Best Paid VPN: Comparative Review
We have not merely selected the top 10. We have meticulously examined them, intercepted and analyzed their traffic, studied hundreds upon hundreds of customer reviews. The result of our work will truly be of use to you.
Did you know that virtual private networks (or VPNs for short) are the most effective and versatile technology for bypassing restrictions and protecting one's privacy?
Indeed, this technology has often been associated with hacking until recently. But today, it is part of the everyday life of several hundreds of millions of people.
What can a VPN offer?
Can we use the internet without all this? Of course! But does a VPN open up new opportunities and give access to more information while protecting us at the same time? Definitely.
There is, however, a significant problem.
All VPNs are different from each other, and most of them do not even reach an average level of quality, let alone match the best.
Using a premium VPN is really preferable!
How VPN Services Work
VPN – ingenious, secure, and simple
You probably already know that a VPN (Virtual Private Network) serves to encrypt and redirect your internet traffic through a dedicated server.
In fact, that's not entirely true.
The VPN technology itself was designed to create private networks, some of which do not even have a gateway to communicate with the rest of the internet. Computers on a virtual network "see" each other as if the network was physically isolated.
This technology is at the base of the modern VPN.
A tunnel is created between the user's device and the VPN, which is additionally encrypted. In fact, a network of two devices is used, and one of them is also the gateway to the internet.
This principle has 3 major advantages:
As VPN services use the same technology typically employed by states and enterprise networks, it is practically impossible to ban VPN usage legislatively (for countries seeking to censor the internet).
Today, there are numerous reliable VPN tunneling protocols, on which VPN services are based. The most common are OpenVPN and IKEv2. The most technologically advanced protocol that is starting to be implemented everywhere is WireGuard.
These protocols also allow encrypting data inside the tunnel. The most common and effective encryption standard is AES-256, which is used by most VPN software and applications.
AES-256 is recognized as the official data protection standard by the US government (see Wiki article).
In fact, VPN is a simple, effective, and legal means that has proven its worth.
Not All VPNs are the Same
The previous section laid out the general principles of the technology. But the weakness of any protected system lies in its final performances.
Sure, if you were to set up and configure your own open-source VPN server, your system would be very secure.
But can you trust third-party companies?
Can we really be sure that they take all parameters into account, that encryption is properly set up, that there are protections against data leaks, etc.?
That's a thorny issue. After all, if you use a VPN simply to connect to a mobile game on your smartphone, it's not very important.
But what if you use your VPN all the time? Are your data and personal information that you're trying to hide from the ISP well secured?
In this case, we need a trustworthy VPN.
Here is a list of the main criteria to consider when questioning the quality of a VPN service:
Few VPNs are capable of meeting all these objectives, and it is easy to make a mistake in the choice of service.
Choosing the Wrong VPN: The Consequences
What happens if you don't carefully consider your options and go with the first VPN that comes up?
Let's take an example.
Recently, while analyzing reviews of VPNs on Reddit, we lingered on a comment about a well-known VPN service. The comment stated that the VPN had a poor service, incapable of bypassing geographical restrictions on the Hulu streaming site.
The thing is, this service doesn't specialize in overcoming geographical restrictions for streaming sites at all. On the contrary, it's perfectly capable of bypassing the Great Firewall of China and helps many Chinese residents access blocked sites outside the country.
So, is this VPN good or bad?
The primary mistake less experienced users make is choosing a service randomly without considering its capabilities.
In the following section, we will list the main characteristics to consider when choosing your VPN, and the chapter on the top 9 VPN test results will provide insights into experimentally obtained parameters to make choosing your VPN easier.
How VPNs Differ
The main parameters of VPNs:
The 9 Best VPNs Tested on All Platforms
How Best VPNs Differ from Normal VPNs
This table shows the main differences between providers of three quality levels: professional, medium, and low. No specialized or private service that operates with enterprise networks or darknet users is on this list.
These are simply the major differences. There are many other important but subjective differences for which dozens of factors come into play.
For example, a good VPN should not hinder your work. It should be stable and not cause problems. A medium VPN will suffer some disconnections, connectivity failures, and some slowdowns. Working with a VPN of the lowest level is a constant struggle.
My advice. If you need a multifunctional and versatile VPN for daily use, aim for the top 4 providers. The following services are more specialized.
The Best VPN for Conventional Use
We conducted a six-month research on various VPNs, and it was ExpressVPN that scored the highest.
