The Best VPN Services of 2022

1. NordVPN - Best VPN for Privacy

Editors Rating:

9.7 /10

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Why We Picked It

VPNs don’t get much more secure than NordVPN. With a NordVPN subscription, you’ll enjoy the very best security features, like AES-256 encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, and Nord’s proprietary NordLynx protocol. Plus, there are extra features you won’t find anywhere else.

For instance, NordVPN blocks intrusive annoyances, like ads, trackers, and websites that may contain malware. That alone makes it more effective as a cybersecurity tool than most other VPNs. If we add in features like multihop (Double VPN) and a strict no-logs policy, we get the best VPN for avoiding anything from government spying to hacking.

Double The Encryption

Using a VPN instantly makes you more secure online, but with NordVPN, you can double down on that security.

First, NordVPN has a built-in multi-hop or Double VPN feature, which essentially connects you to two VPN servers and encrypts your traffic twice. This makes it doubly hard for prying eyes to see your traffic.

Second, Nord is one of the few VPNs that support Tor, an anonymity network. With NordVPN’s Tor Over VPN, you can combine the VPN with the use of Tor to gain online anonymity and privacy in one shot.

Netflix Access

VPNs aren’t just for privacy. Since they use servers to reroute internet traffic, they also make websites think that we’re browsing from a different location (i.e. the server location).

Because of that, we were able to stream Netflix shows that are only available in other countries. When we connected to a U.K. server we got to enjoy British comedy. And since NordVPN works across all major platforms — Windows, Mac, iOS, etc. — we could stream on whatever device we were using.

Low Prices

NordVPN wasn’t the cheapest VPN we’ve tested. In fact, its $14.19 monthly rate for the Complete plan was one of the highest we’ve seen. If you take into account what’s included, though, NordVPN’s price becomes tolerable — affordable, even. Check out NordVPN’s pricing below:

So, which NordVPN plan is best for you? Go with the VPN plan if all you want is a VPN. Go with the Plus plan if you want a VPN plus a cross-platform password manager. And last but definitely not least, go with the Complete plan for Nord’s complete suite of digital security tools — NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker.

Who It’s Best For:

NordVPN is the ideal VPN for users that need best-in-class digital security. It has advanced features that advanced VPN users will appreciate, but it’s easy to use even for novice VPN users.

2. Surfshark - Best VPN for Security

Editors Rating:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Security is the name of the game for Surfshark. It offers the usual privacy of features of VPNs, but often with added twists that make them extra secure. If you want to use a VPN, for instance, but don’t want your network administrator, school, or government to find out you’re using a VPN, that’s possible with Camouflage Mode.

In addition, Surfshark offers a vast array of additional cybersecurity features (for an extra cost), like antivirus software, data leak detection, and a secure search engine. Surfshark is quite the powerhouse when it comes to security, and the best bit is, you can protect an unlimited number of devices with only one Surfshark subscription.

Camouflage Mode

When you connect to a VPN, no one can tell what you’re doing online, but they can deduce that you’re using a VPN based on how your traffic looks. This could spell trouble if you’re traveling to a country that restricts or bans the use of VPNs.

Surfshark has a nifty workaround called Camouflage Mode, or in general VPN terms, obfuscation. Basically, the VPN camouflages your traffic to make it look like you’re not using a VPN, which is a great privacy feature to have.

International Servers

While we only connected to Surfshark from the good old U.S of A, they have options in over 60 countries, from Vietnam to Albania. In the U.S, there are servers in over 20 cities, including L.A, Chicago, Dallas, Boston; you get the picture. The closer you are to a server, the better your connection. With Surfshark, we were more than satisfied.

Streaming Services

Everyone loves streaming, and with Surfshark, there’s not much trial-and-error required to find servers to stream on. When we tried to stream National Treasure on Disney+, for instance, Surfshark automatically found the right server for the right streaming service.

And it’s not just for Disney’s streaming service — although yes, Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Disney+. Surfshark works quite well with any streaming service, including Netflix, HBO Max, Spotify, and even YouTube. So the next time you’re shopping for the best Hulu VPN for your travels abroad, consider taking a look at Surfshark.

Who It’s Best For:

Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode makes it a good VPN for users worried about government restrictions. If you think you might get into trouble if you connect to a VPN — in school, at the office, or countries that are not VPN-friendly, Surfshark is for you.

3. Private Internet Access VPN - Best VPN for Windows 

Editors Rating:

9.4 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Private Internet Access is fast, in general, but we found its speed on Windows exceptional. Not only that, but the app works great. It offers endless customizations to satisfy VPN pros, yet it’s simple enough even for VPN novices to use.

While its being headquartered in the United States might raise some eyebrows, Private Internet Access’ watertight privacy policy assures us that our personal and browsing data will remain private. And with its strong encryption combined with speedy and stealthy VPN protocols, Private Internet Access makes a strong case for itself.

Encryption Options

Most VPNs didn’t give us many choices when it came to encryption methods, authentication modes, and handshakes, but Private Internet Access actually let us customize how their VPN worked.

We had four options: the default, recommended protection, an option that was more focused on speed, an option more focused on security, and an option with no authentication whatsoever. While we went with the recommended option, we could see the other options being useful if we ever want to prioritize speed over security or vice versa.

Dynamic IP Addresses

We got a new IP address every time we connected to Private Internet Access, which is definitely preferred over static IP addresses. Dynamic IPs made us harder to trace, ensuring our anonymity online.

Think of it like wearing a mask; if you wore the same mask every time, people would eventually start to catch onto your identity. With Private Internet Access, we got a fresh new mask every time we logged on, which kept any potential hackers guessing.

Highly Efficient Apps

A VPN app can make or break the product itself. Fortunately, for Private Internet Access, it’s the former. We like how easy the desktop app was to use, which makes it a good VPN for beginners. Yet, for experienced VPN users, it offers enough customizations. As mentioned, we were able to adjust our VPN experience and finetune how much speed or security was prioritized.

Who It’s Best For:

While PIA has pretty good mobile apps, the desktop apps offer the best functionalities. So this VPN is best for people who mostly use desktops for work and play.

4. IPVanish - Best Customer Support

Editors Rating:

9.3 /10

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Why We Picked It

What sets IPVanish apart from other companies is its commitment to customer service. We can’t tell you how much trouble we have sometimes getting companies to respond to our technical questions. Many VPNs don’t offer phone support, and a fair number don’t provide answers 24/7.

IPVanish has friendly customer service agents you can talk to any time, via both phone and online chat. Yet, the company doesn’t charge any more than other VPNs. A one-year subscription, for example, is just $3.33 a month.

Kill Switch

A failing VPN could put your privacy in jeopardy. If your VPN suddenly disconnects while you’re browsing, the website you’re on and your ISP will see your real IP address, and they might be able to tie your current IP address to your encrypted browsing history.

Unfortunately, any VPN could fail any minute, and so a kill switch is important. IP Vanish has a kill switch, which kills all internet traffic on our devices when the VPN connection fails. Don’t worry, you can get your devices back online by reconnecting IPVanish.

Robust Customer Service

IPVanish also wins when it comes to helping customers with problems. Not only do they have 24/7 live chat and a comprehensive FAQ section, but also a phone line, a huge rarity for VPN companies.

We got responses within five minutes, and other customers had similar experiences according to reviews on Amazon and Trustpilot, four out of five and 4.6 out of five respectively.

An Audited Privacy Policy

All of the VPNs we’ve reviewed have privacy policies that outline what types of data they collect, why they collect those types of data, and how they use the data. Not all of them, though, have been audited like IPVanish.

The Leviathan Security Group, an independent security and privacy auditing firm, audited IPVanish’s privacy and security practices just this year. They’ve found that IPVanish’s claim that it doesn’t log browsing and usage data is true. The firm also determined that IPVanish is non-invasive to its users’ privacy, making it a solid VPN for privacy-conscious users.

Who It’s Best For:

IPVanish has great mobile apps and it’s also affordable, so students looking to improve their digital security and privacy, not to mention access blocked sites on their school’s network, could benefit from this VPN.

5. Ivacy - Most Affordable

Editors Rating:

9.2 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

It’s hard to find a VPN that costs just over a dollar per month, but it’s harder to find such a cheap VPN that won’t sell your data to make a little extra cash on the side. With subscriptions as low as $1.19 per month, though, Ivacy was both.

We went through its privacy policy with a fine-toothed comb and found that Ivacy doesn’t keep IP addresses, timestamps, and browsing histories. Plus, its location in Singapore means that it’s outside surveillance bodies such as the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes.

Strict Logging Policy

All VPN companies have to keep some information if only to conduct business. Ivacy VPN, though, keeps as little of our information as possible. Yes, it does keep our:

• Names
• Emails
• Payment methods
• Crash event reports
• Performance data
• Failed connection attempts
• Application usage
• Aggregated bandwidth use

It would be hard to operate a successful VPN without this information, though. More important is what Ivacy VPN doesn’t keep:

• IP addresses
• Browsing histories
• Timestamps

As long as it’s not tracking any of this data, we feel pretty safe and secure.

Smart Purpose Selection

VPNs serve multiple purposes, but Ivacy actually configured servers optimized for specific purposes. It has servers optimized for streaming, downloading, unblocking content, and so much more.

We enjoyed its streaming capabilities the most, as it let us access Netflix uninterrupted. It’s not just for Netflix, though, as we were able to use Ivacy to stream on Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Kodi, BBC, and other streaming platforms.

Low Prices Plus Discounts

A VPN subscription need not be expensive. With Ivacy, you can pay as low as $1.19 per month. The tradeoffs? There’s only one: You need a five-year subscription and you need to pay the entire amount upfront. It’s still not bad considering that the total subscription price is $71.64 and that you’ll get free access to a password manager.

If you’re looking for a shorter subscription, the one-year plan costs $47.76, which works out to $3.99 per month. Plus, discounts are available year-round, especially around holidays, so all in all, not bad.

Who It’s Best For:

If you’re looking for a cheap VPN, this could be it. Because of the long-term subscription, however, it’s best suited for those looking for a solid VPN they could use for the next few years.

6. Atlas VPN - Best Data Breach Monitoring

Editors Rating:

9.0 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Atlas VPN is a relatively new player in the VPN market, but we’re already impressed by what it can do.

We got all the security we expect from a top-tier VPN, with AES-256 encryption and a strict privacy policy. In addition, we got tons of extras, like access to multiple streaming platforms, unlimited simultaneous connections, IP addresses that rotate while we’re browsing, and a free data breach monitor. We predict you’ll be hearing lots more about this VPN in the months and years to come.

IP Address Safeswap

We always prefer VPNs that use dynamic rather than static IP addresses because dynamic addresses change regularly. When our address changes every time we log on, we’re harder to track.

Atlas VPN goes one better than dynamic addresses, though. The company’s Safeswap technology didn’t just assign us a new address every time we logged on. We got new addresses as we browsed, every time we visited a new site. You can’t get much more anonymous than that.

Data Breach Monitor

More and more VPNs have begun offering extra perks to their customers, like free cloud storage or free antivirus. Atlas provides a data breach monitor on all its paid plans. This monitor scans leaked databases looking for your personal information.

While it isn’t quite as thorough as the best ID theft services, it does provide important early alerts so you can change your credentials and lock down your accounts at the very first signs of trouble. Compare Atlas’ data breach monitor and ID theft services below.

Free Option

What’s better than Atlas VPN’s affordable plans? Its free VPN. Unlike other free VPNs, Atlas won’t limit your bandwidth or cap your speed. It also won’t roll you over into a paid plan after a certain amount of time.

With the Atlas free VPN, you’ll have unlimited speeds, unlimited data, and unlimited time to use the product. The only limit is that you can only use up to three of its hundreds of servers. If you’re fine with that, then by all means, don’t ever pay for a VPN again.

Who It’s Best For:

Atlas VPN is a great option for families. The data breach monitor that comes free with a paid plan can provide basic identity protection for kids and parents alike. The VPN itself supports unlimited simultaneous connections for families with lots of devices.

7. ExpressVPN - Best Encryption

Editors Rating:

9.1 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

It’s no big surprise that most of our digital security expert team members have iPhones; after all, we’re young and live in Brooklyn, where we’re constantly joining public Wi-Fi networks. ExpressVPN easily connected us with fast speeds, and with a kill switch, if our connection was lost, we were still protected.

Aside from our iPhones, ExpressVPN also worked quite well on our Mac and Windows computers, and best of all, we could be on public and private networks at the same time, which came in handy when we were multi-tasking, which is pretty much all the time.

Lightway Protocol

ExpressVPN is at the forefront of VPN technology. In addition to adopting existing VPN protocols, it developed a proprietary protocol that is both secure and fast, called Lightway. This VPN protocol runs on only 2,000 lines of code, much less than protocols like OpenVPN. And as a result, it’s lightweight and it provides a smooth user-experience.

Here’s how it compares to OpenVPN:

Strict Logging Policy

Of course, ExpressVPN didn’t keep our web traffic or activity, which is the most basic thing we expect from VPNs meant to give us privacy.

On top  of that, though, ExpressVPN didn’t keep much more of our information than necessary; they only knew which app and version we used, when we used it, the server we connected to, and the amount of data we transferred in MB. Our traffic, metadata, and DNS queries weren’t logged, thankfully.

IP Leak Blocking

There are VPNs that we consider “leaky” because their technology doesn’t effectively block IP address and browsing data leakage. ExpressVPN is far from being that, though. It’s one of the most secure VPNs on the market, capable of blocking DNS leaks and WebRTC leaks.

In fact, once you’re connected to ExpressVPN, you can use its website’s WebRTC leak detector to make sure it isn’t leaking your IP address through your browser’s WebRTC feature. Each time we tested ExpressVPN for those leaks, we didn’t find any — just the result we were hoping for.

Who It’s Best For:

ExpressVPN offers agile data protection, which is particularly ideal for frequent travelers. It has strong privacy features, and its lightweight proprietary VPN protocol also makes it a good travel companion, as it runs fast on most mobile devices and computers.

8. PureVPN - Best Server Base

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for travel, with more than 6,500 servers in over 78 countries including the U.K., Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

This made it easy for us to travel without joining shady Wi-Fi networks and running into internet censorship. PureVPN hid our browsing history and IP address so we could be more anonymous online.

Huge Global Network

PureVPN has one of the largest global networks of servers and is available in more than 78 countries. Specifically, the VPN has servers in:

No wonder PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for Australia, the best VPNs for France, the best VPNs for Germany, and more.

Strict Logging Policy

While we were jet setting and connecting to international PureVPN servers, PureVPN hid our IP address, along with our browsing history. In fact, the VPN only collected our:

• Names
• Email addresses
• Payment information
• Total bandwidth consumed.

Everything we did online, on the other hand, was ours to keep. And since PureVPN is based in Hong Kong, a Five Eyes non-member, the company can’t be forced, legally, to give any of our information to the government. Add in some AES-256 encryption, the highest standard around, and PureVPN is certainly trustworthy when it comes to privacy.

Dedicated IP Address Available

With PureVPN, we got the same IP address every time we connected, shared with thousands of other PureVPN users. That was great for security, since we were lost in the crowd. For some websites that recognize these shared IP addresses, though, that was an issue and we got blocked. That’s why we were happy that, in addition, PureVPN offers dedicated IP addresses for only $2.04 a month with a two-year subscription. Dedicated addresses are just as secure as shared addresses, but we were the only ones using this IP address. That made it easier for websites to remember who we were.

Who It’s Best For:

If you need a VPN to access websites blocked in your country, or to access Netflix libraries in other countries, then PureVPN is for you. With a huge global network and fast servers, PureVPN is great for unblocking websites.

9. CyberGhost - Best VPN for Mac

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

CyberGhost has over 7,500 servers in 91 different countries, so although we only tested it out in the United States, wherever in the world you are, you probably won’t have trouble connecting either.

The company is based in Romania, not a member of those international surveillance networks we keep mentioning; plus, Romania as a country has almost no data retention laws of its own, making CyberGhost a great pick for privacy.

Military-Grade Encryption

CyberGhost uses AES-256, which is the current industry standard when it comes to encryption. Whenever we connected, we got an anonymous IP address that we shared with other CyberGhost users on the same server. Combined with the encryption, we felt confident that our identities were hidden when we used CyberGhost to browse the Internet.

Discounts Available

CyberGhost offers a wide array of subscriptions to choose from, and this makes the VPN very flexible. You can sign up for a month subscription to try things out, or go all-in on a one-, two-, or three-year subscription. The best part is, you’ll get a discount depending on the length of your plan.

The highest discount is over 80-percent off, which you can get by signing a three-year subscription. All in all, you’ll pay only $89.31 every three years, which breaks down to just over $2 per month.

NoSpy Servers

CyberGhost, like most of the VPNs we review, doesn’t keep logs of its users’ browsing data. Bur CyberGhost takes things up a notch with its NoSpy servers. These data centers operated by CyberGhost itself are located in Romania, which is outside the reach of the 14 Eyes alliance.

Romania’s laws also makes it a VPN-friendly country, as it doesn’t require data gathering and mass surveillance tactics used by other countries. When you connect to one of CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers, you can rest assured that your data is safe.

Who It’s Best For:

It’s true that the longer subscriptions offer the best prices, but CyberGhost’s flexibility makes it a great-value VPN for pretty much anyone.

10. Hotspot Shield - Best VPN for Netflix

Editors Rating:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

When it came to Netflix-watching parties, Hotspot Shield had us covered with fast speeds on our Mac and Windows computers. We also didn’t experience huge delays or lags on Netflix when we used the app on our Android devices, which came in handy during commutes.

Overall, we’re big fans of Hotspot Shield’s Netflix streaming capabilities, and its $7.99 per month pricing for the yearly plan doesn’t hurt, either.

Regular Transparency Reports

Clearly, we don’t love the fact that Hotspot Shield is based in the United States. However, we were impressed that they have annual transparency reports to prove that they don’t hand over customer data, even when asked.

In 2019, for example, they were asked to hand over users’ data 56 different times, refusing every time. Clearly, Hotspot Shield is dedicated to protecting users’ privacy, and their transparency reports prove that.

Free VPN

We usually avoid free VPNs because of how prone they are to shady privacy practices. Hotspot Shield, however, is a reputable company with a proven track record, so we had no issues trying out its free VPN.

It still has limits; for instance, only one device can connect at a time, and there’s a 500 MB daily data limit (which we think is generous). But we liked that the free VPN was covered by the company’s no-logs policy, so we didn’t worry that Hotspot Shield would log our activity and sell our data to third parties.

Super-Fast Speeds

Hotspot Shield was one of the fastest VPNs we tested on our Windows and Mac computers. Download speeds decreased by 30% and 18% while upload speeds decreased by 0.2% and 26% on Mac and Windows, respectively. Although the latency was a bit more than we would’ve liked, Hotspot Shield is a great option for torrenting files or watching Netflix.

Who It’s Best For:

Hotspot Shield has strong streaming potential. Plus, Hotspot Shield is affordable, so it’s best for young people looking to expand their entertainment options without spending much.

11. ProtonVPN - Best VPN for Zoom

Editors Rating:

8.8 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

ProtonVPN is now Proton, which seems like an ignorable change, but is actually big for the VPN company. As Proton, it now includes the entire Proton suite of cybersecurity tools. That includes ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, ProtonDrive, and ProtonVPN. As such, Proton is a good personal VPN to use at work.

Focusing on the ProtonVPN tool, we experienced great speeds when we tested it, both on Windows and Mac. And because the app was easy to use, it’s easy to set up before Zoom meetings.

Regular Transparency Reports

Their transparency speaks tons for VPN companies. It builds confidence and trust in the company. Proton has been releasing regular transparency reports about data requests it receives from governments. In 2019, for instance, we know that the Swiss courts requested browsing data from the company. We also know that Proton didn’t hand over any because of its strict logging policy.

Things like that may seem small, but if you’re shopping for a VPN for your privacy, you’re going to want to know small details like that. And thanks to its transparency report, we know we can trust Proton’s discretion.

Free Version

We were excited to discover that ProtonVPN offers a totally free option and that it works with Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS. Heck, it even works with Linux.

There are a couple of downsides to this free version, though. You can connect only through a single device, and there are only servers in three countries: the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands. Still, the free version has no speed limits and no data limits, so you can Netflix to your heart’s desire.

Fast Upload Speeds

With more of us working from home than ever, we need fast upload speeds and low latency so our meeting software works smoothly. There’s nothing more embarrassing than when you laugh at someone’s joke but they don’t hear it until two minutes later. ProtonVPN was one of the fastest VPNs we tested on our Windows and Mac computers when it came to both upload speeds and latency.

Proton VPN Speeds

Who It’s Best For:

Digital privacy is Proton’s main priority, with a whole suite of privacy-focused online tools. So if your profession calls for extra privacy, like if you’re a journalist, you should consider Proton.

12. Norton Secure VPN - Best VPN With Dynamic IP Addresses

Editors Rating:

8.4 /10

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How We Review

Why We Picked It

Norton, perhaps most famous for its LifeLock identity theft protection (read more in our LifeLock review) and its Norton antivirus software, also has a VPN, and it’s not half bad. Every time we connected to the macOS app, we got a different IP address, which made it difficult to trace us online. Since online anonymity is what we’re after, we were satisfied with this VPN app.

Affordable Prices

How much does the Norton Secure VPN cost, you ask?

Well, if you only sign up for a month on one device, it’s $4.99. However, for 10 devices for a year, the cost is only $59.99, which amounts to only about $0.50 a per device per month. If you need a VPN for the whole family, this plan is incredibly affordable, one of the best VPN deals we’ve seen in a while (and that includes VPN Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, as well!).

Strong Encryption

Norton Secure VPN encrypted our web activity and hid our IP address using AES-256, the same encryption that the U.S. government and military use, so you know it’s secure.

Beyond that, in some locations, the VPN encrypted our web activity and changed our IP addresses multiple times, a process called multi-hop or double hop. That made it that much harder to track us online, from our personal emails to the items we bought on Etsy. No one needs to know about our obsession with vintage cookie jars, after all.

User-Friendly Mobile Apps

With how much we’re on our phones these days — from our commute to work to falling in line for croissants — having a good VPN app is necessary. Fortunately, Norton does mobile apps well, specifically the Norton Secure VPN— Security & Privacy WiFi Proxy Android app and the Norton Secure VPN & Proxy VPN iOS app.

After we downloaded the apps, we connected to nearby servers in seconds without any bugs or glitches. Other Norton customers agree with us, as the Android app has a 4.4 rating and the iOS app has a 4.3.

Who It’s Best For:

Norton Secure is best for those who are just starting to utilize cybersecurity tools to protect themselves online. Besides being easy to use, Norton Secure is from a brand most famous for its antivirus software.