Since you've made it here, you probably already know that there are hundreds of VPN providers out there, all claiming to be the best. But what makes for the absolute best VPN? Some may say it's overall performance, others might praise flat-out speeds, while others might be all-in on security features. No matter what your feature of choice may be, all the top providers have something to offer.
From streaming to gaming to torrenting, the best VPN can keep your location hidden, your security tight and your speeds intact. Beyond that, you'll be able to access geo-blocked content, keep your online data safe and sound and even use certain websites you typically wouldn't have access to.
Sure, it all sounds great on paper, but what is the absolute best VPN of the bunch? Read on as we break down our picks for the top of the pops and help you decide which VPN service is the one to go with.
Today's best VPN services
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There are so many options out there, some of which are free VPNs or cheap VPNs, but unfortunately, not all of them are created equally. Worry not, though, as we've done the hard work for you with this guide. Doing your research to pick the absolute best VPN service is crucial in your overall experience, but that can be a time-consuming task. Worry not, though, as we've done the hard work for you with this guide.
Most of the best VPN providers allow the services to be used on popular devices like gaming consoles, PCs, laptops, phones, routers, and even web browsers like Chrome. Many of them connect in as little as one click, making it easy to use and understand.
If you will be trusting a VPN to help anonymize your web traffic and help keep you safe online, you'll want to make sure it is a reputable service. So much of our personal lives are spent online, like checking your bank account, paying bills, keeping up with friends on Facebook, emails, and more. This is all sensitive traffic, and you don't want it falling into the wrong hands. Maybe all you want is the ability to stream a show that's not airing locally to you, and a VPN can help with that as well.
We've gone through hundreds of VPN services and have narrowed down a list to just the absolute best VPN services that you should trust in 2023.
ExpressVPN
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ExpressVPN is the closest you can get to being the single best VPN for everyone. We've extensively tested the platform, its apps, and more in our full ExpressVPN review, and it came out with a perfect five-star rating. There are a number of factors that weigh into our decision here, like the remarkable customer support, strong security measures, and an abundance of servers that are spread throughout various countries. There are no data limits each month when using ExpressVPN either, which means you can set it and forget it, and makes it even easier to use.
ExpressVPN was also super fast in our testing, especially using its own Lightway protocol, across servers in multiple countries. It worked for unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video in our tests, too, which will be a boon for plenty of VPN users.
It's common for VPN providers to have apps for your PC or Mac, and even your phones and tablets. ExpressVPN has those and those apps are so user-friendly that we named it our top VPN for Android as well as our best iPhone VPN and best Mac VPN. Where it stands out even further is its custom firmware that is offered for some routers, its DNS content unblocking for a variety of streaming hardware, and the browser extensions that make connecting to access it all such a breeze.
When it comes to security, ExpressVPN offers industrial-grade encryption (including IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec), P2P support, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, a no-logging policy, and much more. It's now also certified by the ioXt Alliance.
If any of the above sounds a bit intimidating, especially if this is the first VPN that you'll ever use, worry not. The software is straightforward to use for the basics and coupled with ExpressVPN's stellar customer service, you'll quickly realize there is nothing to worry about. The support agents understand the platform well and are quick to respond to queries.
There isn't much to complain about with ExpressVPN. The service checks a lot of the key boxes for what most VPN users will care about and want, though it does charge a bit of a premium for it. The pricing structure is higher than most of the competition, but using our link you can actually save up to 49% on your first year of service, along with an extra three months free. Remember, ExpressVPN gives you a free 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you don't find it valuable or just can't figure it out, you can always get your money back with ease.
NordVPN
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Now, NordVPN and why it's potentially your next best VPN choice. The company continually matches or beats all of its competitors in terms of features and speed, and isn't far behind ExpressVPN at all when it comes to stats or real-world testing.
Some standout specs include more than 5,500 servers in 60 countries in NordVPN's network and 2048-bit encryption instead of the 256-bit that most others are using. When it comes to speed, Nord's custom NordLynx protocol makes for a fast and reliable connection, even when connecting to servers far away from your own location.
As you'd expect, NordVPN offers all the standard security features that the competitors do but comes with some extras as well. You'll have DNS leak protection, a kill switch, apps for nearly every platform out there, and an easy built-in feature to allow you to get around geo-blocks with ease.
NordVPN is focused on security and privacy. As well as its super strong encryption, it undertakes multiple audits, including an annual no-logging audit, and its entire network now runs on diskless RAM servers. It also allows for Bitcoin payments.