It was determined to be the best service in terms of privacy and security, as well as the best for providing access to Netflix, Hulu, and all-region streaming content from all providers.
NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost VPN, Mullvad, and other services are often just as efficient, but each has its own peculiarities.
Continue reading to choose the perfect VPN for your needs.
VPNs: A Comparison of Characteristics
*Note: The exact price of IPVanish is denoted with an asterisk, suggesting there might be specific conditions or variations not detailed here.
*- Is on sale several times a year, and the price is halved for new users
Paid VPNs: Price Comparison
Modern VPNs are quite affordable, but there are still expensive services and extremely cheap ones. In fact, as our experiences show, their technical capabilities may slightly differ.
We offer you a comparison of the prices of all the VPNs on our list in the same order as in our previous chapter.
*Note: There is also a free subscription option available for some VPNs. More information can be found in tests of free VPNs.
Best VPN in Details
Considering all these factors, test results, and user review analyses, the top VPN is NordVPN. SurfShark is a close second.
Let's delve into each VPN service, describing their key features, strengths and weaknesses, and implementation conditions.
1. ExpressVPN
Advantages:
Drawbacks:
Overview
ExpressVPN is the premier VPN for use on any device. It delivered the top results in our exhaustive six-month research.
We also conducted an extensive study of customer reviews (primarily on Reddit), which affirmed ExpressVPN's dominance in most areas.
ExpressVPN boasts vital features such as a kill switch and split tunneling, allows you to choose a protocol, and supports both UDP and TCP connections.
Features
Streaming. ExpressVPN bypasses geographical restrictions on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO, and TV channels. This ability is not short-lived, as with many other VPNs, but always functional. We tested streaming support for over two years, and ExpressVPN never disappointed us.
ExpressVPN offre des applis et paramètres manuels pour tous les appareils capables de gérer les réseaux privés virtuels. De plus, il existe des manuels détaillés sur comment les mettre en place pour la majorité des appareils.
ExpressVPN offers apps and manual settings for all devices capable of handling virtual private networks. Moreover, there are detailed guides on setting them up for most devices.
You can test the service for free. I must mention the fantastic opportunity to test ExpressVPN's performance, which you can also do from the Android app.
Price and Subscriptions
ExpressVPN offers three identical-feature subscriptions:
Accepted payment methods:
What are ExpressVPN's key features?
Our research on this service's features confirmed the many positive customer reviews regarding high speeds. Our results indicate that not only do actual speeds surpass those of many competitors in the 50 – 100 Mbps range, but some servers also reach speeds exceeding 130 – 150 Mbps.
The combination of high speeds and US Netflix support is relatively rare. Typically, with other providers, US locations capable of handling streaming are slower than others. That's not the case with ExpressVPN.
Great news for those seeking top-tier anonymity and privacy protection. ExpressVPN has completely transitioned from traditional services to diskless services (all servers operate solely on RAM, so nothing is stored). This service's already excellent data retention reputation is now indisputable.
Moreover, this service is legally based in the offshore area of the British Virgin Islands, making it completely invulnerable to political and economic pressures.
2. NordVPN
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
Not only is NordVPN one of the world's most popular VPN services, but it also leads the way in providing additional features to protect your connection.
Is it the better choice than ExpressVPN? Yes, especially if you live in China or need double VPN protection.
This service comes with powerful modern features, including a kill switch (which blocks traffic in case of sudden VPN disconnection), the ability to manage all Netflix regions, torrent use, and more.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
NordVPN offers three subscription plans differing only in their duration:
Payment methods:
NordVPN also allows access to any specific server, a significant difference from almost all other services, including ExpressVPN. This is very convenient if your internet connection is unstable and often disconnects, or if you need to browse the internet with the same IP address. Without this feature, your IP will be different every time you connect.
NordVPN has many positive reviews. Reddit mentions show the service is frequently used for privacy protection, streaming, and torrent use. NordVPN is based in Panama, a secure jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.
3. Surfshark
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
Surfshark combines excellent quality and ultra-low prices. It's the most powerful VPN on the list of top services, and it costs less than €2 per month.
Founded in 2018, the service already has a reputation as a reliable multifunction service capable of managing streaming, torrent use, and advanced privacy protection methods. It keeps no logs and is located in the offshore zone of the British Virgin Islands.
