We tested more VPN services than most people do and out of the bunch, we have selected a few that we deem to be the top choice for all kinds of users.
These top 5 VPNs will cover just about any need you may have. Whether you need a VPN to keep a low profile online, unlock access to some service or to access parts of the Internet that could otherwise be outside of your reach – the following VPNs will have you covered.
These services have been field tested for years and won’t let you down, no matter what you throw at them. They offer clients (apps) for all popular platforms — including desktop and mobile — and will also work with your router. In that case (router), your entire network will benefit from a more secure connection.
We’ll stop for the moment here – these are the top VPN services you can buy today:
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 top VPN services?
Before coming up with this list, we first defined some criteria on how to select the Top VPN Services. And so, we tested the main contenders in various scenarios, including:
Streaming
Streaming is one of the most popular use cases for any VPN, so we were asking ourselves – can you use it for streaming from all the popular services? Does it deliver a buffer-free experience from different servers and physical locations? Can a streaming service detect that you’re using a VPN? Are there servers dedicated for streaming? How about only for Netflix?
Torrenting
We wanted to find out how a VPN “handles” torrenting? Are there servers dedicated to such (P2P) traffic or are all servers in the network up for the job? As far as we’re concerned, both solutions work – it’s just that in the former case we’d like to see P2P servers clearly marked on the list (of servers).
Bypassing restrictions
To test this section, we tested to see whether you can use a VPN to bypass your ISP’s restrictions? How about those at a university campus? Can it get the job done without IT admins knowing every step you make online? You don’t want a VPN that can’t handle the relatively simple school firewall, after all.
Bypassing censorship
Somewhat related – can you use a VPN in high-censorship countries like China, North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc? The so-called Great Firewall of China is arguably the toughest nut to crack, but the top VPN services are up for the task – and we love ’em for that.
Speed & reliability
We also had to see what kind of speeds each of the VPNs can deliver. If the experience is too slow, you won’t be accessing YouTube despite that being possible. Similarly, we wanted to test whether a VPN delivers consistent download and upload speeds you can rely on every single time. In many instances, reliability is more important than speed.
Top for everything
We decided to select those that are generally good for whatever you throw at them. In other words, top VPN services let you access Facebook, YouTube and Netflix from all across the globe, while offering strong zero-logs privacy. Plus, we’d like to see this zero-logs policy confirmed by a third-party audit.
What about free VPNs?
Sure, there are free VPNs out there, but we don’t suggest using them. Simply put, it takes a lot of money to build a solid server network and offer a reliable VPN service. This is something free solutions can do only if they sell your data. And then – what’s the point of getting a VPN in the first place.
What you (should) want is a rock-solid VPN with a proven track record to work from all places around the world. And that’s what this list of Top VPN Services is all about.
It is important to add that most VPNs offer money-back guarantees 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. Heck, we encourage you to do so if you find that a VPN you bought doesn’t get the job done.
Top VPN services deliver on all fronts
In summary, we’ll just repeat that top VPNs will have your back no matter what you need them for. They will be there for you, doing their thing in the background as you safely and securely browse the web, download files using BitTorrent, stream movies and more. The top VPNs 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
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
