10 Best VPN services of 2021

Virtual Private Networks, more commonly known as VPNs, have evolved in our culture from something only people who have something to hide will use to an essential piece of software in most offices and homes.

The selection of available VPNs range in the thousands and each of them actively touts that they’re the most efficient, fast, secure, and cost-effective solution. Out of the thousands available, only one can be portraying their services honestly; participation trophies won’t protect your identity from theft.

In order to better understand this golden-child VPN phenomenon, we’ve tested over 150 VPNs that are available on the market to meet a list of criterion: Speed, privacy, P2P anonymity, security, multiplatform support, global network availability, and log policies.

The vast majority of these products are merely empty shells of broken promises and some even fail to provide the most basic functionality required to be classified as a VPN service. All of which begs to question if “false advertising” laws apply in the countries in which their businesses are registered.

From the VPNs that survived the round-robin of even the most rudimentary of examinations, while excluding the majority which was mainly comprised of a digital zombie horde of undead pseudo-VPNs and second-hand half-baked knockoffs, NordVPN stood the tallest.

NordVPN has a low price that might make you wonder how legitimate the service is while backing up its claims and not disappointing. TL:DR NordVPN is cheap and powerful.

Are You hurry Up? Summary of the Best VPNs Providers of 2021

1. NordVPN — THE BEST CHOICE VPN in the World! Incredible fast and stable speed, high security, and thousands of fast P2P-optimized servers.
2. ExpressVPN — TrustedServer security technology and military-grade encryption.
3. CyberGhost — Good for torrenting and streaming and has 256-bit AES encryption.
4. Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections – your choice for multi-device using.
5. VyprVPN — own Chameleon security protocol, torrenting support on all servers.

Top VPN Services – Test and Review 2021

VPNs are like retinae, each is unique and subsequently difficult to compare. While there are minimum functionalities that are expected of a VPN, there is also a myriad of security and privacy-oriented features that can determine its usability for various individuals and organizations.

An example of user-specific requisite features can include P2P support, stability, ease of use, user interface, encryption-methods, optimization, availability of servers, connection speeds, security features, subscription costs, cross-platform support, onion support, and tunneling encryptions (e.g. AES 256-bit).

All products reviewed in this article provide for a thirty day trial of their software, with a refund guarantee prior to that thirty-day expiration.

NordVPN

As of December 29th, 2020, NordVPN featured approximately five-thousand five-hundred servers in fifty-nine countries and was the clear victor for the year in retrospect.

Connection	Ping	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Starting speed UK	10 ms	54.83 Mbps	11.21 Mbps
Quick connect UK	10 ms	52.03 Mbps	11.10 Mbps
Manual connect UK	15 ms	46.73 Mbps	10.84 Mbps
Quick connect US	149 ms	45.84 Mbps	10.86 Mbps
Manual connect US	239 ms	31.84 Mbps	10.74 Mbps
Quick connect FR	39 ms	52.05 Mbps	11.62 Mbps
Quick connect BR	357 ms	23.14 Mbps	2.06 Mbps
Quick connect AU	434 ms	37.97 Mbps	9.64 Mbps

Quick Look
Security: Military-grade encryption, kill switch, leak protection, blocker for malware and ads, and specialty servers (P2P, Tor, Double VPN, and Obfuscated)
Privacy: Based in Panama (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes) with no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Amazon Fire TV
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, DAZN, ESPN+, CBS All Access, Showtime, Vudu, and more
Torrenting: Thousands of fast P2P-optimized servers
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 6
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $3.71/month (2-year plan)

With this gargantuan plethora of server availability, locating one nearest you for stable and rapid connections isn’t difficult. This ensures that while there may be many users on the network, your connection will not be throttled or interrupted.

When it comes to the financial advantages of NordVPN, the quality:service ratio is staggering. Additionally, on the aforementioned date, there was an offer of sixty-eight percent-off (68%), which included an additional three months free for a plan as long as two years.

Due to the robust nature of the NordVPN network of servers, it was only logical to test a variety of them to discover the percentage which performed inadequately. After many tests, the rate of failure to operate was zero percent. It was possible to access locally blocked or restricted platforms, such as Netflix, even with their proxy systems in place.