Features
Surfshark VPN has the following features:
Pricing and Subscriptions
SurfShark VPN offers three subscriptions and some additional security features (for an extra cost):
All subscriptions include features to bypass censorship.
Accepted payment methods:
SurfShark currently offers the cheapest 2-year subscription. But are its customers satisfied with the quality of its services?
I've analyzed over 50 reviews and posts on Reddit and drawn the following conclusions:
Our 6-month testing phase confirmed these positive reviews. Additional data show that the speed is generally high, although some locations are relatively slow. Netflix is accessible for most regions except Germany. You can double the security of your torrent downloads by setting up your torrent client.
4. CyberGhost VPN
In 2020, CyberGhost VPN broke all records in terms of server count by offering more than 7000 servers across 90 countries.
Unfortunately, this is the only parameter the service has significantly improved in the past six months. This is why CyberGhost VPN has been relegated from the third to the fourth position.
Nevertheless, it's undeniable that the service's security is impeccable (it was the first to perfectly implement the kill switch) and it manages entertainment well.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
CyberGhost VPN offers four subscription plans and the possibility to purchase dedicated IP addresses:
Currently, those who subscribe for the first time for 3 years get 3 months free.
Accepted payment methods:
As you can see in the table above, CyberGhost VPN is one of the least expensive services for long-term subscriptions.
Should you commit to a VPN service for such a long duration?
Yes and no.
CyberGhost VPN has proven its extreme reliability. In its 9 years of existence, no scandal or incident has tarnished its reputation.
On the other hand, I have not seen major improvements in the app's features. Netflix support is present but only for three regions. Some rare but demanded features are missing.
Therefore, CyberGhost VPN will be suitable for those who want a plethora of servers and available countries. It is the best at this level.
5. Mullvad
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
The most interesting point about Mullvad is that it uses the WireGuard protocol, one of the fastest and most technologically advanced.
Thanks to its very low CPU load, WireGuard allows the service to position itself as one of the best solutions for mobile platforms and Windows.
Another advantage is that you can register without giving your email.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
Mullvad offers only one subscription:
When registering, the user receives a coupon with a series of numbers that must be entered into the app.
Accepted payment methods:
Without a doubt, Mullvad is one of the most private services. You don't have to provide any personal data to sign up. Moreover, you can pay with an anonymous cryptocurrency.
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The service handles all cases except for streaming.
According to our tests, Mullvad is unable to unblock Netflix and Hulu.
6. Private Internet Access (PIA)
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
PIA is one of the earliest robust VPN services. It has forged an unassailable reputation as a service respecting privacy and maintains a high service level.
Private Internet Access is the service that offers the most VPN connection settings. It is perhaps the only service that allows completely disabling encryption to maximize speed and minimize CPU load.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
PIA has three available subscriptions:
The service offers a very advantageous price for the 3-year subscription (-83%).
Accepted payment methods:
In late 2019, Private Internet Access was bought by Kape Technologies – the company that owns CyberGhost VPN and ZenMate (more info on this later). The PIA user community took this purchase as the end of the service and the loss of its independence. Time will tell if this is indeed the case, but to date, no negative impact has been observed.
On the other hand, we can see a certain relationship between the rapid technical evolution of CyberGhost VPN and the acquisition of PIA. It seems obvious that server integration in favor of the bigger "brother" is at work.
7. IPVanish
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
IPVanish provides access to 75 countries and offers an app with convenient server selection, but it does not support streaming and pays too much attention to its marketing strategies.
The pricing of IPVanish fluctuates so much that it has managed to be cut in half during the time it took me to write this article. But don't rush into it until you know the details of this service. This price is only effective for your first payment. After that, it reverts to the "normal" rate.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
IPVanish offers 3 subscriptions:
There are regular promotions that halve the price for new subscribers.
Accepted payment methods:
However, our tests have found some flaws and even a few real issues.
Firstly, the speed of the servers in most locations is insufficient at best and very slow in many cases.
Secondly, there is no support for streaming.
Lastly, the service has not really evolved recently: no modern features have been added. Recently, access to cloud storage was added, but it is a marketing argument without significant technological development.
8. ZenMate
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
ZenMate cannot really be considered an independent VPN. It leverages the code of another, larger service – CyberGhost VPN. Their server bases are also linked. However, ZenMate is a more affordable service.
I will list all the important positive points of this service and then compare its features with those of its "big brother."
