The very best VPN companies

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are notoriously tough to work with. Possibly you’re a distant employee who has to check in to at least one every day to entry firm companies, otherwise you tried it as soon as since you heard you would use it to entry worldwide content material, however had been met with laggy service and frequent disruptions. Right now’s VPNs don’t have to return with these complications. We examined 9 of one of the best VPN companies out there now to give you our high picks, and lay out what you need to know earlier than paying for one.

We examined 9 of the preferred VPN companies out there now to give you our high picks, and lay out what you need to know earlier than paying for one. Our high decide stays ProtonVPN due to its easy-to-use interface, no-logs coverage and open-source framework, whereas different common choices like NordVPN did not fairly make the reduce. Whereas we predict ProtonVPN is one of the best VPN for most individuals, we lay out different good choices you’ll be able to think about, too.

Editor’s word (5/30/25): We’re within the strategy of revamping our VPN protection to offer extra in-depth, actionable info and shopping for guides. Our suggestions, and all the information on this web page, are topic to vary because the replace continues. Take a look at our revamped ExpressVPN review to see the brand new route, or be taught extra about how we test VPNs.

Desk of contents

Finest VPNs for 2025

Proton

Simultaneous connections: 10 | Variety of gadgets: 10 | Platforms: Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Devoted IP addresses: Sure, for enterprise customers solely | Trial/Cash-back assure: None/30-day money-back assure

Learn our full ProtonVPN review

The VPNs we tried out ranked fairly persistently throughout all of our assessments, however ProtonVPN stood out as a robust choice due to its general safety, usability and privateness options. The Proton Applied sciences suite of companies contains mail, calendar, drive and a VPN recognized for its end-to-end encryption. This makes it a robust contender for general safety, however its VPN particularly got here throughout as a well-rounded impartial service.

ProtonVPN’s no-logs coverage has handed audits, and the corporate has confirmed to not adjust to regulation enforcement requests. As a result of it’s based mostly in Switzerland, there aren’t any pressured logging obligations, in line with the corporate, making it a safe VPN choice. Plus, it’s based mostly on an open-source framework, and has an official vulnerability disclosure program together with clear definitions on what it does with private info.

Whereas ProtonVPN provides a free model, it’s restricted in comparison with different choices, with entry to server networks in simply three nations. Its paid model usually begins at round $5.39 per 30 days, and contains entry to VPN server areas in additional than 65 nations on 10 gadgets at a time. Whereas we would not think about it an inexpensive VPN, it is a comparatively reasonably priced worth for fundamental safety. For devoted Proton Applied sciences customers, they’ll pay nearer to $8.63 for a month-to-month plan to entry your complete suite.

ProtonVPN handed our geoblock, streaming and gaming assessments with solely a really small toll on connection speeds. It additionally comes with malware-, ad- and tracker-blocking as a further service, plus it has a kill change characteristic on macOS, Home windows, Linux, iOS and the newest model of Android. It’s out there on most main working methods, routers, TV companies and extra together with Firefox, Linux and Android TV. For devoted Linux customers, ProtonVPN added a new Linux-specific app to assist its companies in August.

Execs

Simple to make use of
No-logs coverage
Based mostly on open-source framework
Kill change characteristic on macOS, Home windows, Linux, iOS and Android

$3.39/month at Proton

Windscribe

By signing up for Windscribe’s free plan together with your e-mail, customers can entry 10GB per 30 days of knowledge, limitless connections and entry to greater than 10 nations. We chosen it as one of the best free VPN due to its excessive safety and big selection of server areas in comparison with different free VPNs. It has over 500 servers in over 60 nations, in line with the corporate, and might be configured to routers, sensible TVs and extra on high of the standard working methods.

Windscribe doesn’t have a current impartial safety audit, but it surely does publish a transparency report exhibiting that it has complied with zero requests for its knowledge, runs a vulnerability disclosure program encouraging researchers to report flaws and provides a number of protocols for customers to attach with.

On high of that, it’s straightforward to make use of. The arrange is intuitive and it handed our geoblock, streaming and gaming assessments. The paid model prices $5.75 to $9 every month, relying on the plan you select, and contains limitless knowledge, entry to all servers and an advert/tracker/malware blocker. Or, for $1 per location per 30 days, customers can construct a plan tailor-made to the VPNs they wish to entry. Windscribe remains to be increasing its attain, adding Japan to its listing of obtainable spots.