While there is a lot of stuff to enjoy about NordVPN, that doesn't mean that it's perfect, either. Finding servers to connect to can be a bit of a painful experience, especially if you want to connect to a specific location, which requires multiple clicks to get there. NordVPN also lacks an app for routers or MediaStreamer functionality like ExpressVPN, which holds it back from challenging for the top spot.
When signing up for NordVPN, you can opt to pay for just a single month of access, or go with a one-year or two-year plan. The cost per month drops significantly as you commit to a longer period of time, with the best pricing being on the two-year plan. Be sure to check out our full NordVPN review for more in-depth details.
Surfshark
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Surfshark may have a fun, cute name for its service, but that doesn't mean it's not one of the best VPN options out there to sign up for. The company allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices to your subscription and keep them all secured at the same time. Considering how affordable Surfshark's introductory pricing is, it's a solid choice and worthy of being so far up this list – especially since it's the fastest VPN around.
With Surfshark, you'll have access to over 3,200 different servers that are spread throughout more than 65 different locations. This gives you plenty of variety when trying to change your location and access content not available locally. It worked for Netflix unblocking everywhere we tried, making it a great streaming VPN choice as well.
It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you enough time to try it out and see whether it's the VPN service for you. Be sure to check out our Surfshark review as well. The company recently changed its pricing structure, now giving you 24 months of access for just $59.76 total, which breaks down to about 8 cents per day. After the first two years, it renews annually at this price.
ProtonVPN
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ProtonVPN may not offer the most servers or have them spread out in the most locations, but if there is one thing that the company knows, it's privacy and security. ProtonVPN is designed to ensure that no one can eavesdrop on your connection, and it does so by routing your connection through fully encrypted tunnels.
The company is based in Switzerland, which means that it benefits from additional strong legal protection. Switzerland offers some of the world's strongest privacy laws, and remains outside the EU and U.S. jurisdiction, meaning that it can't be coerced into spying on any users.
There are strong no-logging policies, DNS leak protection, a kill-switch, and it can be used as an always-on VPN that automatically reconnects to a server should the connection be interrupted at any point. All the servers have a minimum speed of 1 Gbps, and many of them actually use a 10 Gbps connection.
The recent NetShield feature, available on all platforms, is a DNS-based web filter that protects you from malware, ads, and trackers. It's a little more configurable than similar services, and you're able to choose whether you only block malware, or want to stop ads and trackers as well.
Before you get started with the paid service, you can always try ProtonVPN out for free. It is worth noting that the company does prioritize paid users during peak times, so on a free plan you may notice slower speeds when more people are online.
Whether you end up wanting a free or paid plan, Proton is definitely a VPN provider worth considering.
PIA
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Private Internet Access – or PIA as it is more commonly known – is another VPN worth considering. The area where the service really stands out is in its mammoth server count – it now boasts over 35,000 servers across almost 80 countries – which is by far and away the most of any provider. Though, it is also consistently good in many other areas, making it a contender.
In our testing, speeds were fast enough using WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, and we found it could unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, though BBC iPlayer was a no-go. It's not going to appear on a list of the fastest VPNs out there, but it was usable for day-to-day needs.
All those servers are no good without the security and privacy features to back them up, but PIA does just that with a mix of strong encryption, ad and malware blocking, IP cloaking, and a reliable kill switch. You can also pay in Bitcoin and P2P is supported with port forwarding. That being said, there has been no substantial security audit of PIA, although the ioXt certification that it now has for its Android app is a start.
As a United States-based VPN company, PIA may be compelled to hand over any data it has as part of various international security alliances that the U.S. is a part of. PIA states it doesn't log any data, so theoretically wouldn't have anything to hand over, but its headquarters may be enough to put off certain users.
CyberGhost
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CyberGhost is a company that's based out of Romania and Germany. It has more than 6,900 different servers that span more than 110 locations, which is quite impressive.
Where CyberGhost really excels though is in its interface. The company doesn't make you guess which server to use for certain tasks, it helps you identify them with ease. Select the geo-blocked service that you want from a list, like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc., and then it will show you the best servers to connect to so you can view the content. Once connected to the server, the app will even open a browser window for you so you can start streaming. That's convenience if we've ever seen it.
Additionally, the service can block ads, trackers, and malicious sites. It automatically sends you to the HTTPS version of each site to ensure you are viewing the most secure option you can. On mobile, you can enable data compression to help save you some MBs while on the go.
Thanks to the ease of use, speed, and reliability it offers, CyberGhost has been able to bring over 10 million users to its service. The pricing is quite competitive, and by signing up for longer-term plans, you can help reduce the per-month cost of the service as well. Will you be the company's next subscriber? Check out our full CyberGhost VPN review for all the details.