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
ZenMate offers 3 subscriptions:
You can enjoy a 7-day free trial without a credit card upon sign-up.
9. ProtonVPN
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
Unlike most other VPNs, ProtonVPN offers different subscription levels, not just in terms of duration, but also in features. It also offers a free subscription.
This service is based in Switzerland and is widely known to be a secure service focused on privacy protection.
Its technical features are among the best in the market. However, the server choices are slightly limited. Moreover, the most sought-after features are only available for the most expensive subscriptions.
Features
Pricing and Subscriptions
ProtonVPN subscriptions vary in duration and features, from a free subscription to one that includes a special email account.
The Plus subscription is the most optimal:
The cheaper Basic subscription does not support streaming, while the Visionary subscription has few advantages, only the email account and the number of simultaneous devices.
ProtonVPN has ultra-secure servers in a special data center in Switzerland. Its unique feature is that it's buried 1,000 meters deep in rock.
I can't certify which catastrophes it can survive and whether it's truly necessary to go that far, but at least, it's reliable. The fact that ProtonVPN owns its servers plays a much more important role in reality because it ensures that no third party has access to protected data.
Other locations are the same as for other VPNs.
In terms of speeds, it depends on the locations, but they are generally good.
Swiss jurisdiction, although imperfect, should not pose problems for users. Moreover, the service keeps no log files.
10. Perfect Privacy
Pros:
Cons:
Overview
Perfect Privacy is the most expensive VPN in our Top 10. And what do you get for its minimum price of €8.95 per month?
Servers on 1 Gb channels (although this doesn't guarantee exceptional speeds, I'll talk more about it), standard VPN protocols, and only 26 available countries.
Not particularly impressive, right? However, this service offers NeuroRouting technology, IPv6 support, protection against tracking, and port forwarding.
Features
Perfect Privacy has three available subscriptions:
Over 60 payment methods available including cryptocurrencies.
The most characteristic feature of Perfect Privacy is its security features. There are quite a few of them: the use of cascading VPN servers and its automatic routing taking into account maximum efficiency (NeuroRouting), Stealth VPN, port forwarding, etc.
And they are very powerful!
But there are still a few weaknesses:
The service claims to rent servers on 1 Gb channels. However, this doesn't ensure high speeds. If 100 people use such a server at the same time for torrents or video streaming, each will have a maximum speed of 10 Mbps. This is why the capacity of the channels isn't the only important criterion, but also the number of servers on which users are distributed.
Perfect Privacy does not provide information on the size of its technological infrastructure.
On the software side, tests have shown generally positive results. However, it is a pity that only PCs can benefit from all the features.
So, this provider offers some very advanced technologies, but fails to reach the level of technological infrastructure of the market leaders.
How to Choose a VPN Service
To narrow down the myriad of VPN service providers to a manageable list, we scrutinized VPNs featured in reviews from sources such as CNET, PCMag, recommendations from the non-profit Freedom of the Press Foundation, and security firm Bishop Fox. We also considered VPNs that responded to the Center for Democracy & Technology's Trustworthy VPNs survey. We paired these sources with research and advice from non-commercial sources like That One Privacy Site, customer experiences and tips on the VPN subreddit, and reviews from the App Store and Google Play Store.
This enabled us to compile a list of 53 VPNs that were consistently recommended or visible enough to be encountered when looking for a VPN service provider. From this list, we delved deeper into how each of these services addressed all sorts of issues, from technology to subscriptions, and the steps they've taken to increase their transparency and security stance.
Trust and Transparency
We carefully analyzed all audits, assessed their thoroughness, and what they included. We also checked which companies had a public-facing attitude. We looked for audits conducted by third parties, prioritizing those that evaluated a VPN service provider's overall security.
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
The VPNs we selected record as little data as possible. We searched for clear, easy-to-read terms of use and privacy policies, and checked if they were consistent with the website's sales message. We questioned companies about their internal security and privacy standards and paid attention to how they responded to information requests to assess the reliability of their data collection claims.
Trial Period and Money-Back Guarantee
Despite our thorough tests, we know VPNs work differently depending on locations and computers and networks. A free or trial version allows you to test several VPNs risk-free to determine which one best suits your needs.
