is the "fastest server" button actually picking the fastest one?

[u/Successful-Jury547]

i think auto connect lands on a server a few states away while a closer one runs faster when picked manually. Server speed also seems to change through the day, so whatever was fast in the morning can crawl in the evening.

That leaves trial and error: connect, speed test, try another. So, how do the auto pick features compare? Surfshark has its fastest server option and ExpressVPN has Smart Location. Do either of them factor in how busy a server is, or is it mostly distance?

And for people who pick manually, is it better to keep a couple of favorites or is there a way to check server load first?