Some internet providers slow down or interfere with streaming traffic, which shows up as buffering even when your speed test looks fine. This is called throttling, and it is one reason a stream stutters at peak evening hours but runs smoothly late at night.
Signs throttling might be the cause:
- Streams buffer badly in the evening but are fine off-peak.
- Your speed test reports good numbers, yet video still struggles.
- Other heavy streaming or downloads also slow at the same times.
A VPN can help in these cases because it hides the type of traffic from your ISP, which can stop throttling. Choose a fast, nearby server so the VPN does not add too much slowdown of its own. If a VPN makes things noticeably better, throttling was likely the cause.
If buffering happens at all hours and on every device, the problem is more likely general bandwidth or your home network. See our buffering guide first, or contact our support team using the Contact support button.