Server Network
The more servers a network has at each of its locations, the more likely you are to enjoy a fast connection. A VPN service with a wide variety of locations can allow you to shift your location without losing connectivity and without having to connect to a less frequented part of the world. However, VPNs tend to slow down during peak times, even if they have the strongest networks due to limited incoming and outgoing bandwidth in a region.
Security and Technology
All the trust in the world won't help a VPN service protect your personal data when you're surfing if it's not secure. We recommend using connections based on the OpenVPN protocol because PPTP and L2TP/IPsec protocols suffer from security flaws and drawbacks. Experienced technicians might consider IKEv2, but as it has its own controversial pros and cons, we've dismissed it. The open-source WireGuard protocol is a new lightweight protocol gaining importance, likely available on Linux, but we're waiting for it to undergo additional security auditing before recommending it.
Although AES 128-bit encryption is fine for most needs, we prefer services equipped with the safer AES 256-bit encryption that still offers good performance. While RSA-1024 is fine for most tasks, we prefer to opt for scalable RSA-2048 or RSA-4096 solutions as our indisputable standards.
Kill Switch
When a VPN's Kill Switch is activated, the VPN software is supposed to cut off all outgoing and incoming network connections from your computer or mobile device when the connection fails. Without a kill switch, if your Wi-Fi cuts out or experiences any other connection issue, your VPN will no longer secure your connection. In some cases, VPN services don't even warn that they're no longer protecting your traffic, which negates all the benefits of a VPN.
We believe kill switches are mandatory, but people who can't connect to their home Wi-Fi, for example, might simply disable their VPN out of sheer frustration. That's why we looked for apps that allow you to easily set up your own kill switch operation rules—when it should be active and when it should not—to personalize your experience.
VPN desktop applications are quite straightforward, but the best ones make it easy to find important settings and connect quickly and simply.
Platforms
We believe native apps for Windows and Mac are a necessity because they're much easier to use compared to an open-source or third-party app. We also prefer native apps for iOS and Android because, although it's possible to manually configure your phone for VPN use, it's not exactly a straightforward process.
Number of Connections
While most VPN service providers allow you to install their software on as many devices as you like, most limit the number of simultaneous connections. A limit of three connections is typically enough for most people, but five simultaneous connections is more flexible for couples, families, or people with many devices.
Customer Service
If you can't properly set up or use your VPN, you won't use it and therefore lose all its benefits. A comprehensive help section on the service's site can solve many problems. Even though we believe online chat customer service is the best, clear, and fast email responses can be just as effective.
Additional Features
Some VPN services offer additional features that may be nice to have, but not crucial to your purchasing decision:
Can You Be Tracked If You Use a VPN?
In essence, a VPN establishes a secure, encrypted connection, comparable to a tunnel between your computer and a server controlled by the VPN service. In a professional environment, this tunnel effectively allows you to be part of your company's network, as if you were physically sitting in one of its offices.
During your connection via a VPN, all your network traffic passes through this protected tunnel, and no one, not even your internet service provider, can see your traffic until you exit the VPN server tunnel and connect to the public internet network. If you ensure that you only connect to secure HTTPS sites, your data will continue to be encrypted even after leaving the VPN.
Imagine it this way: if you take your car out on the road, someone can follow you and see where you're going, how long you stay at your destination, and when you return. This person could even take a look inside your car and learn more about you. With a VPN service, you park your car in a closed garage, change cars, and leave the garage so that no one knows where you have gone.
Although very useful, VPN services are not without flaws. There is no magic weapon (or armor) when it comes to security. A determined adversary can almost always breach your defenses in one way or another. Using a VPN won't help you if you download ransomware during one of your deep web visits or if you fall for phishing tactics.
What a VPN can do is protect you against mass data collection and the occasional criminal who collects data for later use. It can also protect your privacy by making it harder for advertising agencies to determine who you are and where you are. That's why VPNs are essential, even if you surf from the comfort (and relative safety) of your home.
What Is the Best Free VPN?
Not all VPN services require payment. Indeed, there are many good free VPNs. However, all the free VPNs we have tested have their limitations. Some of these limit the number of simultaneous connections or the number of devices linked to an account. Others limit you to a few hundred MB of data per day or per month. Some only let you choose from a handful of servers. Finally, some apply all the limitations mentioned above.
