Do you like being spied on by your ISP or the government when you surf the web? No? Do you enjoy having your web content censored on moral, political, or copyright grounds? No? Do you want to be hacked while using your local coffee shop’s public WiFi? No? Well one of these best VPN services is the solution!
Do you like the fact that people living in other countries can access better streaming content than you can, just because of where they live? No? Do you want to be caught by copyright holders when torrenting stuff? Still no? Well, VPN services will help you here as well!
A Virtual Private Network is a veritable Swiss Army knife. VPN services allow you to:
- Hide what you get up to on the internet from your ISP.
- Hide what you get up from your government and the NSA.
- Evade website blocks and other forms of censorship, whether put into place by your government, school, or workplace.
- Geo-spoof your location so you can watch services such as US Netflix and BBC iPlayer wherever you live in the world.
- P2P torrent download in safety.
In order to use a VPN service, you must sign up with a VPN provider (such as the ones listed below). This usually costs a few dollars each month. Free VPN services do exist, but these are usually either shady or are very limited in one or more ways.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s look at some of the best VPN services out there!
Best VPN Services Summary
| Rank | Company | Score | Price | Link |
1 |  |  10/10 | $8.32 / month | Visit Site |
2 |  | 8.8/10 | $8.33 / month | Visit Site |
3 |  | 8/10 | $5.75 / month | Visit Site |
4 |  | 8/10 | $6.49 / month | Visit Site |
5 |  | 7.2/10 | $8.25 / month | Visit Site |
PROS- 30-day money back guarantee
- No usage logs
- Servers in 78 countries
- Great customer service
- P2P: yes
CONS- Connection logs
- A bit pricey
ExpressVPN excels at providing an accessible service that is newbie-friendly and customer orientated. Its software is easy to use, and is available on most major platforms (Windows, Mac OSX, iOS and Android). Performance is excellent, and it has servers just about everywhere. All this is backed up by what is almost the certainly the best money-back guarantee in the business – 30-days, and genuinely no-quibble. You really do have nothing to lose from giving ExpressVPN a try.
ExpressVPN keep no usage logs, but do keep some connection (metadata) logs. How being based in the British Virgin Islands affects privacy is a little unclear, but users in China will appreciate ExpressVPN’s special ““stealth” servers. Although located in located Hong Kong, these servers will be useful to anyone who suffers from internet censorship and needs to hide their VPN use.
Additional features: 3 simultaneous connections, “stealth” servers in Hong Kong, free SmartDNS.
2nd place
VyprVPN
4.4/5
- PROS
- Fantastic Security
- Great speeds
- Easy to use apps
- Plenty of servers
- Helpful support
- CONS
- Basic package very insecure
- Some connection logs
VyprVPN has fast speeds and lots of servers to choose from. It also has its own infrastructure, which makes it very reliable. Security is provided with our favorite encryption protocol, OpenVPN. This means that you’ll be protected from governments across the globe. With servers spread across the globe, you’ll also be able unblock all of your geographically resticted conent.
It’s VPN apps are easy to use, downloads quickly, and is available for all popular operating systems. Customer care is also great, and with a 30-day money back guarantee there’s no reason not to give them a go.
3rd place
NordVPN
4.2/5
- PROS
- No logs at all
- Up to 6 devices at once
- Fantastic value for money
- Servers in 47 countries world wide
- Excellent technology
- CONS
- Speeds can be slow, primarily on double-hop encryption
NordVPN is a superb choice as a best vpn service. The primariy reason for this is the fact that it is based in Panama. Panama, of course, is outside US, UK and Fourteen eyes jurisdiction. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they keep no logs at all. Further to this, they accept Bitcoin and use very strong encryption, with the possiblity of a “double-hop” VPN service. With all of this high-level security, you can be sure to be safe even with P2P running.
The only real negative of NordVPN is that we’ve found that speeds aren’t always the fastest, but always remain quick enough for all types of streaming. With it’s low-prices NordVPN offers a great value for money VPN service. Like many other providers on this list, they also provide a 30-day money back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with their service. So if none of the above have matched your needs, then make sure to give them a try.
4th place
IPVanish
3.7/5
- PROS
- No logs at all
- Client with VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection
- VPN over Tor
- Smart DNS included
- Accepts Bitcoin
- CONS
- Somewhat techy and bare-bone
IPVanish comes in as the fourth best VPN service on the market. IPVanish has been around for a long time, which has given it the ability to perfect their service. Most importantly they keep absolutely no logs, allow torrenting and, of course, accepts Bitcoin.
While the client can be considered basic, it provides all the functionality that you require and provides leak protection alongside the encryption. This slightly simplified software is also one of the reasons why IPVanish is one of the cheaper VPN services on the market. Don’t worry though, they haven’t sacrificed on any important aspects of the service because of this. On the whole, a very solid VPN service with a 7-day money back guarantee just in case you aren’t satisfied.