Execs

10GB of knowledge per 30 days with free model
Limitless connections with free plan
Wide selection of server areas
Simple to make use of

Cons

Doesn’t supply devoted IP addresses

$0 at Windscribe

ExpressVPN

Simultaneous connections: 8 | Variety of gadgets: 8 | Platforms: Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Devoted IP addresses: No | Trial/Cash-back assure: 3 free months/30-day money-back assure

Learn our full Express VPN review

We picked one of the best VPN service for journey, gaming and streaming based mostly on which one had entry to probably the most areas with quick connections and no lag. ExpressVPN met all these standards and was one of the vital premium VPNs we tried, to not point out one of many quickest VPNs, too. Now, it even comes with an in-house password manager, ExpressVPN Keys, to handle and autofill logins throughout websites included with the subscription. That may make it simpler to toggle between streaming and gaming accounts whereas shopping securely.

An web velocity check measured quicker add and obtain velocity in comparison with utilizing no VPN, virtually extraordinary in comparison with the opposite VPNs examined. However being this quick is probably going a fluke because of the VPN service circumventing site visitors shaping by the ISP or one other disparity as a result of even top VPNs will in some way slow down speeds. With 2,000 servers in 160 cities, in line with the corporate, it had one of many broadest world reaches. It additionally handed our geoblock, streaming and gaming assessments, and it does regular security audits. Plus, Community Lock is its kill change characteristic, which retains your knowledge secure even in case you lose connection to the VPN. Subscription prices vary from $8.32 to $12.95 per 30 days relying on the time period of the plan, and embody a password supervisor.

With ExpressVPN, customers can hook up with as much as 5 gadgets without delay, which is on the decrease aspect in comparison with different companies. That stated, it really works on a bunch of gadgets from sensible TVs to recreation consoles, in contrast to another companies that lack assist past the standard suspects like smartphones and laptops.

Execs

Excessive velocity connections with no lag in lots of areas
Helps Community Lock kill change characteristic
Works on a wide range of gadgets like sensible TVs and recreation consoles

$8.32/month at ExpressVPN

CyberGhost

Simultaneous connections: 7 | Variety of gadgets: 7 | Platforms: Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox | Devoted IP addresses: Sure, further buy required | Trial/Cash-back assure: 2 free months/45-day money-back assure

As a result of a number of of one of the best VPN companies hook up with routers, cross-platform accessibility isn’t at all times vital. By connecting a VPN to your property router, you’ll be able to truly hook up with limitless gadgets in your family, so long as all of them entry the web by way of that router.

However in case you use VPNs on the go, and throughout a number of gadgets, having the ability to hook up with a variety of platforms might be indispensable. CyberGhost provides simultaneous connectivity on as much as seven gadgets for $2.11 to $12.99 per 30 days relying on subscription time period. It helps a number of varieties of devices like routers, computer systems, sensible TVs and extra. It’s much like the assist that ExpressVPN provides, however CyberGhost offers detailed directions on methods to arrange the cross-platform connections, making it a bit extra user-friendly for these functions. Plus, it simply expanded its community of servers from 91 to 100 nations, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic to its out there areas.

From a safety perspective, CyberGhost accomplished an independent security audit by Deloitte earlier this yr, runs a vulnerability disclosure program and offers entry to a transparency report explaining requests for its knowledge. An updated version of its transparency report went stay in August. Whereas it did go all of our assessments, it’s price noting that we had hassle connecting to servers in the UK and needed to choose to run our gaming check by way of an Eire-based server as a substitute.

Execs

Works properly throughout completely different sorts of gadgets/platforms
Gives detailed directions for setting service up on completely different gadgets

Cons

Devoted IP addresses come at a further value

$2.11/month at CyberGhost

Surfshark

Simultaneous connections: Limitless | Variety of gadgets: Limitless | Platforms: Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux | Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Devoted IP addresses: Sure, further buy required | Trial/Cash-back assure: 1 free month/30-day money-back assure

Learn our full Surfshark VPN review

As we talked about earlier than, connecting to a router can present almost limitless entry to gadgets in a single family. However Surfshark VPN is considered one of few VPN companies that provide use on a limiteless variety of gadgets with out bandwidth restrictions, in line with the corporate. And also you get that comfort with no important enhance in worth: Surfshark subscriptions value about $2.49 to $12.95 for a month-to-month subscription, and the corporate just lately carried out its first independent audit. It added QR-code-enabled login throughout gadgets and expanded assist for various ID profiles since our preliminary overview, a characteristic that a few of its opponents already had.

