Bypassing Geo-Locked Content

surfshark connected to india

Surfshark has the second-smallest server network after ExpressVPN, with 3200+ in 100 countries. But accessing geo-blocked content from all over wasn’t an issue. I gained full access to the latest Bollywood blockbusters on Voot like I was doing all that from India.

This VPN provider also offers obfuscation called Camouflage Mode to bypass VPN blocks by CenturyLink. But like NordVPN and PureVPN, it slows down your overall speeds, so you may struggle to handle heavy torrenting or 4K streaming when enabled.

Multi-Platform Support

Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, the best by far. 

You can secure your Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux devices and still have enough slots for everyone else in your family and friend circles.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve scored free snacks just by offering neighbors free logins.

Surfshark is also one of the cheapest VPNs alongside PureVPN, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Grab these exclusive deals if this VPN ticks your boxes.

Pros

Cons

How to Bypass Speed Throttling on CenturyLink With a VPN?

You’re now equipped with the entire know-how of bypassing speed throttling from CenturyLink. This is how you get this done using ExpressVPN.

  1. Subscribe to and install ExpressVPN.
expressvpn app
  1. Select Lightway-UDP protocol for the best speeds.
expressvpn lightway udp protocol
  1. Choose a server in or outside the US and connect.
expressvpn connected to south korea
  1. Open any restricted platform and browse without speed throttling.

FAQ

You can use a free VPN with CenturyLink, but you won’t be able to beat speed throttling, lack essential features like obfuscation, and some free VPNs even sell your data to the highest bidder, compromising your security and privacy.

CenturyLink blocks VPNs for several reasons, such as preventing users from accessing region-locked content, bypassing speed throttling, and downloading torrent files without getting caught.

Thus, use reputable VPNs engineered against VPN blocks without losing speed, like ExpressVPN.

Conclusion

Speed throttling is illegal and goes against all net neutrality freedoms, but VPNs are your best bet until proper laws are passed to stop these. That said, ExpressVPN is still my best recommendation.

Its automatic obfuscation is a life-saver that keeps you from trouble alongside military-grade encryption and IP leak protection. The 3000+ servers are enough to get through the door when accessing geo-blocked content, and you can use it on any device.

If ExpressVPN is the right choice, grab these fantastic deals before they run out.

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