Find out which VPN provider offers the fastest speeds and the most secure connections
Written by: Kelly Parker, Web and Security Expert
The shocking truth about VPN providers: which one is right for you?
*Updated December 13, 2022
Choosing the best VPN services is essential if you want to remain anonymous and secure while using the internet. The finest VPN services can assist you in achieving your objectives by helping you escape bandwidth limiting, censorship, and ISP tracking. To help you choose the best VPN service for you, we researched and rated the top 15 VPN services in this guide, along with our top 5 picks.
After its first introduction in 2012, NordVPN has quickly established itself as a top contender among VPN services worldwide.
To date (as of September 2019), it has over 5500 servers located in over 60 different nations. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada host the lion's share of the world's servers.
In addition to traditional VPN server locations, it also provides P2P file sharing, double encryption, and access to the Tor anonymity network.
Its central Panama location is one of the city's many selling points. For reasons of legislation, Panama does not have any compulsory data retention rules.
Software Features:
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CyberSec (blocks questionable URLs automatically resulting to improved protection)
- Top-Secret Encryption Technology Used by the Military
- Offers a double VPN functionality
- Strict IP-address-hiding Policies Implemented No Logs Policy
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Payment in Bitcoin
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Involuntary Death Switch
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DNS Leak Protection
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Onion over VPN
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Unblocks tough countries like China
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Quick as a flash and streaming in real time
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SmartPlay (allows you to visit your favorite streaming sites safely
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In other words, P2P (Peer-to-Peer) sharing.
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High-Speed Virtual Private Network
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Proxy add-on for your browser
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Encryption Strong Enough for the Militar
Unparalleled security smarts
Reliable unblocking
High-speed NordLynx protocol
New Meshnet secure network
Compatible with all devices and browsers
There is a strong correlation between performance and duration of usage.
No telephone help desk for customers
2. Private Internet Acces- Strong all-round VPN
They do not store logs of any type, and you may prove this by examining public court documents. Their privacy policy also explicitly says that they don't share, sell, rent, or exchange user's personal data with other parties. What's more, PIA is one of the very few truly open-sourced VPNs, meaning it's accessible for the public to check. This focus to openness and privacy is what makes Private Internet Access a leader in its market.
In terms of security, PIA also has a strong front with military-grade encryption technology and industry-standard protocols, including OpenVPN, PPTP, IPSec, L2TP, and SOCKS5 (Proxy) (Proxy). There's also a DNS leak, IP leak prevention, an ad blocker, and the all-important kill switch function. You also receive an Identity Guard system for free! This additional add-on sends an alert if your email address comes up in a network breach. The cherry on top of all these? You may set your preferred degree of encryption and modify PIA's in-app security features according to your unique requirements and tastes!
During our testing, speed was also never a problem, and we were able to browse and play a few games of Battle Royale without any delay. Private Internet Access enables simultaneous connections of up to 10 devices, that's more than twice what other VPNs generally allow! All in all, PIA is turning out to be one of the top all-rounders on our list.
There's practically anything to criticize about this VPN service. It's filled with powerful security measures, has a user-friendly interface, and simultaneous connections for up to 10 devices. It operates on nearly every gadget, with an excellent performance at a cheap price. PIA is now on sale. Get a 78% discount when you purchase from our link.
Software Features:
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Secure apps (no leaks identified in testing)
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Excellent privacy and security features
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Blocks advertisements, malware, and phishing attempts
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Tested and proven no logs VPN provider
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Updated, user-friendly apps
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P2P support
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PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec
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Unlimited bandwidth
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Great for Torrenting
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Can connect up to 10 devices at one time
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Port forwarding and DNS leak protection
So many serwers
Dedicated IPs available
Loads of genuinely useful features
7-day 100% refund policy
Still security audit
Overwhelming apps
3. StrongVPN - Robust VPN that lives up to its name
You can tell that StrongVPN means business right from the get by looking at its outstanding set of metrics. It has 60,000 VPN IP addresses, works with six protocols (including the lightning-fast WireGuard), and allows for connections on up to 12 devices at once, well surpassing the five-device restriction of competitors like our top-rated ExpressVPN.
StrongVPN's other features also seem to be underpowered in comparison to the rest of the service, thus it's clear that the service can't keep up with the current rate of growth. It has not been subjected to a security review. Mobile app upgrades may occasionally go for as long as a year. Even while its 450Mbps download speed is fast enough for some, it's just half as fast as services like Hide.me and TorGuard.
