The best VPN is basically the one that keeps you safe online and includes all the features you need in one package. VPNs have become essential for many online users, not just for data security but also for accessing country-specific websites and videos. For example, if you want to watch Disney+ as if you're in another country, a VPN is the way to go.
To help you find the best VPN, we've rounded up six top options and included a few handy FAQs at the end to make your life easier. Let's dive in!
Best VPNs - Quick list
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another top contender in the VPN market, offering over 3,000 servers across 105 countries and 160 locations, providing users with ample connection options. It supports up to eight simultaneous device connections, ensuring protection across your entire set of devices.
This VPN supports a wide range of platforms once again, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, as well as devices like Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation, and Xbox, making it easy to secure almost any device you own.
In terms of protection, ExpressVPN uses industry-standard encryption and protocols such as Lightway and OpenVPN for fast, secure connections. It also offers DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and support for P2P file sharing to boot, making it an excellent VPN choice for the price.
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NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the top VPN options available, offering AES-256-bit encryption, the highest level of encryption, to keep your data secure. Its 'Double VPN' feature further enhances security by encrypting your traffic twice. In addition, the VPN provides strong DNS leak protection and kill switches to prevent your IP address from becoming visible if the connection drops.
With over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, NordVPN ensures a vast range of options for connecting securely. It also allows up to six devices to connect simultaneously, ensuring flexible coverage across multiple locations.
NordVPN works seamlessly across a variety of platforms too, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. That makes it a versatile option for securing your internet traffic on any device.
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Surfshark
For those wanting a nice and accessible experience with a VPN, Surfshark should certainly have you covered.
The UI is nice and simple to use with an option to 'Quick connect' to the service, as well as a list of loads of locations to easily connect to and a settings menu - using a VPN doesn't need to be tricky business, after all.
Speaking of loads of locations, Surfshark provides you with the chance to connect up to over 3,200 servers across 65 countries with over 100 different server locations, so you've got a shedload of choice.
Moreover, this particular service also allows for unlimited connections so you actually can protect every single device you own with no limits on the amount you can connect to the service, whilst it remains nice and speedy to use.
Surfshark also boasts a private DNS and, with its double VPN setting, an extra layer of security, which can just help to provide you with a little bit more peace of mind that your data is safe.
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Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access, commonly known as PIA, is an exceptional service offering a wide array of features, particularly notable for its extensive network reach. With over 10,000 servers spanning 78 countries and boasting 100 unique server locations, users have an impressive selection to choose from.
Beyond its vast server options, PIA supports connectivity across 10 devices simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive protection across all your devices without any worries about leaving one unprotected.
Regardless of the operating system you use - be it Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or Linux - Private Internet Access comes equipped with an assortment of privacy features, including the convenient Smart DNS functionality.
Additionally, PIA offers a nifty Chrome extension that allows you to easily manage additional settings, such as blocking location access, third-party cookies, and website referrers, providing an added layer of control and security.
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Windscribe
For those just wanting to try out a VPN with a handy free tier, Windscribe is a great choice. Whilst others may offer a 30-day free trial, Windscribe is a reputable VPN provider that offers a free tier that allows you to access 10 locations with a generous data allowance of up to 10GB a month. This is particularly useful if you just want to keep data safe and don't need extra bandwidth for gaming or P2P downloads.
With that being said, there is a paid tier that gives you access to 400 servers across 60 countries which, whilst it may not seem a lot, still provides you with a good selection of locations to connect to and will be more than enough choice. Moreover, Windscribe also allows you to use other providers' OpenVPN setup files from within the app which just adds another layer of convenience
In addition, the fact there's an unlimited quantity of connections can just keep things easy, and it also means you aren't trying to juggle which devices you want to have connected at any given time.
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Proton VPN
Proton VPN is an excellent choice if you're looking for a wide range of servers, offering over 1,700 options across 63 countries, ensuring plenty of flexibility when choosing a connection. With support for up to 10 simultaneous connections, it’s perfect for protecting multiple devices at once. Plus, its compatibility with various platforms makes it highly versatile.
One of Proton VPN's standout features is its free tier, which offers access to 23 locations without any bandwidth limits, allowing users to explore the service before committing to a subscription. Even on the free plan, you can test advanced protocols like WireGuard, providing robust security options without the cost.
Additionally, Proton VPN includes a Proton email service, which can be upgraded with joint subscription plans for enhanced privacy features, making it a solid all-in-one solution for security-conscious users.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are always some questions that can pop up time and time again when it comes to VPNs, so here are our two cents to help you make an informed decision.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a program that allows you to use the internet with end-to-end encryption that can help keep your data secure.
They can be used for everything from watching region-locked content to simply adding an extra layer of encryption to your internet traffic.
Should I leave a VPN on all the time?
Leaving a VPN on all the time simply ensures your internet connection will be secure wherever you go, and just helps to give you that peace of mind.
This goes for whether you're moving from using public to private WiFi, or you're swapping between devices. Luckily, as all the VPNs we've listed above can feature multiple concurrent connections, you can protect up to five, six, 10, and even an unlimited amount of devices at once.
It can mess with your location data, so if you're traveling and using a program like Google Maps, you're going to want to disable your VPN.
Is getting a VPN worth it?
In short, yes. We'd say a VPN is worth getting simply due to them being useful aids for encrypting your internet traffic and keeping your personal data safe.
Fundamentally, they act as an extra barrier of protection, and can also be useful if you want to view region-locked content, as well as just for the sake of peace of mind.
What should I look for in a VPN?
With a VPN, there are a few key things to look out for.
Having a VPN that can connect to a shedload of different locations will offer a more versatile experience, and gives you more flexibility as to what servers you can connect to.
In addition, you'll want to look for one with a decent number of concurrent connections, depending on how many devices you have. Some may offer 5, while others may give you 10, and some VPNs even offer an unlimited amount of connections.
In line with this, you'll also want to keep an eye out on what devices that VPN works with. Some may only work with phones and computers, while others can work on everything from TVs to game consoles, as well as the more traditional devices.
Are all VPNs slow?
Whilst we do have a handy guide on if a VPN will slow your Internet down, let's break things down a little here.
A VPN, in general terms, is likely to slow down your internet due to adding things such as end-to-end encryption, routing your connection to somewhere else in the world with a different IP address, and all the different protocols involved.
The extent to which your connection is slower than without a VPN can depend on factors such as which server you're using and which country your new IP address is within, as well as the case of how quick your network speed is usually from your ISP.
Luckily, some VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN feature their own protocols such as Lightway which they say can help to increase speeds, and therefore, for some VPNs, the difference in speed may be negligible.
Does VPN help ping?
In short, no. A VPN can't necessarily improve your ping simply based on the fact it's routing your connection through a proxy server.
If anything, a VPN is likely to slow down your game a little bit simply due to the fact your connection will be routed to one server and then to another to connect to the game as opposed to being a little more direct. You can read more about whether VPNs help ping right here.
Does a VPN hide your IP address?
Arguably the entire point of a VPN is that it secures your connection with end-to-end encryption and in turn hides your actual IP address, given you'll be connected to another country, as it were.