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The Top VPN Services: Your Ultimate Guide

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19 min read
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In order to improve your online privacy, a virtual private network, or VPN, is an online service that offers a desktop client, mobile app, or other software that encrypts your internet traffic. With a VPN, you can circumvent content restrictions in some countries and access important news and educational materials while also expanding your streaming entertainment options. It stops your internet service provider from tracking the websites and apps you use and prevents the majority of those websites and apps from seeing your actual geographic location. The top VPN offers robust privacy protection without sacrificing functionality.

In this article, we will give you detailed information about the best VPN services, discussing the following topics:

  • How to Choose the Best VPN Services
  • What are the Best VPN Services?
    1. ExpressVPN
    2. NordVPN
    3. Surfshark
    4. Private Internet Access VPN
    5. UltraVPN
    6. ProtonVPN
    7. CyberGhost VPN
    8. TorGuard
    9. Hotspot Shield
    10. TunnelBear
  • Which is the Most Secure VPN Service?
  • Best Practices to Secure VPN Connection

How to Choose the Best VPN Services​

One great option for maintaining your online anonymity is a VPN. It functions as an internet connection tunnel. With VPN turned on, nobody outside of your VPN provider can see what you do. Your VPN provider is an important part of your online privacy, having access to all of your browsing data. Out of hundreds of VPN services, how will you know which one to trust? These are six factors to take into account when selecting a VPN provider.

  • In actuality, a free VPN is not free: While a free VPN may seem wonderful, the reality is that businesses must turn a profit in order to maintain their operations. Some free VPNs monetize their users' data, while others do so through advertising. Free can mean a slower connection and fewer services.
  • The vendor's experience with security: The VPN business is expanding quickly and has drawn a large number of new suppliers. Few have a great deal of experience, and little is known about the businesses. VPN solutions are all about online security and privacy, so be sure your provider is transparent and has a solid background in cybersecurity.
  • Not every review is impartial: You most likely do an internet search for information when looking for a VPN. Many VPN evaluations and comparisons are available. There are independents and some that are paid. Be skeptical of the sources you choose to believe in because it's not always clear which are impartial.
  • The home nation of the VPN provider matters: VPN providers are required to abide by domestic legal requirements. These laws may compel them to gather, preserve, and give authorities data. This might compromise your privacy. It can be dangerous when there are no laws governing the gathering and use of user data. It is crucial to understand the origin of your VPN because of this.
  • Review the privacy policy of your VPN: Virtually all VPNs assert not to retain any logs. Yet, this is untrue. The majority of VPNs need to maintain connection logs in order to operate. However, there is some information you would prefer to keep private, including your browsing history. Check the claims made by your VPN provider and review their privacy statement.
  • Hundreds of servers could pose a threat to security: VPN services are able to rent servers all over the world, particularly if they provide a ton of server choices. This implies that their overall server network may be less under their control. Don't just choose the provider with the most servers; think about the locations you require.

What are the Best VPN Services?​

Simply choose from ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark below if you only want instant access to the top three VPN services. According to our in-depth evaluations, these providers are the greatest in their respective price categories. But if you're looking for more in-depth information, just scroll down to see our list of the top 10 VPNs that are currently available:

Figure 1. Best VPN Providers

1. ExpressVPN​

Choosing the best VPN overall is difficult. While some services have a lot of features and are much easier to use, others may require an interface overhaul. Some services are weaker when it comes to privacy. For many years, privacy was the only factor we considered when selecting the best VPN, but these days, most consumers have other considerations as well. Privacy is crucial, of course, but so are simplicity of use, performance, extra features, and a large range of countries. As ExpressVPN offers everything, it is the best VPN available. One of the fastest VPNs we've tried is ExpressVPN, and its client is incredibly user-friendly. Its servers are all diskless and execute everything in RAM, which is a pleasant approach that is now rather common. In addition, ExpressVPN offers broad device compatibility and a smart DNS function for consoles, set-top boxes, and other devices.

From a personal-use perspective, its price is a fatal defect. ExpressVPN is clearly in the "expensive" category given its annual fee of $99.95; nevertheless, most VPNs raise their prices when you renew them. At the moment, ExpressVPN's price is set at $99.95 per year. When considering it over time, the cost can be more reasonable.

