How to Stop ISP Throttling Without VPN? [3 Working Ways to Bypass]

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While VPN helps bypass content-based ISP throttling, it is not useful for bandwidth throttling. This is because bandwidth throttling is based on your data caps or usage. Sometimes, it can be due to network congestion or paid prioritization too. Thus to prevent such ISP throttling, you can either upgrade your data plan to a higher one or change your ISP. However, proxy servers can be another way to stop ISP throttling without a VPN. Don’t know how to create or set up a proxy server? Worry not. Just follow this guide to know all these methods in detail.

3 Ways to stop ISP Throttling without using a VPN

If you don’t want to buy/subscribe to a VPN service to prevent ISP throttling, here are three alternative ways to do it:

1. Upgrade your current data plan

The ISP can throttle the internet to prevent excess data usage if you are on a low-data plan and consuming more bandwidth than your data caps. Thus upgrade your plan to unlimited or higher data plans to avoid data caps or bandwidth throttling. Here is how to do it:

Determine your data needs for each device. Ideally, 25Mbps is the minimum speed required for a single device to enjoy buffer-free streaming.
Find out who your ISP is and go to its official website to compare plans. Choose the one that meets your data needs. If you have high requirements, go for the unlimited plan or the one that doesn’t come with data caps.
Upgrade your plan to avoid bandwidth throttling.

2. Create/Setup a Proxy Server

Another effective way to save connection bandwidth significantly and visit your ISP’s restricted websites/content is to use a proxy server. A proxy server acts as an intermediary or replacement server. It reroutes the traffic to a particular website by providing a proxy address so your ISP cannot track your online activities. They consume less internet bandwidth by compressing the internet traffic and large files by leaving unnecessary files behind. Proxy servers also use the cached versions of websites, thus loading faster. There are both public and private proxy servers available, but private ones are safer and faster than public ones. To create and set up the proxy server, follow these step-by-step instructions.

a) Steps to Create your Own Proxy Server

Step 1: Install PHP-Proxy

You need a PHP script that is easy to customize. Install the web-based free PHP script called PHP Proxy from its official website.
Now upload the files to your web server’s sub-directory. Create a subfolder in a folder having www or domain name (example: domain.com). Don’t use the “Proxy” word in your subfolder’s name. Instead, use words like surf or web.

Note: You can either extract the zipped file to upload all the files or can use the FTP application to access the web host. Step 2: Configuration

After installing the files, edit the “config.php” file to assign a random value between the quotation marks in “$config[‘app_key’]=’ ‘;
Save that file to complete the configuration.
Now using your browser, access the directory where you have saved all the files, and a PHP proxy pop-up will appear.
Type any web address of your choice and browse anonymously.

Step 3: Install SSL Encryption As a proxy server doesn’t come with encryption, you can use this additional step to encrypt your traffic.

Go to the Certbort official site and install this automated certificate tool.
Follow the instructions on-screen (based on your server type) to complete the process.
If you see “YourDomainName.com” in the command script, replace it with your domain name.
Choose to redirect the traffic to HTTPS to protect your network traffic while using a proxy server.

b) Setup Proxy Server

There are two ways to connect/setup a proxy server on Windows: Manual and Automatic. Let’s see both. i) For Windows There are two ways to connect/setup a proxy server on Windows: Manual and Automatic. Let’s see both. Automatic Script Setup:

Go to your System’s Settings and tap on the “Network & Internet” option.
Scroll down the side menu to choose the “Proxy” option.
Turn ON the “Use Setup Script” toggle.
Enter the script address provided by the proxy server owner or employer, etc. and Save it.

Manual Setup:

Under the “Network & Internet” option, head to the Manual Proxy setup and turn ON the “Use a Proxy Server” toggle.
Fill in the IP address and Port Number in the required fields.
Save the Settings, and the setup is completed.

ii) For Mac

Access the “System Preferences” option in Mac’s menu.
Go to the “Network” tab and click on the “Advanced” option.
Choose the Proxy option, and tap on “Auto Proxy Discovery” for automatic setup. Or do it manually by entering the IP address, Port number, etc., in the required fields.
Tap on OK and save the settings to complete the setup.

3. Switch to Another ISP

If internet throttling is a frequent problem with your ISP, switch your service provider for better speed and performance. Follow these steps to change your ISP to prevent throttling:

Evaluate your internet needs and check which connection type (Fiber, Cable or DSL internet) is best for you.
Check if there is any contract limit with your existing internet provider. Some providers have a locked contract that includes early termination fees. Contact your ISP to know all the details about service termination.
Look for the best service providers in your area and compare their plans to know which one offers more. Some providers even may cover the termination fees involved with switching to their service. Some of the best providers are Verizon, Cox, AT&T, etc.
Contact the new service provider to know about promotional offers, equipment and installation cost. Also, check their data usage policies before switching to avoid frequent throttling issues.

Is a VPN the best way to stop ISP throttling?

Yes, technically, VPN is one of the most efficient and effective ways to stop ISP throttling. As it encrypts your traffic and hides your real IP address, it prevents your ISP from seeing what you are downloading and the websites you visit. Some of the best VPNs you can try are NordVPN, ExpressVPN and SurfShank. However, it somewhat decreases your connection speed as the proxy server, and encryption settings consume significant bandwidth. That is when you can opt for the ways mentioned above to prevent ISP bandwidth throttling. Just like your IP address allows your ISP to track your online activities, it also allows you to track details about Who is your ISP, its location, etc.

FAQs

Is throttling the internet Illegal?

It depends upon your country and its laws. In most countries like the US or UK, internet throttling is legal. However, in countries like Singapore, it is illegal, yet ISPs do it. If your ISP has expressed the possibility of limiting your connection speed under its Data Usage Policy in the contract, then throttling is legal, and you cannot sue him for that.

Can you bypass ISP throttling?

Yes, you can bypass ISP throttling by using a VPN or encrypted proxy server. This way, your ISP won’t be able to track your online activities to throttle your connection speed. Alternatively, you can upgrade your current plan or switch to another ISP to bypass throttling.

How to know your ISP is throttling the internet?

If you are witnessing a sudden drop in your connection speed when downloading large files or browsing specific websites, there is a high chance that your ISP is throttling the connection.

How to test ISP throttling?

You can check ISP throttling by taking a speed test with and without a VPN. Compare the results of both tests. If the speed increases significantly when enabling VPN, the internet throttling by ISP is confirmed.

Conclusion

Sometimes ISP throttles your internet to restrict your data usage or online activities on restricted/certain websites like Torrent. VPN is good to use when you want to Torrent without your ISP knowing. However, you can try other methods mentioned in this guide to bypass bandwidth throttling. Upgrade your plan if your data needs are high, or use a proxy server. However, switch to another ISP if data throttling is frequent due to network congestion or poor services.