Port-to-port connections, such as torrenting, are possible on compatible servers. NordVPN provides a wide range of servers which are specifically optimized for P2P connections. The connections are hardy, and fast.

In terms of security, the encryption method used is hardened to military-grade levels. This obfuscated your data from prying eyes, identity thieves, corporate espionage, ISPs, and various governmental as well as non-governmental organizations. NordVPN features a leak guard which prevents data from spilling out and is doubly protected utilizing an automated killswitch when connections become unstable or dropped. To confirm this information, PwC, an auditing firm was invited to verify the information stated above; and they passed.

Ease of use is something many of us take for granted while utilizing various services and applications; however, often we find ourselves using applications and programs with menus inside of menus and obfuscated or hidden features buried behind a poorly planned user experience. Fortunately, the developers implemented a “quick connect” button. Users also have the ability to manually peruse lists of available servers, though if they wish to connect quickly, the option is available. The country in which you wish to connect may be chosen in a pop-up that appears when “quick connect” has been selected.

• Thousands of fast P2P-optimized servers
• Supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, and routers
• Strict no-logs policy

Try Out NordVpn Now!

ExpressVPN

Connection	Ping	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Starting speed UK	10 ms	54.83 Mbps	11.21 Mbps
Quick connect UK	12 ms	50.03 Mbps	10.94 Mbps
Manual connect UK	13 ms	49.87 Mbps	10.10 Mbps
Quick connect US	142 ms	42.64 Mbps	6.71 Mbps
Manual connect US	134 ms	37.61 Mbps	9.24 Mbps
Quick connect FR	41 ms	40.39 Mbps	11.13 Mbps
Quick connect BR	179 ms	38.46 Mbps	6.02 Mbps
Quick connect AU	288 ms	35.28 Mbps	6.13 Mbps

Quick Look
Security: AES 256-bit encryption, TrustedServer technology, automatic kill switch, split tunneling, and no IP address leaks
Privacy: Located in the British Virgin Islands outside of 5/9/14 Eyes with proven no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Kindle Fire, Nook, and routers
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, DAZN, ESPN+, Showtime, and more
Torrenting: Global network of 3000+ servers all allow P2P
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 5
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $6.67/month (15-month plan)

In 2019 ExpressVPN made headlines when Turkish authorities were trying to determine which user deleted evidence in connection with the assassination of a Russian Federation Ambassador; however, there was no “there” there to be found. While ExpressVPN issued a public statement condemning illegal activity, this entire situation speaks volumes about the privacy and security of ExpressVPN for its users.

ExpressVPN secures your connection with AES 256-bit-military-grade encryption which prevents and mitigates IP address, personal data, and browsing data leaks. When your connection becomes unstable for whatever reason, the automated killswitch closes down all internet traffic until your connection stabilizes and is reestablished. As you can probably guess from the story regarding Turkish authorities, ExpressVPN also maintains a strict log free policy.

Going even further, ExpressVPN has a unique system called TrustedServer which auto-wipes all accumulated and/or cached data on every server restart. Typically, server wipes are handled manually by the majority of VPN service providers, which could be daily, weekly, monthly, biannually, or never.

Additionally, P2P torrent connections and streaming are both organically supported on every server; this means that no matter which server you’re connected to, you’ll be able to torrent or stream. Currently their servers number at 3,000+ in 94 countries around the world. Out of all of the VPNs we’ve seen, ExpressVPN has the biggest list of nations hosted in.

The connection speeds are preposterously fast, especially when considering the fact that you’re encrypting, forwarding, bouncing, and obfuscating your connection. Even on another continent, the connection speeds were consistently above 30Mbps, which means that no matter where you forward your connection to you’ll be able to stream content as naturally as you would a Youtube video. Interestingly, with speeds like this, you could easily also play popular online games.

While connected, you can also bypass the blocks and bans on various regionally locked content and websites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and more in HD.