We bumped into some hassle connecting to Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol, however examined on an IKEv2 protocol as a substitute. The VPN velocity was a bit sluggish and struggled to attach for our geoblock check at first, however finally handed. What makes it completely different from different VPNs with limitless connection choices is that it has entry to a bigger variety of servers and is on the market on extra varieties of gadgets.

Execs

Limitless simultaneous connections
Giant variety of servers out there

Cons

On the costly aspect
Slower speeds than the competitors

$2.49/month at Surfshark

What’s a VPN?

VPNs, or digital non-public networks, masks your IP handle and the id of your pc or cellular gadget on the community and creating an encrypted “tunnel” that forestalls your web service supplier (ISP) from accessing knowledge about your shopping historical past. VPNs will not be a one-size-fits-all safety resolution, although.

As an alternative, they’re only one a part of retaining your knowledge non-public and safe. Roya Ensafi, assistant professor of pc science and engineering on the College of Michigan, advised Engadget that VPNs don’t shield towards frequent threats like phishing assaults, nor do they shield your knowledge from being stolen. A lot of the information or info is saved with the VPN supplier as a substitute of your ISP, which implies that utilizing a poorly designed or unprotected community can nonetheless undermine your safety. However they do come in useful for on-line privateness once you’re connecting to an untrusted community someplace public as a result of they tunnel and encrypt your site visitors to the following hop.

Meaning sweeping claims that appear promising, like military-grade encryption or complete digital invisibility, is probably not completely correct. As an alternative, Yael Grauer, program supervisor of Shopper Experiences’ on-line safety information, recommends on the lookout for security measures like open-source software program with reproducible builds, up-to-date assist for industry-standard protocols like WireGuard (CR’s most well-liked protocol) or IPsec, and the power to defend towards assault vectors like brute pressure.

Learn extra:

Understanding VPNs and your wants

Earlier than contemplating a VPN, ensure your on-line safety is updated in different methods. Meaning advanced passwords, multi-factor authentication strategies and locking down your knowledge sharing preferences. Even then, you most likely don’t should be utilizing a VPN on a regular basis.

“If you happen to’re simply fearful about someone sitting there passively and taking a look at your knowledge then a VPN is nice,” Jed Crandall, an affiliate professor at Arizona State College, advised Engadget.

That brings us to a number of the most typical makes use of circumstances for VPNs. If you happen to use public WiFi networks so much, like whereas working at a espresso store, then VPN utilization may also help offer you non-public web entry. They’re additionally useful for hiding info from different folks in your ISP in case you don’t need members of your family to know what you’re as much as on-line.

Geoblocking has additionally change into a well-liked use case because it helps you attain companies in different components of the world. For instance, you’ll be able to entry reveals which can be solely out there on streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, in different nations, or play on-line video games with folks situated all around the globe.

There are additionally a number of frequent VPN options that you need to think about earlier than deciding if you wish to use one, and which is finest for you:

What’s cut up tunneling?

Cut up tunneling permits you to route some site visitors by way of your VPN, whereas different site visitors has direct entry to the web. This could come in useful once you wish to shield sure exercise on-line with out shedding entry to native community gadgets, or companies that work finest with location sharing enabled.

What’s a double VPN?

A double VPN, in any other case referred to as multi-hop VPN or a VPN chain, passes your on-line exercise by way of two completely different VPN servers one proper after the opposite. For VPN companies that assist this, customers are sometimes in a position to decide on which two servers they need their site visitors to go by way of. As you would possibly count on, this offers an additional layer of safety.

Are VPNs price it?

Whether or not or not VPNs are price it relies upon how typically you would use it for the above use circumstances. If you happen to journey so much and depend on public WiFi or hotspots, want to browse outdoors of your property nation or wish to hold your site visitors hidden out of your ISP, then investing in a VPN might be helpful. However, needless to say even one of the best VPN companies typically decelerate your web connection velocity, in order that they is probably not excellent on a regular basis.

In at present’s world, we advocate not counting on a VPN connection as your fundamental cybersecurity instrument. VPN use can present a false sense of safety, leaving you susceptible to assault. Plus, in case you select simply any VPN, it is probably not as safe as simply relying in your ISP. That’s as a result of the VPN may very well be based mostly in a rustic with weaker knowledge privateness regulation, obligated handy info over to regulation enforcement or linked to weak person knowledge safety insurance policies.

For VPN customers working in professions like activism or journalism that wish to actually strengthen their web safety, choices just like the Tor browser could also be a worthwhile various, in line with Crandall. Tor is free, and whereas it is much less user-friendly, it’s constructed for anonymity and privateness.