Although it's not the most affordable VPN available, you do receive good value for your money, and the business frequently invites outside auditors to confirm its privacy credentials.

Pros of ExpressVPN​

Pros of ExpressVPN are as follows:

  • Regularly fast speeds
  • User-friendly desktop application
  • A wide range of devices

Cons of ExpressVPN​

Cons of ExpressVPN are listed below:

  • Logs the quantity of data transferred
  • Greater price than several rivals

2. NordVPN​

Similar to our top suggestion, NordVPN is a great option. Perhaps even with more features than ExpressVPN, Nord is the only one offering a wider range of security and privacy-focused goods. The desktop application is incredibly user-friendly and has a ton of features, including multi-hop VPNs, a security suite with malware and ad blocking, and VPN access to the TOR network.

With a no-logs policy that has now been independently verified three times and more corporate transparency in recent years, NordVPN has significantly contributed to the growth of customer confidence. For further protection, the service employs diskless servers and does vendor evaluations. Their internet speeds are likewise exceptional; they averaged 73 percent of the base speed across all servers in tests. The service costs more than ExpressVPN for a comparable feature set, which is the only reason we ranked them second. But if you choose NordVPN as your VPN of choice, you won't regret it.

The regular plan from NordVPN costs $59.88 per year and allows you to connect up to six devices at once. It gives you access to over 5,000 servers spread across more than 50 countries.

In addition to a dedicated IP address, NordVPN offers a wide range of add-ons to enhance your VPN experience. They include NordLocker, a file encryption service; NordPass, a password manager; and more. Users in the US can use the Incogni add-on, which assists with removing their personal data from third-party databases by collaborating with data brokers.

For small enterprises, NordVPN provides a Team subscription, although its cost remains unclear.

Pros of NordVPN​

Pros of NordVPN are as follows:

  • Excellent feature set
  • Superior velocities
  • No-logs rule
  • Stylish and user-friendly interface

Cons of NordVPN​

The main drawback of NordVPN is that it is expensive.

3. Surfshark​

Power users and those who want to maximize their privacy will adore Surfshark VPN's special multi-hop features. Multi-hop, for those who may not be aware, enables you to route your traffic across multiple external servers (i.e., connect to a server in Japan, but multi-hop through Singapore). This further obscures your true location and makes it harder to follow your online actions.

Although multi-hop is a feature that many VPNs now offer, Surfshark stands out since it lets users design their own multi-hop route or use one that is predetermined. In addition, Surfshark is developing its Nexus VPN network, which will instantly link you to the quickest entry and exit servers at any chosen location via a dynamic Multi-Hop function. This should improve connection speeds all around even more. So, Surfshark is not only going to continue to get better in the near future, but it already boasts one of the greatest multi-hop features.

With more than 3,200 servers, Surfshark boasts a sizable network and is cost-effective at $59.76 per year.

Pros of Surfshark​

Pros of Surfshark are as follows:

  • Infinite numbers of devices can be connected at once
  • It fits in nicely with Netflix
  • Including goodies like virus protection and an ad tracker
  • Cheaper on long-term agreements

Cons of Surfshark​

Cons of Surfshark are listed below:

  • Ping and server load indicators are not easily accessible.
  • Based in the Netherlands and open to demands for data exchange from the government

4. Private Internet Access VPN​

Having been in the market for some time, Private Internet Access (PIA) has proven that it can keep coming up with new ideas and getting better every year. This applies to the most recent version of PIA. They've upgraded an already good VPN by adding unlimited simultaneous device connections to their service. But it's the split-tunneling capability of PIA that really makes it stand out. Although most of the services on this list have this feature, PIA goes above and beyond. It gives customers the flexibility to select not just the programs they want to use through the VPN but also IP addresses and DNS requests. It even has an app-based kill switch option, so in the event that the VPN connection drops, traffic on only those apps will be blocked.

While PIA isn't the quickest service, there are a few uncomfortable flaws with the interface. Nonetheless, none of these problems render the service less feasible. Power users in particular will enjoy all the customization options this app offers thanks to its many features.

With good reason, Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most well-known brands in the VPN industry. Although it doesn't say how many servers it has overall, it gives users access to servers in 84 different countries. Even better, when paying annually, it's one of the least expensive VPNs available at $28.47. We feel that PIA is the best option for the majority of small business users due to a decent balance between pricing and features, even though competing providers may provide more sophisticated services.