Nothing can be perfect, but it can be close; ExpressVPN can be a bit expensive when comparing it to competitors. However, there are often special deals and you can try a 30 day free trial with a full refund. The refund policy doesn’t require a reason, and the refund itself can take around 5 days to hit your account.

• AES 256-bit encryption, TrustedServer technology
• 24/7 live chat support
• More then 3000 high-speed servers at 94 global locations

CyberGhost

Connection	Ping	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Starting speed UK	10 ms	54.83 Mbps	11.21 Mbps
Quick connect UK	16 ms	36.01 Mbps	10.17 Mbps
Manual connect UK	12 ms	16.21 Mbps	10.64 Mbps
Quick connect US	201 ms	8.75 Mbps	7.87 Mbps
Manual connect US	163 ms	18.26 Mbps	9.36 Mbps
Quick connect FR	39 ms	26.73 Mbps	11.02 Mbps
Quick connect BR	549 ms	7.64 Mbps	5.96 Mbps
Quick connect AU	521 ms	5.65 Mbps	2.00 Mbps

Quick Look
Security: 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, no data leaks, and in-built ad blocker
Privacy: Based in Romania (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes) with no-logs policy
Download app for Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire Stick
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Showtime, and more
Torrenting: Optimized servers for secure P2P activity
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 7
Money-back guarantee: 45 days
Best price: $2.25/month (3-year plan)

Offering a wide range of optimized servers, CyberGhost makes torrenting and streaming easy. Every optimized server has been configured to achieve the best performance and speeds, meaning the user doesn’t need to manage anything manually when preparing to connect.

CyberGhost’s servers for streaming can be found by clicking “For Streaming” (easy, right?) in the app. For each streaming service, there has been an optimization made for it. This means there will always be a matching configuration and functional connection. While using many other VPNs you will need to bounce from server to server and try various websites until you find ones that work for what you need.

Whether it be Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube TV, ESPN+, NBC, SlingTV, Yle, or Crunchyroll, there’s a server waiting for you. The connections are surprisingly fast with an average speed ranging between 27 and 30 Mbps, which means that HD and Ultra HD are readily available while protecting your connection.

To access P2P optimized servers, just click the “For Torrenting” / ”For Downloading” tab to be presented with a list of servers to choose from. If you’re looking to download 2GB with a healthy peer:leech ratio, expect it to take less than 10 minutes with CyberGhost.

If you live in a country where P2P connections are banned or frowned upon, CyberGhost protects your privacy with a no logs policy and military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.You’ll also find settings to block ads, malware, trackers, and more. It also features an automated killswitch which ensures your connection information, personal data, and IP address are never leaked, even when your connection drops or becomes unstable.

While CyberGhost is available in all its glory on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, unfortunately the P2P optimized torrenting servers are no longer available on its Android and iOS apps. Where CyberGhost shines the most is on desktop, especially due to program performance being miles ahead of the competition in regards to torrenting and streaming. 

In regards to price, you’ll be hard pressed to find more bang for your buck, outside of NordVPN. Plans can be purchased for three years in advance at a great rate, meaning that you’ll have it available no matter what happens to the economy between now and then. You can get your hands on great discounts around the holidays and through various affiliate links.

Unlike the other VPNs, CyberGhost’s money back guarantee is 45-days instead of 30, which gives you the ability to try out the features we’ve outlined, and much more, for longer. If you request a refund, it’s hassle and interrogation free.

• Optimised servers for torrenting and streaming
• Zero-logs policy and 256-bit AES encryption

Surfshark

Connection	Ping	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Starting speed UK	11 ms	54.83 Mbps	11.21 Mbps
Quick connect UK	15 ms	46.13 Mbps	11.18 Mbps
Manual connect UK	22 ms	51.87 Mbps	10.87 Mbps
Quick connect US	134 ms	51.64 Mbps	9.42 Mbps
Manual connect US	197 ms	45.31 Mbps	6.92 Mbps
Quick connect FR	20 ms	53.01 Mbps	10.55 Mbps
Quick connect BR	276 ms	42.34 Mbps	8.30 Mbps
Quick connect AU	274 ms	34.97 Mbps	6.71 Mbps

Quick Look
Security: Military-grade encryption, kill switch, split tunneling, leak protection, and double VPN protection
Privacy: Based in British Virgin Islands (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes) with no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, SlingTV, fuboTV, CBS All Access, ESPN+, Eurosport, and more
Torrenting: Automatic connection to best available P2P server
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: Unlimited
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $2.49/month (2-year plan)

With an excellent price, and its value only increasing with a shared subscription among friends and family, and the ability to connect unlimited devices on a single account makes Surfshark an excellent VPN for tech-savvy households.