However, there are still several crucial aspects where StrongVPN shines. StrongVPN successfully unlocked US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer, so it's a great choice if you want to view your favorite services from abroad. Smart DNS may also be used to bypass geo-restrictions on gaming consoles, OTT devices, and smart TVs without the need to download additional software.
One other great feature is the reasonable price. When you sign up for any SugarSync plan, even the monthly one, you'll get 250 GB of safe cloud storage, a benefit that's worth around $10 per month on its own.
If you plan on streaming video from abroad or have a lot of devices to safeguard, then StrongVPN is a good option, particularly if you plan on making use of the 250 GB of cloud storage.
Software Features:
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Zero logging of connections and activity
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Best Available Location option
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Provides support for up to 12 users at once
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Limitless velocity
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Strong DNS
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Certified no-logs policy
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Strong AES-256 Encryption
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L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, IPSec, and IKEv2 protocols
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Security on public Wi-Fi
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WireGuard protocol beta
Tempting cloud storage freebie
Can be used on loads of devices simultaneously
Tempting cloud storage freebie
Works with Netflix and Hulu
Excellent infrastructure
Slow (on most servers)
App updates can be rare
4. CyberGhost- Feature-packed VPN
CyberGhost boasts a formidable network of about 7,000-8,000 largely torrent-friendly servers is distributed over an amazing 115 countries, for instance. There are applications for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV and other smart TVs, and Smart DNS compatibility enables you to set it up on gaming consoles, too.
Although the applications are typically strong, they include one or two extremely simple omissions. The Windows app still doesn't show a notice when it connects or disconnects, for instance, so unless you're staring at the app window, you won't know for sure whether you're connected or if the VPN drops.
Streaming provided another highlight, as CyberGhost quickly unlocked US Netflix (but failed in catalogs farther afield), Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. CyberGhost did fail to unlock Disney Plus and UK Netflix this time around, though. The applications also feature dedicated places for streaming Hulu, HBO Max, and more.
CyberGhost's 'highest speed' is outstanding, but considerably lower than our prior testing, with WireGuard connections resting at 730Mbps (down from 850Mbps) in our most recent tests, and OpenVPN hitting 400Mbps and more. Pricing is also a touch costly for monthly subscriptions, but sub-$2.50 a month if you're ready to commit for three years, amazing value for what you're receiving.
Should you acquire it: CyberGhost gets considerably more right than it gets wrong. The support site isn't as helpful or informative as we'd like, but if speed and streaming are your main objectives, and you can live with the device restriction method, then it's certainly worth a second look.
Software Features:
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One-click connect to anonymize your internet connection.
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120 server sites in over 88 countries for a total of 6,200+ servers.
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Smart rules and manually-configured privacy triggers.
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Secure file sharing with no bandwidth constraints.
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Kill switches to make sure your real IP address is never revealed.
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A tight “no logs” policy so that your data is never kept.
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24/7 live client help.
Above-average WireGuard speeds
Can be used on almost anything
Great for streamers
45-day money-back guarantee
Independently-operated no-spy servers.
No security audit
Potentially annoying device limit scheme
5. ExpressVPN - Budget option
ExpressVPN has been around for almost a decade and shows no signs of slowing down. In a field that's already extremely crowded, it manages to stand out with its blazing-fast connection, multi-layered security, and its strong dedication to customer privacy. Advanced features like as split tunneling, private DNS, a Network Lock kill switch, a Threat Manager, and more are at your disposal.
And have we already said that it's lightning-fast? Thanks to its Lightway protocol and vast server fleet, you are guaranteed of a rapid and anonymous connection anywhere in the globe. It may not be the most massive network, with just over 3,000 servers, but it's certainly the most ubiquitous - covering 160 server sites across 94 countries. That covers even the generally ignored areas like Africa and South America.
So it's quick and dependable, but is it safe? You bet! ExpressVPN employs state-of-the-art encryption, has a kill switch, and keeps zero logs, all of which contribute to its reputation as a privacy-focused VPN service. To top it all off, ExpressVPN employs RAM-only servers. When the server is shut down, all data is erased quickly, making it far more difficult for hackers to steal information.
It may be a touch more costly than most of its rivals, but you get exactly what you paid for and then more. Are you prepared to take advantage of infinite bandwidth speeds? If you sign up for a year's worth of service using the link below, you'll save $33.
Easy to operate on practically any platform
Apps for practically anything
An very dependable kill switch
Expedient VPN servers in 95+ countries
Support specialists available around the clock
Above-average prices
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