Will VPN slow that down significantly?

I download large files for work (legal software, design assets). Will VPN slow that down significantly?

Some impact but manageable with right VPN service. Speed factors for large downloads: protocol efficiency (WireGuard fastest), server proximity (closer = faster), server load (congested servers slower), your base internet speed (1 Gbps loses less % than 10 Mbps). Real-world test on 500 Mbps connection: No VPN: 100GB file = 27 minutes, Turbo VPN (nearby server, WireGuard): 100GB file = 32 minutes (5 min slower, 18% reduction). Turbo VPN (distant server): 100GB file = 45 minutes (40% reduction). That's acceptable trade-off for security/privacy. Optimization for large downloads: choose VPN server closest to download source, use Turbo's smart server selection, ensure WireGuard protocol enabled (Turbo auto-selects), download during off-peak hours (less server load), Premium has priority bandwidth. I download 50-100GB weekly for video production, Turbo handles it fine. Some VPNs throttle large transfers - Turbo has unlimited bandwidth on Premium. Also prevents ISP throttling (some ISPs slow 'heavy users'). VPN actually improved my speeds by bypassing ISP throttling. Free version has data caps, Premium essential for large files.