When tested, we were concerned that connection speeds would decrease significantly with each device subsequently connected; we found that connection speeds remained relatively stable with a miniscule 18% drop in speed after connecting three active devices.

If you’re ever dealing with a household full of devices constantly streaming videos, playing online games, listening to music, and torrenting content then you’ll definitely appreciate Surfshark.

While using Surfshark, you can stream via Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more without hassle. However, there are separate P2P servers specific for torrenting. The service will automatically reroute your connection to the closest server that’s optimized for P2P connections in seconds.

Unfortunately, the “Fastest Server” feature doesn’t always choose the fastest server. Rather, manually selecting a server will typically lead to faster connection speeds. While this is time consuming and fiddly, especially when you’re in a hurry to a remote meeting, it is a point of contention for us.

However, it’s possible to try it out for yourself with their 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test the software for yourself before making a commitment. It is a good choice for those with a full and busy household with a wide array of devices all trying to vie for their share of bandwidth.

• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Modern Apps

Try Out SurfShark Now!

VyprVPN

Quick Look
Security: AES-256-bit encryption, kill switch, and leak protection
Privacy: Based in Switzerland (outside of 5/9/14 Eyes) with audited no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Blackphone, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV
Unblock For: Most major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more
Torrenting: Torrenting supported on all servers
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 5
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $5.00/month (1-year basic subscription)

The most unique feature of VyprVPN is their proprietary Chameleon 256-bit encryption protocol. Chameleon was designed to circumvent firewalls and censorship but also inherently grants access to Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. It accesses Netflix by bypassing proxy errors. Additionally, P2P connections, like torrenting, are supported on every server.

Unlike ZenMate, streaming Netflix in HD only took a few seconds to begin when tested. While it isn’t the fastest VPN, it is one of the most secure and doesn’t keep user data logs.

Leviathan Security’s cybersecurity team verified VyprVPN to have zero data leaks either tracked or collected; if you’re more interested in privacy than speed, you’ll be pleased by VyprVPN’s delivery. Additionally, VyprVPN, like ExpressVPN, is one of the very few VPN providers who responded to the Center for Democracy and Technology’s survey on the topic of VPN privacy practices and business models; marking VyprVPN one of the most transparent VPN service providers.

While the connection speeds of servers located on other continents can be a little slow by modern standards, it’s still more than acceptable if your home or office internet is stable.

Discounts and specials aside, VyprVPN charges a baseline of $2.50 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That’s pretty outstanding.

• Proprietary Chameleon protocol
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Torrenting supported on all servers

HMA (Formerly HideMyAss)

Quick Look
Security: Military-grade encryption, kill switch, split tunneling, and leak protection
Privacy: Based in the UK (inside the 5/9/14 Eyes) and keeps partial connection logs
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, and routers, and Android TV
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Sling TV, and more
Torrenting: Choose from 8 P2P-optimized servers
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 5
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $3.99/month (3-year subscription)

HMA comes with all of the bells and whistles to get you started. Coming alongside the kitchen sink, HMA covers standard VPN benefits such as built-in leak protection and split tunneling. On the topic of flashy features, HMA boasts a powerful smart killswitch, IP shuffler, and lightning connect. Unlike some of the other VPNs listed here, there are servers specifically optimized for P2P connections and streaming.

Usually, a killswitch is designed to keep data from accidentally leaking if you’re disconnected from their VPN. However, HMA’s killswitch, which works on windows, allows you to choose the apps you want to apply the killswitch to, instead of a complete connection blackout. I guess that’s why they call it “Smart”. The IP Shuffler allows you to change your IP address on a scheduled timer, like every hour for example, which provides flexibility, greater privacy, and stops web trackers dead in their.. well, tracks.