Pros of Private Internet Access​

Pros of Private Internet Access are as follows:

  • Independent confirmation of the no-logging policy
  • Infinite numbers of devices can be connected at once
  • Amazing quantity of servers
  • Fantastic added features like split tunneling and multi-hop

Cons of Private Internet Accessare​

Cons of Private Internet Accessare listed below:

  • By default, the app panel is clumsily positioned in the lower-right area of the screen.
  • The speeds are mediocre

5. hide.me​

There are numerous reasons to enjoy using hide.me. With AES-256 encryption and features like a kill button to prevent you from sending data to possible bad actors, it delivers a high level of online security and privacy. This allows hide.me to enshroud your online activities in a number of security layers, thereby hiding your personal data on Wi-Fi hotspots. This is particularly crucial for those who use free public WiFi and companies that allow guests to use their network.

The most recent Wi-Fi security protocols are available on hide.me. Protecting your data on any Wi-Fi network is possible with protocols like SSTP, SoftEther, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 IPsec. It makes it simple to give your network of devices complete coverage by supporting both home routers and mobile devices.

We found hide.me to have a straightforward, user-friendly interface and reliable connection speeds across multiple servers and nations when we tried it. When switching between servers, there was some slowness, but not enough to cause problems. Its kill switch feature was problematic for us; occasionally, it would just stop operating when we switched servers.

Hide.me offers a free edition as well as paid subscriptions that cost $9.95 for a month-to-month period or $3.45 for a 26-month period. The cost of a 12-month subscription is $5.82 monthly or $69.95 annually.

For anyone who values their security and privacy when using the internet, hide.me is perfect. You can be sure that your data is protected from hackers and government surveillance because it makes use of the most recent encryption technologies.

Pros of hide.me​

Pros of hide.me are as follows:

  • Robust encryption and features for privacy
  • Gives away a plan
  • Steady connection rates and functionality

Cons of hide.me​

Cons of hide.me are listed below:

  • Not every server allows file sharing.
  • There is slowness while moving between servers for some people.

6. ProtonVPN​

Reputable VPN provider ProtonVPN is situated in Switzerland and is well-known for its vetted, open-source software and stringent no-logs policy. It offers consumers a variety of solutions for safeguarding their online security and privacy, including both premium and free options, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Up to 10 devices can be supported via the global server network, which provides quick connectivity. ProtonVPN proved to be quite simple to set up and operate during our test, with reliable speeds and no lag while connecting to various servers.

ProtonVPN integrates with the Tor network and can be accessed on various operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. It is not a component of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes because it is based in Switzerland.

The business provides a free basic VPN package, which is excellent for sporadic usage. However, there are several restrictions with the free plan; for more frequent users, the subscription plans offer superior value. Paid plans begin at $4.99 a month, which adds up to $119.76 when paid every 24 months. A month-to-month plan will cost extra, as it does for most VPNs; premium plans begin at $9.99 per month.

While the subscription plans are ideal for individuals who require more dependable connections and wish to utilize all of ProtonVPN's services, the free plan is excellent for infrequent users.

Pros of ProtonVPN​

Pros of ProtonVPN are as follows:

  • Among the simplest VPNs to use
  • Tor over VPN with a single click
  • Prevents DNS leaks
  • Public domain

Cons of ProtonVPN​

Cons of ProtonVPN are given below:

  • The free option excludes VPN versus Tor
  • Costing can be perplexing.

7. CyberGhost VPN​

CyberGhost VPN is the best option if you're looking for a VPN with a wide range of server locations. It provides users with access to an astounding 9,000+ servers, more than twice as many as ExpressVPN. These servers are dispersed throughout Europe and the United States, unlike many competitors. They have servers in 110 different countries worldwide. The service even suggests servers that are specialized for certain purposes, including gaming, streaming, and torrenting. During testing, we discovered that certain servers performed better than others, with servers in Europe offering exceptional speeds and those in Asia performing poorly. Nonetheless, overall, the speeds are sufficient for carrying out the majority of VPN-related tasks, including web browsing and streaming.