Additional features: P2P allowed, mobile apps for all OS’, 5 simultaneous connections
5th place
Buffered
3.7/5
- PROS
- Fast speeds
- No usage logs
- 30-day money back guarantee
- P2P: yes
- Based in Hungary
- CONS
- A bit pricey
- Some connection logs
- Does not accept Bitcoins
Buffered is a small but plucky company based in Hungary. This means that it is out of the direct reach of the NSA and its Fourteen Eyes spying partners, and is not required to keep logs (although it does keep some connection logs). Buffered runs VPN servers in 16 different countries, including the usual popular locations. Its 30-day money back guarantee is quite generous, but please do be aware that conditions apply. Buffered’s most interesting and unique feature is “port discovery.” This allows you to bypass login requirements when using WiFi at airports and hotels etc. by searching for open ports in the local LAN neighborhood.
Additional features: 3 simultaneous connections, “port discovery”.
Best VPN Services Considerations
Understanding VPNs
To understand what VPN technology can and cannot do, it is useful to know what, basically, it is. A VPN connects your computer (which can include your smart phone and tablet) to a VPN server run by a VPN company. This server stands between you and the internet, and all data passing between your computer and the server is securely encrypted.
The setup means that:
- Your ISP is still needed to connect you to the VPN server, but after that it cannot see what websites etc. you visit on the internet.
- Your ISP cannot “see” your data because it is encrypted
- Because VPN services run VPN servers located in different locations around the world, using a VPN is a great way to avoid censorship measures (just connect to somewhere where there is no censorship). It is possible to try to censor VPN use itself, but there are a number of ways to get around this.
- For the same reason, using a VPN allows you to access geo-restricted services such as the US version of Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Note that both these services are currently trying to block VPN users, but it is still possible to watch them using some VPN services.
- Your real IP is hidden from any websites you visit (although other browser-based methods such as flash cookies and fingerprinting may be able to uniquely identify and track you).
- You are protected when P2P torrenting, because your IP address appears to be that of the VPN server, rather than your real IP address.
- You are also protected when using public WiFi hotspots because all data between your device and the VPN server is encrypted. This means that even if you connect to an “evil twin” hotspot, or your data is packet-sniffed over an unsecured WiFi connection, it does not matter because it is encrypted and is therefore inaccessible to hackers.
VPN services: Points to note
So VPN services are great at doing a number of very useful things. Yay! It will help, however, to be aware of the following points. Not only will they help you chose a provider that is suitable for your VPN needs, but understanding them will ensure that you get the most from your VPN.
Logs & Privacy
Although your ISP cannot see what you get up online, your VPN provider can. This is why VPNs are said to provide privacy, but not anonymity. If you need true anonymity, then use Tor instead.
Almost all VPN providers use shared IP addresses in order to confuse the issue of who does what online, and many services keep no logs. You should be careful, however, about what a provider means when it says it keeps no logs. Many say they keep no logs to mean that they keep on logs of your activity on the internet (usage logs), but they do keep quite a lot of metadata logs (connection logs).
If privacy is a high priority for you, always chose a provider that keeps no logs at all. Do be aware, however, that even the most privacy-focused VPN service can be served a court order or subpoena forcing it to keep logs on a named individual.
For a full discussion on this subject, please see 5 Best Logless VPNs.
I live in the UK, but can access the latest full US Netflix catalog using a VPN
IP leaks
When using a VPN, any website you visit should be unable to see your real IP address. Unfortunately, and for a number of reasons, sometimes they can. When using a new service you should therefore always visit IPLeak.net. If you can see your real IP address or one belonging to your ISP, then you have an IP leak.
If this happens, don’t panic! I have written what I believe to be a most excellent Complete Guide to IP Leaks. This should cover every known cause of this problem, plus provides fixes.
Kill switches
A related issue is VPN dropouts. Even the best VPN connection occasionally drops, leaving your true IP exposed. This is a particularly big problem if you use a VPN to protect yourself while torrenting, as you likely leaving you PC unattended for hours at a time.
The solution is to use a kill switch. Firewall-based kill switches which prevent any traffic leaving your computer outside the VPN are the best kind, but any kill switch is better than none! Many VPN providers include a kill switch in their custom software, but third-party solutions are also available, and you can even build your own using Firewall rules!
VPNetMon will shut down your internet connection when it detects a VPN disconnect. This is not as good as a firewall-based solution, but is a hell of a lot better than nothing!
For more information on kill switches, please see here. And if you are a regular downloader, you may be interested in checking out 5 Best VPNs for Torrenting, which includes an in-depth discussion on this topic.