The P2P and streaming servers are able to skate around the regionally locked content barrier to provide access to your favorite streaming sites like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or Netflix.

Unfortunately, at this time the HMA apps for MacOS and iOS only offer IPsec and IKEv2 protocols as opposed to OpenVPN on Windows and Android, iOS also lacks a killswitch. HMA does also keep some of your data, which might be a dealbreaker for some users. The data collected is deleted every 35 days and is used only to observe server capacities.

HMA also has a good price and 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re feeling froggy.

• US streaming optimized servers
• Unlimited data and bandwidth

PIA (Private Internet Access)

Connection	Ping	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Starting speed UK	10 ms	54.83 Mbps	11.21 Mbps
Recommended UK	12 ms	53.74 Mbps	11.30 Mbps
Manual connect UK	13 ms	34.52 Mbps	11.47 Mbps
Recommended US	142 ms	22.98 Mbps	11.34 Mbps
Manual connect US	130 ms	18.07 Mbps	11.31 Mbps
Manual connect FR	45 ms	16.95 Mbps	11.34 Mbps
Manual connect CAN	171 ms	26.78 Mbps	11.42 Mbps
Manual connect AU	227 ms	12.93 Mbps	6.95 Mbps

Quick Look
Security: Military-grade encryption, kill switch, leak protection, and blocker for ads, trackers and malware
Privacy: Based in the US (inside the 5/9/14 Eyes) with proven no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and Linux
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Sling TV, fuboTV, CBS All Access, and more
Torrenting: All 2,900+ servers in the network support P2P
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 10
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $2.69/month (2-year subscription + 2 months free)

If you want a no-logs policy that even the Russian Government can’t beat, Private Internet Access is the VPN for you. Once upon a time, Russia seized PIA servers yet was unable to get their hands on user data, because there was no data to be found. When this happened, Russia’s Government created a law requiring all VPNs to keep logs on their users. As a result, Private Internet Access closed all of its servers within Russian Federation territory. As you can see, PIA is a no-nonsense, privacy-first VPN provider.

Unlike most VPNs, you can select the encryption method that suits your needs including AES-128, AES-256, or without encryption depending on your speed to privacy needs ratio. Additionally, you even have control over the handshake-encryption method used when establishing your connection to Private Internet Access. These options include ECC and RSA.

With Android, Windows, MacOS, and iOS apps, the ability to use PIA, regardless of your OS or mobile preference, makes it a prime candidate for many users.

Furthermore, the robust customization options and ability to select encryption and handshake-encryption methods makes PIA a very rare breed of VPN. However, being based in the US may raise some initial concerns regarding privacy, due to the US being a member of Five Eyes whereas NordVPN is based in Panama. Though, as stated previously, the Russian Federation incident and subsequent withdrawal of servers within Russian Federation territory speaks volumes regarding user privacy.

If all of that wasn’t enough, PIA is also onion encryption compatible and every server is P2P capable. However, that being said, Private Internet Access has somewhat poor performance in regards to streaming, especially when it comes to US based Hulu and Netflix content. You’ll have to try a variety of servers to find ones that reliably connect, albeit with slow speeds.

That said, Netflix outside of the US is easily accessible, as are Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, etc.

While perusing for a VPN with top-notch and customizable security and privacy settings, PIA might be exactly what you’re looking for. As is becoming a tradition in this list, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee and a variety of coupon and discount prices which can cut the cost up to 76%.

• Strict no-logs policy
• No-logs policy

ZenMate

Quick Look
Security: AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and leak protection
Privacy: Based in Germany (inside the 5/9/14 Eyes) and keeps partial connection logs
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and Linux
Unblock For: Most major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Fox Sport, and more
Torrenting: Optimized torrenting servers for P2P file-sharing
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: Unlimited
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $2.22/month (2-year subscription)

Originally a free VPN, ZenMate has since matured into a premium VPN. Its ability to perform is limited compared to the other VPNs listed here. However, its price boosts its standing amongst many users; at $2.22 per month, the bang is worth the buck.

