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Updated: Sep 6, 2024, 7:48am
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that encrypts your activity on the internet and keeps your identity hidden while browsing. We’ve analyzed 22 of the best VPN services on the market, compared their features and performance, and tested each product thoroughly. The best VPNs in 2024 are Mullvad VPN, Proton VPN and IVPN, but other options may be better suited for your unique needs. Explore our in-depth guide to find the right solution for you.
We reviewed dozens of different VPNs for a wide range of use cases according to relevant features and considerations. We tested each VPN’s speeds, how well it handled unblocking streaming services and how it handled DNS leak testing through websites such as dnsleaktest.com. We also tested specific features such as kill switches, split tunneling and dedicated IP to confirm that they were functioning as expected. Our staff leverages their industry knowledge and hands-on testing experience to evaluate the less tangible aspects of a solution as well, such as the product’s overall ease of use, reputation within the industry and whether the product feels like a good value.
| Category | Factors Considered | Scoring Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | For pricing, we look at each provider’s lowest and highest prices for monthly and annual plans to figure out which ones will be cheapest for most users. As usual, we still recommend you start with the monthly plan, no matter how many discount signs they put on the longer-term deals. | 32% |
| Customer Service and Support | You need to have customer support, and in this category, we review how each provider handles its customer support. Live chat with a human, access to phone support and 24/7 support are all factors we considered for this category. | 10% |
| Mobile Apps | For this, we check if a provider has a mobile app for Android and iOS, as well as the customer reviews on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for said apps. | 6% |
| Expert Scores | Our expert’s opinion also plays a part in our overall scoring process. As outlined in the provider cards above, our expert grades companies on their standout features, value for money, ease of use and trustworthiness. | 20% |
| Security | The point of a VPN is to enhance security. We looked for the features that would allow this such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection and two-factor authentication. These are the features that can give a business owner peace of mind. | 18% |
| Privacy | A VPN is also supposed to provide privacy for online users. We assessed privacy features such as email protection and ad and cookie blocking. We also checked whether the VPN provider had been subjected to third-party audits, an indicator of a commitment to security. | 6% |
| Servers | A VPN with great server diversity can allow for more reliable, faster service. We considered the server locations and server count, as well as the availability of specialty servers, for example for gaming. | 8% |
Read more: How We Test VPNs
VPNs are virtual private networks that encrypt your data and mask your online activity from snooping third parties. When you do things, such as check your email, chat with colleagues and browse websites, a VPN can help keep you anonymous.
When you do just about anything online, your computer connects to the server that hosts whatever website or service you’re using. The website can typically see certain data about you and your device, which isn’t ideal if you don’t like your activity being monitored. A VPN service connects you to a remote server before connecting you to your favorite sites, so that when a website checks for your user information, it only “sees” the VPN and does not trace it back to you.
Further reading: What Does a VPN Hide (and What It Doesn’t)
Alan Brill
Business Expert
Zephin Livingston
Staff Reviewer
Kiran Aditham
Deputy Editor
VPNs can keep you safe while traveling. For years, I’ve advised travelers that the most dangerous words in the world are ‘Free Wi-Fi.’ Too many times, criminals set up sites near hotels, coffee shops and even conference venues, offering free Wi-Fi that appears to have a legitimate source (but really is there to scam you), and then spy on those who connect. With a properly configured VPN you can protect yourself. The cybercriminals might not like you using a VPN, and they might even cut off your access, but that’s better than having them spy on your connection.
Business Expert
With a VPN, users can access content or websites that might be blocked in their country of origin. Most commonly, you’ll see this used to do things like watch UK-exclusive Netflix shows in the U.S. or vice versa, but it can also be used by activists and other individuals in countries with heavy Internet censorship to potentially bypass those censors and access more information than would otherwise be available.
Staff Reviewer
VPNs in essence create a public outlet for your internet safety, protect your data and online identity by hiding your IP address. If you’re also in the neighborhood for Wi-Fi hotspots, VPNs can also protect your security. VPNs are ideal for gamers or streaming purposes.
Deputy Editor
To help you figure out if a VPN is offering what you need, we’ve listed some of the deciding factors below and the effect they can have on your user experience. Here’s what to look for when choosing the best VPN.
Server numbers and locations are important factors to consider, because they can affect the VPN’s overall performance and levels of privacy and security, as well as speed and functionality.
Number of Servers
A large number of servers generally means more options for connecting to the VPN. This can help ensure you can find a fast and reliable server near your physical location. A VPN with many servers also allows for more flexibility in terms of server switching and load balancing, which can help improve overall performance.
Server Locations
A VPN with a wide range of server locations allows you to choose a server located in a specific country or region. This can be useful if you want to access geo-restricted content or if you want to ensure that your data is transmitted through a specific country’s jurisdiction. The more server locations a VPN has, the more options you have to choose from and the more flexibility you have to ensure that your connection is fast and reliable.
It’s also important that the VPN provider has servers in countries that are privacy-friendly and not part of any surveillance alliance. If you’re concerned about data collection and retention laws, you may want to choose a VPN server that resides in a country with no data retention laws, such as Switzerland or Panama.
If you’re looking for the fastest load times, quick downloads, gaming or streaming online, choose a VPN server nearest your location.
Speed is an important decision factor because it affects the overall performance of the VPN and your ability to use the internet effectively. A slow VPN can cause delays in loading web pages, buffering when streaming video and difficulty using real-time applications, such as online gaming or video conferencing.