Hotspot Shield
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Almost every complaint that we have with the free version of Hotspot Shield is solved by just paying a few bucks extra for the company's premium offerings. You step right up to unlimited bandwidth and gain full access to all of its 3,200+ servers that are scattered across 115 different locations. You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time, and you get that wonderful 24/7 support as an added bonus.
Hotspot Shield is completely ad-free, and the service is available on a variety of devices, like iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and more, though its mobile apps aren't as feature-rich as the desktop equivalents. Hotspot has added functionality to support use on routers, Linux, and TV streamers, too.
The service had fast speeds in our testing and, more importantly perhaps, its speeds were consistent throughout. It also unblocked Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ for us.
Though Hotspot Shield does not log "IP addresses, device identifiers, or any other form of identifier with your VPN browsing activity" as per its privacy policy, there is some session logging like duration of VPN sessions, the bandwidth consumed, and the domains that have been accessed which will turn off privacy enthusiasts.
The information is logged in the aggregate, and not specifically linked to you as a user, but you'll have to take that on trust since Hotspot Shield has not put itself through any form of public security or privacy audit. It's also worth noting that there is no Bitcoin support either.
Hotspot Shield does offer a free 7-day trial, though, so it's definitely worth giving the service a shot.
IPVanish
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IPVanish is a provider you won't want to rule out. It offers more than 1,900 servers spread across 75 different locations, allows for all of your devices to be connected at the same time, and boasts an impressive 40,000 shared IP addresses. You can also bundle IPVanish with SugarSync cloud storage for just a few bucks extra if that's something you need.
There are apps for all the popular platforms, including Roku, Fire TV, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows, and more. They aren't bogged down with useless features and make connecting to the service the fastest and easiest thing to do from within it. In fact, the app has one of the best user interfaces when it comes to the map of servers, making it easy to get connected to a server in the desired location.
Throughout testing IPVanish we noticed the servers were almost always up and running, the download speeds were consistent, and slightly above most of the others we tested. A network expansion in early 2021 saw some servers updated to better hardware and 25Gbps network cards, which will only help things in this department, too.
One odd thing that was noticed was that not every server actually existed where it was said to be, which could be problematic for those looking to unblock content in a specific area. This is only a minor thing, but something that's absolutely worth considering. We also could not get IPVanish to unblock BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime Video, so it may not be the best streaming VPN choice, though it does work for Netflix and Disney+.
Another area where IPVanish excels is customer support. You can get support at any time since the company offers 24/7 coverage, and agents can be reached right from within the iOS and Android apps. It really doesn't get easier than this, and the company recently moved from a 7-day to a 30-day money-back guarantee. Give our IPVanish review a read and then get started today.
TunnelBear
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TunnelBear may not be the best option on this list for those looking for granular control over where they are connecting or how their VPN is operating. The company goes for a much more simplistic approach, which works for most people in all honesty. The interface is very clean and easy to understand, and the apps are available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and there are even a few browser extensions.
The focus on simplicity goes beyond just the app, though. There are servers in just over 40 countries, which is not as many as some of the others are offering. That's not a huge concern, though something to note if you're looking to connect to specific locations.
On the privacy front, which is what most people are using a VPN for, TunnelBear scores some extra points for its hiring of independent specialists to run a security audit on its servers. This is something no one else is doing, and we wish that more companies would follow suit and do the same.
PureVPN
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PureVPN is a middle-of-the-pack VPN choice; hence it's a middle-of-the-pack placement in this list. It has a solid number of servers with over 6,500 in 140 countries, making it likely that you'll have one nearby for a reliable experience or in a desired location for getting around geographic restrictions. At just $1 for a fully-fledged week-long trial, it's worth trying out.
In our testing, we found that it could unblock content on Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, though we could not make it work with BBC iPlayer despite PureVPN's website stating compatibility. If streaming is your main concern, you'll be glad to know PureVPN has apps for Android TV, Roku, Kodi, Xbox, PlayStation, and many more devices.
It supports up to ten simultaneous connections, and there's also a router VPN option that lets you use PureVPN on devices that are connected through your router.
Speeds are good, if not great, and there are many features like a selection of protocols, strong encryption, and a smarter-than-average kill switch. Two separate independent auditors have assessed PureVPN's No-Log policy. Altius IT and KPMG concluded that personal user data is not stored on the system, but we did spot some issues with the encryption in the Windows app in our PureVPN review.
Though its support site is not great, PureVPN offers round-the-clock customer support 365 days a year and edges out the competition by offering a 31-day money-back guarantee instead of just 30 days.