Primarily optimized for P2P torrenting, as well as streaming, it’s similar to CyberGhost in this regard. Although the user interface only requires a few clicks to enable a connection, its speeds aren’t much to write home about when compared to the others in this list. At times, it can take a few minutes to begin streaming Netflix in HD from a server in your country.

ZenMate is capable of easily accessing sites like Netflix in the US but the slow speeds leave much to be desired, but, when torrenting on their P2P optimized servers, the speeds were pretty good. When selecting, it’s possible to see how crowded a server is and choose the one best for you.

Unfortunately, ZenMate’s privacy policy is lacking and some data from users, like name and email address, are shared with the parent company for technical and marketing purposes. However, while ZenMate doesn’t keep logs of your activity when connected to their servers, if you’re privacy minded I would suggest NordVPN.

Although ZenMate might be lacking when directly compared to the heavy hitters, its overall performance is more than acceptable. Even if it’s a little slower, it’s not the end of the world; and for the price, which can be lower with special deals, it’s worth a try.

ZenMate offers a risk-free sign-up with a 30 day trial and money back guarantee, regardless of the discounts applied to your subscription.

• Optimized servers for streaming and torrenting
• 24/7 support
• Low price

PrivateVPN

Quick Look
Security: Military-grade encryption, kill switch, and leak protection
Privacy: Based in Sweden (inside the 5/9/14 Eyes) with no-logs policy
Download app for: Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV
Unblock For: All major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Sling TV, CBS All Access, and more
Torrenting: Thousands of fast P2P-optimized servers
Customer support: Live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 6
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $3.39/month (13-month subscription)

While PrivateVPN bolsters a server list of only around 150, server overcrowding doesn’t seem to be much of an issue in regards to connection speeds. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it pretty well.

You have access to 7,000+ IP addresses which means you don’t need to worry about congestions and slowdown. While the limited number of servers is unfortunate, performance was impressive, and it even works in China. Although, if you’re going to use a VPN in China, always double up with an Onion browser, preferably Tor.

PrivateVPN is capable of accessing Netflix in 19 countries, which is the highest amount so far. This list includes Sweden, France, Brazil, Canada, Australia, the UK, and US. Streaming in HD only takes a few seconds to begin. There’s a list of accessible streaming services and by clicking “Choose Location” you’ll find your favorite streaming sites, and some you probably didn’t even know existed like SonyLiv or Yle.

The service has servers optimized for a wide variety of streaming services, and P2P is supported on every server.

PrivateVPN utilizes military-grade encryption while simultaneously not logging your activity. You can also choose IPv6 and enable the killswitch for a zero-leaks connection from the “Connection Guard” menu. Although the killswitch isn’t available for iOS, it is available for Windows, Android, and MacOS.

Another point to note is that their customer support is slow when viewing it comparatively regarding their competitors; but this point is only really about a matter of five to ten minutes in total. If a customer isn’t able to wait five to ten minutes for a response when they’ll wait seven hours in a DMV, then the world is doomed.

As usual in this article, the 30-day money-back guarantee also applies to PrivateVPN; getting a refund is painless, quick, and easy if you need it. And, of course, hefty discounts are available, the best we saw was 65% off. The performance of PrivateVPN was impressive. However, it’s still a little too young to really be a heavy hitter as of yet; we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one to see how it blossoms with time. We expect it to become one of the greats with its already well-oiled optimizations compared to its limited resources.

• Fast browsing, streaming, and torrenting
• Entire server network supports P2P activity

IPVanish

Quick Look
Security: 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, and leak protection
Privacy: Based in the US (inside the 5/9/14 Eyes) with no-logs policy
Download app for:  Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire Stick
Unblock For: Most major streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and more
Torrenting: Every server supports torrenting and a SOCKS5 proxy is available for free
Customer support: 24/7 via live chat, online form, and email
Device connections: 10
Money-back guarantee: 30 days
Best price: $3.99/month (1-year subscription)

IPVanish is a good choice for those who need a VPN primarily for either torrenting or one focused on privacy. The bandwidth is unlimited with great speeds while your activities are encrypted and covered by a no log policy. Unfortunately, if you’re seeking to access regionally locked content, like Netflix, you’re probably better off using NordVPN.