Finding the best free VPN requires striking a balance between all these restrictions. TunnelBear, for example, allows you to use any server on its network but limits you to 500 MB – 1 GB per month. Avira Phantom VPN allows you to use as many devices and servers as you want, but it also limits you to 500 MB per month. AnchorFree Hotspot Shield does not limit the number of devices either, but limits you to 500 MB per day and only allows you to use servers located in the US. Kaspersky Secure Connection does not limit the number of devices, but it does not allow you to choose a server, the app does it automatically for you.
ProtonVPN stands out by imposing no data limit on its free users. You can browse as much as you want and for as long as you want. You will be limited to one connected device at a time and can only choose between three server locations, but the unlimited data compensates for these restrictions. This is all the more interesting knowing that ProtonVPN, developers who are behind the super secure email client ProtonMail, attaches great importance to the security and privacy of its users.
Important: Free services collect and retain as much information about you as possible for the purpose of ultra-targeted advertising or selling this data to advertising networks and third parties.
What Are The Limitations of VPN Services?
VPNs are fantastic, but it's equally crucial to know what they can and cannot do. After all, a tool is only genuinely useful when it is appropriately utilized.
While a VPN conceals your IP address, it isn't a genuine anonymity service. For that, you'll want to access the Tor network, which will undoubtedly slow down your connection. A VPN routes your online traffic to a VPN server, whereas Tor routes your traffic to various volunteer nodes, making it far more challenging to track. Using Tor also allows you to access the darker side of the web, something a simple VPN can't do. That said, some services like NordVPN offer Tor access on specific servers.
Using a VPN will thwart most DNS attacks that redirect you to phishing pages, but a perfectly copied, old-fashioned page to deceive you into entering your data will still work. Some VPNs, and most browsers are pretty good at blocking phishing pages, but this type of attack still claims too many victims to be ignored. Apply common sense and ensure the sites you visit are genuinely what they claim to be by carefully examining their URL and only visiting HTTPS sites.
In addition to blocking malicious sites and ads, some VPNs also claim to block malware. We don't test the effectiveness of these protections, but most seem to be blacklists of sites known for hosting malware. That's good. But don't assume it's as good as a standalone antivirus software. It's important to note that regardless of your VPN's ability to protect you from malware, you should use this feature as a supplement and not a replacement for antivirus software.
Finally, bear in mind that security-conscious businesses like banks could be disrupted by your VPN. If your bank notices you're connecting from another US state or another country, it might raise the alarm. Expect more captchas and multi-step connection requests when your VPN is enabled.
VPNs in Numbers
When you're looking to purchase a VPN, it's important to check the number of simultaneous connections allowed per license, the number of servers available, and the number of locations where the company's servers are spread out.
Most VPN services allow up to five simultaneous connections from a single account. Any service that offers less has missed the mark. Keep in mind that you will need to individually connect each device in your home to the VPN service; two or three licenses will not be enough for any couple living together. Note that many VPN services offer native apps for both Android and iOS, but these devices count towards the total number of connections.
Of course, there's more than just phones and computers in a home. Gaming consoles, tablets, smart home devices like bulbs and fridges all need to connect to the internet. Most of these devices can't run VPN software on their own and can't be configured to connect to a VPN through their individual setting system either. In this case, it's more beneficial to set up your router to connect to your chosen VPN service.
By adding VPN protection to your router, you're protecting the traffic of all devices connected to it. Additionally, the router (and all devices it covers) only uses one VPN connection. Almost all companies have revised their software for most consumer routers and even routers with pre-installed VPN software, allowing easy addition of this protective layer.
The number and distribution of these servers are factors to consider. The more diverse locations a VPN offers, the more options you have to obscure your geographical location. More importantly, offering multiple servers spread across various locations means that no matter where you go on earth, you will be able to find a reachable VPN server. The closer the VPN server is, the better speed and the most reliable connection it can offer.
Remember, you don't need to connect to a server halfway around the world to enjoy security benefits. Depending on where you live, a server down the street is just as safe as a server on the other side of the planet.
The number of servers a VPN service offers partly represents the number of clients it can support. However, more is always better. More servers mean you're less likely to end up on a VPN server swamped with other users. NordVPN leads with over 5,200 servers, followed by CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and TorGuard, each offering 3,000 servers or more. But the competition is starting to heat up. Last year, only a handful of companies had more than 500 servers. Now, it's hard to find a company that offers fewer than 1,000 servers.
