Introduction
It’s difficult to know who’s tracking your browsing activity online, especially when using public Wi-Fi. Using a VPN is a great way of ensuring your privacy online, as it hides your IP address from potential lurkers.
There’s a huge variety of VPNs across the web, all with differing qualities, so we’ve decided to help out by rounding up the VPNs that impressed us the most during testing.
We run tests at several different endpoints – UK, US and Netherlands – using a London-based connection that generally sees speeds between 500Mbps and 700Mbps. By doing so, we can establish what kind of drop in internet speeds you can expect when using each VPN.
Of course, it’s not all about performance speeds. During the review process of a VPN, we conduct background research to establish what security policies each VPN has, and whether they have a no-logging policy to ensure your browsing data isn’t being collected. We also make sure to test all of the available features, which can include split tunnelling, the inclusion of a kill switch and more.
One VPN is unlikely to meet everyone’s needs. That’s why we’ve included a variety of options, with some VPNs offering lots of useful features, while others provide a wide array of endpoints. And if you don’t fancy paying for a subscription, then you can check out our Best Free VPN list instead.
Some VPNs can come bundled with additional software, but before you take up such details, make sure you check out our Best AntiVirus, Best Free Antivirus and Best Password Manager lists to see if you can find better value elsewhere.
Which is the best VPN?
- Best overall – Surfshark – Check Price
- Best for features and performance – NordVPN – Check Price
- Best Free VPN – ProtonVPN – Check Price
- Best for multiple countries – ExpressVPN – Check Price
- Best for security – Perfect Privacy – Check Price
- Best monthly subscription – Mullvad VPN – Check Price
How we test
We carry out speed tests to get a general feel for how each service performs. We test all services using their clients’ default settings.
We run tests from a London-based connection that typically sees speeds between 500Mbps and 700Mbps, which means that we’re able to get a good idea of what each VPN’s maximum speeds currently are. We test multiple endpoints from each provider in three locations: the UK, the Netherlands and the US.
- Large number of servers
- Wide range of security features and endpoints
- Clear, audited no-logging policy
- Great for streaming
- Relatively expensive
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
- Unlimited-bandwidth free tier
- Wide range of endpoint countries
- Paid version is great for streaming
- Quick download speeds
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
- Blisteringly fast
- Good for streaming
- Great value subscription
- Unlimited devices
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
- You have to interact with a human being if you wish to cancel your subscription
- No-logging policy, proven by server seizure
- Unlimited devices
- Extensive security features
- Generally slow transfer speeds
- Unsuitable for video streaming
- Expensive
- Fast speeds
- Low, consistent price of €5 a month
- Great range of cross-platform clients
- No use for streaming
- Fast HTTPS transfer speeds
- Wide range of endpoint countries
- No price increase on renewal
- Significantly more expensive than many rivals
Surfshark
Best VPN overall
Pros
- Blisteringly fast
- Good for streaming
- Great value subscription
- Unlimited devices
Cons
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
- You have to interact with a human being if you wish to cancel your subscription
Surfshark VPN has regained its place at the top of our rankings following the latest round of VPN testing. Its move to RAMdisk servers has addressed our concerns with the VPN’s security, as users can be rest assured that their data cannot be permanently stored.
Surfshark can be connected to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, which we found very useful if you have multiple phones, tablets and laptops or are looking for a VPN for the whole family.
The VPN also saw some of the fastest speeds in our group performance test and proved effective when streaming video. We were impressed with its competitive pricing, with a two-year subscription working out to be as little as $2.30/£2,40 per month and undercutting the majority of its rivals, giving it the edge over NordVPN.
We think Surfshark has the best balance of performance, security and price of all of the VPNs we’ve tested, and so deserves a place at the top of our list.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: Surfshark Review
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NordVPN
Best VPN for features and performance
Pros
- Large number of servers
- Wide range of security features and endpoints
- Clear, audited no-logging policy
- Great for streaming
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs you can subscribe to, with incredible speeds and a plethora of security features, but we think its high renewal fees mean you can find slightly better value with Surfshark.
There are still plenty of great reasons to subscribe to NordVPN though. During testing, we were impressed with the large number of available endpoints, a huge range of security features and its ability to keep your data private even when streaming video. Our research shows NordVPN has a clear no-logging policy, which has been verified by independent audits.
You can also connect up to six devices simultaneously, working across an impressive range of platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux and Android TV.