How to pick the best VPN
What's the best VPN for you?
Finding the best VPN service for you is not quite as difficult as it may seem at first glance. There are a few things that you will want to consider when purchasing a new VPN subscription for yourself, so let's break them down now to help you decide.
First up, you will want to make sure you find is a VPN provider that has a good app that's easy to use, which we've considered strongly in our rating of the below services. Nearly all the best VPN options will work on Mac, PC, Android, iPhone, Fire TV Sticks, gaming consoles, and more. This is important because the app is something you'll interact with daily to connect to the services, so if it's not easy to use, it may prevent you from wanting to use the service in general.
Another thing you will want to consider is how many devices can be used by your subscription at the same time, whether the company offers strong customer support for when you run into an issue and the overall cost of the service that you are signing up for. The best VPN services vary in cost big time and range anywhere from $2 per month up to over $6 per month. Our top pick, ExpressVPN, happens to be one of the more expensive, while Surfshark makes the top three but is one of the cheapest.
When trying to pick the best VPN provider for yourself, there are numerous things to consider. Encryption is one of the most important features of a VPN, and one of the main uses for most people. Think about how much time you spend online each day. You enter banking details, credit cards, passwords, and more all around the web, and sometimes from an unsecured public connection. Using a VPN, you can keep all that data secure as it's passed from your phone through the virtual tunnels of the internet.
Another great VPN use is that you can easily connect to a server in a different location than where you are. This is called "spoofing", and it makes it appear as though your traffic is coming from somewhere it isn't actually. That means you can access local content like concerts, sporting events, news, and even things like Netflix libraries.
The hardest part about a VPN is not actually using it, but instead understanding which one to pick for yourself. Nowadays, you can find tons of different VPN options, some of which are free and others that are paid. Some of them have data limits, and others cap the number of simultaneous connections, and picking out the best VPN is not an easy task. Don't panic, though. We've done the hard part and have put various options through their paces so that we could break it down for you. Our top pick, for a number of reasons which are listed below, is ExpressVPN. It provides the best overall balance between price, speed, reliability, ease of use, and customer service.
What about the other VPN companies?
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other VPN providers. It seems like a new VPN provider pops up each week, and some of them make some pretty crazy promises. We've tested a ton to decide which is the best overall.
We'd recommend sticking to one of the options mentioned here when you get started with a VPN. We are constantly looking at new offerings, reviewing our picks on this list, and ensuring that the information included in this guide is as accurate as possible.
VPN FAQ
If you're in the market for a VPN and need a little more information on exactly what a VPN is, what you can use a VPN for, and some basics like that, we have you covered. There are a lot of competitors covered above, but picking the right one for you is dependent on your needs. Let's take a look deeper into VPNs and help you decide which one to buy.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. The idea behind it is to add an extra layer of security to whichever network you are trying to connect to, be it your home broadband, public Wi-Fi, or your mobile connection. It allows you to send and receive data privately while connecting to that network.
Once connected, your traffic is routed through a "tunnel" which encrypts the data so that outside eyes can't sleuth it. The protection prevents people from being able to not only see what is happening but also prevents them from knowing where it is happening.
In addition to adding security, you can use a VPN to "spoof" your location by connecting to a server that's based in a different location. This means you'd be able to bypass some geographic restrictions and view content that you may not have been able to otherwise.
How do VPNs work?
Though it seems complicated at first, a VPN works in a pretty simple manner. Behind the scenes, the VPN provider routes your traffic through a set of servers that can then protect it via encryption and change its location. That means others can't see what you are doing on public connections.
Instead of going from your device to the website, a VPN adds a middle step. Now the pathway actually looks goes from your device to secure VPN servers then ends up at the website.
All of this is done in the background once you are connected to the service and a server, adding very little lag to the process. One of the coolest parts is that you can be sitting in an airport in New York and connect to a server in Europe, without having to move. You'd think that this extra step could slow your speeds, or put a delay in getting things done, but many of the best VPN providers offer fast speeds and reliable connections, so you barely notice that it's even connected in the background.
Are VPNs legal?
In most areas of the world, VPNs are perfectly legal. Some countries have put bans in place to restrict VPNs as a whole, and others have limitations on their use cases, though these generally apply to people who live there not travel there.
For the countries that do restrict VPN uses, there are oftentimes some providers that are specifically approved for use there. This means that you may not have as many options, but some are better than none. For example, in China companies have to get Chinese government approval, and those who use unapproved VPNs can be fined heavily.
On the other hand, in the United Arab Emirates, things are far more serious. The fine for using a VPN (any of them) is over half a million dollars, and you can be sentenced to jail time.
