Whether you work from a traditional office, from your home, iPhone, or on the road, a VPN is one of the best ways to protect yourself from data breaches on the internet, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.
VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network, these services allow users to browse the internet privately, and securely connect to open or public Wi-Fi networks.
VPNs give users the ability to change their virtual location by redirecting the connection through one of its servers located around the world.
However, the problem with the internet is that It’s inherently insecure leaving any internet user vulnerable to cyberattacks.
What Does A VPN Do?
A VPN creates a private tunnel over the open internet, that’s between your computing device and the VPN provider’s data center.
A VPN will encrypt all of your traffic, so you’re hidden from hackers, your internet service provider, and governments.
Fundamentally, most VPNs (virtual private networks) provide two services:
Encrypting your data between two points
Hide the IP address where you’re located
VPNs are useful in unblocking geo-restricted content and can be a vital tool for accessing information in countries with repressive governments.
VPNs are powerful and important for anyone that wants to maintain a high level of safety and privacy online.
Many consumers also find streaming VPN features compelling. In some cases, and with legality, users can spoof their region of origin to get access to streaming media and sports blacked out from their home.
Top VPN Services
These top VPN solutions focus on the number of server locations, level of encryption, and compatibility with phones, computers, and TVs, to determine a No. 1 overall. Plus, we tell you the free VPNs worth trying.
You can also manually set up ExpressVPN to work with some gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch) and TVs (Apple TV, Roku, etc.) that do not support its app.
We found the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It offers a wide range of platforms, great performance, and has server locations in an exceptionally high number of countries.
This VPN service was focused on creating encrypted email and VPN communications with the idea of protecting the communication of activists and journalists.
They offer a strong approach to security, layering strong protocols on top of perfect forward secrecy on top of strong encryption.
All apps are open source, and the company reports that they are independently audited.
Proton VPN Review
Pros
+ Free VPN plan (for a single connection) + Lots of extra add-ons are available
Cons
– Only the most expensive plan unlocks streaming, P2P, and Tor over VPN
Proton VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Up to 10, depending on the plan
Kill Switch: Yes, and an always-on VPN, which attempts to restore VPN service if it’s dropped mid-communication
Logging: None, except billing data
Countries: 60+
Servers: 1,700+
Trial/MBG: 30 day
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Routers
Android TV
Proton VPN recently announced the development of a new VPN protocol it developed, called Stealth.
This protocol is designed to bypass internet censorship and VPN blocks by making your VPN traffic look like a normal connection.
It is built differently than most popular VPN protocols, which gives it a unique advantage in avoiding internet filters.
They offer a very generous free VPN service, allowing one machine to connect at medium speed, but there doesn’t appear to be any limit to the amount of data used.
We found the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It offers a wide range of platforms, great performance, and has server locations in an exceptionally high number of countries.
At a glance, IPVanish may seem like a relatively generic VPN, but it’s a capable and very flexible product.
IPVanish VPN Review
Pros
+ Unlimited connections + Ultra-fast connection speed + Very flexible product + Wide range of protocols
Cons
– No two-year plan – Price increases after only a year – Hard to keep connection hidden
IPVanish VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Kill Switch: Yes
Logging: None, except billing data
Servers: 2,000+
Countries: 50
Trial/MBG: 30 days
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Fire TV
Android TV
Kodi
As far as protocols go, there is a wide range of options. Its app also has an extensive array of configuration options.
Looking at how it performs, the connection speed was insanely fast, and the transfer performance was good.
One security issue ZDNET found is a user wasn’t able to obscure they were connecting with a VPN. However, there was a secure data transfer.
The bottom line is that IPVanish is a product with a good user experience and is solid overall, as long as you don’t need to keep the fact that you’re using a VPN hidden.
This VPN service was focused on creating encrypted email and VPN communications with the idea of protecting the communication of activists and journalists.
They offer a strong approach to security, layering strong protocols on top of perfect forward secrecy on top of strong encryption.
All apps are open source, and the company reports that they are independently audited.
Proton VPN Review
Pros
+ Free VPN plan (for a single connection) + Lots of extra add-ons are available
Cons
– Only the most expensive plan unlocks streaming, P2P, and Tor over VPN
Proton VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Up to 10, depending on the plan
Kill Switch: Yes, and an always-on VPN, which attempts to restore VPN service if it’s dropped mid-communication
Logging: None, except billing data
Countries: 60+
Servers: 1,700+
Trial/MBG: 30 day
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Routers
Android TV
Proton VPN recently announced the development of a new VPN protocol it developed, called Stealth.
This protocol is designed to bypass internet censorship and VPN blocks by making your VPN traffic look like a normal connection.
It is built differently than most popular VPN protocols, which gives it a unique advantage in avoiding internet filters.
They offer a very generous free VPN service, allowing one machine to connect at medium speed, but there doesn’t appear to be any limit to the amount of data used.
We found the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It offers a wide range of platforms, great performance, and has server locations in an exceptionally high number of countries.
At a glance, IPVanish may seem like a relatively generic VPN, but it’s a capable and very flexible product.