Additional reading
I have covered some of the basics you need to know about VPN services in this article, but if you are interested in knowing more, then I have written a much more in-depth VPNs for Beginners – What you need to know guide.
In order to understand the more technical aspects of VPNs, you might also be interested in checking out:
- PPTP vs L2TP vs OpenVPN vs SSTP vs IKEv2, and
- VPN encryption terms explained (AES vs RSA vs SHA etc.)
VPN Services Conclusion
As you can see, VPN services are very useful tools. Whether you are a torrent downloader, want access to the full Netflix catalog, or care about maintaining your privacy on the internet, a good VPN service is easily worth the few bucks per month it costs.
Best VPN Providers Recap
| Rank | Company | Score | Price | Link |
1 | | 10/10 | $8.32 / month | Visit Site |
2 | | 8.8/10 | $8.33 / month | Visit Site |
3 | | 8/10 | $5.75 / month | Visit Site |
4 | | 8/10 | $6.49 / month | Visit Site |
5 | | 7.2/10 | $8.25 / month | Visit Site |
Hi, Good article. Just a quick question. What criteria exactly did you use to come up with a 3.7 review on IPVanish? When I click “read review” for IPVanish I see it has 5 stars under editor review and I’m confused why it has 3.7 on this specific article. thanks
Hi Sam,
The star ratings on our 5 best lists are a subjective assessment by the article’s author on the merits of each provider in that category relative to the others. In my opinion this is not ideal, but makes more sense when the list deals with a niche category (such as 5 Best VPNs for Linux) rather than such a general one as this. I have flagged this issue up with our team for further discussion.
I signed up with ExpressVPN, I paid by credit card but was not comfortable giving my full address that they asked for.
After using it for 24 hours I get an email telling me that they have cancelled my service and I need to send a picture of my credit card albeit they said blur out the numbers except the last for digits .
I google this and it seems they do this with a lot of people.
Hi Billy,
I agree that this is not good behavior from a VPN provider. FWIW, ExpressVPN does accept payment in Bitcoins..
Thank you DC.
Question: Do you know what country IPVanish is located ?
Hi Billy,
IPVanish is a brand name for Mudhook Marketing, Inc., a US company based in Florida.
I purchased and downloaded NordVPN, it was a disaster in terms of speed and overall function – especially the so-called “kill switch” which shut down everything every 20 minutes. I really don’t understand how Nord even makes it on these lists. It was also listed on PCmag as an “editors choice” – whatever that means. But everywhere you look, the user reviews are terrible. How did Nord make it on your list?
Hi Roger,
As we acknowledge in out NordVPN Review, poor speeds are an issue with NordVPN. The fact that it is based in Panama is is very privacy-focused, however, recommends the service to us.
Nord has some issues, however they don’t show up until well after their 30 money back guarantee. I found their speeds to be really slow on most servers, and you had to physically hunt for something suitable. I bought the top package and it worked reasonably well – just a few hiccups – and then one day out of the blue, could not connect to the service at all! Their techs never did get the problem fixed and I wound up at the very end using L2TP / PPTP (an absolute nightmare of issues) to even be able to use the service at all! No money back of course! Have no idea where to go from here, as being one of your top picks, I am hesitant to try anything at all. Maybe TOR? But I hear the Government is getting really nasty about TOR users because of the tendency for pedophiles to use it.
Hi Ron,
i’m sorry to hear that you had problems with NordVPN. Slow servers is a problem with the service. You should be aware, however, that Tor is very slow. ExpressVPN is very good, or for a completely no-logs service, I use AirVPN.
Sir help me what do you think vpn should i use here in philippines?
Hi Max,
ExpressVPN works well in SE Asia. Malaysia-based BolehVPN is also a very good service.
Hi there,
I just ordered and connected to NordVPN and my download went from 27+ without being connected to VPN to under 2 when connected. Quality of Slingbox image is terrible, internet navigation is extremely slow. Tried several servers from different countries withing Europe and USA and no improvement. Not sure if I should use the 30day money back or change some settings. Although so far I’ve only tested NordVPN for leisure internet use, I work remotely from France for a company located (servers) in Michigan US and my work requires a good amount of download and upload speed. Not sure what to do.
Hi Sophie,
NordVPN’s speeds can be rather slow (as noted in this article). In the past I have found that I can find a fast servers with a little trial and error. If you cannot find a fast server, however, then I suggest you cancel your subscription and try a different service.
Thank you for your response Douglas, I had to purchase HideIPVPN last night because I could not even connect to any server with NordVPN. At this point I’m waiting for a reply back from NordVPN regarding the 30 days money back guarantee, day 2 waiting. HideIPVPN worked faster I had 10 download and 5 upload.
