Bandwidth, number of users, and distance from the server are major factors that affect VPN speed and performance. Bandwidth determines how much data can flow through the network - the more bandwidth available, the faster the speed. Speed decreases as more users access the VPN and share bandwidth. Distance also slows the transfer rate, as data must be encrypted/decrypted at the server before traveling back to the user. The type of device and internet connection used, as well as the VPN protocol (OpenVPN or PPTP), can further impact speeds.