Besides the high cost and harsh renewal rates, it’s difficult to find a flaw with NordVPN, as it offers such a great all-rounder experience. ProtonVPN and Surfshark are both worth checking out if you’re happy to sacrifice a few features for a more affordable subscription.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: NordVPN Review
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ProtonVPN
Best free VPN
Pros
- Unlimited-bandwidth free tier
- Wide range of endpoint countries
- Paid version is great for streaming
- Quick download speeds
Cons
- Subscriptions renew at a higher rate
ProtonVPN ranks number one in our best free VPN list since it offers unlimited bandwidth, allowing you to use it as much as you want every month as long as you’re happy to be restricted to three countries’ endpoints.
But focusing solely on the free tier would be doing ProtonVPN a disservice, as its Plus Tier is excellent too. During the review process, we were impressed with having servers in 63 different countries, as well as additional features such as P2P/BitTorrent support and an AdBlocker.
Our performance test demonstrated that both the free and paid-for tiers offer incredible speeds, with only NordVPN and Surfshark beating ProtonVPN in a 15-VPN group test.
But while ProtonVPN’s Plus tier is undoubtedly excellent, we weren’t impressed by the steep renewal fees. The free tier is arguably the most compelling option, and is well worth checking out due to its unlimited bandwidth. And if you want a free VPN that offers even more endpoints, check out Windscribe too.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: ProtonVPN Review
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ExpressVPN
Greatest range of countries
Pros
- Fast HTTPS transfer speeds
- Wide range of endpoint countries
- No price increase on renewal
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than many rivals
If you want a VPN that can connect to a server in a specific country, then ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. It has high-speed servers across 94 different countries, giving you the most flexibility of all of the VPNs on this list.
Our tests showed it to offer above-average performance speeds too, while also supporting a wide variety of different devices. It has a no-logging policy to please those concerned with security, although it hasn’t been tested under the new ownership just yet, making Perfect Privacy a more appealing option for such use cases.
ExpressVPN also offers plenty of features, including a kill switch, split tunnelling and browser extensions. It is admittedly a little more expensive than other options, but there’s at least no price increase on renewal, making it a great long-term VPN.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: ExpressVPN
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Perfect Privacy
Best VPN for security
Pros
- No-logging policy, proven by server seizure
- Unlimited devices
- Extensive security features
Cons
- Generally slow transfer speeds
- Unsuitable for video streaming
- Expensive
We found Perfect Privacy to be one of the leading VPNs for security. It has a no-logging policy that has been proven by a real-life server seizure and a huge selection of security features, including Multi-Hop connections, a Stealth VPN mode to hide the fact you’re using a VPN and flexible kill-switch settings.
Just like Surfshark, it can be loaded up on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, making it ideal for families and those with loads and loads of gadgets.
However, Perfect Privacy does have a major flaw in that its server speeds are downright sluggish compared to rival VPNs – the United States endpoint was barely usable during our tests. We suggest looking at NordVPN or Surfshark if you crave fast server speeds.
Perfect Privacy is also relatively expensive, although we think that’s a price worth paying if you want the most reliable VPN currently available. Still, it’s a shame there’s no free tier, with ProtonVPN being a superb alternative if you’re not willing to spend any money.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: Perfect Privacy Review
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Mullvad VPN
Best VPN for month-to-month subscription
Pros
- Fast speeds
- Low, consistent price of €5 a month
- Great range of cross-platform clients
Cons
- No use for streaming
Most VPNS offer the best value when you sign up to a long-term contract spanning between one and two years. Mullvad VPN takes a different approach, offering the same great value but on a month-to-month basis. This means you can easily change your mind at any point without having to pay a penalty.
Our performance tests showed Mullvad offers above-average speeds on average, and while our tests show it’s not hugely effective for streaming TV, the split-tunnelling feature means you don’t have to deactivate your VPN for browsing the web while watching the likes of Netflix.
Mullvad also uses RAMdisk servers throughout its infrastructure, which means it’s impossible for the company to permanently store your browsing data, making it a great option for the privacy conscious.
NordVPN is admittedly faster, while Perfect Privacy offers a greater wealth of security features, but Mullvad VPN remains a solid option if you want a great-value VPN without committing to a long-term subscription.
Reviewer: K.G. Orphanides
Full Review: Mullvad VPN Review
We also considered…
FAQs
ProtonVPN is our favourite free VPN, since it offers unlimited monthly bandwidth. Windscribe is another great option if you want more country endpoints.
Many of the VPNs on this list have a verified no-logging policy, but Perfect Privacy is arguably the most trusted since it’s proven its no-logging policy in a real-life server seizure.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.