Downloading BitTorrent files from across the world yielded strong and steady connections and speeds. You also have the option of using IPVanish’s free SOCKS5 proxy, which comes with every subscription. The proxy grants faster connections and heightened anonymity; albeit, your traffic is left unencrypted. It’s recommended to use SOCKS5 alongside the VPN to increase your protection against malware, viruses, and hacks.

SOCKS5 proxy availability amongst available VPNs is incredibly rare, especially for free like with IPVanish subscriptions. It’s an excellent security measure when used in tandem with a VPN for torrenters. Additionally, IPVanish’s connections are encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption (military-grade). Due to it being based in the US, it thus falls under the Five Eyes Intelligence Network; though, IPVanish has a no log policy and doesn’t keep, log, or collect your browsing history or personal data. As a result, even if a Governmental entity or organization demands user information, there’s nothing to get.

Regardless of its security and speed, streaming services are better reached with NordVPN. When trying to connect to Hulu or Netflix, it can take several attempts to connect and that connection isn’t necessarily stable.

The prices are average, though with coupons there are offers giving 73% off. IPVanish also offers a 30 day money back guarantee, and to cancel you can do it on your own through the website without needing to join a live chat, sit in a phone queue with that amazing hold-music we all love, or hope that the dalek-like automated system will understand your queries.

• Fast speed
• Offers secure cloud storage

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

🤔 What are the benefits of using a VPN?

When using a VPN others are unable to see the data you’re transferring, keeping your data private and secure. This is particularly helpful on public wifi connections where financial or personally identifying information can be lifted from your device or traffic.

🤔 How does a VPN work?

VPNs accomplish this by rerouting your connection to another location as if you were physically there, this can also be helpful to view content unavailable in your country like certain Youtube videos, Netflix shows. While we don’t condone tax avoidance, there are countries with absurdly high import taxes where many residents order products online via VPN to pay reduced taxes and/or tariffs.

🤔 What are other uses for a VPN?

VPNs are able to be utilized in a variety of ways; one such way is that a company can incorporate a VPN server into their office so that employees can connect to the corporate intranet while away from the office. This allows the employee to access the corporate intranet as if they were at the office, even on a business trip or a work-at-home day, without interruptions or long requests for file access.

This technology can, and is, employed by corporations, small businesses, Governmental organizations, militaries, and non-governmental organizations of all sizes.

Additionally, an alarming and growing number of countries censor and monitor internet access. Some of these countries are very openly known to censor access, e.g. China, while others are much more subtle in their approach, e.g. the US and UK. It’s not only Governments who implement censorship and monitoring methods and technologies, internet service providers are also accessories to these actions.

Regardless of the perpetrator, a VPN essentially ‘tunnels’ through the internet ‘below the surface’ masking its users from monitoring and allowing them to circumvent censorship. Unfortunately, in countries like China, a VPN isn’t always enough and an Onion browser needs to be used on top of it; if you live in China, never rely on a VPN alone, use it in tandem with a browser like Tor Browser while enabling the correct encryption methods for your region.

🤔 What is the best VPN Provider?

If you run a cursory search for the best shoes, winter jackets, watches, or mobile devices you’ll find that you’re consistently inundated with claims that every product is the best; unless it’s information from a community run forum with an open registration and minimal moderation. Albeit, even those have become compromised in the past decade, like Wikipedia, as companies pay writers to write faux reviews, or revert pages, on every platform they believe their demographic will visit.

With that in mind, finding the best VPN software for your needs can seem to be a daunting task, especially with thousands of products flooding the market like whitenoise; even if the majority aren’t truly viable products. We’ve already announced our top-pick, NordVPN. However, the best thing to do is to try a piece of software before committing to it. Every consumer has different needs, and while one tool might be the most robust and secure general purpose software, specialization could be lacking in areas we didn’t even think to look.