Even when adjusting your settings, CyberGhost's well-designed Windows program is simple to use and intuitive. Although it doesn't have all the capabilities other VPNs on our list provide for advanced users, the ordinary user shouldn't find that to be a deal breaker. In the end, CyberGhost is a simple, user-friendly VPN service with a staggering amount of server locations. CyberGhost is unquestionably worth taking into account for individuals who travel frequently or who just require access to a wide variety of servers.

CyberGhost is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and other operating systems and protects your data using AES-256 encryption, just like other top VPNs. During your first term, you will pay $56.97 for two years and three months, or $12.99 a month if invoiced on a monthly basis. An extra $2.50 will be charged each month for a dedicated IP. CyberGhost allows you to test the system without having to commit, with a generous 45-day refund policy when purchasing for terms greater than six months and 14 days for monthly durations.

Pros of CyberGhost​

Pros of CyberGhost are given below:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Impartially confirmed no-log policy
  • Really remarkable spread of servers

Cons of CyberGhost​

Cons of CyberGhost are as follows:

  • Lacks a few standard features, such as dual VPN and multi-hop
  • Server performance varies, particularly in Asia

8. TorGuard​

With a chorus of satisfied customers praising it, TorGuard is a very flexible VPN service. Despite the name seeming familiar, TorGuard is unrelated to Tor, the open-source, free privacy program.

Depending on your intended use, TorGuard offers a variety of privacy features and services that are bundled into different membership tiers:

  • Proposals for anonymous VPNs
  • Plans for Anonymous Pro VPN
  • VPN plans for businesses
  • Numerous encrypted email providers with different levels of membership

The anonymous VPN package, which has more than enough capabilities to keep you safe for regular use, is what we focused on the most. In addition, at $29.99 for the first year, it is the least expensive option. It is the least expensive direct IP address to be included in our list of the top VPNs, with an add-on available for $3.99 per month.

Eight connected devices can use the basic tier's unlimited bandwidth. Devices running iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux can all use TorGuard. Though they need to be manually configured, platforms like the Kindle, PlayStation, Xbox, and Chromebook are compatible.

Business subscriptions ranging from $32 to $169 per month are offered for nascent businesses requiring more than eight connections at once. These plans include multiple email accounts, several direct IP addresses, and other benefits.

Torguard VPN required multiple setup tries to get going throughout our test; at one point, we had to get in touch with customer care and reset our login information. Although the customer service was kind and fast, we wouldn't suggest TorGuard VPN to anyone searching for a simple VPN solution.

Pros of TorGuard​

Pros of TorGuard are as follows:

  • Add-on for dedicated IP costs $3.99.
  • multiple plans for different purposes, one of which is a business tier
  • very favorable user opinions
  • lots of personalization and features

Cons of TorGuard​

Cons of TorGuard are listed below:

  • The money-back promise of seven days is not as generous as that of some competitors.
  • Limited places for servers

9. Hotspot Shield​

The speeds we have observed with this service are unmatched by any other provider. Not only is this an occasional event, Hotspot Shield has maintained a 12 to 15 percentage point advantage over the competitors on a regular basis. Hotspot Protection kept about 67% of the base speed during our tests. That's a lot faster than what most VPN providers offer, though your experience can be different.

The drawbacks of Hotspot Shield include its privacy policy, which some users may find objectionable, and the lack of an anonymous payment option.

Yet, Hotspot Shield offers great speeds, a beautiful desktop interface, and the added benefit of working with US Netflix.

Cost: $8 a month, or $95.88 if paid yearly. The monthly plan is priced at $13.

Pros of Hotspot Shield​

Pros of Hotspot Shield are as follows:

  • Extremely fast
  • There are lots of servers and a large number of countries

Cons of Hotspot Shield​

Cons of Hotspot Shield are given below:

  • Domain visits are tracked, but they are not connected to you.
  • Expensive

10. TunnelBear​

Popular VPN service TunnelBear is renowned for its robust security features and simplicity of usage. The primary attraction of TunnelBear, as well as our favorite aspect of the platform during our testing, is its simple, intuitive UI, which is complemented by an adorable collection of animated bears. It's really easy to set up the VPN; just download the software, select a country, and turn it on. It ensures that your online activities are private and secure across all networks while operating silently in the background.