In the most recent tests, we checked how many virtual servers a VPN service company uses. A virtual server, as the name implies, is software-based running on a physical server that could host other virtual servers. The advantage of virtual servers is that they can be configured to appear in one country while being hosted in another. This can be an issue if you care about the locations where your traffic travels.
It's slightly unsettling to choose a location and discover that you're connected to a completely different location. Some VPN services intelligently use virtual servers to support the VPN in regions where it would be too risky to host a server. When VPNs use virtual servers, we prefer they be transparent about it and share their locations with their customers.
What is the Fastest VPN?
We've often stated that choosing between security and convenience is a false dichotomy, but this can be true for some VPN services. When a VPN is active, your internet traffic takes a more circuitous route than usual, leading to slower loading and download speeds, as well as higher latency. The good news is that using a VPN won't take you back to the dial-up era. And that's important. According to our survey, 45% of respondents state that speed is the most crucial factor.
Most services provide adequate connection speed and can even support HD video streaming. However, 4K videos and other data-intensive tasks like online gaming through a VPN are a different story. Some VPN services, such as NordVPN, have started setting up servers dedicated to bandwidth-intensive activities. Nearly all the services we tested include a tool that lets you connect to the fastest available network. Of course, you can always choose to use a VPN when you're on a less reliable network.
Can a VPN be Blocked by Netflix?
Netflix and similar streaming services are aware of people accessing their content from other countries by obscuring their location using a VPN. During our tests, we found that Netflix blocks streaming more frequently when we use a VPN. There are some exceptions, but Netflix is actively working on protecting its content offerings. The VPNs that work with Netflix today might not be effective tomorrow.
The fact that Netflix blocks paying customers may seem strange, but it's all about regions, not individuals. Paying for Netflix in one region doesn't mean you can access content available through the same service in another region. Media distribution and rights are complex and complicated. While VPN use is much discussed, our 2019 survey revealed that only eight percent of respondents use a VPN to unblock Netflix and similar streaming services.
Using a Mobile VPN
We used to advise people to do their banking and other important tasks from their cellular connection rather than on a public Wi-Fi network when they're on their mobile device. However, even this solution isn't always safe.
Researchers have shown how a relay tower like a femtocell can be used for malicious purposes. The attacks rely on jamming the LTE and 3G bands that are protected by strong encryption and then force devices to connect with a relay tower on the less secure 2G band. Since the attacker controls the fake relay tower, they can intercept all data transmitted via the cellular connection. While this type of attack is somewhat exotic, it's still possible.
Wi-Fi attacks are far more common than one would like to think. At a Black Hat convention, researchers noted that thousands of devices connected to a rogue access point. It had been set up to mimic the networks the victims' devices had previously connected to, as most devices automatically reconnect to a known network without asking the user's permission. That's why we recommend using a VPN app on your mobile device to protect all your mobile communications. Even if it's not always active, using a VPN is a smart way to protect your personal information.
Most VPN services offer Android and iOS apps, saving you from having to set up the VPN on your phone yourself. VPN services usually allow up to five simultaneous connections per account. And while there are free VPN services, many require a paid subscription for use on mobile devices.
Mobile VPN apps are not all created equal. Indeed, most VPN services offer different services (and sometimes different servers) for their mobile offerings compared to the services they provide for desktop computers.
If you're an iPhone owner, there are other warnings to consider if you want to use a mobile VPN. Some iPhone VPN apps don't use OpenVPN, even if the VPN service that created the app supports this protocol, because Apple requires additional permissions if a company wants to include OpenVPN in its app. VPN app developers have slowly started going through these additional procedures to offer support for protocols like OpenVPN on iOS.
Fortunately, this issue can be circumvented. Rather than using the VPN service app from the provider you subscribed to, you can download a separate OpenVPN app. When you run it, you can enter the subscription information from the VPN service of your choice. The OpenVPN app will then connect to your VPN service's servers using the VPN protocol you prefer.
Conclusion: Get a VPN
Software developers and computer manufacturers work hard to ensure their devices are safe out of the box, but they can't offer you everything you need. Antivirus software, for example, constantly outperforms built-in protections. Similarly, VPN software allows you to surf the web and use Wi-Fi connections confidently, ensuring your information is protected. This is very important and often overlooked.
Even if you don't use it every day and at all times, a VPN is a fundamental tool that anyone should own, like a password manager or an online backup service. A VPN is also a service that will become increasingly important as our devices transform into connected devices. Be prudent and get a VPN.