IPVanish VPN Review
Pros
+ Unlimited connections + Ultra-fast connection speed + Very flexible product + Wide range of protocols
Cons
– No two-year plan – Price increases after only a year – Hard to keep connection hidden
IPVanish VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Kill Switch: Yes
Logging: None, except billing data
Servers: 2,000+
Countries: 50
Trial/MBG: 30 days
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Fire TV
Android TV
Kodi
As far as protocols go, there is a wide range of options. Its app also has an extensive array of configuration options.
Looking at how it performs, the connection speed was insanely fast, and the transfer performance was good.
One security issue ZDNET found is a user wasn’t able to obscure they were connecting with a VPN. However, there was a secure data transfer.
The bottom line is that IPVanish is a product with a good user experience and is solid overall, as long as you don’t need to keep the fact that you’re using a VPN hidden.
This VPN service was focused on creating encrypted email and VPN communications with the idea of protecting the communication of activists and journalists.
They offer a strong approach to security, layering strong protocols on top of perfect forward secrecy on top of strong encryption.
All apps are open source, and the company reports that they are independently audited.
Proton VPN Review
Pros
+ Free VPN plan (for a single connection) + Lots of extra add-ons are available
Cons
– Only the most expensive plan unlocks streaming, P2P, and Tor over VPN
Proton VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Up to 10, depending on the plan
Kill Switch: Yes, and an always-on VPN, which attempts to restore VPN service if it’s dropped mid-communication
Logging: None, except billing data
Countries: 60+
Servers: 1,700+
Trial/MBG: 30 day
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Routers
Android TV
Proton VPN recently announced the development of a new VPN protocol it developed, called Stealth.
This protocol is designed to bypass internet censorship and VPN blocks by making your VPN traffic look like a normal connection.
It is built differently than most popular VPN protocols, which gives it a unique advantage in avoiding internet filters.
They offer a very generous free VPN service, allowing one machine to connect at medium speed, but there doesn’t appear to be any limit to the amount of data used.
We found the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It offers a wide range of platforms, great performance, and has server locations in an exceptionally high number of countries.
Surfshark has a solid VPN with a good price for the two-year plan – it costs under $2.50 a month (paid upfront).
They make security a priority with AES-256-GCM, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and RSA-2048 encryption, as well as, a browser plugin designed specifically to stop WebRTC leaks.
Surfshark VPN Review
Pros
+ Unlimited simultaneous connections + Wide range of useful features +Available on all major platforms
Cons
– Fewer features for Apple devices
Surfshark VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Kill Switch: Yes
Logging: None, except billing data
Countries: 95
Trial/MBG: 30 day
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
Linux
iOS
Android
Fire TV
Firefox
Android TV
Complementary and inexpensive add-on features:
Anti-tracking
A search engine that doesn’t log your information
A scanner that searches data breach lists for your email
Connect through two VPN servers with Surfshark’s multihop option
However, not all of these features are available for Apple devices.
Surfshark’s performed better than Norton Secure VPN and NordVPN but below IPVanish and ExpressVPN.
At a glance, IPVanish may seem like a relatively generic VPN, but it’s a capable and very flexible product.
IPVanish VPN Review
Pros
+ Unlimited connections + Ultra-fast connection speed + Very flexible product + Wide range of protocols
Cons
– No two-year plan – Price increases after only a year – Hard to keep connection hidden
IPVanish VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Kill Switch: Yes
Logging: None, except billing data
Servers: 2,000+
Countries: 50
Trial/MBG: 30 days
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Fire TV
Android TV
Kodi
As far as protocols go, there is a wide range of options. Its app also has an extensive array of configuration options.
Looking at how it performs, the connection speed was insanely fast, and the transfer performance was good.
One security issue ZDNET found is a user wasn’t able to obscure they were connecting with a VPN. However, there was a secure data transfer.
The bottom line is that IPVanish is a product with a good user experience and is solid overall, as long as you don’t need to keep the fact that you’re using a VPN hidden.
This VPN service was focused on creating encrypted email and VPN communications with the idea of protecting the communication of activists and journalists.
They offer a strong approach to security, layering strong protocols on top of perfect forward secrecy on top of strong encryption.
All apps are open source, and the company reports that they are independently audited.
Proton VPN Review
Pros
+ Free VPN plan (for a single connection) + Lots of extra add-ons are available
Cons
– Only the most expensive plan unlocks streaming, P2P, and Tor over VPN
Proton VPN Features:
Simultaneous Connections: Up to 10, depending on the plan
Kill Switch: Yes, and an always-on VPN, which attempts to restore VPN service if it’s dropped mid-communication
Logging: None, except billing data
Countries: 60+
Servers: 1,700+
Trial/MBG: 30 day
Platforms:
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Routers
Android TV
Proton VPN recently announced the development of a new VPN protocol it developed, called Stealth.
This protocol is designed to bypass internet censorship and VPN blocks by making your VPN traffic look like a normal connection.
It is built differently than most popular VPN protocols, which gives it a unique advantage in avoiding internet filters.
They offer a very generous free VPN service, allowing one machine to connect at medium speed, but there doesn’t appear to be any limit to the amount of data used.
We found the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It offers a wide range of platforms, great performance, and has server locations in an exceptionally high number of countries.