TunnelBear considers security very seriously. To protect user privacy and security, it employs robust AES 256-bit encryption and conducts independent security assessments on a regular basis. Furthermore, TunnelBear is a reliable choice for anyone who is worried about their online privacy because it will never record or sell your surfing activity.

You get a dependable, quick connection from servers spread throughout 47 nations. Nevertheless, when attempting to connect to a new server, we did experience some slowness. Unlike other VPNs that typically take seconds, in one instance, it took two minutes for a server to fully connect. Even so, our speeds were consistent once we were connected.

In addition to paid options starting at $3.33 per month, TunnelBear offers a free plan.

For those who value online privacy and security and seek an intuitive VPN with strong encryption and a no-logging policy, TunnelBear is a good option.

Pros of TunnelBear​

Pros of TunnelBear are as follows:

  • All premium plans include unlimited devices.
  • Just a straightforward on/off switch-no setup required
  • Conducts an annual third-party security audit

Cons of TunnelBear​

Cons of TunnelBear are listed below:

  • It merely lists the locations; it makes no mention of the number of servers.
  • The iOS Free plan's functionality is restricted to 500 MB per month.

Which is the Most Secure VPN Service?​

NordVPN. Because of its superior encryption technology, advanced security protocols, and privacy-friendly jurisdiction in Panama, NordVPN is the best secure VPN available. It also offers a great service for entertainment, streaming, safe browsing, and other things.

The most reliable VPN available is NordVPN because of its impenetrable AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers. NordVPN has a working kill switch that guards against data breaches in the event that your VPN connection is lost. Consequently, such a security bundle offers the greatest security at all times.

Because NordVPN exclusively uses RAM-only servers, every reboot erases your data. Moreover, NordVPN has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited multiple times to guarantee that none of your activities are monitored or recorded.

Best Practices to Secure VPN Connection​

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) jointly published guidelines in September 2021 titled "Selecting and Hardening Remote Access VPN Systems".

This advisory offers a ton of advice on how to choose the best VPN and configure, harden, and harden it to reduce the digital attack surface of the company. Highlights from the recommendations for secure VPN connection are as follows:

  • Decide on a VPN based on standards: Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) VPNs that employ bespoke code to transfer traffic over TLS are often riskier and less secure than VPNs that use internationally recognized standards, such as Internet Key Exchange/Internet Protocol Security (IKE/IPSec). Disable a VPN's custom SSL/TLS tunnel fallback if it is built with that feature.

  • Make use of a VPN with robust encryption: Verify that a VPN is using robust, FIP-validated encryption and authentication techniques and protocols. Set up each and every VPN to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). Where possible, switch from password-based authentication to client authentication using digital certificates that are stored on smartcards.

  • Control software flaws: Cybercriminals frequently use VPN vulnerabilities as a means of attack. Choose a VPN provider that has a solid reputation for patching vulnerabilities, and ask for a software bill of materials (SBOM) to ensure that any code from third parties is secure and up-to-date. Search for a product that, when it runs, can validate its code to find possible invasions.

    Install software updates as soon as possible after setting up a VPN. Follow the vendor's updated recommendations, such as requiring users to change their passwords, when patching a vulnerability that threat actors are known to be actively exploiting.

  • Cut off VPN access: Cybercriminals that use stolen credentials to access an organization's internal systems frequently target VPNs. For IKE/IPsec VPNs, create firewall rules to allow only UDP ports 500 and 4500; for SSL/TLS VPNs, create rules to enable TCP port 433 or a custom port.

    Restricting access to and from the VPN is also a good idea. If at all feasible, use an IP address allowlist to restrict access to the VPN endpoint. Restrict access to management interfaces through the VPN to stop it from being used to access management interfaces and carry out privileged tasks using administrator credentials that have been compromised. The use of the least privilege principle to limit access to and from the VPN should be part of network segmentation and a more general zero-trust security policy.

  • Encrypting VPN traffic: The purpose of a VPN is to establish an encrypted connection between two locations. It doesn't filter the traffic going via this tunnel or conduct any security inspections.

    When traveling to and from the corporate network via VPN, all traffic should go through a complete security stack that includes an intrusion prevention system (IPS) and a web application firewall (WAF). Furthermore, all web application security settings, which prevent replay attacks utilizing the session data of prior users, should be enabled while configuring the VPN.

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