If you are unsure of the legalities of a VPN where you live, be sure to seek some information from local authorities before getting one installed.
Is a VPN worth it?
Having a VPN is an intelligent choice to make these days, especially if you travel a lot and spend any time at all on public Wi-Fi spots (think airport lounges or your local coffee shop). These don't offer any of their own security measures, so you'll want to make sure your data is safe while you use it.
So much of our day-to-day activity is done online. Think about how many times you've accessed bank information from a public network, or logged into your most personal accounts from the airport. All of it is unprotected, and in the hands of the wrong people, it could be bad news for you.
In most cases, a VPN is a nominal cost each month, and there are even some free options that are definitely worth considering. For the price of a cup of coffee or a fast-food lunch, you could add protection to all your browsing sessions for the whole month. If you do the cost-benefit analysis yourself, you'd probably come down to the side of wanting a VPN.
What are the best VPN uses?
There are many use cases for having a VPN, though there are two huge ones that most people will be drawn to. The first use is for additional security and privacy a VPN to secure their traffic, especially when connecting to public and open Wi-Fi. This is becoming a more popular requirement in the business world, where people are constantly traveling. Many companies require the use of a VPN to access the company's intranet and services.
Alternatively, many will use a VPN to be able to connect to a server in a different location to access content that may be regionally blocked. This is known as "spoofing" your location, and it allows you to do things like watch Netflix, Disney+, and more from anywhere even if it isn't officially supported where you live.
Is a paid VPN better than a free VPN?
Many VPN companies these days offer both free and paid VPN options, but when you opt for the free one, you make some sacrifices. Most of the time, the free versions allow for fewer devices to be connected at the same time, slower speeds, fewer servers, and limits on data usage per month.
Some services, like ProtonVPN, offer unlimited data but will offer better speeds to paying customers during peak times. Windscribe allows you to score extra data each month by referring friends and tweeting about the service, so there are definitely ways to live with a free VPN, you just need to be a bit more aware of the limitations and factor those into your decision-making.
Upgrading to a paid plan ensures that you see no ads, which oftentimes means that there are no data limits, and many companies offer unlimited connections as well.
Any VPN (free or paid) is better than no VPN at the end of the day. Give a free service a shot to see if it works out for you, and if you are happy with it, then maybe you should consider upgrading to a paid option for an even better experience.
What to look for when picking a VPN?
There's a whole lot of information above about different VPN providers, but knowing what's important to look for isn't always easy. We've broken it down into a few easy things that everyone should be focused on when researching different VPN providers.
- Does the provider have servers in the country you need? Sometimes you are looking to watch specific content, or you only want to be able to connect to local servers, and every single VPN provider operates in different areas. The pure server count isn't always the biggest factor in determining speed or reliability — be sure to look specifically at the locations.
- Can you connect everything you want at the same time? Some providers offer only one connection at a time, while others offer more spaces or even an unlimited amount. This is critical because you don't want to be worrying about disconnecting one device to protect another. Get one that works for everything you need it to or even one that can run on your router to cover all the devices in your home.
- What is the logging policy? Many providers have a "no-logging" policy, but that doesn't always mean the same thing to each of them. Be sure to read through their FAQ and take a look at the privacy policy so that you totally understand what information (if any) is being collected when you use the service, and how it is used.
- Are you comfortable with the pricing structure? Prices vary from free to $10 or more per month for some services. The longer you commit to using the service (buying a one- or three-year plan) the cheaper you can get the per-month rate. It may prove worth spending a little more upfront to keep yourself protected for a longer period of time, for less. Most have trial periods or money-back guarantees, too.
Can a VPN unblock regional content?
One of the big selling points for many people is that you can use your VPN to spoof your location, meaning that you can access content that may not be available locally where you are at that moment. This is great for those who frequently travel and want to keep up with local shows.
Depending on your service of choice, you can use it to unblock content from Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and much more. Normally, you just need to connect to the VPN, then select a server based on where the content you want to watch is streaming, and then you can watch it like you are in that country.
Some VPN services, particularly those with fewer servers, may have issues when it comes to unblocking some streaming content as their servers may be blacklisted by the content provider if they wish to stop this process.
Should I use a VPN on my phone?
In an ideal world, you would use a VPN on every device that connects to the internet. This is the absolute best way to keep yourself and your data safe from tracking, hacking, and more.
Luckily, every one of the VPNs mentioned in this best VPN guide offers mobile apps, which means you can easily get started using it on your iPhone or Android device. We've also rounded up the best VPNs for Android along with the best VPN for iPhone, so be sure to check those out.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