How we examined VPNs

To check the safety specs of various VPNs and title our high picks, we relied on pre-existing tutorial work by way of Consumer Reports, VPNalyzer and different sources. We referenced privateness insurance policies, transparency experiences and safety audits made out there to the general public. We additionally thought of previous safety incidents like knowledge breaches.

We checked out worth, utilization limits, results on web velocity, doable use circumstances, ease of use, basic performance and extra “additional” VPN options like multihop. The VPNs had been examined throughout iOS, Android and Mac gadgets so we might see the state of the cellular apps throughout varied platforms (Home windows gadgets are additionally supported generally). We used the “fast join” characteristic on the VPN apps to connect with the “quickest” supplier out there when testing web velocity, entry to IP handle knowledge and DNS and WebRTC leaks or when a fault within the encrypted tunnel reveals requests to an ISP.

In any other case, we carried out a check of geoblocking content material by accessing Canada-exclusive Netflix releases, a streaming check by watching a information livestream on YouTube through a Hong Kong-based VPN and a gaming check by taking part in on servers in the UK. By performing these assessments on the identical time, it additionally allowed us to check claims about simultaneous gadget use. Listed here are the VPN companies we examined:

Learn extra: The best password managers for 2023

Different VPN companies our specialists examined

NordVPN

NordVPN didn’t fairly make the reduce as a result of it’s overhyped, and underwhelming. As I’ve written in our full review of NordVPN, the pricing, as much as $14.49 for a “full” subscription, appeared excessive in comparison with different companies, and its free or decrease value plans simply didn’t have the identical broad number of options as its opponents.

TunnelBear

Regardless of the lovable graphics and person friendliness, TunnelBear wasn’t a best choice. It failed quite a few fundamental safety assessments from Shopper Experiences, and had restricted availability throughout platforms like Linux. It did, nevertheless, get a significant safety increase in July when it up to date to support WireGuard protocol throughout extra of its platforms.

Bitdefender VPN

Bitdefender doesn’t supply assist for gadgets like routers, which limits its cross-platform accessibility. It additionally lacked a transparency report or third-party audit to substantiate safety specs.

Atlas VPN

Atlas ranked decrease on our velocity assessments in comparison with the opposite VPNs examined, with a notably slower distinction on net shopping and streaming assessments. It was a very good choice in any other case, however might simply trigger complications for these chasing excessive velocity connections. Safety-wise, an Atlas VPN vulnerability leaked Linux users’ real IP addresses.

VPN FAQs

What are some issues VPNs are used for?

VPNs are historically used to guard your web site visitors. If you happen to’re linked to an untrusted community like public WiFi in a restaurant, utilizing a VPN hides what you do from the web service supplier. Then, the proprietor of the WiFi or hackers making an attempt to get into the system can’t see the id of your pc or your shopping historical past.

A typical non-textbook use case for VPNs has been accessing geographically restricted content material. VPNs can masks your location, so even in case you’re based mostly in the USA, they’ll make it seem as in case you’re shopping overseas and unblock entry. That is particularly helpful for streaming content that’s typically restricted to sure nations, like if you wish to watch Canadian Netflix from the US.

What info does a VPN cover?

A VPN doesn’t cover your whole knowledge. It solely hides info like your IP handle, location and browser historical past. A typical false impression is that VPNs could make you completely invisible on-line. However needless to say the VPN supplier typically nonetheless has entry to all of this info, so it doesn’t grant you complete anonymity. You’re additionally nonetheless susceptible to phishing assaults, hacking and different cyberthreats that you need to be aware of by implementing robust passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Are VPNs secure?

Typically, sure. VPNs are a secure and dependable approach to encrypt and shield your web knowledge. However like most on-line companies, the protection specifics fluctuate from supplier to supplier. You should use sources like third-party audits, Consumer Reports reviews, transparency experiences and privateness insurance policies to know the specifics of your chosen supplier.

Are you able to get a VPN in your telephone?

Sure, you should utilize a VPN in your telephone. Most main VPN companies have cellular apps you’ll be able to set up on iPhones and Android gadgets so you’ll be able to join in your telephone to guard your cellular shopping.

What about Google’s One VPN?

Google One subscriptions embody entry to the company’s VPN, which works equally to different VPNs on our listing, hiding your on-line exercise from community operators. Nonetheless, Google introduced just lately that it plans to shut down the One VPN as a result of “folks merely weren’t utilizing it.” There is no particular date for the shutdown, with Google merely saying it’ll discontinue the service someday in 2024. Pixel telephone homeowners, nevertheless, will proceed to have entry to the free VPN out there on their gadgets.