The fact that the United States has free speech emblazed in its constitution doesn’t mean your Internet will always be open. Quite the contrary, there are some establishments like schools, universities, and even some workplaces that won’t let you access all parts of the world wide web.
School IT admins are instructed to add content filters so that students can’t visit “certain” websites (if you know what we mean). Similarly, major corporations would like you to be more focused on the spreadsheet at hand than to watch something on YouTube.
And so both groups are imposing restrictions on what you can and cannot do on the Internet. That, of course, presumes that you are not using a VPN – cause with a VPN, you get to do whatever you want online. Whether it’s watching a Netflix show, keeping up with your friends on Facebook or downloading an adult flix – it is your and your business only.
Here are the best VPNs to use in the United States:
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.
Why you need a VPN for the US?
Yes, you can access the Internet in its entirety in the United States, but only at home or when visiting a (good) friend. In some other cases, your web whereabouts may be limited by content filtering software. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – here are 5 reasons you should use a VPN in the U. S. of A.
1. Unlimited access
With a VPN, you get to bypass all the different roadblocks that some entities could place on your way to the desired content or service. As noted above, this could happen at schools & universities, workplaces and pretty much everywhere else where you are not paying for access. It is up to the Internet connection’s owner to decide what you can and cannot access online. And trust me – there are places that go overboard with this.
2. Avoid throttling
You may be satisfied with your ISP but did you know that while it lets you freely browse the web, it could throttle your Internet connection (make it slower) when you’re doing something it doesn’t like online. For instance, this happens when people download and upload stuff a lot using BitTorrent. Or when they watch many Netflix shows. With a VPN, ISPs have no idea what you’re doing on the Internet and can’t do much to stop you.
3. Don’t let them track you
Major tech companies like Google and Facebook — as well as various government agencies — seemingly can’t get enough of our data. To make things worse, some of us willingly provide them with details we wouldn’t tell our parents — I’m talking about Facebook. On the other hand, Google learns about us through its search product, Gmail, Maps, Android and Chrome browser — allowing it to create a comprehensive digital profile about every one of us. With a VPN, it doesn’t get that chance.
4. Stay safe on public Wi-Fi hotspots
Sometimes you have to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, which at that point could also be used by some malicious actor — and then, that hacker may be able to intercept your data. Not if you’re using a VPN, which will encrypt all communication between your device(s) and the rest of the Internet, making it impossible for anyone to snoop into your traffic. This is called the “man in the middle” attack and is easily preventable with a VPN.
5. Anonymity
Finally, with a VPN – you get to regain your privacy and anonymously surf the web, download and upload files without anyone knowing “what you did last summer.” There is really no good reason to let anyone know what you read, watch and/or listen to online — and a VPN will help you do just that. Use it to your advantage.
What about free solutions?
I guess it is ok to try out some app, but… Sooner or latest — most likely sooner — you’ll see that it doesn’t work properly.
You see, building a solid server network requires money, a lot of it, and that is something free services don’t have. And if they do have money, chances are they are getting it from selling their users’ data. Is this a compromise you’re willing to take? I don’t think so, as making such a move effectively kills the point of getting a VPN in the first place.
Instead, we suggest going for a VPN with a rock-solid track record to work from everywhere, the United States included. And that’s what this list is all about.
Moreover, you’ll want to get a VPN with a money-back guarantee. So, if you determine that the service doesn’t work for you – there is an option to ask for a refund and try some other VPN. There is no need to throw away money when you can have the best VPN for a few more cents or dollars per month. Your privacy and unlimited access to the Internet are worth more than that.
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:
