Selecting the best VPN service is usually a difficult task because you will find many free and paid VPN services offering similar features. One question you should ask yourself is that if they all have the same features, why is one more popular than the other? Why does one have better ratings than the other? Instead of going through 1,000+ VPN services, we helped you select the best premium VPNs by looking at the privacy and security features, usability and support, cost, download speed, logging policy and jurisdiction, and torrenting capacity. Let’s take a look at what we found.
1. NordVPN ($3.71/mo)
NordVPN sits on our list as the best overall VPN. Of the over 100 VPNs we ranked, its features stood out more to us. This VPN has over 5,600 servers which ensure that you get a great connection wherever you are. To keep your data secure, NordVPN uses a strict no-logging policy. To double your encryption, its Double VPN feature takes two different servers and merge them into one. It also allows torrenting/P2P and works with Netflix. It has a simple interface that is easy to use, so you shouldn’t encounter any problems with this VPN.
2. ExpressVPN ($8.32/mo)
ExpressVPN comes close to NordVPN, but it didn’t come first because it is one of the most expensive services on this list. It has over 3,000 high-speed servers across 160 locations and works on any device you own. You can also tailor your ExpressVPN to any service or apps you want to encrypt with its split tunneling feature. Its MediaStreamer feature allows you to move easily through geoblocks and access even services that don’t support VPN normally. You can stream your favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. To keep you secure, it uses 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, Network Lock setting, and a no-logging policy. This VPN is also very easy to use, and you get great features for the price.
3. Surfshark ($2.49/mo)
One reason why we love Surfshark is that it is very strict with its no-logging policy. It doesn’t even have any data to provide government agencies, and this has been proven multiple times. Surfshark has over 1,000 servers across 60 countries. Although it is not as broad as the two services listed above, it still connects well to various restricted service. It features a service known as Whitelister that allows you to bypass the VPN tunnel and use your normal IP address. So, you don’t get blocked when you’re trying to access something as secure as your banking information while using the VPN. Although its speed isn’t as consistent as the others, it is still one of the best VPNs available.
4. PerfectPrivacy ($9.99/mo)
PerfectPrivacy offers you unlimited connections to use on any device. From the name, you can tell that this VPN is focused more on the privacy aspect of your browsing. None of your data is saved on their database. It also uses the best AES 256-bit encryption and other security features including OpenVPN, IPSec, and SSH to keep your browsing secure. As we’ve already mentioned, the best part of this VPN is that it offers unlimited connections. You can connect your IPTV, Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, and even routers.
5. IPVanish ($6.49/mo)
IPVanish is a very secure VPN with super speed. You have access to over 1,300 servers across 75 locations around the world. You can connect your VPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously. Also, there’s no bandwidth limit, so you can keep enjoying the service. It works well with Netflix and allows torrenting/P2P. What we didn’t really like about IPVanish is its price for long-term plans. It’s quite expensive, compared to other VPNs with even better features. It also has slow customer support. They offer a 7-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it to see if you’ll like it.
6. CyberGhost ($2.75/mo)
For a very affordable price, CyberGhost offers a variety of features that we love. Firstly, you get access to over 5,900 servers across 90+ countries (the biggest on this list). It also offers various privacy and security features. With its strict no-logging policy, you can be sure that no matter what happens, your privacy is intact. Also, there are no WebRTC or DNS leaks, and it has a kill switch that shuts down your session whenever any leak springs up. CyberGhost can access any Netflix server. It even has Netflix-dedicated servers. It supports most major VPN protocols including L2TP, PPTP, OpenVPN, and IPSec. We had a few issues with its speed and customer service, but you’ll enjoy its other features.
7. Private Internet Access ($3.33/mo)
Private Internet Access is a US-based VPN service with a large network (over 3,380 servers). By giving the option to downgrade from AES-256 to AES-128 encryption, it can boost your connection speed. It also allows unlimited torrenting for people who want to use P2P file sharing. It supports protocols like IPSec, PPTP, OpenVPN, Socks5 proxy protocols, and L2TP, and also works on any device you use. We noticed that Private Internet Access only allows its paid subscribers to access its live support, which isn’t too great, but it has good features and is one of the fastest VPNs we found.
8. Trust.Zone ($2.33/mo)
One reason why Trust.Zone is on this list is because it costs less than $3 monthly, and you still get great features. You also get a 10-day money-back guarantee, just in case you change your mind after subscribing to one of their plans. With Trust.Zone, you get much more than you paid for. You can use this VPN on any device including Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux. Each of their apps come with a kill switch. To keep you protected, it also offers security features like AES-256-CBC cipher, RSA-2048 handshake, and SHA256 authentication. Two things we didn’t really like about this VPN is the slow customer service and it has a smaller number of servers (169+ in over 87 locations).
9. Mullvad ($5.45/mo)
Mullvad is a not-so-popular VPN service, but it is one of the best. It has the most anonymous signup process among all the plugins we reviewed. It uses AES-26-bit encryption to keep your browsing data secure, and it is DNS and leak-free. We also recorded fast connection speeds and easy usability. The most interesting feature of Mullvad is the signup process. You don’t need to use an email to sign up. Mullvad will give you a randomly generated account number, so everything is top secret. The sad thing about Mullvad is that it has no live customer support feature and only 407+ servers in over 39 countries. But, you get top privacy features, and you can even pay with Cryptocurrency if you like.
10. PureVPN ($3.33/mo)
PureVPN is one of the most affordable VPNs on our list. You can go for the 1-year plan ($3.33 a month), or the 5-year plan ($1.65 a month). In 2018, the company stopped logging user information. So, you can be sure that your data is safe. You also get access to 2,000 servers across 180 locations and choose between 180,000 IP addresses. It has Chromebook and Kodi solutions available, unlike many other VPNs, and you get a 31-day money-back guarantee.