🤔 What devices can use a VPN?

A VPN can be used with almost any device with an internet connection including:

• Smart TVs
• Mobile devices
• Laptops and desktops
• Routers
• Fire TV and Fire Stick
• TV Boxes

When using a VPN with a Smart Television, it depends on the make, model, and operating system. Smart TVs running Android can run the Android VPN app, while Samsung’s Smart Televisions can run ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.

VPNs on mobile have been around, and subsequently refined, for quite some time. Whether it be on Android, Ubuntu Touch, Windows Mobile, or iOS, there’s a VPN app for your flavor, version, and operating system.

When it comes to computers there’s a VPN solution for every flavor of Linux, most versions of Windows, OSx, Chromebook, and more.

Routers and VPNs directly installed into them are a specific animal because once it’s running, so long as it doesn’t crash, the VPN applies to every device connected to that network, by default. It is recommended to read various resources and guides to ensure this process is necessary for you, and that it’s feasible in your situation.
In regards to Fire Stick and Fire TV, it’s best to read the information on their website before getting started to find the best VPN for your device and needs.

When connecting a TV Box to a VPN, it is recommended to check your VPN’s documentation and articles regarding this topic. If your TV Box is running Android, most Android VPN apps should work, although compatibility may vary.

🤔 Why should someone use a VPN?

From hiding your true IP address on a Skype call to encrypting credit card details during a purchase, the reasons to use a VPN are many. For example, if you use a VPN along with a tracker blocker and ad blocker, you’re essentially invisible even to sites who are notorious for following and profiling people across the internet, even non-users of their platforms, like Facebook or Instagram.

🤔 How does a VPN provide anonymity to users?

The first line of defense in a VPN is masking your IP address and showing you to be located in a different physical location, which allows users to bypass region specific censorship while also protecting them from legal repercussions like prison sentences for journalists in totalitarian nations. Unfortunately, many VPNs are unsecure and can ‘spill’ your IP or DNS information. 

Secondly, VPNs, primarily utilizing the OpenVPN tunneling protocol, secure your connection on top, bottom, front, back, and the sides. This security doesn’t simply protect your internet browser, it also protects your app activity. The typical encryption method used is 256-bit AES which means that it is near impossible for your ISP to track your movement online, all while protecting your privacy.

🤔 Is a VPN legal?

In the majority of countries VPNs are perfectly legal however, there are nations who regulate or ban the use of VPNs such as China, North Korea, the UAE, Belarus, Russia, Iraq, and Oman. In the United States, VPN laws can vary from state to state and in some cases it is up to the VPN provider to notify the user of restrictions imposed by their state, but more importantly for the user to understand the laws in their current state of residence.

Some of the nations listed in the regulation and ban list impose limitations as to which VPN a user can utilize; if the user does not comply with the sanctioned list of state sponsored/permitted VPNs it can cause them (and sometimes the VPN provider!) to be fined, imprisoned, or both.

If you are using a Government approved VPN, your data is likely being syphoned off and monitored.

🤔 Can I use a VPN with P2P Torrents?

Some free VPNs may throttle connection speeds or not cover P2P connections; although most premium VPNs allow for unfettered access. The reason is simple, the VPN providers are concerned about the potential for political or legal consequences for allowing their users to torrent on their networks, albeit not all P2P connections are torrents.

🤔 Can a VPN affect connection speeds?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES. Any article, document, or piece of information stating the contrary is lying to you. Your connection is being sent in larger than normal packets across the world, routed through various channels, limited by the speed of light through cables as well as to and from satellites, pathway strengths and repeater frequency (like a signal booster) along physical cables (such as the transatlantic communications cable), and the physical limitations of machines to process and encrypt/decrypt the transferred information.

While some VPNs work miracles when delivering your media and materials, there will be times when there are a lot of users on the same server as you or when there is a lot of traffic in a particular region in the world between you and your data. If this happens, don’t worry, you’re already using what was considered magic just a few years ago, watching a video you want, when you want, without being subject to a cable networks schedule.