We tested more VPN services than most people, but that comes as given with our job – to recommend you the best VPNs for many situations and for all your devices.
And that’s what this list is all about – to highlight those VPNs that you can safely use on both your computer, as well as other devices like a smartphone, tablet, smart TV, and so on.
As far as we’re concerned, you can hardly go wrong by picking any of these VPNs since all of them have millions of users. But for the best overall experience, get the one at the top and forget about it. Let it do its magic in the background while you safely and securely browse the web, access streaming services, download files and so on.
So without further ado, here are the best 5 VPNs for multiple devices:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.
When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What makes the best VPNs?
Before creating this list, we had to define some criteria on how to select those that are worthy to be on this list. And so, we tested the top contenders in various scenarios, including:
Multi-device support
Remember, this is the number one criteria for this list. We wanted to see how the VPN works on a computer and how its mobile clients look like. We were searching for easy to grasp interface that still let us tweak a few things if we want to play with advanced features. And, of course, the experience had to be great accross devices and platforms.
Torrenting
Since torrenting is something many VPN users do, we wanted to see whether a VPN has servers dedicated to such (P2P) traffic or are all servers in the network up for the task? Both solutions can get the job done, it’s just that in the former case we’d like to see P2P-dedicated servers clearly marked on the list.
Streaming
How a VPN handles popular streaming services? Can you get a buffer-free experience with different servers and locations? Can a streaming service detect that you’re using a VPN — does it work? Are there servers dedicated to streaming? How about only for Netflix? Those were the things we were looking for in this section.
Unlimited access
Can a VPN be used to bypass your ISP’s restrictions? How about when connecting to the Internet from a college campus? Can it get the job done without IT admins knowing what you’re doing online? You don’t want a VPN that can’t handle the relatively simple firewall at some school, right?
Bypassing censorship
Somewhat related, we wanted to see whether you can use a VPN in high-censorship countries like China, North Korea, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc? The infamous Great Firewall of China is arguably the toughest nut to crack, but the best VPNs can do it – and we love ’em for that.
All around great…
Not every VPNs is great for all use cases, but we wanted to come up with a solid list. So we decided to select those that are generally good for whatever you throw at them. In other words, the best VPNs let you access Facebook and Netflix from all across the globe while offering strong zero-logs privacy — which is preferably confirmed by an independent audit.
Speed & reliability
Finally, we were looking at the speeds of each VPN. Because, if the experience is too slow, you won’t be accessing YouTube despite it being possible. Similarly, we wanted to test whether a VPN delivers consistent download and upload speeds you can rely on in your work. In some cases that reliability is more important than speed.
Yes, there are free solutions, but…
…we don’t suggest them. You see, it takes a lot of money to build a solid server network and offer a reliable VPN service. This isn’t something free solutions can do except if they sell your data. And then – what’s the point of getting a VPN in the first place.
What you want is a rock-solid VPN with a proven track record to work with multiple devices and platforms. And that’s what this list is all about.
Now, most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee which we take to be as good as a free trial. After all, if you don’t like what you’re getting – you can always ask for a refund. In fact, we encourage you to do so if you find that a service you bought doesn’t get the job done.
Get a VPN for everything!
You (all of us, really) need a VPN for many things. In that sense, a good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