Hi Sphie,
I’m glad that you are happy with HideIPVPN .
What client would you recommend for the Amazon Fire tabs? Are there any servers that are better for Amazon video?
Hi Dillon,
First generation Kindle Fire devices required rooting in order to install a VPN client, but more modern devices can run VPN software out-of-the-box if it is installed via the Amazon Appstore. ExpressVPN is a good option.
I like Nordvpn, never had a problem. Please stay away from HMA, just please, its the worst.
How do I reinstall my VPN after accidentlyuninstalling it on my computer.
Hi Barbara,
Simply re-download the software from your VPN providers’ website and install again the same as you did the first time. You were probably sent an email with all relevant links, so you can search your email account for that, or look on your providers’ website. If you are still having problems, then I am sure that your VPN provider will be happy to assist you.
My ISP speed is 180Mbps.
PIA gives me 130Mbps, on a good day. Never less than 60Mbps
ExpressVPN gave me 33Mbps.
Who is calling them the fastest VPN service around.
Someone’s getting some pennies for porkies!
Hi David,
A 180Mbps internet connection is very fast. Faster, in fact, than any of our reviewers have the facilities to test.
BBC iplayer and IPVanish dont work anymore 🙁
Hi Alfred,
Unfortunately iPlayer is trying to block VPN users, so its a game of cat and mouse. You may well find that IPVanish works again soon (or maybe not).
Used ExpressVPN for 8 months. Lousy speed, dropping connection 20 times a day, not to mention it`s the most expensive one. The only thing they have going is customer service – everything else is not worth it
It seems like a glaring omission not to include Private Internet Access here. They keep no logs and are one of (if not the most) popular vpn. Any explanation as to why they were left off or are in your opinion not worthwhile?
Hi Sean,
Which VPN providers to include in our Best 5 lists is a team decision. This necessary because no one BestVPN team member is familiar with all 100+ providers that we have reviewed. Points against PIA:
– It is based in the USA, so the NSA must (IMO) be spying on users in some way. The fact that PIA stridently denies this only reduces my trust in the company.
– I used to use PIA, but disconnections were becoming so common as be a major issue.
– Apple users (OSX and iOS) repeatedly report dissatisfaction with the service.
I actually think that PIA is a good service, but factors such as the above led our team to prioritize the providers above.
I use VPN to browse .Precisely I use VIP72 ..I disabled cookies and are cleared on my system and dns cache it’s always cleared, I disabled flash aswell and I barely use Java scripts , am not black listed I have 100% anonymity when I check on whoer.net but somehow some websites seems to detect my original location ..telling me they can’t verify my when I call them and I know it’s because of my internet settings .. What do you think is the cause ? And I need s solution ..Please I need a reply ASAP
Hi Ronald,
Please see my Complete Guide to IP Leaks. Also ensure that geolocation is disabled in your browser.
Any reason why NordVPN wasn’t included? It’s protected by the panama laws. They also keep no connection logs whatsoever. They also have the option to connect via TOR using their VPN, have dedicated IP VPN’s and VPN’s for streaming. They also have SSL 2048bit encryption.
Hi Rhys,
NordVPN tops many of our lists (such as Best Logless). Many of its severs are very slow, however, and it sends your VPN password via plaintext email.
Douglas, how should it send them then?
Hi Jerry,
The tried and tested method is to ask you to choose your own password when you sign-up up for a service (which will be protected using HTTPS). That way, a password need never be sent via plaintext email for all the world to see.
Douglas, what password? for signing up?
besides, they do use https.
Hi Jerry,
Yes. Most good VPN companies ask you to choose your own your password during signup. NordVPN instead just sends you one by email, which is not secure (or at least it did last time I used the service).
VPNarea doesn’t have any 7-day trial as you wrote (can not find any on their site).
Hi JaSem,
Scroll down to the bottom of the VPNArea home page, or go to the Buy Now page. On the chart, look at the 6th entry down. I have posted a screenshot here.
Hi,
I would like to get a VPN, i am a bit of a technophobe but manage!! I did try one but had problems, I am all Apple and Sky is my broadband provider here in UK (I also go to the Canaries, am assuming it would work out there?) and when I tried to make a call via whatsapp (with VPN connected) iPhone couldn’t connect to internet!
Is there a VPN I can get that is compatible??
Regards
Jane
Hi Jane,
Yup, a VPN should work wherever in the world you are (unless they are actively blocked, which is unlikely to be the case in the Canaries!). Hmm… using a VPN shouldn’t interfere WhatsApp or prevent your iPhone from accessing the internet! Try another provider – any provider e.g. the ones listed in this article or in 5 Best VPNs for iOS (although I personally do not recommend PIA for iPhone users).