Here are some other performance factors.
There may be some differences in speed across devices, as some devices may have faster processors or better network connectivity than others. However, a good VPN provider should be able to provide fast and reliable connections regardless of the device.
To evaluate a VPN’s performance, you can use online speed test tools to measure download and upload speeds, as well as its latency and jitter. Our team uses Cloudflare’s Internet Speed Test for our own testing. You can also look at the VPN’s uptime records and read reviews from other users to get a general sense of the VPN’s performance.
Featured Partners
1
NordVPN
$3.49 per month
6
Yes (add-on)
2
Surfshark
$2.29
Unlimited
Yes
3
Norton
$3.33/ month
1, 5 and 10
No
4
Private Internet Access
$2.03
Unlimited
Yes (add-on)
| Company | Free Plan | Base Plan (Monthly Billing) | Base Plan (Annual Billing, Monthly Cost) | Highest-Priced Plan (Monthly Billing) | Highest-Priced Plan (Annual Billing, Monthly Cost) | Money-Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullvad VPN | No | €5 ($5.48) | €5 ($5.48) | €5 ($5.48) | €5 ($5.48) | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | Yes | $9.99 | $6.66 | $12.99 | $9.99 | 30 days |
| IVPN | No | $6 | $60 | $10 | $100 | 30 days |
| NordVPN | No | $12.99 | $11.59 | $15.99 | $23.19 | 30 days |
| Surfshark | No | $15.45 | $4.98 | $17.95 | $8.25 | 30 days |
| ExpressVPN | No | $12.95 | $9.75 | $12.95 | $9.75 | 30 days |
| Mozilla VPN | No | $9.99 (plus tax) | $4.99 (plus tax) | $9.99 (plus tax) | $4.99 (plus tax) | 30 days |
| CyberGhost | No | $12.99 | $4.75 | $12.99 | $4.75 | 14 or 45 days |
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | No | $11.95 | $3.33 | $11.95 | $3.33 | 30 days |
| hide.me | Yes | $9.95 | $3.75 | $9.95 | $4.57 | 30 days |
VPN costs vary by vendor, with our top picks charging €5 ($5.48) to $15.45 monthly. Annual subscriptions typically come with reduced prices but require more money up front. We usually recommend starting with a one-month package to get a feel for the VPN apps and to ensure they work for your online activities.
Although cheaper VPNs may not offer live support, we’ve found that some more expensive providers claim to have 24/7 live chat, but we struggle to get past the automated chat feature. If you select a higher-priced VPN service for better support or specific features, make sure to try these out before the refund trial period ends.
However, if you’re eyeing those promotional deals and want to lock in rates for one to three years, consider the terms before signing up. Some VPN providers only allow new subscribers to take advantage of discounts, so if you start with a one-month subscription, you may not be eligible for the long-term promo rate.
Either way, all the reviewed services refund website purchases paid by credit card. Other terms may apply for different payment methods or in-app sales. Remember to set a reminder and give yourself enough time to apply for the money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with the service.
While some providers (including those on this list) have perfectly fine free VPN plans, we do not recommend most free VPNs. In most cases, the limitation on data usage and server locations leads to a poor experience. We would recommend using a VPN with a generous free trial so you can get a taste of a more complete VPN experience.
Connecting to a VPN is often as simple as creating an account with a specific VPN, downloading the app, logging in and selecting which server you want to connect to. While there are customization options to consider, including split tunneling or which protocol to use, connecting to a VPN is often, by design, an incredibly simple process. If you’re having trouble, however, we recommend checking the VPN’s website or contacting customer support who might be able to help figure out your unique situation.
A proxy and a VPN are similar in that a proxy server and a VPN can mask your IP, but the difference is that a proxy won’t encrypt your internet data—a VPN does.
A VPN can slow down your internet connection, depending on a variety of factors such as the location of the VPN server, the number of users connected to the server, the strength of your device’s processor and internet connection and the VPN’s encryption protocols. The distance between you and the server can also affect the speed because the further away the server is, the more time it takes for data to travel back and forth. It’s also important to note that using a VPN can improve your internet speed in certain cases—for example, if you’re using a VPN to access geo-restricted content or to bypass ISP throttling.
That depends on your personal definition of “safe” and on which provider you use. Most VPNs won’t infect your computer with malware if downloaded, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100% safe. A provider could be harvesting the internet traffic you route through its VPN to sell or to hand off to government entities, for example. The VPN could also not work as well as intended, such as if it accidentally drops without cutting your internet connection or leaks your IP address, leaving your activity exposed. In general, we recommend picking a provider with a clear, independently audited no-logs policy.
VPN usage is subject to limitations based on the laws of countries to which you may travel. For example, VPNs are currently illegal in Iraq and North Korea. In other countries, such as Russia and China, VPNs are legal but have restrictions on their legal usage.
Additionally, using VPNs allows people to mask their true location, often to access content restricted to certain regions. While this might seem harmless, it can breach terms of service and provoke legal consequences, as it misrepresents user location. Many reputable VPN services likely address this in their terms. Violating these terms may result in the provider terminating service access.
Read more: Are VPNs Legal?
Yes, you can change your IP address without using a VPN. Ways to do so include restarting your router, using a proxy server, connecting to a mobile network or using the Tor network. To learn more, read our guide on the top VPN alternatives.
